Tiny Diggers – An iPad Construction Truck Game for Kids Age 2-5

The Utah Senate last night passed an amended bill to ban the sale of M-Rated video games to minors.  The bill, HB 353, was drafted by ex-lawyer, Jack Thompson, and would use a new avenue to try and restrict the sale of violent video games to minors.

HB 353, would hold retailers accountable under the Truth In Advertising law, if they were caught selling M, or higher rated games to a person that is not of age to buy them.  The Truth In Advertising link means that if a retailer advertises that it abides by the ratings, then it can be found liable if it does not.  The Senate passed the bill with some changes, and the changes were ratified by the House.  Now the bill goes to the Governor of Utah for signing.

Okay, before I rant, I think anyone that reads the site, and listens to the podcast knows that almost all of the writers are parents of young children, and we all take a long hard look at the ratings when dealing with our children’s gaming habits.  With that underlying fact in mind, I just cannot understand how a state legislature would listen to a raving madman like Jack Thompson.  He is so insane that he lost his license to practice law in the state of Florida.  He has had countless lawsuits thrown out of court because of his rabble rousing.

Also, with almost every state facing some sort of budget crunch, state government is still looking at video games instead of dealing with home foreclosures, funding medical care, fixing tax statutes, and making sure basic services turn on.  I mean I live in California, and we were delaying tax returns because the state was broke, yet Leeland Yee felt that his video game ban was far more important than keeping the lights on.

Yes, there are violent video games, and yes companies know, just like movie studios, that these types of games will sell to the consumer.  And while the ESRB is not perfect, it has been shown in studies by the government that it is more effective than MPAA ratings or Parental Advisory stickers.  I sound like a broken record when I say this, but why don’t we just make parent’s accountable for monitoring behavior.  I know what a fucking concept, but it tires me to see lazy parenting, and big government getting in the way of how I take care of my son.  Here is a far better tip than what government can do – the next time little Billy or little Sally want Grand Theft Auto 4 and throws a fit, tell them tough.  You are the parent, so do your job.  Don’t ask government to handle your responsibility.

Now I am sure the Governor will sign this, it will go to the courts, and the state will fight this, and use up resources that again, could go to the people that need services, instead of protection from violent video games.  Utah should look to the past when Indiana tried to get creative with video game law, fought it tooth and nail, and then ended up paying the ESA a bucket load of money, that ended up being funded out of programs for putting food on poverty stricken individuals.  Unfortunately, I think Jack has given them too much Kool-Aid for them to think intellegently.