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Sep

21

Listen to Utah Video Game Bill Hearing…

September 21, 2006 | 2 Comments

Audio from yesterday’s video game hearing in Utah is now available… Fast forward the recording to 8:24 where the game bill discussion begins.
New bill sponsor Rep. Scott Wyatt (R) is pictured at left.

Sep

21

Developer Attends Utah Video Game Hearing, Offers Impressions

September 21, 2006 | 1 Comment

You want the inside scoop on yesterday’s video game law hearing in Utah? We’ve got it covered like a blanket here at GamePolitics, including the impressions of a local game developer who attended the hearing.
Although he indicated last week that he would be there, anti-game activist Jack Thompson didn’t make it due to what he […]

Sep

20

Utah’s Hogue Resurrects Game Bill… Hearing is Today

September 20, 2006 | Leave a Comment

Despite the fact that he will be leaving public office in 90 days, Rep. David Hogue (left) isn’t giving up on video game legislation.
As reported by the Deseret News, the lame-duck Republican is seeking to revive failed video game legislation in the Utah House. His bill, HB257 S01, is of the “games as porn” variety. […]

Sep

9

Are Video Games Art?

September 9, 2006 | Leave a Comment

Beyond the shrill, politicized rhetoric heard in some state capitols, where, in 2006, we’ve been treated to such gems as “This video game is not even speech. It is a device” and “yes, games are speech, but worthless, disgusting speech”, a quiet debate has been emerging on a related front.
Can video games be considered art?
Alexa […]

Sep

6

Jack Thompson Rips Judge in Louisiana Video Game Case

September 6, 2006 | 6 Comments

From the Louisiana Governor’s office on down, Jack Thompson has ripped a number of high-level officials in the ugly reality show surrounding the court fight over the state’s video game law. Now the volatile Miami attorney has added a new target.
In a letter sent yesterday to Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and Attorney General Charles […]

Sep

6

GamePolitics Readers Draw Response from NC Newspaper

September 6, 2006 | Leave a Comment

An apparent avalanche of e-mail from GamePolitics readers caught the attention of a game-bashing editorial writer at the Henderson Daily Dispatch (North Carolina). Here’s what happened:
On Sunday, GP mentioned an editorial in the Dispatch which supported Louisiana’s video game statute and criticized the federal judiciary for continually overturning such laws. The industry, along with ESA […]

Sep

3

Editorial Roundup - Pro & Con on Louisiana Video Game Law

September 3, 2006 | Leave a Comment

In today’s roundup, GamePolitics finds editorial boards around the country weighing in on Louisiana’s video game law. Much of the interest appears to have been sparked by the recent preliminary injunction blocking the Jack Thompson-drafted statute from taking effect.
The Prescott Daily Courier (Arizona) supports Judge James Brady’s ruling, saying, “Once again, politicians are pretending unsuccessfully […]

Sep

3

Hal Halpin on What Lieberman Defeat Means to Gamers

September 3, 2006 | Leave a Comment

“Joe will still be Joe.”
Thus says Hal Halpin, former president of the IEMA, speaking about Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT). The incumbent, a longtime critic of the video game industry, lost a recent, bitter primary fight to political upstart Ned Lamont.
Halpin, a favorite of GamePolitics readers for his straight talk and willingness to answer questions from […]

Sep

2

Louisiana Attorney General to Jack Thompson: “Put Up or Shut Up”

September 2, 2006 | Leave a Comment

The strange, contentious situation surrounding the legal defense of Louisiana’s video game law has gotten even stranger and more contentious.
Yesterday, Miami attorney Jack Thompson (left) forwarded to GamePolitics a pair of e-mails. The first was from Deputy Louisiana Attorney General Burton Guidry to Thompson, sent late Wednesday afternoon:
“Ok Mr. Thompson, put up or shut up. […]

Aug

30

Minnesota A.G.’s Federal Court Appeal Details Issues

August 30, 2006 | Leave a Comment

Yesterday, GamePolitics reported on Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch’s plans to appeal a July federal court decision which ruled that the state’s “fine the buyer” video game law was unconstitutional.
Hatch, of course, riled gamers earlier in June with language in a court filing which described some games as “worthless, disgusting speech” and “speech of very […]

Aug

25

Federal Judge Issues Preliminary Injunction Against Louisiana Video Game Law

August 25, 2006 | 5 Comments

Jack Thompson’s Louisiana video game law was supposedly written as to be immune from constitutional challenges.
But it’s not looking that way this morning.
Last evening Federal District Court Judge James Brady ruled in favor of the video game industry’s request for a preliminary injunction to keep the law from taking effect. Granting the preliminary injunction indicates […]

Aug

17

Louisiana’s OTHER Video Game Law Goes Into Effect

August 17, 2006 | Leave a Comment

As of today, a new Louisiana law goes into effect making it illegal to distribute sexually explicit video games to minors.
While in theory that is a good thing, the reality is that there aren’t any sexually-explicit games available, at least none distributed by the game publishers and retailers generally thought of as the “video game […]

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