Truth in Video Game Rating Act: Difference between revisions
→top: add more |
|||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
The [[United States]] '''Truth in Video Game Rating Act (S.3935)''' is a [[Bill (proposed law)|bill]] introduced by then Senator [[Sam Brownback]] (R-KS) on September 26, 2006. The act would require the [[ESRB]] to have access to the full content of and hands-on time with the games it was to rate, rather than simply relying on the video demonstrations submitted by developers and publishers.<ref name="gamasutra">{{cite web | title=Senate Proposes New ESRB Legislation | url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=11030 | work=[[Gamasutra]] | accessdate=September 27, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311010442/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=11030 | archive-date=2007-03-11 | url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, the ESRB would become oversighted by the [[Government Accountability Office]] (GAO), and the [[Federal Trade Commission]] would define details of content for the ESRB ratings.<ref name="gamasutra"/> Brownback said of the bill's introduction, "The current video game ratings system needs improvement because reviewers do not see the full content of games and don’t even play the games they are supposed to rate. For video game ratings to be meaningful and worthy of a parent’s trust, the game ratings must be more objective and accurate."<ref name="gamasutra"/> |
The [[United States]] '''Truth in Video Game Rating Act (S.3935)''' is a [[Bill (proposed law)|bill]] introduced by then Senator [[Sam Brownback]] (R-KS) on September 26, 2006. The act would require the [[ESRB]] to have access to the full content of and hands-on time with the games it was to rate, rather than simply relying on the video demonstrations submitted by developers and publishers.<ref name="gamasutra">{{cite web | title=Senate Proposes New ESRB Legislation | url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=11030 | work=[[Gamasutra]] | accessdate=September 27, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311010442/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=11030 | archive-date=2007-03-11 | url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, the ESRB would become oversighted by the [[Government Accountability Office]] (GAO), and the [[Federal Trade Commission]] would define details of content for the ESRB ratings.<ref name="gamasutra"/> Brownback said of the bill's introduction, "The current video game ratings system needs improvement because reviewers do not see the full content of games and don’t even play the games they are supposed to rate. For video game ratings to be meaningful and worthy of a parent’s trust, the game ratings must be more objective and accurate."<ref name="gamasutra"/> |
||
The bill was one of several proposed federal and state legislation that were introduced following the discovery of the [[Hot Coffee (mod)|"Hot Coffee" scenes]] in ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]'' in mid-2005. While the sexually-explicit content had been originally hidden by Rockstar Games at release, modders had been able to patch the game to show it, causing the ESRB to re-evaluate the game from Mature to Adults-Only.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-11-30-who-spilled-hot-coffee | title = Who spilled Hot Coffee? | first = Simon | last = Parkin | date = December 2, 2012 | accessdate = November 14, 2021 | work = [[Eurogamer]] }}</ref> Senators [[Hilary Clinton], [[Joe Lieberman]], and [[Evan Bayh]] had introduced the [[Family Entertainment Protection Act]] in December 2005, which called for a federal mandate enforcement of the ESRB ratings system in order to protect children from inappropriate content, though the legislation failed to pass.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.engadget.com/2005/12/16/family-entertainment-protection-act-now-filed/|title=Family Entertainment Protection Act Now Filed|author=Jennie Lees|publisher=[[Engadget]]|date=December 16, 2005|access-date=August 4, 2015}}</ref> |
|||
The bill makes no considerations for [[mod (computer gaming)|mods]], [[Mod (computer_gaming)#Total_conversion|total conversion]]s, [[user generated content]], [[procedurally generated content]], unused disc space, blocked/disabled out portions of code, player behavior in online games, and various other factors out of the control of the developers (such as how the player decides to play the game). |
|||
This bill was unacted upon during its original session and was reintroduced by Senator Brownback on February 14, 2007 under the same title "the Truth in Video Game Rating Act" with a new session number (S.568). The bill remained in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and expired at the end of the 110th Congress without further action.<ref>{{cite web|title=S.568 - 110th Congress (2007-2008): Truth in Video Game Rating Act|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/568/committees|accessdate=1 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801084307/https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/568/committees|archive-date=2017-08-01|url-status=live}}</ref> |
This bill was unacted upon during its original session and was reintroduced by Senator Brownback on February 14, 2007 under the same title "the Truth in Video Game Rating Act" with a new session number (S.568). The bill remained in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and expired at the end of the 110th Congress without further action.<ref>{{cite web|title=S.568 - 110th Congress (2007-2008): Truth in Video Game Rating Act|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/568/committees|accessdate=1 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801084307/https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/568/committees|archive-date=2017-08-01|url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
Revision as of 01:34, 22 November 2021
.svg) | |
| Long title | A bill to direct the Federal Trade Commission to prescribe rules to prohibit deceptive conduct in the rating of video and computer games and for other purposes. |
|---|---|
| Announced in | the 109th United States Congress |
| Sponsored by | Sam Brownback (R-KS) |
| Legislative history | |
| |
The United States Truth in Video Game Rating Act (S.3935) is a bill introduced by then Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) on September 26, 2006. The act would require the ESRB to have access to the full content of and hands-on time with the games it was to rate, rather than simply relying on the video demonstrations submitted by developers and publishers.[1] In addition, the ESRB would become oversighted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the Federal Trade Commission would define details of content for the ESRB ratings.[1] Brownback said of the bill's introduction, "The current video game ratings system needs improvement because reviewers do not see the full content of games and don’t even play the games they are supposed to rate. For video game ratings to be meaningful and worthy of a parent’s trust, the game ratings must be more objective and accurate."[1]
The bill was one of several proposed federal and state legislation that were introduced following the discovery of the "Hot Coffee" scenes in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas in mid-2005. While the sexually-explicit content had been originally hidden by Rockstar Games at release, modders had been able to patch the game to show it, causing the ESRB to re-evaluate the game from Mature to Adults-Only.[2] Senators [[Hilary Clinton], Joe Lieberman, and Evan Bayh had introduced the Family Entertainment Protection Act in December 2005, which called for a federal mandate enforcement of the ESRB ratings system in order to protect children from inappropriate content, though the legislation failed to pass.[3]
This bill was unacted upon during its original session and was reintroduced by Senator Brownback on February 14, 2007 under the same title "the Truth in Video Game Rating Act" with a new session number (S.568). The bill remained in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and expired at the end of the 110th Congress without further action.[4]
References
- ^ a b c "Senate Proposes New ESRB Legislation". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 2007-03-11. Retrieved September 27, 2006.
- ^ Parkin, Simon (December 2, 2012). "Who spilled Hot Coffee?". Eurogamer. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- ^ Jennie Lees (December 16, 2005). "Family Entertainment Protection Act Now Filed". Engadget. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
- ^ "S.568 - 110th Congress (2007-2008): Truth in Video Game Rating Act". Archived from the original on 2017-08-01. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
External links
- Brownback Bill Would Improve Video Game Ratings - Senator says current game ratings system lacks objectivity, Sam Brownback Press release, September 27, 2006
- Congress seeks truth in video game ratings, Ars Technica, September 27, 2006
- Congressman Sponsors "Truth in Video Game Rating Act", GamePolitics.com, September 27, 2006
- ESA Responds to Congressman's "Truth in Video Game Rating Act", GamePolitics.com, September 27, 2006
 | This video game culture–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This United States federal legislation article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |