I spent some time with the folks from the Avault lately, and now here’s the result, the Adrenaline Vault Podcast, where we talk about (if I recall correctly) Metaplace, World of Warcraft’s dominance of AAA games, why critics of videogame violence don’t quite get it, and more.
From Olivier comes this little tidbit:
Hi Raph, Here are some news from France. Politics try to put addiction to videogames into the new Hospital reform law. Here is a translation at my blog.
Best, Olivier M.
His translation of the legalese:
After Article 25 insert the following:
When a game presents a risk to public health because of its addictive potential, support each unit and its packaging bear, under conditions set by a decree of the Minister for Health, a message of sanitary . The implementation of this obligation is incumbent upon the publisher or, failing that, the distributor responsible for distribution in France of the video game.
SUMMARY STATEMENT
Adolescents constitute a particularly vulnerable target to computer. Consultations for addiction to video games are primarily concerned with children and adolescents. Faced with this phenomenon, a common sign in 25 European countries was established. PEGGY system (Pan-European Game Information) provides guidance in the form of symbols printed on the boxes of video games. However, many parents do not understand the meaning of symbols. This amendment seeks to make the implementation of a prevention message clear about the risks of addiction that can cause some video games.
As Olivier notes, it’s kind of a bad sign when legislation on games is being done by folks who don’t know what PEGI is.
The battle continues. This is still that Leland Yee bill that was blocked in 2006, on appeal.
LOS ANGELES–A U.S. appeals court ruled Friday that a California law restricting the sales and rental of violent video games to minors and imposing labeling requirements is too restrictive and violates free-speech guarantees.
The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that the labeling requirement unfairly forces video games to carry “the state’s controversial opinion” about which games are violent.
via California’s video game law ruled unconstitutional – CNET News.
Last week, Democrat Rep. Joe Baca introduced “The Video Game Health Labeling Act of 2009.” If passed, the bill would create a new rule in the Consumer Product Safety Commission forcing developers to affix a warning on any game rated Teen or higher. The label would read, “WARNING: Excessive exposure to violent video games and other violent media has been linked to aggressive behavior.”
via Don’t pretend video games are as bad as cigarettes | The Digital Home – CNET News.
Link to his press release, which incorrectly asserts that the link between violent video games and increased aggression in young people is solidly established. (To be more precise, there’s plenty of evidence for emotional arousal, not for a more sensible definition of aggression).
Link to his proposed bill. Looks like it would only apply to games rated T or higher. Not that that makes this any more sensible. Section 1c seems aimed at handling digital distribution cases, whilst ignoring that most digitally distributed games are not, in fact, rated by the ESRB. Oops.
Baca (D-Rialto) represents California’s 43rd District. So now you know who to write to and call.
If you weren’t sick of this debate already, here’s more.
So this, really, is the problem with World of Warcraft‘s torture sequence. It does not model any consequences. You torture the sorcerer, but nothing particularly comes of it. You just move on to the next quest.
This would be lame in a TV show, but is arguably even lamer in a videogame, because it’s not too hard to imagine all sorts of repercussions that would have been dramatically fascinating while actually enhancing the gameplay.
For example, Lich King maker Blizzard Entertainment could have made the Art of Persuasion quest optional — but endowed it with some unusually lucrative loot or experience. That would have made it a genuine moral quandary: Should you do a superbad thing for a really desirable result?
— “Why We Need More Torture in Videogames“, Clive Thompson in Wired
