Petition against the taxing of M-rated games

[br305893]

More info here:

https://www.change.org/petitions/debralee-hovey-ct-state-representative-stop-the-ct-10-tax-on-video-games-that-are-rated-mature-and-above

This is essentially a petition I started to stop the tax on video games of M-rated games. Please sign if you feel inclined.

[stika]

I didn't even know there was an attempt at taxing these sort of games.

I'd sign it, but I don't live in the US :\

[darthkiwi]

Ditto. Would you like us to sign anyway, or would that discredit the petition?

And I totally agree, that whole idea is just crazy.

[Bludshot]

I wouldn't worry too much, this has been tried before and the bills never get very far.

[br305893]

People outside of the US are welcome to sign. I've signed other petitions on this site before, and international people use it all the time.

@Bludshot, While I hope this bill doesn't get very far, I still don't want to take the chance.

[stika]

signed

[darthkiwi]

Signed!

[Neonivek]

While I personally think a lot of M-rated games are stupid who intentionally go for the M-rating to entice teenagers and are otherwise using it as a crutch.

It isn't something I think should be enforced in anyway shape or form. Especially since they are not all in that same boat.

Mind you trying to come up with a game that actually uses its M-rating in a non-superfluous way is hard. Something that if it wasn't rated M would be different and wasn't using its M-rating to be taudry, profane, or stupid. Something that would serve as the example of why the M-rating doesn't nessisarily mean a bad thing.

[darthkiwi]

Spec Ops: The Line wouldn't work if it didn't contain violence on that scale. (Though I've not played it myself.) Same for Far Cry 2, though I have mixed feelings about that game.

Even a game like Planescape: Torment, which is much, MUCH more interesting in the talky bits than the fighty bits, is about one person's struggle against his enemies and against himself, and that translates very well to D&D RPG combat. (I'm not sure if that was M-rated, but my point is about the creative/artistic use of violence generally.)

But yeah, I know what you mean. Too often an M-rating is just kind of the default. There are a few exceptions but gore/violence/killing is definitely fetishised. My problem isn't that that's disturbing, but simply that that's shallow and boring.

[stika]

Spec Ops: The Line wouldn't work if it didn't contain violence on that scale. (Though I've not played it myself.) Same for Far Cry 2, though I have mixed feelings about that game.

Even a game like Planescape: Torment, which is much, MUCH more interesting in the talky bits than the fighty bits, is about one person's struggle against his enemies and against himself, and that translates very well to D&D RPG combat. (I'm not sure if that was M-rated, but my point is about the creative/artistic use of violence generally.)

But yeah, I know what you mean. Too often an M-rating is just kind of the default. There are a few exceptions but gore/violence/killing is definitely fetishised. My problem isn't that that's disturbing, but simply that that's shallow and boring.

do you get to see the Lady of Pain in Planescape: Torment?

[Bludshot]

Too often an M-rating is just kind of the default. There are a few exceptions but gore/violence/killing is definitely fetishised. My problem isn't that that's disturbing, but simply that that's shallow and boring.

It is funny you mentioned Spec Ops: The Line (which when you look at that title, it feels like it was just suppose to be 'The Line' but someone in marketing thought 'Spec Ops' would sound cool), since that game, in addition to pushing the narrative of games, is a commentary on how bloated the market is with violent games.

Oh and stika, yes can encounter her briefly, though she really isn't the focus of the game.  You are just encouraged not to upset her.

[darthkiwi]

Spec Ops: The Line wouldn't work if it didn't contain violence on that scale. (Though I've not played it myself.) Same for Far Cry 2, though I have mixed feelings about that game.

Even a game like Planescape: Torment, which is much, MUCH more interesting in the talky bits than the fighty bits, is about one person's struggle against his enemies and against himself, and that translates very well to D&D RPG combat. (I'm not sure if that was M-rated, but my point is about the creative/artistic use of violence generally.)

But yeah, I know what you mean. Too often an M-rating is just kind of the default. There are a few exceptions but gore/violence/killing is definitely fetishised. My problem isn't that that's disturbing, but simply that that's shallow and boring.

do you get to see the Lady of Pain in Planescape: Torment?

Not so loud, she might hear you and take offence!

I actually never completed Torment. I got pretty far but other things took over my life...

Bludshot: yeah, I know! And it looks like Far Cry 3 has done the same kind of thing. When your market is so bloated with samey violence that it starts criticising itself, you've really got a problem - at least if you're a publisher.

I hope that this internal criticism will make the whole focus on violence untenable and force publishers to look for a more nuanced way to tell stories in games.

[stika]

I have a re-release boxed copy of Planescape... I'd kill for an original big box release

[Bludshot]

@darthkiwi Spec Ops is worth playing next time there is a steam deal or you get a gamefly free trial (even above my ck2 recommendation in that other thread) Yahtzee summarizes it pretty well as not so much a game of the year but as a game that SHOULD/DESERVES to be played.

[darthkiwi]

@darthkiwi Spec Ops is worth playing next time there is a steam deal or you get a gamefly free trial (even above my ck2 recommendation in that other thread) Yahtzee summarizes it pretty well as not so much a game of the year but as a game that SHOULD/DESERVES to be played.

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out! I would like to experience it firsthand, having heard so much about it.