Jump to content

Home

ESRB Lays Down the Law.

IG-64

By IG-64
in Yoda’s Swamp

Recommended Posts

Tyrion Newbie

Tyrion

Posted
Posted
The email continues, "ESRB remains concerned about third party modifications that undermine the accuracy of the original rating, and we are exploring ways to maintain the credibility of the rating system with consumers in light of modifications of this nature."

 

I wonder how many games I could get banned by making a quick five minute mod of pixelicious fornification.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
toms Newbie

toms

Posted
Posted

Getting them to notify the board of "hidden content" is perfectly reasonable. It sounds like they were supposed to do that already, and that is where Rockstar messed up. Allmost all games have hidden content, and it often get unlocked. I seem to remember some hidden swoops in JK or MotS. Plus you have products like Gameshark that are specifically designed to enable hidden content... so publishers must expect it to be revealed.

 

Third party modifications are another matter. I would venture to guess that every single game that has skinable characters has Nude Skins out there somewhere, from JK to GTA, to The Sims, to Farcry and so on. Heck, i remember 3rd party mods for the original DOOM that inserted nude (pixellated) enemies. Short of a major crackdown on all 3rd party modifications (which would also affect a lot of really cool mods) I don't see what they can do.

Even many games that don't overtly support modding get modded and have new models and textures added... i'd hate to see publishers making that illegal (or just really difficult) for the fear they might get blamed for something completely beyond their control.

 

In the same way that if I took my copy of The Lion King and edited in scenes from a pron film I wouldn't expect the PG rating of the lion king to become suspect, if I take a game and change it then I wouldn't expect the original rating of the game to apply to it, or to become suspect.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
*Yoinked* Newbie

*Yoinked*

Posted
Posted

Lion King,lol, roar!

 

Seriously, this is so lame, i mean there are propably billions of nude patches throughout the internet. Are the producers of blank responsible for blank's nude patch, I do not think so!

 

I once saw a Dora the Freaking Explora nude patch! I am not freaking kidding you! It exists. Scary, huh?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Kain Newbie

Kain

Posted
Posted
*Quickly grabs his Punisher game and boards up all the windows*

 

They can't get me.....ya hear? We ain't coming out see, yeah....see, me and the game ain't going no where???!!!! :mad:

 

punisherGuns.gif

 

They like to come in through the doors, not windows Grooves. Better board those up too. And don't forget the fridge. After they storm they might want to make a sandwich with a Pepsi at your expense!

 

The bastards!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Darth Groovy Newbie

Darth Groovy

Posted
Posted
god damn that's retarted.

 

*sits and waits until media finds another thing to demonize because it's "destroying our youth"*

 

Thing is, my "youth" was about a decade ago. I am old enough to know better. So does that mean I ALSO have to submerce myself in "kid freindly media"?!

 

Sometimes the grown ups should be able to have fun too. This is rediculous. I spent most of my youth watching violent action movies, and I never hurt anyone save for an occasional fat lip or black eye.

 

This is rediculous.:rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
El Sitherino Newbie

El Sitherino

Posted
Posted

It's only if the mod opens access to code that lay dormant in the game itself revealing content that is beyond that of the given rating. Hot Coffee gave access to a mini-game that was included in the game, but hidden. This mini-game bit wasn't included in the rating because its existence wasn't known by the ESRB.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Zappa_0 Newbie

Zappa_0

Posted
Posted

Yea its because of GTA: SA and the code was already in the game, that modder just turned it on. Its a M game, young kids shouldnt be playing it. Its the parents thats buying it for them. These people are really stupid. You have to be 17-18 to buy the game, and you know that 99.9% stores wont sell it to kids. Some of these big wigs needs to start using their brains alot more. Cant wait to see what else is dug up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Crow_Nest Newbie

Crow_Nest

Posted
Posted

If its an M rated game then kids (Not those 8 year olds i mean) may be able to buy it. I only heard sometime ago that only adults who are 21 years or above could purchase games that are rated AO. That time anyone could by an M rated game, cause even the shop owner wouldnt care. Example. SOF2

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Darth Groovy Newbie

Darth Groovy

Posted
Posted

http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0037603.cfm

 

I think it was said best on The Punisher War Zone:

 

DATE: August 22, 2005

FILE UNDER: Video Game Press

CONTENTS: What's the media got its panties in a bunch over this week? It's "The Punisher" video game by THQ's Volition studio. While we were discovering new ways to kill fictional video game characters, places like Family.org were thinking of new ways to blame other people for their inability to keep tabs on what their children do all day. A ridiculous grenade-in-mouth maneuver for us, a phantom study for them!

 

=====

The American Psychological Association is recognizing the harm video games do to teens. In the face of mounting evidence of a link between violence on the screen and aggressive tendencies in kids, the APA is calling for a reduction in interactive media violence and strong enforcement of game ratings. These are the lines from a video game called "The Punisher."

 

"The ones who killed my family, the saints and all the other scum, they've given me a reason to live. I'm back and it's their turn to die."

=====

 

Notice they didn't capitalize the Saint family name, possibly to mis-lead readers further.

 

=====

Plugged In magazine Editor Adam Holz previewed the video that many are calling one of the more violent games on the market today.

 

"When you sit and do that for hours at a time, it can't be doing anything good to the way you see other human beings."

=====

 

Recent studies do show that parents aren't aware that the video games contain ratings, and those that do don't understand them (despite having an age recommendation right on the label.) What's the answer? Make the rest of us sit down and have a merry little moral lesson!

 

=====

The APA has agreed and is issuing a set of recommendations that include teaching kids to be more media savvy and encouraging the industry to link violent behavior with negative consequences. Spokesperson Dr. Elizabeth Carll.

=====

 

 

But "The Punisher" made very clear the negative consequences of violent behavior... kill Frank Castle's family, and he'll shove you in a wood chipper! Luckily, they do recommend that parents learn what their kids are watching, but that's immediately squashed with other suggestions.

 

=====

He says it's time for parents to take charge of the joystick and get involved. Other recommendations from the APA include strengthening ratings on games, including detailed information about the content and requiring game developers to address the connection between violent games and anti-social behavior.

=====

 

I guess with regard to the content, the back of "The Punisher" stating the following isn't detailed enough:

 

 

 

Do they want an essay inside every package? Well, here's an open message to the people who want video game developers to responsibly raise their children for them:

 

You had them. It's your duty to keep violent games out of their hands. Other kids will have played them, you say? You speak the same language as your child, tell them why violence is wrong just for the hell of it. Other kids' parents let your kids play the games at their house? You need to know who your kids are visiting, and honestly, you should've seen their house and asked about it first.

 

Interestingly, the study itself doesn't seem to be immediately accessible. If anybody wants to share this study, please send info to webmaster@punisherwarzone.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Prime Newbie

Prime

Posted
Posted

Did the APA look at the relationship between bad parenting and rising violence? Did it look at other courtries? Or was that a throwaway issue? It is easier to just ban the trenchcoats and have done with it I guess...

 

And did they just look at the US? I would hazard to guess that people in Canada play just as many video games just as often as their American counterparts. Yet, for example, violent crimes in Toronto (5th largest city in NA) occur at a rate of 70 per million people. In Chicago the rate is 16,000 violent crimes per million people. Is this discrepency resulting in large part to video games? I'm guessing not, but I'm no expert. It just seems like over simplified reasoning to say games incite violence.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...