Sorry, kids. M means “no.”
In yet another blow to the Jack Thompsons of the world, the Video Game Voters Network is reporting that video game retailers are - *GASP* - doing their jobs! A record 80% of underaged secret shoppers were turned away while attempting to buy M-rated games during the past year, according to reports from the Federal Trade Commission. This is a drop of 38% from the last report in 2006. As the VGVN puts it, “With this in mind, one has to ask, is targeting video games for more regulation really necessary?” Go stick your noses into something else with more importance to the American people… like steroids in baseball.
According to the report, the media with the highest percentage of underaged purchasers were CDs with Parental Advisory Labels and Unrated DVDs. So when the dude turns you down for GTA IV, at least you know you can still go out and buy some porn. And beer.
[addendum] Of course, that’s all well and good, until something like this happens. Stupid kids. (Although, I like the author’s last line - “You read it here first, folks: reduce your local violent crime rate by buying video games for kids.”)
