Video Game Voters Network

Hey, all. Due to some health issues, I haven't had time to really post anything recently, but I'll get the ball rolling again soon once I get a chance (hopefully kicked off with a review of The Town, which I did enjoy). However, I wanted to talk about something recently that caught my attention around the web, as well as in the latest issue of Game Informer.

California has decided that it the government is somehow the best means mediate what younger audiences should be seeing and playing in video games. A new law is being proposed that several other states will uphold should it go through that violent video games are not to be sold to minors. Now, to begin with, what's the problem with taking the parents aside and saying "Hey, how about you do some parenting?"; and it's doubly bad news for those who are working with their kids, actually paying attention to what they are playing. This law supposes that the retailer carrying said game is to be fined a heinous amount, likening video games to alcohol and tobacco, should a violent game be sold to a minor. What constitutes a violent video game? Well, it's up to each state to decide.

So what that leads retailers to decide to do is to not stock problematic games and it leads the bigger developers (keep in mind Bioware, one of the greatest video game storytellers ever, which usually only publishes Mature rated games is now under EA) to pretty much not fund what they can't sell en mass. It's a slap in the face that they have gotten the Supreme Court to even listen as this is a complete breach of the first amendment and a slandering of good art. It's an act that will lead to a point where there truly is no stopping point for censorship. The floodgates will open. Even Stan Lee is taking a stand.

So please, whether you're a casual gamer or an avid fan, take a stand. Let's stop it here.