Domestic Policy

Xbox 360 Is Not The Problem

December 6, 2005 ⋅  E-Mail Article ⋅  Print Article ⋅ Post a comment

Math and Reading literacy test scores of American high school students continue to plummet, many feel our children are not studying enough, many feel a war on video games will be waged in congress to resolve this issue. There are usually two issues prominent when the discussion of video games appears on the congressional docket. The first almost always relates to study habits of children and how video games distract them, the second always relates to indecency accusations based on the content of the video games.

Debates on how young adults spend their time is nothing new, my parents had their Elvis, the early 70’s had the Beatles, the 80’s had disco and rap, the 90’s had hip-hop, now it’s the 2000’s turn. The target on their back is video games.

We will dissect the second argument today, how decent, or indecent, are the games children play?

A video game watchdog group has advised that the ratings system that’s supposed to help parents choose age-appropriate videogames doesn’t work any longer, they claim that the video gaming industry is rating itself and that causes an essential conflict of interest.

Hot titles like “True Crime: New York City”, “Grand Theft Auto, and “Stubbs The Zombie” are rated “M” for mature, this means no one under the age of 17 is allowed to purchase these games. However, these are the games teenagers want to play the most, and just like we were, these kids are resourceful at getting them.

There are numerous arguments out there that say the same old tired line, “Parents need to take responsibility for the games their children play.” However, most parents do not even know the title’s of the games their children play, let alone their content. Responsibility is not enough, they need to actually spend some time with their child and watch them play the game. Not kids, nor their games, are the problem, adults are.

Most adults have matured utilizing the television as a baby sitter, deny it if you want but deep down most of you know it’s true, and as video games emerged they became the babysitters’ helper. Many parents resort to television as a way to distract their child when they don’t want to give them attention; video games have become just one more distraction. How can we blame the kids and games when we push them together all the time?

Just take a trip anywhere for over 50 miles of freeway, watch how many portable DVD players, and portable video game players, you see. They are usually in the car for the kid so that he\she does not bother the parent. And now we want congress to do our little dirty work.

We blame congress for the loss of jobs when it is us who buy all imported items and products. We blame congress for our gas prices when it is the buyers and sellers of commodity trading who affect our prices. We misguide our anger in areas so badly that at times I am surprised by our own advancements as a civilization. You can rely on congress if you want but unless you spend some getting to know you time with your children none of congresses policies will have a dramatic effect on your child’s gaming habits.

The video-game industry has tried to help the situation through technology, it is trying to help parents by adding a V-Chip to its new generation of video-game consoles which will include the Xbox 360 and the 2006 Sony Play Station. The V-chip is supposed to allow parents the ability to better control their children’s gaming.

I will list the ESRB Video Game Ratings and then provide a link to the discussion involving congressional policies for video games.

ESRB Rating System
EARLY CHILDHOOD:Titles rated EC - content that may be suitable for ages 3 and older.
EVERYONE:Titles rated E – have content that may be suitable for ages 6 and older.
EVERYONE 10+:Titles rated E10+ - have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older.
TEEN:Titles rated T – have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. MATURE:Titles rated M - have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older.
ADULTS ONLY:Titles rated AO - have content that should only be played by persons 18 years and older.
Senators target video game gore

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