Video Game Talk at Congress

Geez, they just won’t stop.  I really don’t think bills will stop underges kids from buying games, but attorneys are trying…

More political movement involving the games industry goes down in Washington DC this afternoon, with Florida Republican Cliff Stearns, Chairman of the Commerce, Trade & Consumer Protection Subcommittee, heading up ‘Violent & Explicit Video Games: Informing Parents & Protecting Children,’ examining game content, the ESRB ratings system established and marketing of Mature-rated releases to children. “In response to controversy over violent or sexual situations in video games, the industry established a self-regulatory organization to apply ratings and provide advertising guidelines,� said Stearns in a press release. “Our goal is to ensure that parents have information on the content of their children’s games and that these children are protected from inappropriate content and marketing.�If you’re in the neighborhood, the hearing’s taking place this afternoon at 2:00 P.M. EST in 2123 RHOB. There will be a number of speakers on hand for the subcommittee’s meeting, including the ever vigilant ESA president Doug Lowenstein and ESRB president Patricia Vance. The lineup does not feature anyone else from the games industry, but focuses on retail stores and researchers:

* Ms. Lydia Parnes, Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission;
* Mr. Gary Severson, Senior Vice President, Merchandising, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.;
* Mr. Douglas Lowenstein, President, Entertainment Software Association;
* Patricia E. Vance, President, Entertainment Software Rating Board;
* Dr. Kimberly M. Thompson, Director of Kids Risk Project, Associate Professor of
* Risk Analysis and Decision Science, Harvard School of Public Health;
* Dr. Warren Buckleitner, Ph.D., Editor, Childrens Technology Review; and
* Dr. David Walsh, Ph.D., President, National Institute on Media and the Family.

This isn’t the first time people have congregated around Capital Hill to discuss this issue, and chances are it’s not the last.

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