Rant
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Gaming
In case you aren’t up to speed, in 2005 California proposed a law that would inhibit retailers the right to sell violent video games to minors.
Today, the Supreme Court made an official ruling on violent games, and it was quite shocking just how liberal the decision was.
In a 7-2 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to defend the Constitutional rights of games, stating,
"The Act does not comport with the First Amendment. Video games qualify for First Amendment protection. Like protected books, plays, and movies, they communicate ideas through familiar literary devices and features distinctive to the medium. And the basic principles of freedom of speech...do not vary with a new and different communication medium."
The attempt to moderate violent video games seemed impractical since we would have to censor all other mediums of entertainment that we expose to our youth.
"Banning violent games would have necessitated bans elsewhere, argued the court. California’s argument would fare better if there were a longstanding tradition in this country of specially restricting children’s access to depictions of violence, but there is none. Certainly the books we give children to read—or read to them when they are younger—contain no shortage of gore."
In the end, the potential infringement of the first amendment’s freedom of speech was enough to demolish this proposal to make selling violent games to minors illegal.
What do you guys think about the ruling?
Comments
Post a Comment
Join SpawnPoint for free to comment on this story. Have an account already? Login to comment.
Latest News
NA BlackShot Europe - The Sniper Update
online FPS BlackShot Europe has been updated with the new “Sniper Update”.
NA Blood Bowl: Chaos Edition
As an ultra-violent team sport inspired by the universe of Warhammer, Blood Bowl lets players recruit a team of Orcs, Elves, Humans, Vampires, Ogres, Dwarves
NA THE TESTAMENT OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
The Testament of Sherlock Holmes, the new investigation game for Xbox® 360, PlayStation® 3 and PC developed by Frogwares, unveils its release date!
NA Game of Thrones: More Battles!
Intense and tactical battles in Game of Thrones pit players against merciless opponents.
NA R.A.W. - Realms of Ancient War
R.A.W. - Realms of Ancient War will be released on Xbox LIVE®, PlayStation® Network and PC 2nd quarter of 2012.
NA Fantasy Kommander - Eukarion Wars !
They are strong, ruthless and bloodthirsty.
NA CRYSIS 3
Fight in the New York ‘Liberty Dome’, Exploit Seven Natural Wonders and Wield Advanced Alien Weaponry in the Ultimate Sandbox Shooter
NA SLEEPING DOGS
The limited edition pack will be available at all UK games retailers for consumers who pre-order the game.
NA Hard Reset: Extended Edition
Hard Reset: Extended Edition is a classically styled sci-fi first person shooter
NA Defiance
Both a television series on Syfy, and a massive online shooter for PC, the Xbox 360® video game
NA Payday The Heist
Criminal Demands Are Met In Latest Game Update
NA Confrontation
Confrontation, the new tactical role-playing game on PC
NA Greg Hastings Paintball 2
This game features more than 10 single and multiplayer game modes, each staged in all-new paintball fields based on authentic locations from around the world
NA Star Thunder
Flight simulator of the new age is coming


How very sensible. I've been baffled as to why computer games seem to be treated differently to any other type of media so it's nice to see the Supreme Court do so.