Zealous anti-gamer wins one...
Jack Thompson, the infamous anti-games campaigner has had a bill signed into law in Louisiana.
The bill, which is designed to prevent the rental or sale of violent videogames to minors, was unanimously approved by the Senate committee and will come into immediate effect.
Similar bills have, in the past, been halted from becoming law after being challenged by the ESA (Entertainment Software Association) on the basis of infringing the First Amendment’s protection of expression.
Whilst I for one fully support the preventing minors from playing violent videogames, I’m of the belief that like DVD and VHS before them, video games should be self-regulating. We already have in place systems to prevent the sale of violent games to minors and a further law, even in the US, is a step in the wrong direction.
Perhaps if Jack Thompson directed his energies towards reinforcing the systems already in place rather than spouting ill-informed vitriol, gamers would take him more seriously and perhaps he might even find support from the industry itself.
