Although there wasn't proven any clear connection between game violence and youth violence, nor any court has found a strong enough link, initiatives focused on restricting children access to M (mature) and AO (adults only) ESRB rated games continue to rise, wave after wave.
Furthermore, the
ESRB rating itself is supposed to be enough to prevent "explicit" games end in the wrong hands.
In this sense, the State of Minnesota is once again the centre of attention as the Minnesota House of Representatives has passed Republican Representative Jeff Johnson's HF1298 bill, which requires retail outlets to put up signs that explain the ESRB rating system, something many stores already do. In addition, while previous similar bills (HB1381 bill:
here and
here) have included proposed fines for retailers who sell inappropriate games to minors, should this bill become a law, HF1298 would instead mandate a $25 civil penalty against anyone underage who purchases any M or AO rated game. However, Johnson (who's running for attorney general this year) indicated that such offenses would not go on the child's record.
It is expected that this initiative, like all the others, will be rejected as being unconstitutional. Furthermore, a legal reaction from
ESA is to be expected, as its President, Mr. Doug Lowenstein has become notorious for his determination in defending the game industry. As it was the case with the anti-game crusader Jack Thompson clash, it is expected that the ESA president will not lose this one, and come out of it spick and span, as he has done for more than a decade now.
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