Program Limits Kids' Video Gaming

New Software Blocks Mature-Rated Games, Limits Playing Time

(CBS) 
WallFly is being released at a time when violence in video games is coming under extreme scrutiny. Jerald told me that is purely coincidental, but that didn't mean he didn't have strong feelings on the subject.

"I believe the lawmakers are reacting to pressure from some families, testimony from wildly overstated 'experts,' and from misguided attempts to address recent school shootings. While I believe it is the government's job to regulate dangerous products, I think we are nowhere near being able to say that about computer games."

Ah, and yet many politicians are scurrying to attempt to cash in on what they perceive to be the anti-video game violence vote. Which is the opposite of what many people seem to want.

A quote from the increasingly pertinent H.L. Mencken comes to mind: Whenever 'A' attempts by law to impose his moral standards upon 'B', 'A' is most likely a scoundrel.

If you follow GamePolitics.com or GamersAlliance.org, you'll see that many states have bills moving through the legislature that block sales and regulate what games can be sold to whom.

"Essentially, as I understand it," Jerald told me, "they are considering two approaches. Either age-checks upon buying from a retailer or the retailer assumes liability for later acts of violence that are found to be related to a game purchase."

"I don't think the government should get involved in what games you can buy. Before we start passing laws, we need more data."

Which is exactly what Jerald is hoping to obtain in the near future. One promising aspect of WallFly is its ability to be used as a research device. With some modifications, it could be used to track all activity on a computer.

"I have already approached several other researchers and I think we should get something off the ground fairly soon. There is a lot of interest in actually looking at hard and accurate data," said Block.

We can only hope that those seeking to pass laws restricting video game sales actually pay attention to that data. Otherwise, who knows? Some lawmaker might get the funny idea to classify video games as a controlled substance or a hazardous material.

"Sorry, son, you can't have that game. Would you like a gun instead? Or maybe some medication?"

Get a driver's license, get a gun, get pregnant, get a prescription -- but watch out for those Mature rated games