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Category — Retail Sales
Getting Up Distributed Via Downloads in Australia Despite Ban
Despite the February 2006 ban of Marc Ecko’s Getting up by The Board of the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia (IEAA), an Australian computer software distributor, Mindscape, was distributing the game in Australia via downloads from its quicky.com.au website.
It appears the game was being hosted by the website’s U.S. service provider without Mindscape’s knowledge.
Since the story broke the game was taken off the site. The Australian Communications and Media Authority told Screen Play that penalties of up to $110,000 may apply to corporations selling computer games that have been refused classification.
Sources: Syndey Morning Herald | GamePolitics.com | theage.com.au
Categories: Game Bans, Retail Sales
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Del.icio.us Nassau County New York Mandates ESRB Ratings Signage
Following both the States of Georgia and Washington, New York State county, Nassau, enacted a law requiring video game retailers to post signs explaining the ERSB rating system.
Source: GamePolitics.com
Categories: Child Sale Restrictions, Game Ratings, New Laws, Retail Sales
Delaware Introduces Mature Game Sale Restrictoins Law
Delaware may follow California with the introduction of a bill to restrict the sales/rentals of M rated video games to those under 17. If this bill passes, the failure to check for ID, or selling or renting M or AO games to an underage customer, will result in a Class A misdemeanor.
Source: Gamasutra
Categories: Retail Sales, Violent Game Laws
Second Japanese Prefecture Restricts Grand Theft Auto III
The Japanese prefecture of Saitama, which neighbors Tokyo, has become the second local government in Japan to ban the sale of Grand Theft Auto III to anyone aged under eighteen, according to Japanese online reports.
Source: Gamasutra
Related Posts:
- Japan to Introduce Revised CERO Ratings System (February 17, 2006)
- Second Japanese Prefecture Restricts Grand Theft Auto III (September 20, 2005)
- Japanese Retailers Enforce Restrictions on 18-Rated Games (July 19, 2005)
- Japanese Prefecture Restricts Grand Theft Auto Sales (May 31, 2005)
Categories: Child Sale Restrictions, Game Ratings, Retail Sales
Japanese Retailers Enforce Restrictions on 18-Rated Games
The Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association, the Japanese counterpart to the ESRB, has announced a voluntary program to prevent the sale of games rated 18 to minors. The program is seen partially as a preemptive move to cancel possible governmental restrictions in the wake of Kanagawa prefecture’s labeling of Grand Theft Auto III as banned to minors under the legislature.
Sources: Gamasutra | Gamespot | Gamespot (earlier June 27 story)
Related Posts:
- Japan to Introduce Revised CERO Ratings System (February 17, 2006)
- Second Japanese Prefecture Restricts Grand Theft Auto III (September 20, 2005)
- Japanese Retailers Enforce Restrictions on 18-Rated Games (July 19, 2005)
- Japanese Prefecture Restricts Grand Theft Auto Sales (May 31, 2005)
Categories: Child Sale Restrictions, Game Ratings, Retail Sales
Japanese Prefecture Restricts Grand Theft Auto Sales
Officials from the Japanese prefecture (an organisation of local government roughly equivalent to a U.S. state) of Kanagawa have banned stores from selling or renting the game Grand Theft Auto III to anyone under the age of 18.
Sources: Gamasutra | Capcom’s June 8 Response
Related Posts:
- Japan to Introduce Revised CERO Ratings System (February 17, 2006)
- Second Japanese Prefecture Restricts Grand Theft Auto III (September 20, 2005)
- Japanese Retailers Enforce Restrictions on 18-Rated Games (July 19, 2005)
- Japanese Prefecture Restricts Grand Theft Auto Sales (May 31, 2005)
Categories: Child Sale Restrictions, New Laws, Retail Sales
Manitoba to Restrict Video Game Rentals to Minors
Under the new Manitoba law, a retailer who sells or rents a video game marked Adults Only to anyone under 18 can be hit with a fine of $5,000. Games marked Mature, such as the Grand Theft Auto titles, will not be available to anyone under 17.
Sources: CTV | Fradical.com | Manitoba Press Release
Related Posts:
- No Complaints About Manitoba’s Video Game Law (September 19, 2005)
- Manitoba to Restrict Video Game Rentals to Minors (May 9, 2005)
- New Ontario Video Game Retail Sales Law (March 14, 2005)
Categories: Child Sale Restrictions, Game Ratings, New Laws, Retail Sales, Violent Game Laws
UK Government Plans Bigger Warnings For Games
The British government has announced that, after consultation with industry representatives, video games are to carry larger age symbols and descriptions of their content in “a bid to help parents understand what their children are playing”.
Source: Gamasutra
Categories: Product Packaging, Retail Sales
New Ontario Video Game Retail Sales Law
On March 7, 2005, the Ontario Film Review Board adopted the ESRB classifications. As a result it is now an offence to sell, rent or publicly exhibit video and computer games classified as “Mature” or “Adults Only” to persons apparently under the age of 18 years. If convicted, individuals may face up to $25,000 in fines or imprisonment for a term of not more than one year or both. Corporations are liable for fines up to $100,000.
Sources: GamePolitics.com | Fradical.com | Ontario Film Review Board Press Release
Related Posts:
- No Complaints About Manitoba’s Video Game Law (September 19, 2005)
- Manitoba to Restrict Video Game Rentals to Minors (May 9, 2005)
- New Ontario Video Game Retail Sales Law (March 14, 2005)
Categories: Child Sale Restrictions, Game Ratings, New Laws, Retail Sales, Violent Game Laws
ESRB Adds E10+ To Game Ratings System
The Entertainment Software Ratings Board, an industry-run group designed to provide parents with clear information so that they can choose the most appropriate computer and video games, has added a new classifier to their ratings system. The E10+ rating will serve as a halfway point between the E (Everyone) and T (Teen) ratings.
Source: Gamasutra
Categories: Game Ratings, Retail Sales
Some Jurisdictions Require Finger Prints to Sell Video Games
Some communities now require anyone selling used video games to give fingerprints for police records. The question is: Why?
Dale’s Comment: My guess is its for possible subsequent video game hacking/modding/piracy prosecutions.
Source: GameSpot
Categories: Modding Cases, Piracy Cases, Retail Sales
