Ben-DutkaAs gamers, its time to stand as one and make a confident, intelligent declaration of unity.
The Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA), a non-profit membership organization that represents gamers, has confirmed they will be submitting a "friend of the court document (amicus brief) to the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the upcoming violence in video games case, Schwarzenegger v EMA." To assist in the endeavor, the ECA has worked up a petition that just about every gamer should sign; this petition will be attached and submitted along with the aforementioned brief, so it will certainly have a very important purpose. Said Vice President and General Counsel for the ECA, Jennifer Mercurio:
"The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the State of California's infamous 'violent video game case' later this year, or early next. At that time, the Court is going to listen to oral arguments on whether to agree with previous federal court findings or not. Agreeing would mean that they believe that video games are, and should continue to be, First Amendment protected speech; just like movies and music. The Court disagreeing would mean that video games should be treated differently, which the ECA strongly believes to be unconstitutional and could lead to new bills and laws curtailing video game access in states across the country."
The petition "establishes an authoritative collective position by American consumers of interactive entertainment and it enshrines each and every signatory's participation in the court documents and records." ECA President Hal Halpin says this case may indeed be "the single most important challenge" the gaming industry has ever faced in the US, and that "anyone who cares about gaming should feel compelled to both sign the petition and encourage their friends and family to do similarly." So-
If you don't…I'll find you.
Not-for-profit doesn't mean no one makes a living from the organization. I work for a non-profit and I make a salary. It simply means the organization is not profitable. The YMCA is a not-for-profit, for example, but they have membership fees, costs, etc. The monies made typically go towards growing, strengthening, and supporting the organization so it can meet it's goals.
Basically, a non-profit has employees on payroll, but the goals and objectives set to serve the demographic they aim to serve never change since profitability is always secondary and not the primary focus. Advocacy is typically number one.
Signed
I really can't believe that this is going to the Supreme Court *sigh*. Is it really that hard for parents to LOOK at the rating THAT IS ON THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE GAME?
When I worked at EB, if some parent came in and was going to buy some M rated game, I would strike up a conversation about what the game was about and what type of violence was depicted in the game. I would show them the ratings system and so-on and so-forth, so they could be more informed consumers. I had so many parents thank me for letting them know what they were buying and for helping them understand the ratings.
Started doing this because one of my co-workers decided to sell a copy of GTA:San Andreas to a guy which ended up being for his 10 year old son. My manager and I got his wrath the next day when he came in to complain and exchange the game. In turn my manager gave my co-worker HIS wrath and fired him. Fun day.
I find it absurd that games aren't protected free speech. Wonders never cease. The First Amendment FTW.
EDIT:
@Ben
no throwing guys in trees, lol.
Last edited by sunspider13 on 5/13/2010 9:13:04 AM
Those founding father guys should have put in a clause for video games. What were they thinking leaving that out, eh?
They did, its the First Amendment. I'm sure the courts will come down on the side of Free Speech. They usually do.
Seriously?? Are parents that ignorant and dumb!?!?!
GTA San Andreas has pictures of gangsters, hoodlums, guns, people smoking, a prostitute and in big letters in the centre GRAND THEFT AUTO!!!!
How on this incredibly dumb earth could anyone pick that up and see it's ok for their 10 year old to play?!?!?!
I just cannot get over the stupidity and ignorance of parents these days. It really is unbelievable!!!
I work at EB Games, our ratings system has recently become colour coded, eg G games are green, PG is yellow, M is blue, MA15+ is red and R18+ is black. (R18+ for movies and magazines at least, still not on games)
I see a lot of children grab GTA and take it up to their parents. Many parents say no, and are aware of the ratings system (thank God!!), but now and then some parents just slap it on the counter not even checking the content. It is then up to me to talk them through what is actually IN the game.
I always get a laugh and smile whenever I see the parent reject the game and the kid start kicking and screaming for GTA. It did happen once.
I love rejecting kids from GTA. Makes me feel powerful.
Last edited by Dancemachine55 on 5/14/2010 12:31:59 AM
so when in the States are they going to be strict on CNN. CNN doesn't have ESRB rating do they now maybe they should. I get frustrated when something like video games or even certain tv shows get attacked by stupid polticians but hey it's ok to watch the hanging of someone on tv no matter what time of the day, or watch the after math of a road side bomb?
The other thing is ESRB rating or any rating system for movies, video games are all over the place if parents can't be responsible enough to read the stupid thing then they are not responsible to be a parent.
Ok rant is over, Oh I signed.
Good point. I've seen worse violence on CNN. They've actually air footage of US troops being Sniped. Yet i have a feeling they wouldn't object to this.
Hmm, im not American but i'll sign as I see the bigger implication if this whole situation passed. So it would mean that American developers would censor they're games such as Dead Space and say British developers such as Rockstar North could still be free to make they're games but would need to limit anything violent for the North American Release?
Done… I signed and sinned just for you guys, I mean , us.
Should I sign this if I'm not American?
No. Send it the link to your American friends.
FIGHT THE POWER!!
Signed.
Last edited by little dreamer on 5/13/2010 10:50:00 AM
"And Rohan will answer"
On a serious note, everybody who's even remotely interested in gaming should sign it, regardless of where they live. If this nonsense is allowed to prevail, it will have far reaching consequences, and will be a huge setback to the gaming industry and enthusiasts.
And in a broader sense, this is about my freedom of choice. As a governing body of any sort, tell me that XYZ is bad for me, but leave it up to me to choose.
Schwarzenegger has to be stopped, his movies were some of the most violent and bloody and yet he says video games are are bad? I think he's just a Kennedy puppet or a hypocrite…
Actually his movies weren't that "bloody". I've seen just about every movie hes made and there are plenty of games that are worse then any of the movies hes made. I'm not taking his side on this issue, but you have to be fair.
Hes not a Kennedy puppet either, just a failed Governor.
Last edited by Jawknee on 5/13/2010 11:40:09 AM
Is it me or is it not for the UK.
and isn't ironic that Arny is against violence.
has he seen terminator?
I will sign it, because I don't want Ben to push me into a tree.
"In the end there will be only chaos."
Stanley!
Note to those who want to sign outside the US. They will be able to trace the address and they will verify them. I understand you guys want to help but pretending your in the US to sign is counter productive. They will find out who and who isn't in the US and throw the signatures out that aren't.
The best way to help is to do what one of the other posters did and link it to your social networking pages for your US friends to see.
Why would they let Canadians sign it as well? The drop down menu actually has Canadian provinces mixed in with states, and it asks for your Zip/Postal Code.
Oh nice, i didn't know that. I didn't look to hard in the drop down box as my state is in the top choices. If its letting Canadians sign then sign away. The more the better.
Not sure how this Legislation directly affects Canada at this stage though.
Done.
Signed.
Does anyone else think it's at all ironic that we're going against Aah-nold, the man who presented the viewing public with some of the most violent pieces of entertainment on earth? Especially at the time they released…?
Definitely Ironic!!
The Terminator has gotten soft!!
I think it's ironic that the people in my state voted for this guy. Actually not ironic really just sad. If I star in a bunch of violent films can I be governor too?
I guess steroids and weed cause memory lose, because he forgot that he did so many violent movies.
Signed, linked to facebook, and joined.
Lets hope this goes the to court before the latest pick for the Supreme Court gets confirmed and seated. Elana Kagen is no friend of free speech.
Elections have consequences.
I'd just like to point out that you shouldn't just be sending this to gamers but to everyone. If the first amendment is allowed to be broken for video games then it will open the door for them to take away our freedom to speech in other areas.
What can be broken once can be broken again. Once they start censoring one thing, they'll start censoring more.
What next, will we have to register as being a gamer and show our Gamer ID to buy games?
DOG = Department of Gaming
I wouldn't put it past them. Big brother is bigger then ever and is growing at an alarming rate.
Reason why this is happening is because stupid kid wannabes' are running around with kitchen knives acting like some russian dude stealing cars and killing people to save his fat cousin.
LOL we live in such a desperate and sad world.
Signed… Freedom!!!
Sorry I'm late to the parade.
Just ludicris.
Signed.
Tryin' to take away violence in my games?!!!
Urge to kill… rising…
It's so easy to contribute to this cause. There is no reason why any gamer shouldn't.
WE CAN'T LET THEM WIN!!!
TO HELL WITH CENSORSHIP LAWS!!
GO FIRST AMENDMENT !!
Signed.
Simply put, games have come a long way in terms of maturity since Mario, and to see us backtrack with an anti-First Amendment ruling by the Supreme Court would be a terrible thing, not just for this country but for every other country around the world. Its high time that people learned that video games are not just kids toys anymore, they are an art form and they have a substantial mature audience that plays them now.
Also, the parents who can't see the gigantic M rating on the front of the box and the description of it on the back of the box, and still buy the game for their 7-year old kid are complete idiots. Seriously, the ratings on games are in huge bold print, and the descriptions on the back are clearly visible. How the hell can anyone, other than blind people, miss them?
Oh, and one last thing: why Arnie, why? You used to be one of the coolest action movie stars ever! Now you're just a steroid-addled softie who supports the idiot anti-game nuts. Funny what being Governator of Cal-ee-fornia can do to you, huh?
If these morals-mouthing mental-midgets had already gotten their way, we would've never had the chance to experience such a innovative ground-breaking game as "Heavy Rain".
And I can think of something a hell of a lot useful for them to do with themselves, like……
….starting a prison-based Barney & Mr. Rogers sing-a-long choir for violent schizophrenic father-rapers.
But, fair warning…. don't sing off-key or the inmate's next song just might be "My Bologna has a first name"
Last edited by BikerSaint on 5/14/2010 12:52:15 AM
Signed and word spread!
The Terminator can go Fk himself!
Damn, years ago I heard some s*** on the news some kid was playing GTA San Andreas then some time after he went out with a weapon and killed some people. There r more ugly s*** going on in this world to pay attention more. Gaming is gaming, leave it alone.
*signed ^_^