NIMF Warns Parents About Video Games Featuring Sex and Violence
By Shawn on Wednesday, December 5th, 2007 at 10:23 AM PST In Call of Duty, Gamer Life, Games
National Institute on Media and the Family (NIMF) has released its 12th annual video game report card, a resource designed to help parents decide which games are appropriate for their children.
The ten video games NIMF Flags this year are:
- Assassin’s Creed
- Call of Duty 4
- Conan
- The Darkness
- Jericho
- Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
- Manhunt 2
- Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles
- Stranglehold
- Time Shift
NIMF has taken an alarmist attitude claiming the video game industry, retailers and parents themselves have become lax about game ratings. It claims half of children ages 8 – 12 have played M-rated video games.
“There’s an endless stream of new games that will never be suitable for children,” said Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minnesota, who joined institute officials and other lawmakers at a news conference.
“Unfortunately, we’re seeing some steps backwards,” said institute president David Walsh.
The industry’s Entertainment Software Rating Board defends the current ratings system while criticizing the NIMF report.
“At a time of year when parents are looking for helpful guidance about video games, this year’s report card does little more than sow unwarranted doubt about effective tools like ESRB ratings,” said ESRB president Patricia Vance.
I get the distinct impression from reading the report that the NIMF believes all video games should be suitable for children. At least the games they flagged are actually relevant to this year unlike Detroit Prosecutor Kym Worthy’s hopelessly outdated list.
via CNN
