Video Games with larger warnings?

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That might become reality if a bill proposed by two politicians in the United States House of Representatives makes its way through and becomes law.

Rep. Joe Baca, D-California and Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Virginia want video game developers to make a noticible change to the packaging so that it includes a larger warning that violent games can lead to combative behaviour.

I don't smoke, but I can get the packages pretty easily from those who do.
You don't want something like this on your next game do you?

The bill would see the text “WARNING: Exposure to violent video games has been linked to aggressive behavior.” applied to every video game, not just those rated Teen or Mature. This could be plastered on copies of the next Wii Sports release. A similar type of warning is already in place on cigarette packaging, which also includes graphic images, at least in Canada. That’s where the similarities end (outside of the imagery) on the warnings.

Currently, the gaming industry in North America monitors itself through the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) which rates each title released with its own system. Just look at the bottom corner on the front cover and the back for a brief description of the rating along with some of the content encountered in the game. The ESRB even maintains an online searchable database of games and their ratings.

While there have been many studies to determine the impact of violent games on children, there doesn’t seem to be a widespread panic where kids are taking arms and recreating scenarios from Uncharted, Grand Theft Auto and Mass Effect. And I can certainly say that I’ve never flown into a fit of rage and tried shooting museum guards to steal priceless objects — I’m sure many of us have at least thrown a controller out of frustration because we forgot to use stealth in a particular mission or that cursed upside-down L in Tetris appeared. I don’t doubt that games have the ability to inflame someone’s ability distort reality and turn hostile, but sticking labels on a package won’t prevent that from happening. It’s just like everyone milling around outside and lighting up under the no smoking sign.

Rep. Baca has tried to push through similar bills 2009 and 2011, both never passing.

Sources: Kotaku, msnbc

 

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