I rarely rarely post here but this is important to every gamer out there.

Theres going to be court hearing, pending Califronia's case on violent video games before the Supreme Court of the United States. Heres the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwarzenegger_v._Entertainment_Merchants_Association

If this goes into affect, this wil be one of the biggest blows to the Gaming Industry. Not just to younger gamers but to the entire industry. This was announced yesterday on GameTrailers TV. The bill, if its aproved, will band the sale of "violent games" to minors. Which in simpler terms will be legislated and regulated like the way they do with alcohol, tobacco and firearms. I for one am furious right now. You can catch the episode on GT.com (sorry I dont know how to embed). I forgot to add this (from wikipedia)  "The Progress & Freedom Foundation and the Electronic Frontier Foundation together submitted an amicus brief citing social research that declared Super Mario Bros. to be a violent video game"

But we may have hope; the Entertainment Consumers Association a non-profit organization is holding a petition that many gamers right are siging to try and stoo this. heres the link http://www.theeca.com/schwarzeneggervema

Heres the link to the episode http://www.gametrailers.com/episode/gametrailers-tv/108?sd=1&ch=1

People here seem to have gotten it all wrong;  if the law does get aproved, it wont matter to me since im an adult, but as I quoted to another fellow member; even for younger gamers who dont play M rated games, for sure they wont be able to play the games according to their appropriate age since the goverment will probably apply such a strict policy on games, they could potentialy declare a game like Super Mario Bros. as violent. Which in turn will put pressure on game developers world wide not to make their games "too" violent or else they wont be able to sell their games to the age demographic they intended to target.

This could be the end of todaysgaming as we know it.

looks like bad news

?

It seems to me that the only qualm with the bill is that it is, at its heart, unconstitutional, but if it were enacted, little would change. Pretty much every retailer worth a damn has a policy against selling such things, and even if negligent employees/greedy managers bend the rules because they don't care/to boost poor daily numbers, that would remain largely the same too if it were illegal, just like some places won't card you for cigarettes or alcohol even though they're supposed to card anyone who looks under 35

It would just mean a few places get made an example of, people over 17 keep purchasing M-rated titles, life moves on

Though this could lead to a very interesting place indeed if the Supreme Court strikes a middle decision, in effect classing certain M titles alongside pornography (in that they have no value as protected speech), while certain ones remain on the other side of the line

I really don't understand how this would be huge problem. Same kind of system has been in effect in Europe since games got rating system and yet M rated (18 in Europe) games do just fine.

Don't get the issue here. Films are regulated for content, don't see why games should be any different.

Since Im well over the age of 18,

I will file this under not a problem.

Not much of an issue, just means children can't legally buy rated M games. It'd be like trying to see a rated R movie in theaters, I don't see why we don't have these regulations yet.

This. I can see why people are worried but on the other hand, it works very well here in Europe.

This bill that many see, like you said Mr. Kahn is unconstitutional and a violation of our first amendment rights. I just wanted to post this since VGChartz are kinda slow with the news.

I always have my plan B. Amazon :D