From Kotaku:

"New legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that aims to enforce ESRB ratings with required age identification checks, reports Variety. The "Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act"—a bill introduced by Republican representative Lee Terry and Democratic representative Jim Matheson—would require video game retailers to display ESRB ratings and verify a customer’s age when buying an M or AO rated title. Now that all our other problems are solved, we can finally ensure that kids will never get their hands on a copy of Manhunt or Pony Friends ever again. The final solution?

Retailers would be hit with a $5000 civil fine should they be found in violation of the act. Similar legislation has been attempted in Massachusetts, New York, Louisiana, California and beyond to hilarious, ruled as unconstitutional result.

Terry argued for the bill, saying that "In some games high scores are often earned by players who commit ‘virtual’ murder, assault and rape." Ah yes, the old "virtual rape" fantasy game. Glad to see this fiction still being tossed around by our elected officials."

This bill is really nothing new, but what’s interesting is that I’m seeing a lot of gamers supporting it this time around. I was wondering what you guys think?

Personally, I have mixed feelings. I’m all for keeping M rated games out of the hands of minors (even though just like R-rated movies, I’m sure many will get them anyway). But this one is still unconstitutional. The government is trying to step in here and tell us what’s appropriate for our children, and they’re being just as ignorant about video games as they have always been.

But on the other hand, a staggering number of parents have proven time and time again how absolutely fucking retarded they are. I almost feel like maybe the government SHOULD be keeping their kids from playing GTA, because the parents are too inept to do it themselves.

Of course, someone raised the point that most game stores would probably stop selling M rated games altogether in order to avoid a fine, and that $5000 is ridiculous when its only a $100 fine to sell ciggerettes to a minor.

I don’t know. I guess I feel like there needs to be something done to stop 7 year olds from playing these games, but this is the wrong way to go about doing it.

$5000 is ridiculous imo, and I’m all for keeping games out of kids hands who shouldn’t have it UNLESS THE PARENTS ARE OKAY WITH IT (which would require them going in to buy it themselves), but yeah, it’s the wrong way to go about it.

But see, the fact that some kids’ parents ARE ok with it is a problem in itself. Sometimes it’s just out of pure ignorance, but I know there ARE irresponsible people out there who really don’t care if their eight-year-old is running over people and shooting cops. And that’s why I think maybe the government SHOULD step in in some way.

Yes, I completely understand, but if the parent buys it for their kid, technically from this act, it’s still a ’legal’ sell, and what the parent does with it after words is out of government control still. Give it to their seven-year-old or play it themselves, the government still can’t do anything about it. Ya know?

I believe that if your not 17 or 18 yet to play a game, then go for another solution. Buy transformers or spiderman instead of GTA4 or Gears 2... XD sucks to be you Kuro

I’ll be 19 next month cerv. -_-

>_>ok go and try to purchase an AO game

He could. >_>

AO is 18+

My opinion: Government needs to stay out.  Bills like this may seem like a good idea, but it’ll be just the start if everyone goes along with it.  You give a mouse a cookie, he’s going to want a glass of milk...

If anyone would allow AO games on their systems. lol

Mouse and cookie, that reminds me of a child hood storie but I can’t seem to recall the name! ;_;