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[KennEH!]

I really hope this slows him down. I'm pretty sure it won't stop him, as long as he can breed there will be problems.

[Garthy]

Markham, yeah, I remember that. It was pretty good of the PA guys to step up when JT turned out to be blowing his usual smoke.

[ஒழுக்கின்மை (Paul Eres)]

Jack was kind of a joke, no real danger to game development.

Senator Lieberman on the other hand is much more dangerous -- one of his proposed bills (it didn't pass, but I'm sure he'll try to get it passed again) would make it illegal to sell or even distribute games to a minor unless they've been rated by the ESRB. Which would kind of destroy indie gaming, at least in the US. It still might pass.

[deadeye]

How would that affect online games?  I mean, considering this: "Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB."

Also, how does one go about getting an ESRB rating anyway?  The ESRB website doesn't describe the process unless you are a member, and you can't be a member without submitting your company's game for a rating.

[Garthy]

The ESRB website doesn't describe the process unless you are a member, and you can't be a member without submitting your company's game for a rating.

Welcome to beauracracy.

Kinda like NEIS (a small business support scheme) in Australia. To be eligible, you have to have a source of funds for the business and be otherwise eligible for unemployment benefits. To be eligible for unemployment benefits, you can't have a source of funds, because that wipes out your benefits.

Need to be creative.

[Garthy]

rinkuhero, that's one scary bill. I was going to ask how many under-18s have credit cards, so couldn't they just ask their parents to get it for them- but then, what about pre-purchase demos and freeware? Quite worrying.

[deadeye]

rinkuhero is about to make a post!

[ஒழுக்கின்மை (Paul Eres)]

How would that affect online games?  I mean, considering this: "Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB."

Also, how does one go about getting an ESRB rating anyway?  The ESRB website doesn't describe the process unless you are a member, and you can't be a member without submitting your company's game for a rating.

If the bill had passed the ESRB would probably just change that guideline.

The rating process is kind of weird: from what I've heard, the people rating your game don't actually play your game, instead, you are required to send them 20 hours or so of video footage from your game (as well as about $10,000), as well as what rating you wish to have for your game. If the content in that 20 hour video doesn't exceed the rating you want, you get the rating.

[ஒழுக்கின்மை (Paul Eres)]

rinkuhero is about to make a post!

hahaha

[deadeye]

If the bill had passed the ESRB would probably just change that guideline.

The rating process is kind of weird: from what I've heard, the people rating your game don't actually play your game, instead, you are required to send them 20 hours or so of video footage from your game (as well as about $10,000), as well as what rating you wish to have for your game. If the content in that 20 hour video doesn't exceed the rating you want, you get the rating.

Ah, yes.  I had a feeling it involved thousands of dollars somehow.  That would pretty much mean small-time indie devs would be dead in the water

Also, I don't see how the ESRB could change that guidline... there's no way of ensuring that online play won't expose the player to profanity, etc.  Unless the bill has a special provision for this they could just stick it hard to online games as well.

[ஒழுக்கின்மை (Paul Eres)]

Oh, I thought that guideline meant that they won't rate games only intended for online sale as opposed to sale in stores, whereas it actually means that it can't judge "online content" because people can always swear at you in Starcraft even if it has a T rating.

I don't think that rule would need to change, and it's not really relevant to the bill. Minors would still be able to buy T or E rated games with online content that can contain things that a parent could object to.

[ஒழுக்கின்மை (Paul Eres)]

Interestingly, even Jack Thompson disagreed with Lieberman's bill, calling it unconstitutional: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051212-5740.html

[Zaphos]

Which would kind of destroy indie gaming, at least in the US. It still might pass.

If this did happen, could developers just put at little age barrier thing ("you must tell us your birthday to access this game ...") before the game download?  That seems to be the (idiotic) industry standard currently, anyway.

I'm not too worried 'cause even if it does pass, there's a good chance it'll be recognized as not constitutional, but yeah, scary all the same.

[ஒழுக்கின்மை (Paul Eres)]

That would probably work, a lot of forums do that with being age 13 now -- it's illegal to use forums, myspace, etc., if you're under 13.

[Cheater‽]

Interestingly, even Jack Thompson disagreed with Lieberman's bill, calling it unconstitutional: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051212-5740.html

Yeah. Jack might be nuts, but there are worse. See also: Fox News, Mass Effect.

[Smithy]

I am Jack Thompson.

[Powergloved Andy]

I am Jack Thompson.

I am Jack Thompson.

[policedanceclub]

I am a jack thompson.

[Tanner]

I am Jack Thompson.

[Cymon]

I am Sparticu...er, Jack Johnson..er Curious George... Jason Mr.. Colby Cal.. DANG IT!