Congressman Joe Baca reintroduces game labeling bill

Even more ridiculous than the idea itself is the wording Baca expects every T-rated game to carry. Here it is:

"WARNING: Excessive exposure to violent video games and other violent media has been linked to aggressive behavior."

Where do we begin? First of all, there are numerous games with T or M ratings by the ESRB that have absolutely no violence descriptor. Why would a strip poker game or a puzzle game with the f-bomb in it need to carry a big warning label about violence?

Also, Baca's initial proposal misspelled the ESRB's name as the "Electronics Software Rating Board." It stands for Entertainment Software Rating Board.

Baca's bill, of course, isn't the first of its kind (aside from his original 2009 labeling bill), and they've all failed thusfar - though we're still awaiting the court's decision on Schwarzenegger v. EMA.

Republican Frank Wolf again joined Baca in support of the new bill. Wolf released a statement reading, "Just as we warn smokers of the health consequences of tobacco, we should warn parents – and children -- about the growing scientific evidence demonstrating a relationship between violent video games and violent behavior."

We shouldn't have to tell you that most comprehensive (and, you know, scientific) studies have concluded no definitive link between videogames and aggressive behavior. If you're going to put a warning label on something, at least make it true... such as: "WARNING: Excessive exposure to violent video games is pretty fun."

[Source: Gamasutra]

Jan 26, 2011

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