interesting.... good read! hey didb't ur name used to be sarad why did u change it?

screw clinton she is goin to lose a lot of votes this way. i love my videogames violent. if parents want to buy violent games for their kids then that is their problem. dont screw up games for the rest of us

Idk, im not really worried about censorship.  It would be really difficult for any group to win a court case over video games,  at least over the obscenity of the games.   In Roth v. U.S., the Supreme Court defined obscenity as any material "utterly without redeeming social importance."  Any game can be argued to have social importance.  Plus,  it's a 17 billion dollar industry, there is significance in that.  Furthermore, like the article mentioned, games are protected by the first amendment.  We always have a choice whether or not to buy the game, and retailers always have a choice on whether or not to sell a game.  As long as that choice is still there, it doesnt violate the first amendment.  The only real arguement that anyone could propose is for minors.  In which case, there is a rating system set up and at this current point, it's up to the parents to understand the rating.  Either way,  that can't deny anyone older than minors the right to buy the violent video games.  I didnt read the full article, so this might have been mentioned.

Thats why ive been saying: Barack Obama For President!!!!!! Hillary just wants to screw us out of playing quality games..

VOTE BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!!!! VOTE PRO-GAMING!!!!!!!!

amazing how an idiot like Jack thompson can continue to dictate to the masses on how he feels parents like myself are unable to monderate what games we allow are children to play. If this is allowed what next TV,movies, and even radio or music? Come on does he and our goverment really think we need them to parent us? I personaly am insulted by the thought of an idiot like Jack Thompson trying to take my rights to be a good parent because he has a personal problem with a few video games that any parent like myself would not allow any of my children to play.

And as far as those few un resposible parents that dont suprevise the purchases of thier kids we have a rating system that requires the retail market to supervise them by asking for proof of age before selling the game.

My gosh why punish teh many who do thier job for the few that dont ? Why hasnt this idiot Jack Thompson lost his right to file these foolish laws and for wasting the taxpayers hard earned tax dollars kicking his lame law suits out of court..

psn id: gingo.... excellently written piece and enjoyable to read i am glad there is that "free speech" law in US becasue without that there wouldn't be as many games hence UK would not get them either so i'm glad this is in place

clinton sux~!!!!!!! There i said it!!! Now throw some criticism at me democraps!!!!!

I don't agree with censorship by the government at all, I'm all for responsible parents censoring their children. I'm so tired of having to debate over why censorship could be good, when really, all it does it hurt. It causes the children of america, and I would assume it's the same around the globe, to try and obtain it. Who was a child once who never tried to get something because it was "bad" or you "weren't supposed to get it" whether it be something as small as candy, to trying to find pornogrophy, the children will always seek what they can't have. Censorship exalts the things that we don't want children to be seeing, when parents take the time to help their children understand what things are, understand what things mean, understand the difference between right and wrong, we don't have to worry about censorship, we have to worry about our own government trying to take away our rights as parents, children, and individuals.

I'm voting for Obama, Hilary has too much of a knee jerk reaction about games and dosent do her homework on WHY the game is violent. If she cant take the time to read the back of a game box before forming an opinion on it what will she screw up as PRESIDENT?

Games like most forms of entertainment, except for books, have a rating system in place to decide who it's appropriate for, Why is it that a 15 year old cant see a rated R movie without and adult? why should they be allowed to buy a M rated game without a parent present? they shouldnt and thus there need to be people making decisions about this, they're called PARENTS and they should be PARENTING by making sure their kids are doing things that they should and not doing things they shouldnt. Games as entertainment are protected by the first amendment just like any other expression of creativity, whether done by one person or 500 just like a movie or a book (heck books dont even have ratings, yet a 10 year old can pick up a romance novel and instantly be exposed to pornographic descriptions of sexual intercourse, Why isnt THAT under more scrutiny? because it's not visual? eff that noise kids have the most vivid imaginations in existance if they cant imagine the acts taking place just as well as it would look on a game screen then they have no imagination at all.)

Kids see more violence on CNN then in videogames. Scape goating isn't cool.

The problem is parenting.  They don't monitor what their kids are doing.  Kids don't know how to behave on the internet and they're all trying to fit in with each other.  You give these kids a headset and put them on an online FPS or TPS and soon they turn into little  annoyances.   Oh how I miss the days of play EQOA and being able to /ignore <target>

Lazy fat a## parents need to monitor their kids and we wouldn't have so many angry punks shooting up our schools.

@demobot... the majority of kids don't watch CNN, or the news for that matter.

Great written article, I really didn't see the candidate part coming, but it just showed me more of one-of-the-soon-to-be President. Also, I'm glad that I live in the US because some countries do have it harder than us when it comes to ratings and censorship, this also goes the other way. For example in some nations like Honduras, there almost no enforced rating system at all, trust me I went there and saw a few games that weren't even rated. Anyway good article Tyrell.

First off, if you are clueless enough to base your presidential vote on this issue alone..., you don't deserve the right.  Secondly (back on subject), it is an unfortunate state of the world we live in that children are allowed to run rampant without any "moral" instruction from their parents.  We (as a gaming community) are not the first ones to be placed as the scape goats for violence in the community.  Anyone remember all the hubbub with movies not too long ago?  There are already ESRB restrictions placed on videogames in this country (U.S.) and they need to be severely enforced.  If you are under 18 and want a game rated M.... then talk with your parents...if they feel you are mature enough to handle the content...then so be it... but the Constitution does not grant children (and yes, teens under 18 are children) the right to do whatever they want to do.  I personally buy some M rated games for our child because I play them with him, but if I found out he obtained one on his own from a store, I would close them down.  Most stores support the ESRB restrictions, but some do not check ID if they look young.  Parents need to step up and accept responsibility for their children and stop blaming others for their own failures.  We in the U.S. are very fortunate to live with the freedoms we do and we need to stop whining and take responsibility for these freedoms ourselves before the Govt. has to step in and do it for us.

Hmm nice article!

There are alot of interesting views here.  I agree that parents are the sole responsability holders when it comes to the games their children play.  I have a daughter, who doesn't even know what a video game is yet,  but when she becomes aware what they are, I will most certainly keep an eye on what she is putting into her mind.  Whether it be movies, music, or video games.  It is not the governments place to tell me what my daughter needs or doesn't need.  I am the one responsible for her.  When people realize that nobody is forced to do, or think, or be anyone they don't want to be,  they will realize that no one is to blame for anyones actions except that person themself.  Regardless of race, or religion, or any of that.  What one does is what they chose to do.  The game didn't pull the trigger.  The movie didn't light that fire.  Whatever the instance, it comes down to the action of the person, not the enviroment.

Well, I pretty much already knew that Hillary was 100% Anti-Video game, but I didn't now where Barack Obama stood on the issue until now... very interesting. And I pretty much thought that McCain would be against Video Games because most older people are against video games... oh yea that guy is old as ****!!

Anyways, I'm pretty sure that anyone that wants to vote for a candidate that will not be against Video Games harshly will vote for Obama. Obama appeals to the majority of younger voters and if he was against Video Games as harshly as Hillary or McCain, he would definantly loose that support. I haven't seen young voters like myself so excited about a presidential race ever. 

But, I just can't stand how the media always points the finger at video games. I mean seriously, what is the difference between GTA and a Rated R movie?... Absolutely nothing! People still have this thing in the back of their minds that video games are for "children". Video games like GTA are for young adults and grown ups.

But at the end of the day these politicans that oppose video games can talk all they want because when they see how much money the Video Game Industry brings in annually in the U.S. (Billions of Dollars) they shut their mouths.The Video Game Industry is just as big as the Motion Picture Industry and Thousands of people would be jobless if there were no video games and right now, the last thing America needs is more job losses.

As long as there is Adult films and Violent movies, the Video Game Industry isn't going anywhere. If Video Games were banned then every other form of provactive/violent entertainment should be banned as well because Video Games are literally the same as a Movie these days and they are incomparable in terms of content.

Article is slightly wrong.. theres a pretty big leap between Australia's "M" and "MA" rating.. M is reserved for games/films like Shadow of the Colossus, The Terminator, etc... where as MA is still fairly heavy with games like Resident Evil 4, 28 Weeks Later. Hopefully by the end of the month all that'll change with an R rating introduction into Australia for video games! Evveryone cross your fingers :)

Whatever man.  You wanna see violence?  Take away my games and you'll get a riot if I have any say in it.  Flip cars, play with lighters, etc...

Games are the best way to release aggression without actually hurting anybody.  Nobody will ever be able to prove videogames cause violence, just like nobody will ever be able to prove gun control lowers crime.

A game tax for juvies?  Why not add tax to guns, alcohol, and tobacco.  I'm sure at 2 out of the 3 are used by juvies!  Why are games the cause of this?

Second, there are laws telling you what kind of clothes or car you can't wear/drive.  Wear a banana hammock down the street in any major city.  Indecency laws!  Next, there are many cars produced in Europe that are not considered legal here.  You can buy and order the car but without the engine!

I could go on and on.......

i agree with you guys :)

Hillary Clinton is the one who's headlining all this censorship

its the parents like most of yall said....the parents should always go with them to buy a videogame if there underage so they can look at the game first.They should not ruin it for the teens and adults.not fair... at all GO OBOMA!!!

Thanks for bringing this to light

Hey guys. Australia ain't that bad, I bought GTA III for $50 when I was 14 years old. Also we do actually have a rating higher than "M for Mature" we've got "MA"(which is 15+) and I've seen games with 16+ ratings. Poor Chinese guys they're like the creators of videogames and they can't even play MMORPG's for more than 3 hours.

@ Munu20: Damn straight, you would think that they would already have a tax on guns seeing as anyone can buy one, they would increase govt. revenue greatly.

Here is Ausralia, we need R18+ censorship due to the fact we dont get alot of games coming out of USA as they dont meet the MA15+ so us over 18 gamers always miss out!

Great article!!!! U.S. we da BES!!!! No VG censorship!!!! If society blames video games for REAL global problems then this world is seriously coming to an end!!!! The Gaming Industry Forever!!!! SONY and all other companies keep bringing us them hit titles!!!! O and it's about time we(blacks) took over after countless years of struggle(SLAVERY)!!!! E.G.: BARACK OBAMA, DAVID PATERSON!!!! YEAH, THATS RIGHT, LOOK 'EM UP CUZ WE(THE PROUD AFRICAN/BLACK AMERICAN RACE) DA BESSSS!!!!!!  

Very good article.

IMO, video games as a form of entertainment should be treated no differently than any movie in reference to censorship or ratings.

The problem is, parents and authorities seem to need to be educated about gaming to an extent for them to understand games are not just for kids. I mean, which little kids can afford a modern console?

I also agree that parents and authority figures need to stop pointing the finger at entertainment sources as the root & cause of all evil. Its time for them to take responsibility for themselves and their kids by ensuring they only play suitable content just as they would ensure they do not smoke, drink or watch unsuitable movies. If you want to change society for the better, then start in your own home. You don't bring justice to all by embarking on self-righteous and Holier-than-Thou crusade to bring focus onto your scape-goat.

Act like parents and maybe your children have a better chance of acting like children.

Or would you prefer the state take care of all your responsibilities? If that is the case, then put your kids into state care & sign yourself up to a mental institute.

Awesome read,really informative:-)

Good article

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@ mertinezj77:  Barack is not pro gaming.  He just isn't as extreme as the rest of the candidates.  Voting for Barack Hussein Obama on the sole fact that he is less anti-gaming than the rest is utterly ignorant.  If you can't be educated on the issues, you might as well not vote.

I will be voting for McCain for many reasons.  As old as he is, he has a more pressing agenda than video game regulation.  Both Democratic candidates are closer to the younger generation and therefore, more of a threat.  Clinton wants to get rid of violent video games but hasn't said a thing about the glorification of killing with movies such as Hostel or Saw.  Barack seems to be a less of a threat, but he wants to waste federal money trying to figure out how video games affect people.  How many studies have been done about this?  We don't need more federal money thrown at a self-regulating business.  The ESRB does a fine job in itself and enough pressure has already been put on retail stores to ID people for video game purchases (I'm 19 and I was still carded for DMC4).

It is those same parents, who feed their kids fast food for dinner because they can't cook and complain about obesity, that are too busy to pay attention to their kids.  Kids go crazy because parents try so hard to give their kids a better life that they forget to actually spend time with them.  Throwing video games at kids is not parenting.

In my opinion, McCain has already won.  The Democrats might have had a chance using Obama or Clinton in this election, but not both.  Now they don't know who to elect for their party and all the "traditionalists" will be voting Republican, just based on sex and/or race.  Plus McCain is different enough from traditional Republicans that the crazy anti-Bush people will actually take a look at him.  Crazy uneducated people.