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Lieberman Targets Video Game Industry
Sen. Joe Lieberman joined the National Institute on Media and the Family’s founder David Walsh in presenting the organization’s 11th Annual MediaWise Video Game Report Card. According to a release from the Institute issued on Wednesday, this year’s Report Card "highlights major improvements in big box retailer enforcement and policies; commends responsible retailers and game console makers for video game safeguards and recommends additional research on positive and negative effects and uses of video games related to school performance, children’s health and behavioral development . . .
"While improvements have been made by the video game industry and retailers, parental involvement received an ‘Incomplete’ as surveys showed too few parents following the ESRB’s [Entertainment Software Ratings Board] ratings and parental controls on gaming consoles.”
Lieberman has been a staunch foe of violence in video games. In 1993, he headed Senate hearings about violent games that led to the establishment of the ESRB.
And late last year he co-sponsored the Family Entertainment Protection Act, which would make it a crime to sell violent video games to minors.
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In its release, the Institute on Media and the Family stated: "Studies continue to show that prolonged game play can adversely affect a child’s physical health and school performance as well as social and behavioral skills. A new study has found almost half of all ‘heavy gamers’ are six to 17 years old . . .
"The amount of time a child plays video games is correlated with poorer grades in school and attention problems.
"If there is a simple message we can give to parents, it is this: Watch what your kids watch, play what your kids play.”
The Institute’s Report Card gave big retailers an A grade for enforcing restrictions on video game sales, but gave specialty stores an F.
Among the games cited as "to avoid for Children and Teens” are The Sopranos, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, Mortal Kombat: Unchained, Scarface: The World is Yours, and The Godfather: Mob Wars.
Games recommended by the organization include Mario Hoops 3 on 3, Robotblitz, LocoRoco, Dance Factory, and Brain Age.
The National Institute on Media and the Family is a "non-partisan, nonprofit organization that seeks to maximize the benefits and minimize the harm that mass media have on children through research and education.”
Editor's note:
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