Online video game magazine GameSpot is reporting that former first lady and generally infuriating presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is taking a break from not-stopping the Iraq War to take on another issue. Four senators co-signed a letter to the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) asking it to modify the manner in which games are rated.
The cadre of politicians includes two Democrats, a Republican, and an independent who used to be a Democrat; all of them have previously supported legislation involving games, and all have (or had) presidential aspirations. Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY and current presidential candidate), Joe Lieberman (I-CT, formerly a democrat and candidate for president in 2004, and Al Gore’s running mate in the 2000 presidential race), and Evan Bayh (D-IN, who publicly considered a run in 2008 only to opt against it) proposed the Family Entertainment Protection Act to restrict minors’ access to violent games. Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS and recently withdrawn 2008 presidential candidate) attempted to pass the Truth in Video Game Rating Act, which would have required the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) to play through the games it assesses.
Both Democrats who signed this letter, Clinton and Bayh, voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 - so it appears they are only against fake violence.
The game in question, Manhunt 2, is rated M for Mature. An AO (Adults Only) rating essentially means the game will not be sold by any major retailer.
The violence alone, however, isn’t the only issue.
In addition, they called for a closer look at the ratings on games for Nintendo’s Wii, due to the nature of its motion-sensing controller.
“That system permits children to act out each of the many graphic torture scenes and murders in Manhunt 2 rather than simply manipulating a game pad,” the senators wrote. “This led one clinical psychologist to state that the realistic motions used with the Wii mean that ‘You’re basically teaching a child the behavioral sequencing of killing.’ While this was not cited as the reason for the BBFC decision, we do believe that the ESRB should take the Wii Remote controller, and future advances in game controllers, which create more realistic gaming environments, into consideration.”
That’s one amazing controller. It can simulate golf, tennis, and the “behavioral sequences of killing”. Of course, you are not really playing tennis, golfing, or killing, so the idea that kids might just be smart enough to know the difference doesn’t really play into the debate. And what we really need is congress, who has no problem sending an 18-year old to die in a bogus war, to start legislating how people raise their own children.
Since it can simulate bowling, tennis, and mass murder, maybe the Wii should run for president? Would the Wii get us into a war under false pretenses? Would the Wii win a congressional majority on the sole basis of stopping an extremely unpopular war only to completely drop the ball?
I have an idea for a new video game, called Pandering to the Electorate. You use the ever-versatile Wii controller to change positions without accomplishing anything - and it’s rated WTF.
Thank God I have the government around to tell me how to raise my child! I plan on pumping my 16 month old full of soda until someone legislates that I can’t do that either. Apparently congress thinks parents no longer have common sense. While she doesn’t play video games I think if I saw my daughter playing Manhunt 2 I might, I don’t know, take it away from her. Maybe we could go outside and run around or get some exercise. Ahh screw it. I’ll just plop her in front of the TV and let that damn Baby Einstein lady raise my kid.