Massachusetts government removing violent video games

1/11/13 7:32pm

tl;dr

Light gun games are removed from state-operated rest stops and the state wants to begin a drive to trade violent video games, movies toys for coupons.

Here's another two-part story for you guys, only this time it's a bit closer to home. (Sorry, nothing silly has come from China lately.)

The state of Massachusetts is cracking down on violent video games in two ways (so far): by pulling light gun arcade machines from rest stops and by encouraging parents and children to trade their violent video games for coupons.

The state's Department of Transportation is removing light gun shooters from the arcades in rest stops along the Massachusetts turnpike. This was spurred by some parents complaining that the games were inappropriate for their 12-year-old.

Adam and Tracy Hyams, the parents, heard gunfire coming from the arcade of a rest stop and wrote in a complaint. Rest stop arcades aren't exactly super profitable, and keeping the game would have been a pretty dumb political move, so the state removed it and other light gun games from their rest stops.

Richard Davey, the state Secretary of Transportation, said

"At the end of the day, those games are there to entertain kids, probably for a few minutes, while their parents are resting from a long trip. I just think it makes all the sense in the world to have it be a more passive [game]."

Given how close together the New England states are, especially compared to Newtown, Connecticut, this move doesn't seem too extreme. Arcades are still in decline in America, too, so there really isn't an argument to keep them for profit. On the other hand...

Melrose, Massachusetts resident Robert Dolan will begin an initiative to trade violent video games, movies and toys in for coupons.

Dolan felt compelled to begin this initiative, called "New Year - New Direction," after the Newtown shooting. He acknowledges that children will lose things they like, but he hopes to reward them with something of value. The coupons will range from deals for local businesses to "get out of homework free" cards. Dolan wants to begin collecting violent media by February 1.

Personally, I can see where the state is coming from but parents should be more aware of what they allow their children to watch and play. At the very least this should raise awareness for parents that some games are not designed for small children (you'd think titles like Grand Theft Auto would give that away...), but at worst it could lead to state-mandated bans.

Rather than jump into hypothetical situations, what do you g1s think about these actions? Is has the Massachusetts government acted reasonably? Are coupon drives enough to deter parents from buying their children violent games? Let us know in the comments!

» Source: http://kotaku.com/5975202/massachusetts-orders-light-gun-video-games-pulled-from-state+operated-rest-stops

» Source: http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/01/11/massachusetts-city-will-collect-violent-games?abthid=50f05f35540366c31000007f
» Tagged In: #Arcade, #coupons, #Light Gun, #Massachusetts, #New England, #Newtown, #Rest Stop, #sandy hook, #Time Crisis, #turnpike

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g1 DISCUSSIONS

firehazard51

January 13, 2013 - 10:59pm

Eh, if anything I think the state should do an across the board ban on any game that is "mature" and not focus on light gun games only. But honestly it should boil down to the parents to PARENT their children. As odd as that may sound.

Xaxal Eternitum

January 12, 2013 - 11:16pm

Seriously? It seems that most of the crazier things I've seen in the US come from Democratic states.

VettoRyo

January 12, 2013 - 8:42pm

Ya know... It's days like this I am happy to be a Texan.

APPL3JU1C3

January 12, 2013 - 5:34pm

THE SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS IS THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA

APPL3JU1C3

January 12, 2013 - 5:34pm

But seriously, this is stupid.

pervysage1608

January 12, 2013 - 3:44pm

People kill people baby

TriForks

January 12, 2013 - 1:52pm

Hang on let me put my quote on quote "violent media" on a scale with a "Get out of homework free" card and see which one outweighs the other ... It seems that out of sheer stupidity, the coupon was launched into space... Sorry about that :3

Munkimanz

January 12, 2013 - 1:35pm

thats ridiculous - not only are they treating video games literally as bad as guns with the trade in thing, theyre offering kids 'get out of homework free' cards? how is that supposed to help? its an incentive yes, but what in the hell does it achieve; dumber, more bored kids? yes, thats exactly what we want to stop violence, LESS education.

RDM4321

January 12, 2013 - 1:03pm

Let me tell you guys something; I live in Boston Massachusetts. I have been playing video games my whole life. I am in the ninth grade now, and kids go to parties every weekend, they already smoke weed, they already drink and some of them arent virgins. Im not over exaggerating, because I have been to some of these parties. Usually when I get invited to parties, I don't go. Because 1: I dont like the atmosphere. And 2: Im usually playing basketball or video games!! Banning the violent games in Massachusetts isn't what we need- we need to ban all the shit music coming through the radio provoking the kids here to make dumb decisions. The parents as well need to do a better job, because they obviously brought their kids up to lie and smoke. If anything, video games saved me; I could be one of those kids going to all those parties, but I'm too busy playing games. It might sound pathetic, but at least I have a future. So on behalf of someone living in Massachusetts, don't ban violent games. They keep me occupied as well as sane.