Kotick: Californian Proposal on Violent Games “Absurd”
Your civil liberties, give them to me.
Published: 21:39, 21/09/2010 by Kovacs.
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12Spare a thought for our hapless gaming brothers over in California. Sure, they might enjoy sun, surf and the possibility of running into Zac Efron when out shopping for Paris Hilton branded speedos, but they also have to contend with Arnold Schwarzenegger running the place. Case in point: the Governator is attempting to ban the sale of violent games to children (a good thing) which many believe will force major US retailers to withdraw from selling M rated titles altogether (not a good thing).
Never fear, guys, there’s one somewhat unexpected and valiant protector of your gaming rights who is willing to stand up to the giant Austrian cyborg. Enter the arena Activision’s very own poster-boy of all that is pure and virtuous in the gaming industry, Bobby Kotick. Not too happy with the possibility of losing countless sales if this nefarious law is passed, the super-publisher CEO has spoken out on the issue.
“Our First Amendment has survived intact for 219 years amid far greater technological, historical and social challenges.
The argument that video games present some kind of new ominous threat that requires a wholesale reassessment of one of our nation’s most treasured freedoms and to take that freedom away indiscriminately from an entire group of our population based on nothing but age is beyond absurd.
These are the same attacks Americans have witnessed against every previous emerging entertainment medium and genre including books, comics, rock ‘roll, movies, TV and the Internet. In each case, freedom prevailed.”
Activision has also filed an amicus brief (a document presented by someone interested in influencing the outcome of a lawsuit but who is not a party to it) asking the Supreme Court not to rule in favour of The Oak in the Schwarzenegger vs the Electronic Merchants Association case. EA and other expert groups have also voiced their support against the proposal.
The irony of the situation is not lost on us. This is, of course, coming from a man who once portrayed a character that actually beat another person to death with the victim’s own arm.
Source: GamesIndustry.biz
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21/09/2010 at 21:43
Member since: Forever
Lets hope Kotick can terminate him
21/09/2010 at 21:48
Member since: Jan 2009
Nicely done ;)
21/09/2010 at 21:52
Member since: Dec 2009
The post is riddled with Arnie-isms! Even the excerpt, which I worked very hard on I’ll have you know!
*sniff*
21/09/2010 at 21:54
Member since: Jan 2009
Well done to you too :D
21/09/2010 at 21:55
Member since: Dec 2009
\o/
22/09/2010 at 09:18
Member since: Dec 2008
Made me larf *applauds*
22/09/2010 at 10:47
Member since: Sep 2009
Ditto – nicely done Kovacs, my personal favourite was The Governator! :)
22/09/2010 at 14:29
Member since: May 2010
no it’s not now put that cookie ;Dlol
21/09/2010 at 22:12
Member since: Aug 2009
So much genius in this. Kotick … Schwarzenegger. Where’s the A-Team!?
If nothing else, Activision certainly know how to keep themselves in the news but in this instance I’m wholly on their side as well as EA and the others who’ve disapproved.
As for Schwarzenegger, well … His position of power still seems crazy even now.
Great post and I especially chuckled at the final sentence.
21/09/2010 at 22:20
Member since: Forever
Even though I disagree with nearly all of his policies, I (if I were American) would still vote for him.. He is the best actor to grace our planet after all!
21/09/2010 at 23:55
Member since: Forever
Wheres the /sarcasm?
21/09/2010 at 23:54
Member since: Forever
@ Kovacs..ta mate that made me laugh.
22/09/2010 at 00:00
Member since: Apr 2009
So Kotick finally crawled out from under his rock again eh.
22/09/2010 at 01:07
Member since: Aug 2009
An attempt to ban violent video games would likely be erased…
Yeah you’ve been erased..
22/09/2010 at 01:29
Member since: Nov 2009
It’s funny how a guy that made his career in violent movies, is now trying to band violent video games. GET TO DA CHOPPA!!!
22/09/2010 at 01:31
Member since: Nov 2009
Oops I mean “ban”…not band =)
22/09/2010 at 01:49
Member since: Mar 2009
It does confuse me so much that there’s no actual legal obligation about age limits in the US, it all seems to be gentlemen’s agreements
22/09/2010 at 03:13
Member since: May 2009
Seems video game retailers already abide by the ratings system (more than for any other form of entertainment at least);
“Harder for kids to buy M-rated video game than see R-rated movie – Compliance with the ratings system is at an all-time high, making video game sales more tightly controlled than theater ticket, DVD, and music sales”
http://tinyurl.com/23l4ggx
22/09/2010 at 07:41
Member since: Feb 2009
It most definitely should be illegal for retailers to sell adult games to minors, what’s kotic going on about? They’re not talking about banning them altogether, just the sale of them to minors, i don’t want my son being subjected to such things until i think he’s ready, ok 18 is pushing it a bit too far, but at least 15.