Law banning sale of violent games to kids is struck down

To have been subject to the sales ban, the game must have lacked “serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors,” or it must allow a player to virtually inflict serious injury in a manner that is “especially heinous, cruel or depraved in that it involves torture or serious physical abuse to the victim.”

It’s a very tricky line to legislate, and in my opinion the age at which a game is OK to play varies by kid.

I applaud the idea that parents know what games their kids are purchasing — in this case by requiring them to be there to purchase certain mature titles — but as game distribution moves towards entirely digital channels it would become a more and more difficult law to enforce.