Bill targets sale of adult video games

Posted on May 8, 2008
by Staff WASHINGTON (BP)

-Congressmen from both political parties have partnered to sponsor legislation designed to prevent children from purchasing or renting adult video games.

Reps. Jim Matheson, D.-Utah, and Lee Terry, R.-Neb., announced May 7 the introduction of the Video Game Ratings Enforcement Act, H.R. 5990. The bill would require retailers to check the identification of customers seeking to buy or rent games rated M for "mature" or AO for "adult only." Games rated M have content that may be suitable only for those at least 17 years old, while AO games include material that is appropriate only for those 18 or older, according to an industry ratings board.

The measure does not bar parents from renting or purchasing M- or AO-rated games for their children, but it mandates stores display explanations of the rating system to help parents in purchasing or renting video games. Retail violators could receive a civil penalty of as much as $5,000.

The congressional action came at the close of a record-setting sales week for a controversial new game, "Grand Theft Auto IV." The game, which was released April 29, broke all-time sales records for a first week and first day. Worldwide sales for the first week were six million copies at a retail value of more than $500 million, according to FOX Business. The game's opening day was 3.6 million copies sold for a value of about $310 million, FOX reported...read more