> Gaming & Politics

Listening Across the Line: The National Summit on Video Games, Youth and Public
The National Summit on Video Games, Youth and Public Policy attempted to get a grip on what research suggests video games do to children during development. Do violent games cause violence? The neutrality of the summit has been questioned; my impressions from the event suggest that it did its best to be fair to the subject. In this article, we take a look at whether or not it's fair to accuse the summit of being "anti-game".

Debunking the Myths Behind the Truth In Video Game Rating Act
A recent bill called Truth in Video Game Ratings Act was introduced into the Senate. Among other things, it requires that the ESRB play every game it rates in entirity before issuing a rating. Many people claim that this is an impossible task. It's not. We take a look at the realities behind the Truth in Video Game Ratings Act.

Understanding the 62% Violent Pac-Man and the 3% Zelda
In a June 2006 hearing before the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, a researcher name Kimberly Thompson presented research that said that Pac-Man was 62% violent. Yet if asked, most parents would probably not consider Pac-Man particularly violent. In this article, we take a look at what's wrong with a study that's so obviously off-base with general public opinion.

Hot Coffee Splashes Over - What to Expect From the Fallout
Hot Coffee has done damage to the video game industry in numerous ways. This article discusses the different possible ramifications of the modification. How could our industry change because of Rockstar's little game? Start with tossing out the modding community.

Attacks on the Game Industry - The Latest and Largest Threat
Apparently trying to prove that games are responsible for violent behavior in a court of law, which requires proof, is getting too difficult. Washington law makers have introduced a bill that would make game publishers liable in civil court, where burden of proof is lighter, if a video game is found to have played a role in a violent crime. Is this another form of censorship, and can we beat it?

Coffee Talk with EA_Spouse
Working conditions in the game industry has been a hot topic lately. One notable account was a description of life at EA, written anonymously by EA_Spouse, that raised serious questions about the quality of life in our game industry. GamesFirst.com has an interview with EA_Spouse that helps bring things further into perspective, and discusses whether or not unionization is inevitable.

EA: The Human Story
In the last days of 2004, there was quite a stir raised when an anonymous spouse of an EA programmer posted a description of the company's grueling working environment. How far is a company allowed to push its programmers? If you've never heard of the EA_spouse, or the battle going on for worker quality of life in the industry, you should read this article.