Jun 20, 2005 6:19 pm US/Eastern
Lawmakers Try to Ban Video Game
A new video game is creating controversy, months before it hits the shelves. The game isn't the first violent action game to hit the market. But it's one of the first that lawmakers are trying to get banned, before anyone plays it.
The name itself says it all: "25 Years to Life."
Gangsters fighting cops. The goal is to shoot officers and to use civilians as human shields.
Brian Barstow, Boston:
"I'd probably be interested in it because of the similarities to other games I've played like San Andres Fault and Grand Theft Auto. You get to do anything without getting arrested for doing whatever you want in a game."
Corey Wilhelm, Somerville:
"I feel it sends the message. There is an age limit on the box but you never know who's going to get their hands on the game."
"25 to Life" makes its debut this year. Some politicians are asking Sony and Microsoft to cancel their licensing agreement with the British company that makes ''25 Years to Life." But analysts say don't count on it.
Michael Goodman, The Yankee Group:
"It's not the gaming company's responsibility to babysit kids."
Michael Goodman is a senior analyst at The Yankee Group, a research analyst firm in Boston. He says Sony and Xbox make about $7 in royalties on each unit sold.
Consider this:
"Grand Theft Auto'' has sold 35 million copies. With royalties, that's big bucks.
Michael Goodman:
"At what point is it the game company's responsibility to, pardon the pun, police the game? Their job is fundamentally to make money."
Goodman adds, parents can be pro-active.
If you don't want your child buying these games, don't give them the $50 it costs to buy it. Also check your child's game collection and see if there are any ''M'' ratings, which is the mature rating given to the violent games.
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