<![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games - Kotaku Comments]]> http://cache.gawker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/kotaku.com.png <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games - Kotaku Comments]]> http://kotaku.com Mon, 12 May 2008 00:23:46 MDT Mon, 12 May 2008 00:23:46 MDT http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5642572 @kabutodude:
The games from my childhood very rarely hit the same level as standard fare of today. I think the most violent game I had as a minor was Combat on the Atari 2600, which was nothing more than a tank/plane dueling game. I guarantee I never would have been allowed to play even an average FPS if I was a kid right now.


Purple Dave

]]> 9:388443:c5642572 Mon, 12 May 2008 00:23:46 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5631818 @天水: Good one.

It's true. Nobody is ever happy.

@Article. This is good news. It means less cannon fodder for the media.

--Core--

]]> 9:388443:c5631818 Sat, 10 May 2008 04:55:26 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5618276 @HELLSRIDER: Yeah, but they might as well have covered all the violence in that game. Shit, I'd give Manhunt 2 to a four year old; maybe they could explain to me what is going on when the screen turns red.

NeoStarr

]]> 9:388443:c5618276 Fri, 09 May 2008 11:12:40 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5616754 People here in Mexico dont seem to care at all about the age of kids when they are buying games. I could actually see a 9 year old buying manhunt 2.

HELLSRIDER

]]> 9:388443:c5616754 Fri, 09 May 2008 10:20:58 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5611639 @Purple Dave:

While I agree it is a positive situation for the game industry to self-regulate itself when it comes to violent video games, since it leaves the hysterical anti-game folks less to complain about.
The folks like Jack Thompson though will not let facts get in the way of their anti-game crusade.

The one thing that bothers me though about your post and many other posts on gaming sites discussing this issue, is that that many gamers seem to be agreeing with the anti-game folks that this is a "legitimate issue".
I'd be willing to go out on a limb here and guess that every single poster commenting on this topic played violent video games when they were under the age of 17 and anyone under the age of 17 commenting are currently playing violent video games. The point is that no evidence has been shown that violent video games have a negative effect on anyone, including children, and the vast majority of anecdotal evidence (me, you and every other gamer commenting here) show no problems that would warrant the passage of a law regulating the sale of video games.
To me its absurd that some people would happily place video games on the same level as alcohol, tobacco, pornography and guns, with no solid evidence as to what harmful effects playing violent video games cause.

My own personal belief is that the only legitimate issue has always been putting more power into the hands of parents to make the decision on how they want to raise their children, but now that all video game consoles have parental controls and stores are for the most part enforcing the ESRB ratings, it should be a moot point… but unfortunately I doubt it will be because so many folks have bought into the so called "fact" that violent video games are harmful to children.

kabutodude

]]> 9:388443:c5611639 Fri, 09 May 2008 05:04:25 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5610840 @NateN:
I heard that when someone I knew in college sold his website for buckets of money, his father had to act as intermediary for him because whatever luxury car company he wanted to buy a car from wouldn't sell cars to anyone under 25, and he was probably 21 at the time.

@NateN:
All the laws regarding the hiring of people based on youth that I know of _prevent_ you from hiring them for certain types of jobs (no use of power tools until you're 18, etc.). I doubt there are any that require you to give fair consideration to someone regardless of _lack_ of age.



Purple Dave

]]> 9:388443:c5610840 Fri, 09 May 2008 02:10:33 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5610646 according to GamePolitics, Jack Thompson gave himself credit for this

Kincyr

]]> 9:388443:c5610646 Fri, 09 May 2008 01:16:57 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5607661 Finally some proof, I knew it was harder to buy an M-rated game than an R-rated movie, but now I have proof. Now show this to politicians and they will deny it, but now we need to focus on the real danger, people listen. It's Knives. Kids at the age of 16 can buy a knife, and they don't card for knives. I've never seen a kid stab someone with a video game.

madbassman39

]]> 9:388443:c5607661 Thu, 08 May 2008 19:42:03 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5606700 You can buy anything off steam no matter how old you are...

And browse online for any type of content you want at your local library.

I_fit_in

]]> 9:388443:c5606700 Thu, 08 May 2008 18:29:30 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5605687 I went to Wal-mart with a friend because he wanted to buy a game. The person working the counter new my friend, and new he was old enough. She still wouldn't sell him the game because he forgot his I.D.

Karazzin

]]> 9:388443:c5605687 Thu, 08 May 2008 17:18:32 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5605278 Well I don't get carded too much at Gamestop--of course it depends on the location and if I've been there before--but hell Wal-Mart is mutha! I get carded for just about everything 'restricted' (and I'm 25!) that I buy at Wally's World--rolling paper (don't ask...I'm not tellin' *hehehe*), beer, movies, and games! And trust, they will not sell it too me if I don't have it.

...oh well, I guess as a chick it's aiight. My momz always said 'be glad when they keep askin', cuz the day they don't that's when you know yo ass ain't lookin' young no more!'

Best womanly advice I could ever get...xD

MizzDiva

]]> 9:388443:c5605278 Thu, 08 May 2008 16:54:36 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5604717 @Drake Lake: To which we must point out that the R rated movies have a much greater chance to be sold without their little darling being carded.

Ajh

]]> 9:388443:c5604717 Thu, 08 May 2008 16:26:28 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5604607 well i'm underaged and i never tried to buy an M rated game alone for the matter. i usally get my parents to buy it or they are with me when i buy it. no no i'm not this insane guy. hell i'm an A/B student. but i can't wait to play GTA4!

psgamer92

]]> 9:388443:c5604607 Thu, 08 May 2008 16:20:09 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5604120 I was denied from buying a T-rated game when I was 16.

The Great Aussie Evil

]]> 9:388443:c5604120 Thu, 08 May 2008 15:55:40 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5602933 The guys at the GameStop I go to know me and they all know I'm 22. They still card me.

Zero_Beat

]]> 9:388443:c5602933 Thu, 08 May 2008 15:10:13 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5602581 I'm not shure if the data is reliable... as most internet statistics and graphics... but if so, this only shows how the media is biased.

It's easier for kids to get erotic movies than an adult game.
Which by the way, usually have less explicit content than lots of non-rated movies out there.

Bokusatsu_Tenshi

]]> 9:388443:c5602581 Thu, 08 May 2008 14:57:55 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5602120 yes! this is great news. get the m-rated games out of kids' hands. then ignorant people will stop complaining that violent games are ruining children, and children will stop complaining over headsets online.

squidboy007

]]> 9:388443:c5602120 Thu, 08 May 2008 14:43:55 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5600976 PAL music CD what's wrong with European music?

:)

(Yes I know CDs aren't regionalised and yes I know it means Parental Advisory)

Yeebles

]]> 9:388443:c5600976 Thu, 08 May 2008 14:10:54 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5600768 2000 and 2001 must have been great years for underaged gamers.

darkstar5555

]]> 9:388443:c5600768 Thu, 08 May 2008 14:03:46 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5600626 @teeth7: "but laws on a business rejecting customers are much less restrictive."

Actually, this is partially untrue. Rejecting customers on nationality, ethnicity, disability and such will get sued. Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 seems to cover that nicely for race, religion and sex. ("public accommodations engaged in interstate commerce" is the Government's way of saying "retail stores and other stuff".) The ADA is what covers stores for people with disabilities: [www.eeoc.gov] . What I am not aware of is any law saying you can't refuse sales on age.

There ARE laws on age discrimination in employment, but all the ones I know of are for folks over 40 or so (Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 and such). Do you know of any for the younger crowd in the US?

(Once again, IANAL [I am not a lawer].)

NateN

]]> 9:388443:c5600626 Thu, 08 May 2008 13:59:13 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5600219 @Purple Dave: I do believe that blanket age discrimination has actually been through the courts a few times and is A.OK in terms of selling stuff. This is why Hertz and just about every OTHER car rental place can get with not renting cars to folks under 25. (IANAL!)

Since most public offices in the US that could pass laws against age discrimination against younger people have a minimum age ANYWAY, this probably will never change. For example: you have to be 30 to be a US Senator, 25 to be a US Rep, and 35 to be President or the Vice President.

[en.wikipedia.org] (Age of candidacy)

NateN

]]> 9:388443:c5600219 Thu, 08 May 2008 13:46:14 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5599650 @DashTheHand: It's definitely not illegal. A business can't discriminate in hiring based on sex, nationality, ethnicity, disability, and a host of other reasons, including age, but laws on a business rejecting customers are much less restrictive.

teeth7

]]> 9:388443:c5599650 Thu, 08 May 2008 13:27:39 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5599369 Someone asked for my ID for the first time when I bought No More Heroes a couple months back. I was shocked at first, being 26 only thing I show my ID for is alcohol.
It is simply retarded. If you don't want your 12 year old kid playing GTA 4, then don't give them money to buy the damn game.
Only in America are parents not expected to actually be a parent and be responsible for what their children do.

Dhighness

]]> 9:388443:c5599369 Thu, 08 May 2008 13:19:34 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5597677 This seems to be a case of people seeing a huge (legitimate) problem, campaigning to get it fixed, and failing to notice when their services are no longer required, and indeed no longer desired. Games needed the ESRB, and retailers who were willing to abide by it. Fine. We've got both, now lets move on and do something about the failing US economy, which is arguably doing more harm to minors right now than video games.

@TheNinja256:
Someone still needs to inform the media about this.

@DocHolidayVT:
I would love to see that happen. In Florida. The fallout from that would make my year.

@DashTheHand:
I don't believe so. If you deny someone the right to buy something based on their race, gender, or religion, then you can probably get into some legal trouble. However, a store could probably institute a policy to not serve underage customers at all and not have any legal problems. Malls have begun to ban minors from the premises after 5pm on weekdays to cut down on aggressive loitering (where the kids don't spend any money and actually chase off paying customers with their rude behavior). Kids don't have a lot of rights, and legally everything they own actually belongs to their parents until they turn 18 or get a parental divorce.

@badasscat:
Well...yes and no. There have been laws enacted to regulate decency in movies, but they were struck down eventually on constitutional grounds. Frankly, I see the MPAA and ESRB as, more than preventing laws from being set up in their stead, preventing the needless hassle of sending the laws to court to be struck down. Being forced to constantly change the way you do business would be financially draining, as one day you'd be forced to pull and repackage all your stock, and by the time you're half finished you'd be allowed to put them back on the shelf unchanged.

@valarmorghulis:
Because it wins votes in elections. And we've got a big one coming up later this year.






Purple Dave

]]> 9:388443:c5597677 Thu, 08 May 2008 12:28:19 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5597503 @PGGB: babies shouldn't see harold and kumar 2?

wait, nobody should see harold and kumar 2.

pasquinelli

]]> 9:388443:c5597503 Thu, 08 May 2008 12:22:47 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5597493 These statistics are completely worthless. The FTC never mentions the size of the sampling population and the demographics thereof.

Oxobiald

]]> 9:388443:c5597493 Thu, 08 May 2008 12:22:27 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5597444 @DocHolidayVT: i wouldn't be surprised if he buys m rated games for kids, just so he can keep going after games.

pasquinelli

]]> 9:388443:c5597444 Thu, 08 May 2008 12:21:19 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5596790 @AplusBminus:
lol, South Park

ISChris

]]> 9:388443:c5596790 Thu, 08 May 2008 12:01:42 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5596303 @balls187 upside yo head: Uh, shouldn't it be impossible for children to buy an M-Rated Game?

Gee, I don't know. Shouldn't it rain gumdrops and candy canes? Shouldn't a team of beautiful nubian fairy princesses bathe me each morning then gently massage various lotions and oils into my skin? Shouldn't money grow on trees?

I mean... was that a serious question?

OneFreeMan

]]> 9:388443:c5596303 Thu, 08 May 2008 11:48:39 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5595841 Gamestop still asks me for ID when I buy M-rated games, and I'm 19 now. It just sucks that no matter how good the enforcement rate is, games will still a different stigma from movies that contain the same type of content (or even worse). It's the generational gap at work.

Stormrider

]]> 9:388443:c5595841 Thu, 08 May 2008 11:36:08 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5595822 definitely watched as a 12 year old was sold gta iv a couple days after launch at an hmv.

the frigging clerk, not only sold him the game, but started discussing the finer points of the new driving and shooting mechanics!

argh!

i ranted more about this on my blog, and how there was a baby in my row (in a carseat) when i went to see harold and kumar 2...

PGGB

]]> 9:388443:c5595822 Thu, 08 May 2008 11:35:06 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5595748 @Leigh Alexander

Please stop lying. We all know that video game retailers are doing everything they can in order to sell our precious little snowflakes these evil murder and rape simulations.

(just trolling, pay me no mind)

ThatGuyOverThere

]]> 9:388443:c5595748 Thu, 08 May 2008 11:32:37 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5595550 Good.

Benjo

]]> 9:388443:c5595550 Thu, 08 May 2008 11:26:52 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5595548 Damn little shits trying to buy M rated games. What happened to the days when they'd just run into the store with skate boards and one asshat would knock over a display while their friends looted everything else then skated out the store. Thats how I always got my cans of spray paint! damn kids and their unwillingness to commit the cool crime of theft these days. This generation makes me sick.

Derigor

]]> 9:388443:c5595548 Thu, 08 May 2008 11:26:51 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5595195 Well, legally its unconstitutional to create a law that prohibits the sale of games to minors.

Only pornography has an all out law that make it illegal.

I applaud retailers to card people for stopping the sales of games to minors. These days, selling video games with violence is like selling guns to children according to the ill-informed.

It takes the some of the heat off of the industry. I just wish we wouldn't have to have stores policing the sales of games to minors.

*sigh* The old saying goes though, wish in one hand... shit in the other. See which one fills up first.

FrigidAir44

]]> 9:388443:c5595195 Thu, 08 May 2008 11:15:21 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5595130 @valarmorghulis: In brief, because it's better to have someone holding the minors responsible than no one holding tham responsible.

eclipsegryph

]]> 9:388443:c5595130 Thu, 08 May 2008 11:13:34 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5594905 I would like stores to sell to whomever they want, and parents to act like they're, I don't know, the parent. Why does a federal agency need to spend time and money to make sure that the people who aren't parents are doing the parenting?

discuss

valarmorghulis

]]> 9:388443:c5594905 Thu, 08 May 2008 11:06:13 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5594554 This is good news for the industry and should be exposed to as many news outlets and political pundits as possible. While we may be annoyed by the way they've portrayed the industry, their actions led to his admirable stat. Bravo.

DARTH_TIGRIS

]]> 9:388443:c5594554 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:55:01 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5594358 Games being regulated better than other forms of media as always, but someone still wants to regulate it.
Good thing that bill will fail, as you can't enforce government involvement on a private entity like the ESRB.
I'm glad the FTC released this data, it'll probably kill the bill sooner.

超外人

]]> 9:388443:c5594358 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:48:50 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5594307 I am in my Mid 30's and I get ID for games and laugh at the cashier. I buy all my games from Best Buy and they have it right on their register for proof.

Funny thing is that I don't even get proof for smokes and beer and the law in NY states if you look below 30, they ID you..

Go figure....

Tigerj

]]> 9:388443:c5594307 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:47:03 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5594287 Oh no!!! Jack T. your theory on all kids get to buy M games is sinking!!!!

ShaggyB

]]> 9:388443:c5594287 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:46:29 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5594170 @smartmuffin: Yes, but the only reason why there is no law is *because* of the ratings boards. Both the MPAA and the ESRB exist as a compromise with the government. Essentially, the government told both industries "police yourselves or we will do it for you."

And that is the constant threat that continues to hang over the industry, and that is why the FTC compiles reports like this and periodically congress may hold hearings. They want to know how effective the ratings system is. If they decide it is not effective, you can bet laws will be enacted within months to add legal enforcement to the ratings systems.

As for your last question, no, it's not illegal to sell anything to minors. Nobody's signing a "contract" when they exchange money for goods. (Contracts with minors aren't illegal either, they're just harder to enforce when the minor tries to break their end of it... but obviously, that's not a question when money is exchanged for goods at the time of purchase.)

badasscat

]]> 9:388443:c5594170 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:42:09 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5594164 Game retailers card more than movie theatres? That actually surprises me.

Oh and for my experience, I've been carded quite often. I'm 22 and still get carded. Even back in the Funcoland days of yore I still got carded.

kojirodensetsu

]]> 9:388443:c5594164 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:41:49 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5594044 @RageW:
Parental Advisory Label

Drake Lake

]]> 9:388443:c5594044 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:37:29 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5594016 As far as I know, M-rated games and R-rated movies have no law classifying them as "adult entertainment."

The only time it's ILLEGAL to sell something to a child is if it's classified as pornography.

The ratings boards are just private groups who give their opinion of how bad a game is, and various retailers choose to respect that opinion. As far as whether not selling it to a child is legal or not, isn't it technically illegal to sell anything to someone under 18? Like, they aren't allowed to enter into a contract or something.

smartmuffin

]]> 9:388443:c5594016 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:36:22 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593991 Yeah around 2003 or 2004 is when the retailers really started cracking down. 12 or 13 when I bought Ghost recon on the Gamecube. The gamestop employee asked his manager if it was ok to sell it to me and he looked at me for a second and said "yeah sure". That was the only time in my life that I was able to buy an M game without an adult present.

CCCombobreaker

]]> 9:388443:c5593991 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:35:26 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593974 Dearest Jack Thompson,

Now, please shut the fuck up.

Sincerely,

Gamers

KillerBee

]]> 9:388443:c5593974 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:34:48 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593971 "PAL Music CD"

Aren't you allowed to listen to European music? =S

RageW

]]> 9:388443:c5593971 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:34:46 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593874 News Flash: Teens now print better IDs than the local DMV!

SigmundTheSeaMonster

]]> 9:388443:c5593874 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:31:00 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593870 huzzah! take that jack thompson! or is it john thompson? or bruce thompson? the guy has way too many aliases - maybe he's a terrorist!

AgainstOne

]]> 9:388443:c5593870 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:30:53 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593833 @DashTheHand: Why should it be illegal for a retailer to refuse service to a customer? You have to remember that, though it is not practised as much any more, someone providing a service still has a right to refuse that service to anyone. The refusal just can't be of a discriminatory nature. Currently, withholding adult entertainment from persons who are not adults is not considered discrimination.

eclipsegryph

]]> 9:388443:c5593833 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:29:37 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593747 "Misdemeanor Petty Theft" is ruining our children!

/Jack Thompson'd

Hubert Humphrey Methadone

]]> 9:388443:c5593747 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:26:55 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593726 @DashTheHand: I believe that the law to fine retailers for selling M-rated games to minors is unconstitutional. But if the company or store chooses to adopt a policy of not selling M-rated games to minors that's ok. Kinda like many of them choose not to carry AO-rated games.

tnx3

]]> 9:388443:c5593726 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:26:32 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593721 Well, it looks like a lot of improvement has taken place in the enforcement of age-based purchasing controls. I can only say that this is good for the industry -- take that Jack.

DugDawg

]]> 9:388443:c5593721 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:26:27 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593653 @balls187 upside yo head: Shouldn't it be impossible for people to kill each other in stable countries? Check the statistics.

Impossible is nothing.

Ashurahori

]]> 9:388443:c5593653 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:24:29 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593627 You'd think that checking the ages of people buying M-Rated games would've been the first thing that they would've done...

KM91

]]> 9:388443:c5593627 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:23:47 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593600 My Gamestop is absolutely on top of their IDing, mainly because the local news ran a sting operation against them and got one of the younger brothers of a worker to buy an M-rated game or something along those lines. Even at the GTA launch we were carded once when confirming our purchase and then again when we actually picked the game up. That didn't stop some kid who looked like he was 10 from dragging his parents to the launch to pick it up. Everyone in line were discussing if they should explain how violent and mature the game is.

Either way, people will ignore this data though, it'd be too damaging to the likes of Jack Thompson to acknowledge this as a legitimate study.

jihadjoe343

]]> 9:388443:c5593600 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:22:53 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593577 When I worked at GameStop, I would get cursed out for asking for ID. If we didn't, and it was a secret shop, pretty much instant termination.

ChimDeathmonkey

]]> 9:388443:c5593577 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:22:14 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593576 I think a lot of retailers have a policy to card people buying mature games. Now for how often do the employees of those stores actually do it, that's part of the 20% figure.

I really don't understand why people must be so set on having a written law that is unconstitutional to punish retailers. I just have this feeling that the retailers aren't being engaged in the conversation at all, and political figures just want to put on a show instead of actually having results. There are always more than one correct solution, but why are idiots still stuck on the wrong one.

tnx3

]]> 9:388443:c5593576 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:22:13 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593560 Uh, shouldn't it be impossible for children to buy an M-Rated Game?

balls187 upside yo head

]]> 9:388443:c5593560 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:21:49 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593532 Isn't it still illegal to deny someone the right to purchase a game based on the ESRB rating posted on it? I still annoyingly get carded all the time and its less and less flattering each time.

DashTheHand

]]> 9:388443:c5593532 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:20:44 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593518 I can't wait to see how the Jack Thompsons and Glen Becks of the world spin this into something negative.

Gray665

]]> 9:388443:c5593518 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:20:23 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593513 Doesn't matter if the parents just buy it for the kids anyway.

DorkimusPrime

]]> 9:388443:c5593513 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:20:13 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593497 I'd like to see the stats on porno mags. Back before the internet, it was a total crapshoot! I began to observe that if they were a woman or didn't have a mustache, they wouldn't sell porn to a kid.

The youth of today doesn't know how easy they have it.

futurebiblehero

]]> 9:388443:c5593497 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:19:54 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593471 @ShirtGuyDom:
That's just going to make lawmakers say "Well, why not? They're already pretty much doing it, this will just get the rest of those selling to underage kids to comply."

@天水:
Hah, true. It's like this one book a few years ago that a school stopped forcing kids to read because of pressure, but parents still complained about how it shouldn't be there.

Drake Lake

]]> 9:388443:c5593471 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:19:02 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593386 That's probably because our industry gets attacked most frequently in the media. The natural knee-jerk reaction is to focus on tightening up video games specifically, so 'think of the children' nuts have nothing to complain about. Probably kids will go back to buying traditional adult entertainment, like Eminem CD's and Dawn of the Dead films.

Lov3

]]> 9:388443:c5593386 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:16:41 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593353 I'm happy about this. The video game industry gets the most heat while other industries have worst enforcement rates. I'm sure this will make some critics calm down.

mario901

]]> 9:388443:c5593353 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:15:44 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593343 While waiting at launch for GTA4, I witnessed four underage kids pay a homeless man to pick up ALL four copies of the game. Extreme.

AplusBminus

]]> 9:388443:c5593343 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:15:32 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593333 Based on this I wouldnt be surprised if Jack Thompson tries to get Parents who do buy their children these games tried for child abuse charges now.

DocHolidayVT

]]> 9:388443:c5593333 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:15:10 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593315 @Drake Lake: Even if they somehow managed to get that number to 0% sales to minors, people would still complain. Nothing will ever change that.

"My kids can't buy M Rated games but the box art tempts them. They want it and can't get it so they get sad and distracted, and since they're preoccupied they don't listen and do badly in school. We must ban all games so my precious little snowflakes can have a future!"

天水

]]> 9:388443:c5593315 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:14:41 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593291 Being an underage buyer at the time in the early 2000s, I can agree that it was a piece of cake to buy games, but even easier to buy PA music. I don't think I was ever asked about music (which I bought much more frequently because of its price) than game (which I was probably IDd once).

bangbangblah

]]> 9:388443:c5593291 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:14:05 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593214 What? We can prevent kids from buying M rated games without an unconstitutional law? Who knew.

ShirtGuyDom

]]> 9:388443:c5593214 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:11:44 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593186 Too bad this won't please everyone. There are always those people who will say "That's 20% too many!"

I bet that Republican representative Lee Terry and Democratic representative Jim Matheson will be two of them.

Drake Lake

]]> 9:388443:c5593186 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:10:40 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593142 Take that, Hillary Clinton!

iamcool388

]]> 9:388443:c5593142 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:09:12 MDT <![CDATA[FTC: It's Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games]]> http://kotaku.com/388443/ftc-its-increasingly-difficult-for-children-to-buy-m+rated-games#c5593130 I'm 20 and I still get id'ed for games all the time. My area in Ohio is on top of it's gaming age verification. Im glad that the retailers care. Give the media a little less to complain about.

TheNinja256

]]> 9:388443:c5593130 Thu, 08 May 2008 10:08:45 MDT