Violent Games Still Marketed to Kids, Says FTC

[exfileme]

The FTC says that the gaming, music, and movie industry could do a better job, but the gaming segment is doing better than the other two.

Violent Games Still Marketed to Kids, Says FTC : Read more

 

[welshmousepk]

and alcohol is still marketed to teenagers.

obviously though, its the video games causing kids to hang around on the streets starting fights and stealing stuff. not the alcohol.

 

[Honis]

however all three need to improve self-regulation, especially when it comes to viral online marketing and mobile games.

How can the companies regulate Viral Marketing? They do everything (and more) than porn sites to make sure kids either lie (enter a wrong b-date) or goes "geewiz I better not" (lulz). It's not like the site can ask for Social Security numbers and other forms of ID on websites.

Besides, isn't viral marketing things like an actor Tweeting that X movie they're in is F-ing awesome and the blog'o'sphere giving reviews, posting pictures, etc? (Oh wait, the government decided blogs are under their jurisdiction... great!)

Kevin, change the picture to an FCC guy censoring Peter's life from Family Guy. I'd think that's more appropriate for this article.

 

[ubernoobie]

if kids didn't know any games, they would be all working hard and having more family time in their lifetime

 

[RooD]

Guns don't kill people, kids playing violent video games do.

 

[socrates047]

Its all about priorities, kids playing violent videogames don't grow up to be serial killers, there are just too many factors involved. To have a conclusive study, one would have to definitively answer the question of, nature vs nurture. All we can do is not hope for the best society, rather the best possible society by educating are kids through government funded programs at schools; the problem with this is schools get the ass end of funding, while the military gets fucking spartan laser guns and warthogs. lol

 

[randomizer]

In Australia we don't market "violent" games to kids, we just ban them.

 

[leafblower29]

It's not like the game forces them to to be violent, they have the choice of being violent.

 

[butcher]

damn you south Australian attorney general "shacks fist"

no R-rating for us

 

[butcher]

damn you south Australian attorney general "shacks fist"

no R-rating for us

 

[croc]

[citation][nom]randomizer[/nom]In Australia we don't market "violent" games to kids, we just ban them.[/citation]

...And that is so hard to get around...

Not having a (whatever) 18+ classification is a royal pain in the ass. But the AUS Post has never blocked a shipment to me, yet...

 

[randomizer]

[citation][nom]croc[/nom]...And that is so hard to get around...[/citation]
It's a minor inconvenience, but it's still an inconvenience that shouldn't exist. I buy most of my games on Steam now anyway, and they are often cheaper in the US, so I just get them gifted. AVP got banned recently, I think it's a record number of bans this year :lol:

 

[IzzyCraft]

Rated M for mature in the us means you need an adult or something to be 17 to buy it and every major retailer follows those rules so don't want your child buying scary shit don't buy it for them.

 

[skine]

The problem is that an M rating in the game industry is closer to a PG and above* in the film industry, and what gets an M in the gaming instury gets attacked more than an R-rated film.

Hell, Halo was given an M rating, and I remember IGN (which I read at the time) had a section on whether your parents would object, stating that they wouldn't unless they were obviously aliens.

Basically, a prime time TV show can get away with more than an M-rated video game.


*(often PG-13+ and rarely approaches R-rating. Aside from Custer's Revenge, I'm not sure what would generate anything higher)

 

[skine]

And yes, M and R have the same age restrictions, as does consensual sex (in NY, and as is about the average in the US) and the ability to drive at night (again, at least in NY state).

 

[Manos]

And then you have those retards at Australia banning every other game ( not talking about the ppl there but whoever is responsible for the matter ofc )due to VIOLENCE. Every time i hear about it its pissing me the fk off. They also just banned the new AvP from there which looks stunning with just about enough ( plenty ) of gore. Which is actually a huge "screw them" not only to the developers that dont sell as much as their efforts would pay for but also another "screw them" to the adults of those countries that dont get to enjoy shit unless they aquire a copy through torrents which is illegal.


Hell.. Im irritated and Im not even in a country that has issues of the kind. Imagine If I was. id go nuts on them or go full throttle on torrent hoping for a quick crack or something.

 

[Manos]

[citation][nom]randomizer[/nom]It's a minor inconvenience, but it's still an inconvenience that shouldn't exist. I buy most of my games on Steam now anyway, and they are often cheaper in the US, so I just get them gifted. AVP got banned recently, I think it's a record number of bans this year[/citation]

See?! Thats what i was talking about.. lol Sorry dude, I just scrolled up and saw your post

 

[skine]

To people in places that outright ban violent video games:

Do they also ban all war movies? Alien movies?

If not, then write letters/petition/advertise to show that one medium is no different from the other.

 

[randomizer]

[citation][nom]skine[/nom]To people in places that outright ban violent video games: Do they also ban all war movies? Alien movies?[/citation]
Nope, I can't think of any high-profile films that have been banned.

[citation][nom]skine[/nom]If not, then write letters/petition/advertise to show that one medium is no different from the other.[/citation]
Oh but it is. One is interactive Anyway, petitions have been signed plenty of times and nothing will change because of one man who has publicly stated that he will never move his position on the matter. This man affects the whole country, even though he's only a state politician. Queensland has taken some initiative and is moving to get a state-level R18+ rating, but it's not going to be much good if importers don't bother getting a game just for one state. Hopefully it will pass and other states will follow suit

 

[buwish]

My theory is that they'll figure it out eventually, so who cares. Boys will be boys when they're young, i.e. they'll beat the crap out of each other regardless of what they're watching or playing.