Supreme Court to decide if states can regulate video games

Apparently the powers that be are to decide whether or not violent video games can be sold to minors in the state of California. Here are sources:
 

• BusinessWeek

April 26 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Supreme Court will consider reviving a California law prohibiting sales of violent video games to minors, agreeing to review a ruling that the ban is an unconstitutional infringement on freedom of speech.

The nation’s highest court today accepted an appeal by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown. They argue that violent games are akin to sexual materials, which the government can restrict to protect children.

“We have a responsibility to our kids and our communities to protect against the effects of games that depict ultra- violent actions, just as we already do with movies,” Schwarzenegger said in a statement.

Two industry trade groups, the Entertainment Merchants Association and the Entertainment Software Association, challenged the law and urged the Supreme Court not to hear the California appeal. Members of the two groups include Electronic Arts Inc., Microsoft Corp., Sony Corp. and Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., the maker of “Grand Theft Auto” games.

• PC World (Great article, recommend reading before posting)
• New York Daily News
  
• CNET
  

Yeah it sucks. I heard about this on the news, and it's certainly stupid. I don't think the law will be able to be regulated well. Hopefully it won't happen.

meh, good i guess. i don't think it would stop from kids playing it though. i'm an adult so i couldn't care less about this problem. i buy my own games.

I am also split on the subject.
 
Part of me feels that more should be done to keep highly violent/graphic moves, books, music, and games away from younger audiences, yet many people only focus on the video game part of that and not movies. I can go to a movie store and rent R rated movies, and hell I even went into my library and checked out A Clockwork Orange with no questions asked, and I am not seventeen yet. However as Grace Metalious, "being told what I can and cannot read is like being told what to think." and you could really apply the same thing to every other art media. The other part of me knows the annoyance of walking in the GameStop and not being able to purchase an M rated game despite having playing hundreds of them, and viewing hundreds of R rated movies, simply because my parents aren't there.

If a kid's parent buys their kid a game that the kid can't handle, then they're responsible for whatever happens as a result of that.

This law is a bad idea, its the parents decision if their kid can handle the violence in a game or not. 

" @MasturbatingBear:Most parents shouldn't have children, then. And if the government doesn't step in, then no one will control what these kids play.  Look, I'm not taking sides here. I still don't know what to think. I'm simply challenging your arguments. "

The debate is not about whether the state can censor video games. The constitutionality of a law in California was challenged and the case is about whether or not the law is legal.
 
 I personally think it should remain illegal and if the voluntary rating system is letting so many young children have access to violent media ( I don't think it is) then there should be more call for parents to do their damn job. Be involved in their kids life and understand what they're looking at.

The rating system is fine. Yes, sometimes they screw up when it comes to rating a particular game, but overall the system is fair. Young kids shouldn't be playing violent video games.

" I personally think it should remain illegal and if the voluntary rating system is letting so many young children have access to violent media ( I don't think it is) "

"then there should be more call for parents to do their damn job. Be involved in their kids life and understand what they're looking at. "

How it works in the UK 12 16 18 it is illegal for anyone under that age to Buy the respective rating. But they are still on the self for everyone to see. Its just law that No one under the age can buy the games. I thought how it worked in USA or is it just a guideline. 

" How it works in the UK 12 16 18 it is illegal for anyone under that age to Buy the respective rating. But they are still on the self for everyone to see. Its just law that No one under the age can buy the games. I thought how it worked in USA or is it just a guideline.  "