GAMEBOOMERS provides you with all the latest PC adventure computer games information, forum, walkthroughs, reviews and news.

GB Reviews

Latest & Upcoming Adventure Games

GB Annual Game Lists

GB Interviews

BAAGS

GB @ acebook

About Us

Walkthroughs

free games galore

Game Publishers & Developers

World of Adventure

Patches

GB @ witter

GameBoomers Store

Print Thread
Yes Virginia - Games are protected forms of expression! #123080
06/03/03 11:17 PM
06/03/03 11:17 PM
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,323
gatorlaw Offline OP
Adept Boomer
gatorlaw  Offline OP
Adept Boomer

Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,323
I am not sure how many of you have been following recent federal court rulings. But a decision had been handed down not too long ago - that video/PC games were not protected forms of expression as contemplated by the Bill of Rights. While it may have been initiated out of concern about the ever increasing and realistic violence in some games, this meant that all games were lumped in with this decision. I was floored that adventure games - with their emphasis on plot and characters and often complex issues were viewed this way.

It also means that a game could be banned as controversal and that would be ok without any recourse as the content would not be considered a protected form of expression. Odd that the Books of Myst would be protected but not the interactive adventure based on those same books.
That ruling is reported on in GameDaily News here: Federal Court rules video/PC games are not protected forms of expression under the first amendment

Well The Eighth District U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled that the First Amendment does protect video/PC games.

[quote] The IDSA submitted scripts and storyboards from videogames to bolster its argument that games are artistic. The Court stated that its review of the records led it to believe that games carry





Re: Yes Virginia - Games are protected forms of expression! #123081
06/04/03 02:38 AM
06/04/03 02:38 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,468
Cambridge, England
Kickaha Offline
Addicted Boomer
Kickaha  Offline
Addicted Boomer

Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,468
Cambridge, England
Slightly baffled by the subject line but I'm glad there's some sense left in the US of A somewhere.

Having just seen "Matrix Reloaded" I'd say games carry more substance than many a film.


Used to answer to "Peter Smith", now answers to "Peter Rootham-Smith"
Re: Yes Virginia - Games are protected forms of expression! #123082
06/04/03 06:05 AM
06/04/03 06:05 AM
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 26,918
Stony Brook, New York, USA
Becky Offline
The Medieval Lady
Becky  Offline
The Medieval Lady
Sonic Boomer

Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 26,918
Stony Brook, New York, USA
Quote:
The IDSA submitted scripts and storyboards from videogames to bolster its argument that games are artistic. The Court stated that its review of the records led it to believe that games carry “messages, stories, imagery and even an ideology just as books and movies do.”
It would be interesting to know the titles of the games that were submitted to show that games are artistic. Let's see, if it were me -- I'd show them The Longest Journey to show games as stories, RealMyst to show imagry, and Syberia to show ideology.

Re: Yes Virginia - Games are protected forms of expression! #123083
06/04/03 09:59 AM
06/04/03 09:59 AM
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,323
gatorlaw Offline OP
Adept Boomer
gatorlaw  Offline OP
Adept Boomer

Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,323
Quote:
Slightly baffled by the subject line
Sorry about that. It is a localized reference to the opening lines of a famous US editorial written uhmmm I think in the 40's. "Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus". It was late and the parallel leapt into my mind while I was writing. laugh

Laura





Re: Yes Virginia - Games are protected forms of expression! #123084
06/04/03 10:19 AM
06/04/03 10:19 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,468
Cambridge, England
Kickaha Offline
Addicted Boomer
Kickaha  Offline
Addicted Boomer

Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,468
Cambridge, England
No need to apologise! I sprinkle obscure allusions in my titles and comments.

Thought it was a reference to the State of Virginia and some legal event there.


Used to answer to "Peter Smith", now answers to "Peter Rootham-Smith"
Re: Yes Virginia - Games are protected forms of expression! #123085
06/04/03 10:22 AM
06/04/03 10:22 AM
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 318
Tennessee, USA
D
DanF Offline
Settled Boomer
DanF  Offline
Settled Boomer
D

Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 318
Tennessee, USA
I really can't imagine how a game is a form of expression, but... whatever. I guess everything's a form of expression these days. It's what gives us the right to do whatever we want. Of course I'm not opposed folks developing any kind of games they want. But using that argument to defend them is a little weak if you ask me.

Re: Yes Virginia - Games are protected forms of expression! #123086
06/04/03 11:02 AM
06/04/03 11:02 AM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 368
Leesburg, Virginia
Howard the Doc Offline
Settled Boomer
Howard the Doc  Offline
Settled Boomer

Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 368
Leesburg, Virginia
Laura - in my own self-referential way, I thought, since I am in Virignia, that you were writing to me about my comments on Journey to the Wild Divine. See? One woman's clear thought is a Rorschach for everyone else!!!


Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it's stranger than we CAN imagine - J.B.S. Haldane
--------------------------------
Games will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no games.
Re: Yes Virginia - Games are protected forms of expression! #123087
06/04/03 12:08 PM
06/04/03 12:08 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
Jenny100 Offline
GB Reviewer Glitches Moderator
Jenny100  Offline
GB Reviewer Glitches Moderator
Sonic Boomer

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
Quote:
Originally posted by DanF:
I really can't imagine how a game is a form of expression, but... whatever.
Well, if a book or movie is a form of expression, then some games must be. But considering how movies have age restrictions, I don't see how being labelled "a form of expression" makes a difference in restricting sales of games.

Re: Yes Virginia - Games are protected forms of expression! #123088
06/04/03 12:27 PM
06/04/03 12:27 PM
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,323
gatorlaw Offline OP
Adept Boomer
gatorlaw  Offline OP
Adept Boomer

Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,323
Well the problem was really the reverse. Placing reasonable age restrictions on access to violent/adult themed games shouldn't be justified on the basis that games don't contain ideas and thoughts the same as movies, comics, books and music.

The problem was that the proponents of the St Louis law argued that they could restrict sales, access or anything else that they wanted regardless because games were different than other forms of entertainment. The judge in that first case agreed. He didn't rule that the restrictions were reasonable because of an over riding interest in the protection of children. The courts have long ruled that local governments have the right to limit children





Re: Yes Virginia - Games are protected forms of expression! #123089
06/04/03 12:41 PM
06/04/03 12:41 PM
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,565
Pennsylvania, USA (left my bel...
mszv Offline
Addicted Boomer
mszv  Offline
Addicted Boomer

Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,565
Pennsylvania, USA (left my bel...
Thanks for the clear explanation Laura, We are so lucky to have a lawyer among our very own gameboomer members!

I too am thrilled with the decision.


mszv, amarez in Myst Online (KI 89257)and my online worlds.

blog - http://www.amarez.com, Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/amareze
Re: Yes Virginia - Games are protected forms of expression! #123090
06/04/03 01:05 PM
06/04/03 01:05 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
Jenny100 Offline
GB Reviewer Glitches Moderator
Jenny100  Offline
GB Reviewer Glitches Moderator
Sonic Boomer

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
I wonder what the motive really was for originally separating games from movies. It looks like they wanted some games banned from production rather than just age restricted. Otherwise, why bother with the law.

Thanks for the explanation, Laura.

Re: Yes Virginia - Games are protected forms of expression! #123091
06/04/03 01:48 PM
06/04/03 01:48 PM
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,323
gatorlaw Offline OP
Adept Boomer
gatorlaw  Offline OP
Adept Boomer

Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,323
Quote:
It looks like they wanted some games banned from production rather than just age restricted. Otherwise, why bother with the law.
That's a very good point. Does seem strange why they wanted the ruling in the first place.

Laura





Re: Yes Virginia - Games are protected forms of expression! #123092
06/04/03 05:40 PM
06/04/03 05:40 PM
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,006
New Hampshire
SuMac Offline
Addicted Boomer
SuMac  Offline
Addicted Boomer

Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,006
New Hampshire
I got it, Laura! The "Yes, Virginia" part, I mean.

And I would think it's obvious that games are a form of expression, just as are movies, books, music, art, or any other product of human imagination. I'm not saying they're all on the same artistic level, but if they start banning games, because some people find them objectionable, what's next???

Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

Who's Online Now
0 registered members (), 230 guests, and 0 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Staff, Mod
Newest Members
PierreLombardo, Dux, WillPowerGoat, Ebalon, J7769mon
9388 Registered Users
Powered by UBB.threads™