|
Written by Dominic Perri
|
|
Monday, 03 May 2010 10:18 |
|
The US Supreme Court has agreed to examine the constitutionality of a California ban on the sale and rental of violent video games to minors. This is clearly a crucial moment for both the video game industry and those who are concerned about the impact of violent video games on children.
Interestingly, the question is not whether the games can be made or released. This is not a censorship case. Rather, it is a question of what is appropriate for children under 18 to view and play. It is a question of protecting the development of children.
Consider that our society does not allow children under over 17 to view R-rated movies alone. Now consider this sample of content from the video game "Postal II", as described by US District Judge Ronald Whyte, "Girls attacked with a shovel will beg for mercy; the player can be merciless and decapitate them. People shot in the leg will fall down and crawl; the player can then pour gasoline over them, set them on fire, and urinate on them. The player's character makes sardonic comments during all this; for example, urinating on someone elicits the comment, "Now the flowers will grow."
Certainly this would qualify as R-rated content. It seems obvious that the purchase of such content should be forbidden to minors. Let's hope the Supreme Court sees it as clearly as we do.
|
|
Last Updated on Monday, 03 May 2010 20:33 |