You're suprised at consistent ignorance and hypocrisy from politicians?

Remember, both Democrats and Republicans are not interested in what is good for their constituents, but what will make them look good so they can stay in power.
The day Free Speech (in any medium) is truly defended by politicians is the day we get Independents in office (or Libertarians ;P )

Parents should do their jobs, as parents and know what they are buying for their kids. It is not, the retailers/game companies job to know what lil timmy is playing. Read the ESRB ratings people.

If keeping the kids away from rated M games will help the industry make video games edgier for the over-21 audience, I'm all for it.

I'm one member of a whole generation of adult gamers. I like Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarrantino movies. I can't wait to see what similar artists are able to do with video games, once the politics of "protect the children" has been settled.

Wait; so california, although being essentially broke, has the money to hire lawyers to defend an unconstitutional law that doesn't even earn them any tax revenue?

Parents and Guardians should take responsibility and become educated and involved in their children's lives.

thats the think parents dont do their job with regulating what their children play. its true its not the game companies it's their job to make the consumer happy. parents that are knowable with videos will regulate what their children play and will not complain. but if a normal person will just buy the game for their kid because their kid is ... See Morebitching and complain they want it, they are going to see how bloody and violent it is and complain to the government that there should be a law passed to regulate or just ban games like that.

the confusing thing about this to me is why when i purchased diablo II in stores in florida years ago (actually, my dad, but i was there) was carded... he was actually really mad because he didn't like the idea of the store needlessly entering his license into their computer system. they wouldn't have sold it to me by myself. is florida still acting this way?

I really hate Schwarzenegger. I really do.

Can't parents make good, well imformed decisoins based off from the current rating system? Well, some parents really aren't too bright. When I went to see Burton's adaptation of Sweeney Todd a father was there with his kids and (I presume) some of his friends kids; once the violence started (but right before the lovely montage :p) he left in anger ... See Morewith his kids, who were apparently confused about why they were leaving. This man ignored the R rating and assumed that Tim Burton always does family flicks. The sad thing is, the kids didn't care; they were fine. I saw him later arguing with an theatre attendant. I wish parents would do their job, resist the urge to take up a false cause, and stop stripping rights away from their children.

Ah-nold really screwed the pooch. The greatest part about California's argument: there are also studies showing a negative correlation between violent video games and real world violence.....they might just actually release enough stress to prevent people from acting out violently.

wow this is so stupid, im 19 n i always get id =.= and im pretty sure the parent would buy it for the kid regardless of it having a big sticker that says 18 an over

If their that crazy about labeling, then why don't they put a huge 21 on alcohol or plaster a giant 16 on the latest cars? This is just one HUGE waste of time, energy, and money! The ESRB has already set a system in place to inform parents/guardians what rating the game received, in addition to what content should be found in the game. They don't ... See Moreneed to stick a huge 18 on the front of a game to let someone know that the game is intended for mature audiences only. More importantly, they shouldn't be wasting their time trying to ban violent games but instead spend it informing parents on how to spot which games aren't suitable for thier kids. Because the main problem they should be addressing is not the gaming industry, but the parents who haphazardly purchase Grand Theft Auto IV or Halo: ODST for their 8-year old child. Ignorance all the way...

He shoulda stuck to playing the robot from the future.

The really terrible thing about all this is that it's all moot if the Supreme Court rules on the side of this law. Every sign points the other way, but there is still the possibility of this thing passing. If it does, the slippery slope of the rights to free speech could erode into nothingness. This is scary, people.

Too many clueless parents out there. If your kid is 'reenacting' something...somewhere down the line you didn't make it clear enough between reality and fantasy.

No censorship. Let it be known and let it be shown.(or heard)

I live in Georgia, one of few Open Carry states where you can openly carry a firearm. I am licensed, registered, and I carry my .45ACP with me most everywhere. I've played plenty of violent video games (since Doom when I was 8) and you don't see me flying off the handle. I get along with most everyone, especially law enforcement. If anyone is a ... See Moreposter child against those goofy allegations, I'd be one of them. Hell, if it wasn't for violent video games when I was in middle school, I might have hurt someone... thank God for that healthy medium within which to vent and parents that had brain cells.

Hey, how's this - Video Games were the reason I joined the Military. Not because I wanted to act out violent fantasies, either, but because I wanted to help save people. I wonder what Jacky-Boy would have to say to that.

Kyle: If you are talking about Jack Thompson( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Thompson_%28activist%29 ). You'll notice he's been disbarred.

its total crap. i hope the american people win. this is just wrong!

In certain states stores already get fined for selling rated-M games to minors. Which is why some stores won't sell rated-M games to minors but will sell the game to the minor's parent or guardian. Most will try to inform the parent or guardian. But in the end it is the parent;s or guardian's choice whether to buy it or not. One supreme court ... See Morealready declared video games as a form of free speech and is protect under the same protection as movies, music, and books. Now California, lets stop the bullsh!t and taxpayer dollars on this.

I find the comment that "By prohibiting the sale of violent video games to children under the age of 18 and requiring these games to be clearly labeled, this law would allow parents to make better informed decisions for their kids." Games are already clearly rated and labeled and still parents and guardians do not make better informed decisions for their kids.

Don't know what California is beginning to sound like Fox News.

The people actually thinking this Isn't such a bad idea are not at all seeing the whole picture, keep in mind that no other medium has the legal enforcement being proposed against the video game industry. The law simply has no place or right to step in to this situation, these are family values ticket politicians, an oxy-moron to begin with, trying... See More to scapegoat something their demographic doesn't understand so they have something to brag about come election time. The main issue with this law, that makes it such a "big deal" is that its basically going to start us down a path we cant back up on, once this is passed the door is open for every other unconstitutional law to pass, the key is holding them off until they die and this is no longer a hot button issue, eventually the people in power will have grown up with this shit and it wont matter to the public anymore.

Parents need to pay attention to the ratings on these games; they're no joke! They buy it just to keep junior from whining and then wonder why he suddenly thinks that pimpin ain't easy. For the Force's sake there were things in Grand Theft Auto that offended ME and I'm 35! PAY ATTENTION TO THE DAMN RATINGS!

R movies are ok, but M games are not? I think this is more a reaction to problems between Take Two and the CTA than some measured policy choice.

I went to the site, and to submit an email to my friends about it, my security words to type in were "Today's opiates"...LOL! I sent it to failblog. I know they were randomly chosen, but that's hilarious.

Wait... I was in Chicago on July 22nd. When we took the train, there were advertisments for The Collector, a movie made by the people behind the SAW series so it's CLEARLY R-rated. Violent movies are okay, but video games aren't? This sounds like a 1st amendment violation to me...

yes, they improve hand-eye coordination... so you can get even BETTER at video games! :D

hand-eye coordination is also very valuable in sports and driving a vehicle!!

So, companies heaping gobs of money on showcasing their company and products, objectifying women in some cases, and out glitzing the small companies is the way to go for E3? ;)

ummm....basic psychology will teach you that correlation doesn't always equal causation

Well, I kinda hope that basic psychology or ANY science class will teach you that correlation NEVER equals causation. :) It's a starting point for further study and it may very well turn out that the items in correlation DO exist in a causal relationship. But a correlational link alone will never imply that a causal one exists.

We're living in a tough economy. Get money while you still can, the gaming industry sure is!