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NIMF undercover survey shows 46% retailers sell M-rated games to minors

Posted Nov 22, 2007 at 4:40PM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: Tags: ESRB, Florida, Jack Thompson, NIMF

0
NIMF) revealed that 46% of 60 retailers in the U.S. sell M-rated titles to minors without second thought.

According to The San Diego Union-Tribune, the group led by the East County Youth Coalition sneaked around and found out that 46% of 60 stores surveyed in the U.S. were willing to sell mature games to teens.

East County Youth Coalition and other youth groups aware of the survey results called out to retailers to provide formal training for employees. They also asked for M-rated games to be separated from other titles.

Some may remember anti-violent video game lawyer Jack Thompson who previously proved that his 15-year old son

Despite "M" labelled games being completely off-limits to minors, a two-month undercover survey by the National Institute on Media and Family (can buy M-rated games like Halo 3 and Bioshock. While such problems are still widespread, the situation is getting better if we look back at the Federal Trade Commission's report last April. Since year 2000, parents are becoming more aware and less minors are able to buy what they're not supposed to have until they're 18.

Via San Diego Union - Tribune

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I don't think it's the retailers responsibility to check for id's. Games are not a brown paper bag items. If parents don't want their kids playing M rated games, they can use the parental controls on the kid's console to stop them from playing it. Parents can't do that with music, movies or titty mags.

# Jeez! — RockmanForte 2007-11-23 01:44

The retailers are an idiots. They have no rights and I hope the law is getting stricter and do something about it.

# "rockmanforte" — Payka 2007-11-23 03:21

Before you go calling other people "an idiots" you should probably check your own grammar.

It is the parent's responsibility to enforce what their kids should be watching. Ratings are guidelines not censorships. It is the parent's responsibility to censor. I'm sorry if your's dont care about you "rockman"

# So??? — Vipre77 2007-11-23 03:55

M for Mature means it's meant for people 17+. You're still a minor until you're 18 (in most situations, at any rate, for the basic definition of the term "minor"). So, theoretically, it's possible, though not likely, that the lion's share of that 46% figure is made up of 17 years olds that, technically, are still minors, but meet the requirements for the game's rating.

This statistic is meaningless without more detail and without any kind of confidence band. Anyone could say that 90% of retailers are selling to 5 year olds, but if the confidence in that figure is 0%, it's completely meaningless.

# Good point. — FreePlay 2007-11-23 09:07

Also, Jack Thompson proved nothing. He was *WITH* his sons when they bought the M-rated games.

# Hmm. — idonnoimconfused 2007-11-23 10:23

I was going to say the exact same thing, Vipre77. This statistic is completely worthless without it breaking down what age groups they sold M rated games to since 17 years olds are old enough to buy the game, yet are still a minor. I'd like to give a big F U to the company behind this statistic. All they're doing is playing around with numbers to try and make retailers look bad.

# Who *****ing cares? — Mister Commune Ist 2007-11-23 11:13

This isn't like selling alcohol or cigs to infants. It's not illegal to sell M rated games to minors. This is a non-issue. I'm going to start a campaign called "Manhunt for Minors" where I buy the game for any minor who can pay for it, then I hand it to him in front of the store clerk/media outlet/Jack Thompson, followed by giving whoever is watching a big "***** you"! America: There are more important "issues" to focus on.

# i hate to tell you — GW2 2007-12-04 13:10

but the ESRB ratings arent law. its actually legal to sell an m rated game to a 5 year old. its 100% voluntary. im not saying m rated games should be sold to five year olds. im just saying its legal.

# haha — GW2 2007-12-04 13:12

i didnt know that freeplay. thanks for the info.

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NIMF undercover survey shows 46% retailers sell M-rated games to minors

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