A Decrease in M-Rated Sales to Kids 118
hammersuit writes "GameDaily Biz reports on a new undercover FTC study. From the article: 'Forty-two percent of the secret shoppers - children between the ages of 13 and 16 - who attempted to buy an M-rated video game without a parent were able to purchase one. In the 2003 shop, 69 percent of the shoppers were able to buy one. National sellers were much more likely to restrict sales of M-rated games. Only 35 percent of the secret shoppers were able to purchase such games there. Regional or local sellers sold M-rated games to the shoppers more frequently - 63 percent of the time.'"
What does this have to do with anything? (Score:5, Funny)
We need a new study, counting the number of "violent" and "offensive" games sold to minors, where "violent" and "offensive" is properly defined... by taking the people selling the games to court over and over until the prosecution gets a jury that will agree that the game is violent or offensive!
Re:What does this have to do with anything? (Score:3, Funny)
what are these kids complaining about... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:What does this have to do with anything? (Score:5, Funny)
I know Jack Thompson is a real nobody, but you don't always have to be so mean to him.
The funny thing is: (Score:3, Funny)
The word will get around as to what retailers will sell them what games. 42% just means that there's a hole. And anything short of pure dictatorshp won't stop it.
Any legislation that prohibits sales of games to minors fails completely at its goal. Which is, of course, to prevent them from playing those games.
Still, I'd expect political doublespeak out the wazoo for a while, saying that they've been "wonderfully successful" at getting mature games out of the hands of children, and that there's "work still to be done."
I hereby copyright those phrases. Any politician using them must immediately resign and pay me an amount of money equal to all of the money they will ever earn (and have earned) in their entire lifetime, plus one Mexican peso.
I'm still waiting for this interview (Score:4, Funny)
When they're doing their "reports" about parents who don't know jack about their kids playing violent games...
Reporter: Do you know where your son is?
Mother: Yeah, in his room.
Reporter: And what he's doing there?
Mother: According to the noise, I'd say he's playing Splinter Cell?
Reporter: And do you know what's going on in this game?
Mother: Yeah, sure.
Reporter: And you don't consider this bad?
Mother: I consider it being better than him doing it for real so you got some hot topic for your evening news.
Unfortunately, we'll never see this interview aired.
Re:What does this have to do with anything? (Score:2, Funny)
In many states, it is actually legal to serve alcohol to your own children (or to an underage spouse.)
Re:Phew! (Score:3, Funny)
Remind me to stay the hell away from your DVD collection.
Re:I'm still waiting for this interview (Score:1, Funny)