femalegamer

New York Governor David Paterson signed a new law into effect Tuesday that will limit video game content for children by restricting the rating system for video games. The law also requires that parental controls be installed on game consoles by 2010 and that age ratings be prominently on game packages.

Now, as far as I can tell, we have a perfectly good rating system for games already, and they are prominently placed on the game boxes. E = Everyone. T = Teen. M = Mature.

What it really comes down to is the parents. Do they let their child buy any game (or buy the games for them) without any research? Do they turn a blind eye when their child has gotten their hands on GTA? Do they set limits on how often their children are playing a game versus going outside or reading a book? We shelter our children from as much as we can in life, video games should be no different.

While I don’t have children yet, I do know that when the time comes, they will likely be inclined toward gaming… seeing as both of their parents are.

I plan on taking a 100 percent interest in the games they want to play. Reading reviews and finding games that are appropriate for them. Yes, it is a little more work, but it’s not like we have to go to the library to research via microfiche. All the info we could possibly need to learn if a game is age appropriate is right at the tips of our fingers and easily accessible with a few clicks of a button.

It may be more work, but isn’t that part of the job and what we sign up for? Isn’t it something we should be doing without a second thought? We shouldn’t have to rely on lawmakers.

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