Indy Game Bill Would Impose $1,000 Fine

[leunas]

A Senate committee in Indianapolis on Monday passed a bill that would impose a fine of up to $1,000 on retailers who sell Mature-rated games to minors.



The Senate Economic Development and Technology Committee passed the bill 5-2 after viewing unnamed games that represented the very edge of the Mature-rated envelope. The Indianapolis Star said that the exhibited games featured “obscene and racist language" and high levels of violence.

Aside from possible fines, the bill would make it a Class B infraction to sell an M- or AO-rated game to anyone under 18.

Republican Sen. David C. Ford and Democratic Sen. Vi Simpson penned Senate Bill 238. Simpson said that Entertainment Software Rating Board markings aren’t enough to deter underagers from buying violent games.

“You become the character, for better or for worse," said Simpson. “…If you think [children] are not playing these games because there's an 'M' on the box, you're badly mistaken."

The Entertainment Software Association and Entertainment Merchants Association were both on hand to argue against the passing of the bill. Both of the parties outlined the steps the games industry has taken to keep violent games out of minors’ hands.

Similar bills have failed in the past in other states due to First Amendment issues.


www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4770&Itemid=2

[leunas]

Indiana Senate Passes Anti-Violent Game Bill



According to a report from the Indianapolis Star, a Senate committee in Indiana has passed a measure by a vote of 5-2 that would fine retailers $1000 for selling or renting M or AO-rated games to minors. The vote came after senators viewed a video compilation of unspecified games that depicted “obscene and racist language.”

The bill, SB0238, was authored by Senators Vi Simpson (pictured) and David C. Ford, and represents the latest in a large number of U.S. State-specific video game bills. Simpson had previously sponsored another Indiana game related bill in early 2006, though that proposed legislation was quickly dismissed due to a lack of support.

"You become the character, for better or for worse," commented Simpson, who argues that video games are different from other forms of media. “If you think (children) are not playing these games because there's an 'M' on the box, you're badly mistaken." Having passed the Senate committee, the proposed legislation has now moved on to be debated before the full Senate at a later date.

The Senate committee was also addressed by Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) as well as the Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA) industry trade association.

According to the report, representatives from both organizations commented that the industry has taken steps to give parents the necessary tools to monitor the games that children play as well as work at a retail level to keep games out of the hands of minors.

POSTED: 09.01AM PST, 02/20/07 - Jason Dobson


www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=12828

[leunas]

Indiana game bill put on ice



The Indiana State Senate has elected to stall legislation that would have made the sale of M- and AO-rated games to minors unlawful and punishable by up a $1,000 fine. Despite being approved by a Senate committee earlier this week, the bill has been deemed unconstitutional in its current state and will be passed along to a study committee for further evaluation -- and, as co-sponsor Sen. David Ford (R) hopes, revised to pass under the First Amendment. "Eventually we're going to have to deal with it," warned Sen. Vi Simpson (D), the bill's other co-sponsor.


www.joystiq.com/2007/02/23/indiana-game-bill-put-on-ice/