[url]http://gamemarketwatch.com/news/item.asp?nid=2679[/url]


4.23.2003 10:08:30 AM
Washington State Moves to Restrict Sale of Some Violent Video Games

by Joseph Moran
The Washington State Legislature has passed a bill aimed at restricting the sale video games that depict violence against law enforcement officers.

The measure, which passed 47-7, calls for misdemeanor charges and fines of up to $500 for any one that sells or rents such a game to someone under the age of 17.

The bill was originally introduced last month by the Washington House, and then approved last week by the State Senate. It now goes to the desk of Governor Gary Locke, who is expected to sign it.

The text of the Washington bill defines a violent game as one that “contains realistic or photographic-like depictions of aggressive conflict in which the player kills, injures, or otherwise causes violence to a human form in the game who is depicted, by dress or other recognizable symbols, as a public law enforcement officer”.

In order to be covered by the bill, the game must also carry a rating of "Mature," "For Adults Only," or “an equivalent rating by the video or computer game manufacturer or any entertainment rating board commonly used by the video and computer game industry”.

Several games fall squarely into the crosshair of this proposed law. Most notable among them is Rockstar’s ‘Grand Theft Auto: Vice City’.

Gail Markels, General Counsel to the Interactive Digital Software Association, denounced the measure as a misguided attempt at video game censorship.
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So is Leisure Suit Larry pre-ban?
[img]http://www.mobygames.com/images/covers/small/946883779-00.jpg[/img]

Totally OT but that SWAT action figure is sweet, I'm getting one for work!

....now if you'll excuse my I'll get back to playing Mortal Combat and Vice City.