ESRB Outlines Publisher Fines 38
1up reports that the ESRB has laid out what publishers can expect if they step out of line regarding game content. From the article: "Vance says the ESRB has the power to enforce up to $1 million in monetary fines for the 'most egregious offenses,' and could potentially suspend publisher's access to the ratings system. Most retailers will not carry games without a rating. Further corrective actions could include pulling advertising until content's corrected, stickered packaging, product recalls and 'other steps the publisher must take.'"
The fines are (Score:2)
For every game that nets 100,000,000 sales revenue and includes "Hot Coffee": Fine - one time fee - 100,000.00 dollars.
And for good measure,
For every game that even includes the words "Hot Coffee" - 5,000.00. Any game that has the word "Hot" in the same scene as the word "Coffee" - 5000.00
Re:Personal responsibility spins in its grave (Score:2)
And to those who are just looking for an excuse to spout anti-Republican diatribes, don't bother. We are all aware that Slashdot is a bastion of liberalism who loves nothing more than a good Republican bashing, but nowadays there is really nothing that separates the two parties. They're all the same except for their extremist fringes. The point that I'm making is that the Republicans that are inside of the Washi
Re:Personal responsibility spins in its grave (Score:2)
Re:Personal responsibility spins in its grave (Score:2)
Re:Personal responsibility spins in its grave (Score:2)
Given the huge expansion of the government under Reagan, there is little evidence it was anything but a rhetorical trick to win votes without any substance even when he was alive and even in office.
Re:Personal responsibility spins in its grave (Score:2)
The difference is that in the Republican party, the extremist fringe is in charge.
But other than that, I agree; there's not much difference. US politics seems to be locke
Re:Personal responsibility spins in its grave (Score:2)
I'm both supporting this and rejecting any la
Re:Personal responsibility spins in its grave (Score:1)
Re:Personal responsibility spins in its grave (Score:2)
In the US video games are being singled out because rules are already in place for other forms of media. Minors can not buy adult content in other forms, why do you feel they shou
Re:Personal responsibility spins in its grave (Score:1)
Server Melted (Score:1)
This is what I despise about ratings boards. (Score:3, Insightful)
I really hate that non-government entities have the power to place massive fines. Really. The ESRB is a voluntary rating system. No game company is required by any law that I'm aware of to submit their games to any ratings system. Ah, but then the game company is given bad public relations if they don't submit because of the likelihood of extremist, "pro-family" organizations and activist lawmakers like Tompson (and possibly the ESRB itself) accusing them of having something to hide even they have nothing to hide but don't want to submit to a rating on principle.
The ESRB is now no different than the MPAA. No legal bindings; a completely voluntary system. But if you don't submit your material for ratings you risk getting banned by the outlets that you would depend on for selling your products. And of course by submitting your material you agree to be subjected to any fines that the ratings boards feels it can place upon you.
The ESRB is starting to join the RIAA and MPAA in their mob-like demeanor. {Don Corleone voice} You either submit your material for us to place our beloved rating or else you won't work again in this town. This is an offer that you really can't refuse. {/voice}
*sigh* Money and power. Ba-a-a-a-d combination. Sadly, the MPAA, RIAA, and now ESRB have both.
Re:This is what I despise about ratings boards. (Score:2)
Re:This is what I despise about ratings boards. (Score:2)
Re:This is what I despise about ratings boards. (Score:2)
Why not? If I make my bed, I'm expected to lie in it.
Allowing a ratings board to exist in the first place, and giving it power by submitting to it then, was the first step in legislation making it mandatory.
Re:This is what I despise about ratings boards. (Score:1)
Re:This is what I despise about ratings boards. (Score:2)
Recent events have demonstrated that the industry has not been successful. Developers continue to include content on the shipping media that is not disclosed to the rating board. Retailers do not enforce the ratings given by the board.
The movie industry was only successful at self regulation after the studios forced theaters to comply. We'll see how well it works for video games
Re:This is what I despise about ratings boards. (Score:2)
Re:This is what I despise about ratings boards. (Score:2, Informative)
Re:This is what I despise about ratings boards. (Score:1, Informative)
Would you rather have the ESRB get the FTC involved? True regulation? Because that's what would happen if the industry did not adequately self-police.
I really don't think any publisher wants FTC involvement.
"extremist, "pro-family"
Your argument just went out the window with that one.
The real extremists wouldn't allow the stuff on the market in the first place.
"accusing them of having something to hide even they have nothing
Re:This is what I despise about ratings boards. (Score:1)
One dimensional (Score:1)
Admittedly these days the reasons for getting a rating are usually given and this does help alot, but simply rating in a few more categories makes sense to me.
As an aside it does seem a bit absurd that a topless woman can raise the rating of a game/movie faster than a body count can. I just find it a sad commentary on society that violence is more acceptable
Re:One dimensional (Score:2)
Yes. A two-dimensional system is absolutely needed. Personally I would like to see absolute metrics used to rate games in various categories. Items like maximum possible number of bloody deaths would go into the mix, as would maximum number of times to hear the word "fuck" (or similar) in the dialogue, etc etc.
Makes total sense to me, because (if I even
What gives them the right to do that? (Score:2)
I can only see two possibilities, neither of which makes sense. Some contract the ESRB makes companies sign has a "we agree to gi
Re:What gives them the right to do that? (Score:1)
The real reason that the ESRB has to do this is because they are afraid that bad publisher decisions will result in the public losing faith in the ESRB. That's why they're trying to show that the
Re:I think it is good and will work. (Score:2)
NOTE: In the six years that I worked in the video game industry, booze drinking by the PR girl at an E3 party was probably the worse offense I ever saw (on video since bad things happen at E3). I think I missed everyth
Re:I think it is good and will work. (Score:1)
Make their own ratings board? (Score:2)
Parents barely read the box anyway.
Re:And the money goes where exactly? (Score:1)
The fix for this is simple... (Score:2)