Congress doesn't get games?

[leunas]

Perhaps these esteemed representatives of the people themselves should sit down with their children or grandchildren and play a video game or two. A Gaming Insider article implied this in reaction to the proposed "Truth in Video Game Ratings Act" working its way through Congress right now.

As mentioned by a MyQJ blogger last month, the new law would require the ESRB to play through the entire video game to "properly" rate it, and to develop a "general rating system" to cover all electronic media: TV, movies, music, and video games.

The reason why "Congress doesn't get it," as industry watchers have noted, is because video games aren't like movies, music, or TV. This isn't a two-hour snorefest with a clean beginning and a clean end. Video games are time-intensive, player-interactive, storyline-branching, Easter-egg-dropping entertainment that nothing else can compare to - and that's just the beginning. Add user-created content and the online experience, and the ratings job becomes Herculean, if not impossible.

Article's conclusion: ask the ESRB to play through an entire game to see all its hidden and overt content, and it's practically asking them to sign their own death warrant, by Congressional act. While the ESRB may need some beefing up, this Congressional solution it seems, is taking a sledgehammer to the entire thing.

Whatever happened to simply playing these games with your kid? Freedom of expression in media and in the net notwithstanding, it's responsible parenthood, and kids growing up need a responsible role model - or at least someone to remind them that unlike Grand Theft Auto, the real-world police will pawn you. Heck of a lot cheaper than any bill Congress would pass, too.

Speaking of which, this reminds me of a joke. Pro is to con as Progress is to...


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