Photo ID Required To Buy/Rent Games In Canada 381
securitas writes "Metro International newspapers Toronto edition reports that Canadian gamers must now provide photo identification to buy computer and video games. The restriction is part of the Retail Council of Canada's Commitment to Parents initiative, in cooperation with the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) and the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). The RCC says that it has the support of 90% of game retailers in the voluntary program. Read the RCC video game photo ID press release. There don't seem to be any guidelines for how the program will be implemented - whether it will be a simple flash of a photo ID card (which many teenagers don't have) or a more detailed user database, with its inherent privacy concerns. The Ontario government plans to come up with its own game ratings system after the Ontario Film Review Board gave Manhunt an 'R' rating. More coverage at the CBC and CTV before and after the official announcement."
Do parents reallyt want this? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:3, Insightful)
I think, as you said, a parent should be vigilant about what their child does, while realizing there's no way in hell you're gonna stop them. It builds values yet doesn't impose a ove
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:5, Insightful)
>> job, not from allowance) for a game or movie,
>> I figure they're mature enough to handle it.
But is it up to you to decide that for my children? For someone elses children? If you decide it's appropriate for your kids, then go buy it for them/with them.
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:5, Insightful)
You might as well ask whether it's up to the store to decide that for my children, for your children and for everybody else's children. How do you reconcile the fact that these kids are allowed to roam around the mall unsupervised with the notion that they're not old enough to choose for themselves what games they want to play? Indeed, is it the stores responsibility not to sell a game to a kid whose parents didn't care enough to accompany them?
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:4, Interesting)
How about the fact that violent video games are nothing at all like alcohol (which gets you drunk), cigarettes (which cause cancer), driving (which can have people killed), voting (where kids become tools for their parents political preferences) or gambling (which can make people poor)? I could make the same ridiculous comparison about anything else that is ever sold to kids, since there are always parents that do not approve of something their kids have access to.
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:3, Insightful)
All your story shows is that you're able to associate related stimuli. You see yourself in the driver's seet and you associate it with your experiences as a GTA player.
There are times when I've felt like driving a monster truck over the cars in front of me... surely those Monster Truck rallies should
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:4, Interesting)
I do think there is a serious freedom issue because the rating system is seriously undemocratic. Personally, I would rate the South Park Movie PG-13 and most of the Disney cartoons as PG-13. What matters most to me is gratuitous violence, particularly when done by the protagonist (the good guy). Sex and naughtly language don't matter much unless it's violent (ie., rape). To get a G rating the movie/show would have to be like Seseme Street or Dragon Tales. Dragonball Z would get an R rating in my book.
I just don't trust a bunch of appointed people to come up with a fair rating, and I understand that my definition of fair is mutually exclusive with some other people's definition of fair.
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:5, Insightful)
At the end of the day where are they going to play the games anyway? At home or at a friend's house. If the child is young enough you have control over that and if the child is old enough for goodness sake teach them to think for themselves and stop sending out the message that its okay for 25 year old to have the same level of maturity as 12 year olds a generation or two ago.
I do need to qualify this. I am not a parent at present, and do not know how good a parent I'll make if I ever become one.
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:3, Insightful)
People criticize windows because by default users have root access so they can do anything they want at any time, even if it is stupid (ie. click "Yes" for your daily weather).
The preferred situation is limiting access by default, and somebody responsible like sysadmin increases the users rights. The stores are limiting by default the rights, but it is very little inconvenience for the parents to approve of
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:5, Insightful)
Why not? At what point do we finally realize that just because two people know how to fuck without protection that they have any idea how to raise a child? It's the parents who have been whining for years that violence and sex causes people to go insane and kill and rape...this is a fair solution. Parents, like everyone else, seem to want it both ways...police our children and protect them from all that is dark in the world, but don't tell us how to raise them!
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:2)
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:2)
There is no reason that this will make kids grow up in a black box. It just helps the parents control their kids a little better
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:2)
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:2, Insightful)
I'm sure that many of you out there share this experience, when I was a freshman at college the biggest whores were the chicks who were kept on a short leash when they were young.
Parents who are too domineering will create children who cut loose as soon as they are out of their parents' sight.
LK
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:2, Insightful)
But what about renting? (Score:3, Interesting)
Renting a game costs, what, $5? I don't think many 13 year olds would have trouble rustling up this much cash.
They should be glad over in Canada. Australia outright banned Manhunt (and even the new Leisure Suit Larry remake!), so even adults don't get to see it.
I don't even see why such an intuitive system is considered "news", let alone "stuff that matters."
Re:Do parents really want this? (Score:3, Interesting)
change game or movie to alcohol and cigarettes and you have a very different statement. if canada wants to do this, there will always be ways for the kids to get the games anyways (same with alcohol and cigarettes) so it doesnt really matter that much. also, as i heard this on the radio this morning, what they said then was that it was a VOLUNTARY thing. even the article
Re:Do parents reallyt want this? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Do parents reallyt want this? (Score:3, Funny)
How old are your kids, and which R and NC17 movies will you allow them to rent?
Re:Do parents reallyt want this? (Score:3, Interesting)
Good. I know a good few parents who could use that...
obvious workaround (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:obvious workaround (Score:2)
So few young kids actually buy games it's pointless. (read: download it online) This isn't going to stop young kids getting hold of games, it's just going to piss off the few valid game buyers.
Re:obvious workaround (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:obvious workaround (Score:2)
Re:obvious workaround (Score:2)
I wouldn't make that assumption. I come from a rural environment and know a lot of homeschooling families, and people from these two groups do tend to make friends from a fairly wide spectrum of age groups. That's probably at least partly because homeschoolers aren't segregated with their own age group nearly as much as the rest of the population, and country folks don't have a dense population from which to make friends in the firs
Re:obvious workaround (Score:5, Funny)
Re:obvious workaround (Score:2, Interesting)
The GTA series is our favourite game series, and we play the game together. We see who can beat missions first, the game first. We try to find more hidden packages than the other. We both love exploring the GTA world, regardless that technically, he's not old enough to buy the games (neither was I when the original GTA was released).
I see the rating system as a GUID
Maybe it's for the best... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Maybe it's for the best... (Score:2, Insightful)
In response, probably put pressure on customs and excise...
It's all an endless loop, in a way.
Re:Maybe it's for the best... (Score:2)
Age verification...no big deal (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Age verification...no big deal (Score:2)
Re:Age verification...no big deal (Score:5, Informative)
this [about.com] is the reason that RadioShack is no longer collecting info, and the reason that the information on the ID shown will not be collected for data mining by game stores either.
Kind of old (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Kind of old (Score:2)
If you signature matches the signature they have on file, you can't be compelled to show ID to vote.
Hey... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Hey... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Hey... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Hey... (Score:3, Interesting)
Personally, I don't really care - as long as they don't collect information. And, unlike with cigarettes, if any kid asks me to buy the game for them because they're not old enough.. I'll gladly do it.
Uninforcable (Score:3, Informative)
More stupid regulation that can't be controlled or monitored. More excuses to steal from taxpayers. Bah -- it's uninforcable.
Oh wait...
FTA: "It's a voluntary program based on the ratings you already see on the game boxes."
Nevermind.
Is it such a big deal after all? (Score:5, Insightful)
In terms of privacy I can't see this requirement for video games being any more intrusive than that.
Generally, people who have a problem with this also disagrees with video game ratings in general. I think that's the real problem we'll encounter in this discussion
Re:Is it such a big deal after all? (Score:2)
Re:Is it such a big deal after all? (Score:3, Interesting)
as I said before (Score:2, Insightful)
we all know how effective this is
Re:Toys "PG-13" Us? (Score:2)
Only SOME games (Score:5, Informative)
Good idea! (Score:2)
Re:Good idea! (Score:2)
10% will not ID. (Score:3, Insightful)
Does this mean 10% WILL NOT ID? Well, if this is on a voluntary basis, then you (hopefullY) have those 10%. And those that won't ID will be rewarded by your business. That simple.
Re:10% will not ID. (Score:2)
There are people who refuse to give out their SSN, and so they are on a prepaid plan, cash basis. Hey, its a personal choice. Personal liberity/freedom or a phone plan that doesn't have night/weekend. personal choice.
I got carded to buy Manhunt... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:I got carded to buy Manhunt... (Score:2)
Want realistic games? Deal with realistic ratings (Score:4, Insightful)
If you're going to have cinema-realism in games, you're going to have to deal with the same cinema rating system.
Better that than to have the graphics dulled and content Barney-fied into safety.
No difference from a Blockbuster Account. (Score:3, Insightful)
There is really no difference between this, and a Blockbuster video account.
At the local Blockbuster, you have to show your membership card to rent a movie/game. If you're the primary card holder, they HAVE your ID on file, if you're not (e.g. it's your mom's), and you look like a minor, they'll ask you for ID before you can rent an R-Rated movie (happens this way at all the Blockbusters I've been to in Ontario, anyhow).
This initiative, which, IMO, is a good idea, just extends this principle to purchasing the games as well as renting them. It gives some power to the rating systems -- which most parents don't know exist. Now, parents will at least think that "oh, little Johnny needs an ID to buy this? Wonder why... oh, it's rated M, hmmmmmm." Mind you, just like movies, parents can choose to ignore the rating and buy the game for their kids anyhow.
Seems fair, power still lies with the parents to make the final call.
Fair is fair. (Score:4, Insightful)
I mean if something is too violent or sexual it is too violent or sexual, no matter the medium.
Not that I agree with that. Government has no place being a critic.
This isn't going to work (Score:2)
So the kids who want to buy these games will go to the othe 10% of game retailers, and probably to buy all their games, not just the NC17 ones.
All this plan does is hurt the "honest" retailers.
Jason
ProfQuotes [profquotes.com]
only for teens or adults too? (Score:3, Insightful)
hit me with a clue bat if they already mentioned it in the article. I'm just following the long established slashdot tradition of mouthing off without reading first.
Re:only for teens or adults too? (Score:2)
It's to prevent any possible liability, in my experience. For example, my local grocery store chain [wegmans.com] now requires ID for 100% of alcohol and tobacco purchases, no matter how old you look.
Re:only for teens or adults too? (Score:2)
Shifting the burden of parenting (Score:3, Insightful)
When they are young, children will take up alot of ideals from their parents, who should always be there letting them know whats right. But by the time they are teens and have to deal with peer pressure in ernest, if the parents have done their job then they won't get out of hand and if they haven't done their job then its a bit too late to do anything about it, especially in that rebelious time.
This is just more of parents being lazy and letting someone else do the work for them.
Re:Shifting the burden of parenting (Score:2, Insightful)
The voluntary enforcement by retail stores is simply a logical step - the proverbial ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.
I fully concur! (Score:2)
Re:Shifting the burden of parenting (Score:5, Interesting)
Kinda silly... (Score:2)
whether it will be a simple flash of a photo ID card (which many teenagers don't have)
Out here in BC, high schoolers and middle schoolers are given photo id's for school and reduced bus fare
Get the games elsewhere (Score:3, Insightful)
Useless (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Useless (Score:2)
Photo ID (Score:2, Insightful)
Anyways, one of the first things a kid should know is the difference between righ
violent fiction (Score:2)
i say we should require photo ID for access to the christian bible too.
Hah. (Score:5, Informative)
I didn't really think about it until reading this story now. Can't say I remember ever hearing that before when in a store like EB.
Not really a bad thing (Score:2)
I remember when I was younger I got any game that I wanted (well, not as many as I wanted, but without regard to content), just as I got to watch any movies that I wanted. Instead of simply now allowing me to view certain content, my mother would
Re:Not really a bad thing (Score:2)
Teenagers don't have ID cards? (Score:2, Informative)
Can't say for the rest of the world, but in Canada most teenagers have either a school ID, a yearly bus card with photo (at least for the Montreal area) or a medicare card (sun card for Quebec).
Also, as mentionned in other comments, this should be considered a good thing since kids won't be able to buy games they shouldn't be playing. Sure it won't be easily enforceable but isn't it the same thing for other age restri
Re:Teenagers don't have ID cards? (Score:2)
why _wouldnt_ they?
companies have used grossly unethical/criminal methods to get customer info in the past, why wouldnt they use this?
LIES. Canadian ID is easy to obtain. (Score:3, Informative)
To keep things in perspective, kids die of hunger all over the world and don't even know what video games are. Therefore, one should feel compelled to suck it up and carry around a piece of plastic in his wallet.
I'd support a move like this in Australia (Score:2)
As long as they stopped blaming the games for poor parenting probems.
I'm confused (Score:4, Interesting)
A good start (Score:4, Interesting)
A couple of books by Dave Grossman contributed heavily to my opinion. I'd suggest reading Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill [amazon.com] and On Killing [amazon.com] as excellent works on the cost of violence to society.
Disallowing R-rated content to those that can prove they are of an age where they can likely handle it is fine by me. Don't ban the stuff. But the effect these violence simulators can have on a developing mind can be enormous. So taking steps to keep it out of their hands is a step in the right direction. Change will not happen overnight, but we need to do what we can.
limit access to violent fiction... (Score:5, Interesting)
it's full of incredibly violent, gory stories and pornography. many people have committed heinous crimes, driven by what they read in the bible.
i say we start there.
Acts of Gord (Score:2)
Dear Slashocrites (Score:2)
Now they're finally given a law to make it possible and you bitch about that too.
Parents are not superbeings. Cut them some slack, it's hard enough.
Damned Pirates (Score:2)
This will serve as 'summons pool' for later on when p2p becomes anonymous...
So, what's to stop me from buying online? (Score:2)
Amazon/Ebay? (Score:2)
This should work! (Score:2, Interesting)
Hell, I'm 23 and -I- don't even have a picture ID. And what is this going to solve, anyway? You think some kid who wants to buy the new GTA is going to go "Aww shucks! I can't buy violent video games anymore! I guess I'll go play stickball with my friends..."? Right. <sarcasm>Because we all know his parents didn't buy him a DVD burner last xmas...and there's no way he has usenet access.....</sarcas
Not surprising (Score:4, Funny)
teens without ID ?? (Score:4, Informative)
Strange.
Up here in the colder reaches of North America we have free health care provided by the state. To benefit from this you need your medicare card
or a more detailed user database, with its inherent privacy concerns
Why the database ? Asking for ID to buy/rent a game is no different from asking for ID to get movie tickets or beer. Do movie theatres and convenience shops maintain databases of what movies you see and what brand of beer you buy most often ?
Practical issues put aside, I don't see why this is a problem. Kids are, well, kids. As a society we have a right, and an obligation, to make some decisions about what is acceptable or not for the majority of them. If you want to make a different one for your kids as an individual, go ahead and do it ! go and buy/rent them the game.
A Canadians opinion (Score:4, Interesting)
You have to get your wallet out anyway to pay for the game. If they want to look at my ID when I buy the game, big deal.
I might give a crap if I were 17 or did not have ID handy. But I am not.
I see no problem with keeping mature themed games out of the hands of younger children. And the 17 year olds who want these games can cannot get them are resourceful. You not supposed to be able to get ciggarettes or booze at that age, yet they manage. I dont see games being a bigger problem.
END COMMUNICATION
Re:Flight Sims (Score:2)
A patch was released for Flight Simulator 2000, nearly a year after it was released, which would remove the towers. It was entirely optional, but it makes sense, because I can imagine some people might not want to see them there, since they really weren't there.
Later versions have them removed completely, which is no big surprise at all. I would imagine if a building in their landscape files was destroyed for any reas
Re:Flight Sims (Score:2)
Re:I say this everytime, and I always get modded d (Score:2)
Re:I say this everytime, and I always get modded d (Score:2, Informative)
Re:I say this everytime, and I always get modded d (Score:2)
Well, don't you fret, it's on its way with the benignly titled Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness [psepc-sppcc.gc.ca]. It does not have the pseudo-Nazi "homeland" name, but it is the department responsible for for the RCMP, CSIS, the Fireams Centre, Parole Board and Border Services, much like DHS does for the good ol' USA.
Re:I say this everytime, and I always get modded d (Score:2)
Re:Bad idea, because... (Score:3, Insightful)
It's the same situation with MPAA ratings -- not legally imposed, but if they weren't there, the government would legally impose them.
Basically, "We must self-regulate, lest the government force regulation upon us."