Dear IGDA member,


** Action required before April 13th **


I am writing to alert you to legislation (AB 1792 and AB 1793) that would harm the video 
game industry in the state of California and have potential negative repercussions across 
the entire industry. Your help is needed to stop this legislation, which will be considered 
in General Assembly very shortly.


These bills treat video games differently from other forms of media. AB 1792 prohibits the 
sale or rental of video games to minors that contain violent material by reclassifying games 
as "harmful substances" such as alcohol and tobaco. AB 1793 mandates unwieldy segregation rules 
for retailers to display games based on ratings issued by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). 
These bills are a misdirected attempt at placing the government, instead of parents, in charge of 
what games they buy for their families.



Full details on AB 1792 and AB 1793 can be found at the California State Legislature website:


http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=ab_1792&sess=CUR&house=B&author=yee


http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=ab_1793&sess=CUR&house=B&author=yee



These bills would frustrate new major efforts undertaken by our industry and retailers to voluntarily 
increase awareness of the game rating system and prevent the sale of M (Mature) rated games to kids 
under 17. And, the bills do not reflect the fact that over 80% of all game are purchased by adults, 
and that the average age of game players is 25+ years.


Furthermore, some retailers have stated that they would feel they do not have any other choice but to 
stop carrying all video games rated M or AO rather than risk non-compliance with government regulations 
before they have even had a chance to fully implement the industry's voluntary program.


The IGDA firmly believes that games are a medium of expression that should receive the same level of 
respect, and protection, as other forms of art and entertainment. These bill are one more step on the 
slippery slope of government regulation, oversight and control over our creative endeavors.


Here is how you can help stop this legislation. The Arts and Entertainment Committee will be considering 
these bills on April 13th and the Public Safety Committee will be considering them soon after. If you 
reside in the district of one of these Committees' members, it is imperative that you email or fax him/her 
as soon as possible to urge a vote against this legislation.


A draft letter that you can modify and send is available at the IGDA site:
http://www.igda.org/censorship/CA_letter.php


As well as a list of the members of both Committees:
http://www.igda.org/censorship/CA_reps.php


If you do not know who your reps are, you can cross check online first:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html



Please grab the letter, tweak it as you see fit and send it off to the appropriate Committee
 member (ie, the one from the district you are in). Please copy me on your email or letter.



These bills are unnecessary and unworkable and would unfairly single out video games. Lawmakers should 
refrain from damaging an industry that is so critical to the Californian economy and discourage our 
positive voluntary efforts to address the issues that policymakers have been demanding. Thanks for your 
consideration of this request. If you have any questions, please let me know.



Some additional background info links:


Reference: Anti-Censorship Key Points
http://www.igda.org/censorship/points.php


Letter: IGDA opposition letter to Leland Yee
http://www.igda.org/censorship/IGDA_letter-to-Yee_200402.pdf


Article: Regulation Is Everyone's Business
http://www.igda.org/articles/dellarocca_regulation.php


Article: Violent video games under fire in Assembly
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/04/05/BAGSB60LTD1.DTL


Article: Video games spark debate, legislation
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/7832112.htm


Interview: Leland Y. Yee Interview at HomeLan
http://www.homelanfed.com/index.php?id=19058




Regards,
        Jason


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jason Della Rocca
Program Director
International Game Developers Association
http://www.igda.org/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~