'Free speech' gives free rein to video mayhem

Minneapolis Star Tribune ^ | 8/3/06 | Katherine Kersten

[Zender500]

Been to the video store lately? Games rated "Mature" (17 and older) and "Adults Only" crowd the shelves within your young teen's reach. Take "Manhunt." It lets a player "become" James Earl Cash, a serial killer. A character named the Director wants to use Cash in snuff films.

As Cash, you slaughter people. You slice them with a chain saw, behead them or stab them viciously in the eyeballs. Meanwhile, the Director adds his comments: "You're really getting me off, Cash" and "You're really doing it for me. Why I ain't been this turned on since ... Well, let's not go there."

Our kids can easily get their hands on "Manhunt," or other M-rated games such as "Resident Evil: 4,"God of War" or "Postal 2: Apocalypse Weekend." Games such as these invite kids to set people on fire, urinate on them or disembowel them. Young players can rack up points for raping women.

What do these games teach? That degrading and hurting other human beings can be a thrill.

It's a tough time to be a parent.

Minnesota legislators from across the political spectrum agree. In May they passed a law intended to protect children 16 and younger by imposing a $25 fine on those who try to buy or rent M or AO-rated games.

But this week U.S. Chief District Judge James Rosenbaum put the kibosh on the new law before it could take effect. He declared it --- what else? -- an unconstitutional restriction of "free speech."

It is astounding that Rosenbaum found no proof that violent video games -- many of which the state's attorneys labeled "utterly repulsive and demented" -- harm children. And the state's substantial social science? Wholly insufficient to prove its case, said Rosenbaum.

"There is a paucity of evidence linking the availability of

[Zender500]

How about the state's second argument, that the new law serves the state's compelling interest in fostering children's "moral and ethical development"? Rosenbaum rejected this out of hand.

No surprise, I guess. In 2006, words such as "moral" and "ethical" can seem like quaint relics of a bygone era.

[randog]

What do these games teach?

....the same thing you can learn at the mosque down the road.

[frogjerk]

The ratings don't mean bunk if the sales clerk doesn't enforce them.

This is the same thing that is wrong with Hollywood and the theaters. If theaters started enforcing the PG and R restrictions, Hollywood would fold.

[mysterio]

Yeah, let's ban some video games. That will solve the world's problems.

[seedman81]

Has there been a time when being a parent was not so tough? Perhaps in our Great Grandparents era, but it has never been easy. As a parent one must be on top of all of their children's activities; who they are spending time with, what types of extra curricular activities they are exposed to, where they are and what they are doing on a 24/7 basis. Easy? Not hardly, but if done with due diligence, we have a much better chance at keeping these types of threats to the maturing process out of the hands of our children, thus giving them a much better chance at entering into adulthood on the right foot.

[Wolfie]

It's a tough time to be a parent.

Yep. Might even have to wander over to the kid's room and check out what video game he's playing. Tough times indeed.

[Bigh4u2]

I've always wondered. Do kids think these games are reality or fantasy?

My grandson plays Doom,Urban Chaos,Quake and a few others.

I've asked him directly "Do you think these are real?"

And he always answers 'No grampa, it's a game'.

BTW. He's only 6.

[finnman69]

http://www.rockstargames.com/manhunt/

[Sloth]

Games rated "Mature" (17 and older) and "Adults Only" crowd the shelves within your young teen's reach.

Puh-leeze. I have yet to actually SEE an A/O-rated game on a store shelf.

[Moose4]

I don't have a problem with putting an age restriction on these games (as opposed to banning them entirely). But the ultimate authority is the parent, and it's the parent who needs to know what their children are playing.

I hear that Resident Evil 4's actually a pretty good game with a decent storyline, but this Manhunt game...ugh. I'm not too surprised that Rockstar (makers of the "Grand Theft Auto" series) are behind it.

}:-)4

[APFel]

[...] but this Manhunt game...ugh. I'm not too surprised that Rockstar (makers of the "Grand Theft Auto" series) are behind it.

The game (Manhunt) is already a couple years old (the author is a bit late to the party). It also commits the cardinal sin of not being fun.

APf

[Dead Corpse]

So... where are the parents in all this? Or are we not advocating personal responsibility for the actions of our children any more?

[AppyPappy]

I always find it interesting that people say that video games do not influence behavior but the military uses video games to influence behavior.

[Drew68]

The game (Manhunt) is already a couple years old (the author is a bit late to the party). It also commits the cardinal sin of not being fun.

That's too bad. I thought I'd go out and rent it (it did sound fun and I've always enjoyed the GTA series).

Maybe they'll make some improvements on "Manhunt 2."

[af_vet_rr]

It's a tough time to be a parent.

I have a suggestion, don't give your kid the $50 or $60 for the videogame, don't buy any for them, unless you absolutely know what it's in the game, and move the computer or console out into the living room.

Far cheaper than getting the government involved.

[DigitalVideoDude]

There is no way my 6 yr. old would be playing any of those games.

[gcruse]

You know, I haven't found any adults-only games, unless that means M, around here at all. Maybe I should start screaming censorhip at Circuit City.

[APFel]

Yeah, Manhunt succeeds in concept but fails in execution. It has the elements of the Thief series (Stealth and survival) as well as an interesting backstory, but the gameplay eventually breaks down in to repetition.

But read some other online reviews and maybe pick it up for yourself to see. For the cost of a rental, you can form your own judgment.

APf

[GATOR NAVY]

Our kids can easily get their hands on "Manhunt," or other M-rated games such as "Resident Evil: 4,"God of War" or "Postal 2: Apocalypse Weekend."

What's this "our kids", Kimosabe? Not my kids, because they don't get any game I don't see first.