IDSA Files To Block Violent Gaming Law

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to a Yahoo/Reuters story indicating that the IDSA games trade body has filed a lawsuit against the Washington state videogame violence law. The law, restricting the sale to minors of games featuring violence against police, was passed a few days ago, and the IDSA are filing to have it struck down, saying "..while we share the state's objective to restrict the ability of children to purchase games that might not be appropriate for them, we passionately oppose efforts to achieve this goal by running roughshod over the constitutional rights of video game publishers, developers and retailers to make and sell games that depict images some find objectionable."

Hmm

[Lshmael]

"I'm confident our common-sense law will be upheld. Unlike the St. Louis ordinance recently struck down by the Eighth District Court of Appeals, our state law is narrowly focused on the compelling state interest of protecting the safety of law enforcement officers and firefighters," Dickerson said.

Firefighters?! Where did they come in? Are there even any games that involve the killing of firefighters?

Re:Hmm

[Babbster]

Even more amusing about that quote is the idea that the law "[protects] the safety of law enforcement officers..." I haven't seen studies showing that people who kill police officers in video games are more likely to waste a real police officer. While it is indeed a "compelling state interest" to protect public servants engaged in dangerous jobs, shouldn't laws designed to serve that interest be based in reality?

Re:Hmm

[HTH NE1]

Firefighters?! Where did they come in? Are there even any games that involve the killing of firefighters?

Grand Theft Auto 3 (likely Vice City as well) has firefighters showing up to put out fires you start on cars and people (Molotov cocktails and flamethrowers to name two methods). You can then pull them from the truck, kill them, and take the firetruck.

Then you can go on firefighter missions yourself putting out burning cars.

But there are also parked firetrucks you can steal to do those missions with

New law will cause me trouble!

[Xtifr]

I was about to release a new game: "Cop Invaders", where rows of policemen move back and forth across the screen, and you have to shoot them before they reach the bottom. It also may cause problems for another game I had in the works, "Cop Man", where you run around a maze, dodging cops, and trying to get to the energy pellets which allow you to turn around and eat the cops.

(I wonder if anyone on /. will be old enough to get the references...)

On a more serious note, this law would seem to ban Nethack. (If you successfully escape from a store in Nethack with upaid items, you get attacked by "the Keystone Cops".) Since Nethack is included with most Linux/BSD systems, this law would seem to ban the sale of Linux/BSD systems in WA state. I seriously hope that more than just the game developers come out to oppose this ridiculous law.

Re:New law will cause me trouble!

[vuud]

I get the reference, and I do not see any problem with Cop-Man in so far as running around being chased by cops as this is the natural order of things. Even though you have not done anything wrong in the game (ok, perhaps you bought a copy of GTA Vice City) I have to disagree with the power pellets allowing you to turn around and eat the cops as this would symbolize standing up to authority, which leads to various forms of independent thought. None of which is for the good of the state. What's next TV?

Crazy cops... you know what they do in the county.

[UltimaL337Star]

Hey, cops aren't blind, they knew they'd be risking their lives right when they put on their suit, wether it be by getting ice cream thrown at them by 4 year olds in the park, man handled in the county, or digital made to eat a crowbar. Besides, why are they singling cops out and protecting them? The mail guy has feelings too, just look at The Postal Dude who recently go fired by Running with Scissors.

JAcK JR.

[Shanoyu]

Just Another Knee Jerk Reaction.

The essential reason laws like this will continue to be created (regardless of being struck down) is that gamers have in some politically active circles become one of those hated groups.

These groups of legislators and lobbists, whom I will refer to as knee-cons (for knee jerking) believe that the current style of video gaming is symptomatic of what they feel ails society. To put it crudely, they want to push the clock back as far towards 50's TV land as possible, with a few exceptions for their largest groups of supporters such as the newfound status (since the 60's) of women.

Not all knee-cons are Republicans, some are simply democrats who believe strongly in the "republican motherhood" (small r) concept: Good upbringings make good citizens make good republics. Unfortunately everyone is their (Big?) brother's keeper these days.

These legislators represent a segment of American society which holds that video games, homosexuality, any rise in drug use (including medical marijuana), etc. are a threat to the social fabric and thus the political stability of the United States.

In essence, it is necessary that gamers realize that a war has been declared upon them as well as gaming in general. The main fatality could be the constitutional freedoms of entertainers.

Once this has been realized by all groups threatened by this law, the sheer size of the majority will crush the political muscle of the knee-cons. The US Army's game will not be able to include foreign law enforcement officers, even those of tyrannical or evil countries. Tom Clancy will be a step away from having his books banned. Simply put, we're very close to being neck deep in the smelly stuff.

Remember, The Taliban banned Chess.

Do they really want to win?

[ronfar]

I've come to the conclusion that in some cases when laws like this are proposed, it is irrelevant for the people creating the laws whether they are held to be constitutional, or even passed. These people want publicity, and they want to reinforce certain scapegoats in the public mind. So, from this law, how many headlines are we going to have about "Cop-Killer" video games? How many news stories will focus purely on games like GTA, and focus in such a way as to horrify Jane Soccermom?

Now, that doesn't