esterday the news broke of another proposed video game legislative bill that would require retailers to check identification in order to avoid selling M-rated games to minors. Lee Terry – a republican from Nebraska – and Jim Matheson – a democrat from Utah – partnered together in an attempt to bring the bill to fruition.
The Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act will ensure that children “can only access age appropriate content without parental permission,” Terry told Variety. If the bill went into effect, retailers would be required to check identification for purchases of Mature games. Video game retailers would also be required to post information on the ESRB ratings system, something that the majority of video game outlets already participate in. If a retailer was found guilty of selling a game to a minor they would face a $5,000 penalty.
“The images and themes in some videogames are shocking and troublesome,” Terry continued. “In some games high scores are often earned by players who commit ‘virtual’ murder, assault and rape. Many young children are walking into stores and are able to buy or rent these games without their parents even knowing about it. Many retailers have tried to develop voluntary policies to make sure mature games do not end up in the hands of young kids, but we need to do more to protect our children.”
Terry is hopeful about the law, despite the fact that many similar legislative proposals have been shot down in the past. “This bill doesn’t involve itself in content or defining the standards for ‘mature’ or ‘adults only,’” he told Variety. “It simply requires the retailer to post what the industry has defined as ‘mature’ and ‘adults only’ so that parents can know, and requires checking of identification,” Terry added.
The Parents Television Council – who we recently had a chance to interview about the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV – issued a statement today verifying their support of the bill.
“It’s high time a common-sense bill like the one introduced today be signed into law,” PTC President Tim Winter weighted in. “Video game ratings supposedly exist to protect children from material that is created for adults, but there is no consequence for irresponsible retailers who repeatedly sell these games to children. The importance of this issue cannot be overstated when considering the array of games that include content too deplorable and disgusting to describe in detail. Games like ‘Grand Theft Auto IV’ appeal to the lowest common denominator by actually rewarding criminal activity and offering the gamer everything from a chance to drive drunk to the opportunity to solicit services from a prostitute.”
“The voluntary code of retailer accountability put forward by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) needs teeth. There must be a consequence for those retailers who fail to abide it, and that is precisely what this legislation provides. Our own grassroots campaigns have consistently proven that minors can buy M-rated games with relative ease, clearly demonstrating that the current system is broken. The Parents Television Council has been at the vanguard of this issue in various states across the country and will continue to push for national legislation that would codify the industry’s own standards. We urge Congress to help parents safeguard their kids by passing a bill that ensures children will no longer have unfettered access to adult video games,” Winter concluded.”
Today, one day after the public proposal of the bill, the Federal Trade Commission released a report showing a drastic decrease in the number of successful secret shoppers able to purchase Mature rated games. Via GamePolitics we learned that the FTC results show that only 20% of the time underage youth were able to purchase M-rated titles, which is a large improvement from last years 42% rate. Surprisingly, DVD retailers allowed minors to purchase R-rated or unrated movies more than half the time, and theaters allowed underage youth into mature movies 35% of the time.
According to a graph on the FTC website, in 2000 secret shoppers were successful 85% of the time when attempting to purchase M-rated games. Considering the number has dropped 65% in 8 years, the game industry should pat themselves on the back.
UPDATE:
The Entertainment Consumers Association had this to say about the recently released FTC results:
"This is an extraordinary accomplishment from the nation's leading interactive entertainment retailers, as it clearly shows their increased commitment of keeping mature-rated games out of children's hands," said Hal Halpin, president of the Entertainment Consumers Association, the non-profit membership organization which represents US video game players (gamers). “Perhaps most impressive is the incredible reversal in their failure rate over such a short period of time and with a comparatively new rating system. This is truly a vindication for video game merchants who have been falsely damned by anti-game advocates and special interest groups, who now don’t have a leg to stand on. Our congratulations and thanks are extended to these retailers, who, above music and movie merchants, have proven their word, empowered parents and shown a commitment to corporate social responsibility.”