Oklahoma Game Bill Signed into Law; No Word (Yet) From ESA |
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In our first report about the Oklahoma Violent Video Games Bill, Oklahoman gamers still had some room to hope that this one would get junked since during that time the bill was still at the Senate level. But in this recent development, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry has beaten the deadline to sign bills passed in this year's regular session.Among the many bills that were signed into law was House Bill 3004, a.k.a. the Violent Video Games Bill. This law, as we've told you, will prohibit the sale of video games that feature inappropriate and gratuitous violence to minors. Violence in this case is defined as "any depiction in a game that, when taken as a whole, would be found offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community (with respect to minors) by the average person 18 or older, and which lacks serious literary, scientific, medical, artistic or political value for minors. " The governor also said in a statement that "the violence in video games has grown to epic proportions."
As the saying goes, dura lex sed lex-- the law is harsh but it is the law. Oklahomans could only hope that their game law would suffer the same fate as that of the Illinois Video Game Law that was deemed unconstitutional citing the violation of the First Amendment.
Oklahoma is just one of the many U.S. states to pass such a bill. Recently, Minnesota signed their Game Bill into law; this states that underage gamers who will be caught buying "M" rated games will be punished with a $25 fine. Other states such as Florida are pushing for the same law while California already passed a violent games law.
There has been no statement from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) with regards to this development in Oklahoma. But it won't be surprising if they would fight this law the same way that they are contesting the Minnesota law. Check back with us for updates.
Thanks for the heads up, enterman!
Via The Oklahoman
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Comments [refresh]
Wouldn't such a bill cause retailers in oklahoma to stop stocking violent games just cuz they can't sell to minors?
I swear this state just finds any way possible to make people leave...
Well. Living in Oklahoma just got alot worse.....I actually tried to apply at EB Games but I can't do that because of the law. Now you have to be 18! Not 17. Oh well. People are so nice here you can give someone the money and have them buy it for you, so it's not all that bad. Heheheh.
you guys are really stupid. either that or your states kick ass.i don't know a single store around my area that doesn't have an age restriction anyway
I live in california, they have had the age restriction for a while, and even before that most chain-retailers still wouldnt sell you an M rated game if you were under 17. so to #1, its going to make retailers stop stocking it, that would be like them not stocking rated R movies....
I live in Oklahoma too.. can somebody give me Brad Henry's e-mail and all the contacts i'd need to start an internet riot against this fool for passing this ABSURD bill.
ONE FREAKING JUDGE now gets to deem what gets to be put on store shelves and what doesn't... BRAD HENRY, you.. are a ******* moron.
Look, I don't see the problem with this law. If you are underage and your parents think it is fine for you to have a M rated game then they buy it for you. If they don't then you shouldn't have it anyway. Most idiot "gamers" are probably of the mentality of 'oh,my parents don't approve of me having violent games, well forget them, I'm getting one anyway' This law just gives parents a bit of a say in what their children are doing. which is fine by me.
To control these hellions
lmfao... in canada u cant buy m rated games unles u 17+ wats the point in the ratings if they arnt enforced oh and no fine up here:P
Sue, Sue, sue and the video game will lose. THE industry needs to ge new leadership; with new views and reslove this issue.
Wait... They can't actually take games off of the shleves because of minors? that seems to be a misleading part of the bill for me
***** YOU BRAD HENRY I *****ING LIVE IN OKLAHOMA I WANT TO *****IGN AGHHHHHHHHHHH I HATE ZYOU* !!!! I WILL NEVER *****ING GIVE YOU A VOTE IF I CAN ID *****ING VOTE FOR *****ING ANY ONE BUT YOU EVEN THO I CANT VOTE I MAKING OTHERS CHANGE THERE VOTE YOU ASS HOLE
Is that Richard Dryfuss? If only politicians could do something helpful for people rather than wasting so much time on a law that ISN'T EVEN ENFORCABLE. What about Medicaid cuts? Don't people need health care? Or jobs? This is the hot topic and it makes them look like they care about our children, at least to idiots. Next will be the total irrelevant issue of gay marriage for the next 6 months.
have you even READ the bill? It considers ANY game that is deemed by one (only one) judge in the state to be too malicious for minors, making it classified as "Pornography".
Now, this means that almost ALL retail stores will take that game off of their shelves because their company policy doesn't ALLOW pornographic material to be sold in their stores. (includes Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, and all gaming stores)
The only places that you will be able to purchase the game is either "out of the states with that bill" and "online". Then, the publishers will stop publishing titles that get deemed too inappropriate for minors because they will lose sales (practically no distribution to stores).
In turn, the creators will stop MAKING games that are too malicious for minors (save a few) because they won't have anybody to distribute their games that get deemed as "pornographic".
That should answer what the bill REALLY is doing.
It also goes against the constitution buddy!
lmfao... in canada u cant buy m rated games unles u 17+ wats the point in the ratings if they arnt enforced oh and no fine up here:P
Remember, games sold directly via the Internet completely bypass the ESRB. No law will ever effect these kinds of games, because enforcement is impossible.
um yes ***** oklahoma ive been there theres nothing, so i dont give a ***** if they sign the bill, personly all liberals suck and let ppl cross borders and ban games.