Parents and the ESRB Rating System: The Death of Common Sense
Posted by HCG KP1gL37 | Filed under Editorials, Rants
Christian, family, and parental watchdog organizations are responsible for a discouraging trend lately by flooding the web with “parental buying guides for video games.” Take The National Institute on Media and the Family (NIMF) for example. They recently released their 13th annual video game report card that includes a list of games parents should avoid in 2008. And another group, The Timothy Plan, has started their own little witch hunt of “evil-doers” in the gaming industry. Also, as we mentioned in Hey Did You Hear… last week, the ESRB has instituted a new policy that will require a detailed listing of the game’s content on their website (hello, spoilers!) in addition to the current rating and content descriptors so that parents can further understand what is included in a game. The more these organizations clog parent’s brains with these “games that are evil” guides, the less parents will rely on the ESRB rating system and make good parenting choices on their own. I’m not saying parents don’t need to be informed (because I know a lot of them are clueless). I’m saying these organizations need to focus on teaching the rating system, not demonizing games based on their content.
Tags: Editorials, ESRB, MPAA, National Institute on Media and the Family, NIMF, Rants, ratings, The Timothy Plan, Video Game Voters Network
Gamer News 11.30.08: Hey, Did You Hear…
Posted by HCG KP1gL37 | Filed under Hey Did You Hear..., News
…there is a boy in Italy that was officially diagnosed with Playstation addiction after a marathon gaming session left him unable to speak or understand what was happening around him? Sounds to me like a typical Tuesday Night Game Night. Full story: Gamer
…the UFC gave two of their fighters an ultimatum: appear in our upcoming video game or hit the road?The dispute started when two fighters, Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck did not want to sign over likeness rights for UFC Undisputed 2009. Come on guys…suck it up. It comes with the turf of being a kick-ass fighter. Full story: ars technica
…gamers in the UK will soon be able to buy PS3 games out of vending machines? Shoppers will also be able to purchase DVDs, Blu-Ray and other digital downloads along with Playstation 3games. Full story: Stuff.tv
…Resident Evil 5 will officially feature co-op play for the campaign mode of the game? This is the first time (other than outbreak) where you can play the legendary game co-op. Full story: Gaming Indians
…the ESRB released a new policy on video game ratings that require what they call “game summaries” along with the current rating system? Soon, games will have to outlining the content of the game (hello-spoilers!) on the ESRB website. Full story: ESRB
Tags: ars technica, Blu-Ray, DVD, ESRB, game summaries, gamer, Gaming Indians, Hey Did You Hear..., Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck, News, Playstation, Playstation 3, PS3, Resident Evil 5, Tuesday Night Game Night, UFC, UFC Undisputed 2009, vending machines
