They can its called the internet. I have been told in lectures that the average range kids see porn is between 9-11.

On topic, I still get carded for mature games even though I'm 26. So it's a stupid law because people are already enforcing the rarting systems.

I'm thinking they weren't told the video game industry already has one of the best self regulated rating systems in place and just flat out asked if games should be rated or whatever without any other information

I wonder how total lack of AO rated games is good self-regulation... And what we could do to fix that problem. As a non-American, I find it difficult to find a difference between this new "law" and the old AO rating. So, are you all also against having an AO rating?

Also, what about porn? How is it any worse than violence? I'm sure you've had to counter this argument several times already but I haven't been lucky enough to see it even once.

I'm sure a publisher could make an AO game if they want to but since it's really hard to sell an AO game they just choose not to make AO games.  I doubt the rating process is like Apple's app store where it's surprise if you make it or not, I'm sure the devs know what rating they're shooting for.

It's not really the ESRB's fault that AO games plain don't sell so publishers plain dont' want to make them.

Considering how the US already has this in effect my advice to these parents is this.

Pay attention to what your kids are doing and stop buying them M rated titles.

Link?

I don't know if you're directly replying to me, but if you are, I guess you didn't read the OP because you even said that the kid's parents allowed him to rent the game.

So...

By your way of thinking, a kid should be able to go into a porn theater since they can watch it on the net, right?  

Let's sell them cigarettes, alcohol, guns, and let them drive too.  What the heck?

I'm sorry, but there are some guidelines that are needed.  About being carded, that's not a big deal.  Several places card for alcohol or cigarettes if you look under 30 in order to be safe.

Now that I'm over 18... 

If you can't enforce a law at all say like internet usage why make the law at all. It should be left up to responsible adults to make choices for themselves and there families.

Underage drinking is sky high, ciggerate smoking usually starts in the teens, guns lead to death so they shouldn;t be compared to games. Oh and marijuana and illicit drug usage continues no matter what kind of sanctions the government makes. Why waste time making laws about games. They are not changing anything other than saying this is our principle so stick to it citizens. Yet the laws have little positive effect.

I don't think being carded is a big deal just an annoyance, I was actually using that point to say the gaming business is already regulating the sale of mature games to children.