All eyes on Louisiana…

June 23, 2006 on 9:26 am | In General Gaming, Industry

…well, ok, not really. But I did find it rather coincidental that on the heals of the ESRB getting tough comes news of Louisiana passing a bill that puts into law much of what Jack Thompson has been calling for.

I decided to hold off for a few days before commenting though because I was pretty sure the sort of Bill this was would be contested before it was activated.

Turns out I was right (of course, as were a lot of other people too)

As with prior such efforts in Michigan, Illinois (and elsewhere), the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has been out in front straddling the boundaries between civil liberties and marketing forces, attempting to bring a rational mind to an emotional debate.

I applaud their effort for doing so. They are not winning any friends in the political circles around the country, but it's politicking that results in polarizing and absurdly broad definitions. Governors and the like can win votes on these things, but it is not the right way to have a national debate.

And it is still a debate. For every article that links a rise in violence to video games, there are an equal number that do not. While this debate goes on, I advocate strengthening the rules of distribution. It makes sense to take a slightly conservative role in monitoring what are kids are doing. Of course, as a gamer myself, I know full well what my kids are and will be doing with games, and take full responsibility for being the gestapo of entertainment when I need to. For parents not so actively involved in gaming, they rely on a common standard that's easily communicated and universally accepted. The ESRB is slowly getting there with that.

Kids will cheat, as will stores. That's why the fines are needed for the latter. We can't keep kids locked in a room and have them adequately prepared for life at the same time. But we can keep the distribution infrastructure from feeding them stuff they shouldn't be having yet. If we as a culture accept that kids don't have the level of maturity necessary yet to drink, drive, vote, smoke or see X-rated movies, then it's not so hard to extend that thinking into a more interactive form of entertainment.

But do it right. Any sort of broad-stroke action that limits civil liberties through vague terminology that can be abused is either going to be shot down, wasting taxpayer dollars in the process, or force all this stuff underground. Going underground is the worst thing that can happen if it becomes the biggest form of distribution because then any sort of ratings system becomes irrelevant.

At least trying to make things work legitimately gets everyone involved. The kids won't like it, and I certainly am not old enough to not remember what it was like to be told what to do and how to think. But teenages thinking adults are out of touch is nothing new.

I just do not want the fate of my own and my kids' gaming experiences to be decided by folks who only dream of the White House.

So thank you ESA for once again doing what needs doing.