Okay, based on this GameFAQs poll...

[Kane Knight]

This was posted a while ago on the GameFAQs site:

Poll of the Day


What do you think of GameStop's policy of firing any employee that sells a minor an M-rated game?

<table class="poll"><colgroup> <col class="question"> <col class="percent"> <col class="bar"> <col class="votes"> </colgroup> <tbody><tr> <th>Sounds great, zero-tolerance is the way to go</th> <td>11.86%</td> <td>
</td> <td>11543</td> </tr> <tr> <th>That's a little harsh, but the right idea</th> <td>24.25%</td> <td>
</td> <td>23607</td> </tr> <tr> <th>If it's the only way to stop sales to minors, it'll have to do</th> <td>9.7%</td> <td>
</td> <td>9439</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Fired for letting a 16-year old buy Half-Life? That's not right</th> <td>45.89%</td> <td>
</td> <td>44674</td> </tr> <tr> <th>This is so wrong I'll never buy another game from GameStop</th> <td>8.32%</td> <td>
</td> <td>8096</td> </tr> <tr> <th>TOTAL VOTES</th> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>97359</td></tr></tbody></table>

What do you think?

IT's a store policy not to sell to minors, and it's a store policy to fire people who sell to minors apparently. I think zero tolerance is a bit harsh, and I SERIOUSLY doubt this is enforced, but I'm not horribly bothered by the policy.

There are similar policies that have been in place in retail for R-Rated videos for a couple decades now, and while I think firing someone for slipping up once is stupid, I do think this is probably a smart move in terms of keeping parents off your ass.

[KingofOldSchool]

It's not a store policy to not sell those kind of games to minors, it's the law. That's why they have those ratings, it's just one of those laws that it's hard to catch.

When I worked at Sam Goody, I'd check everyone's ID if they looked under 17 or 18. The 12 year olds that try to buy a 50 Cent cd and I card them, they get huffy and either leave cursing at me or they'll come back and get their parents and they gladly okay the sale.

I think all employees should use rationale when deciding who to card. I probably sold a M-Rated game, R-Rated movie, or a Parental Advisory CD to someone underage without knowing. It happens. Now if someone let's any and everyone buy stuff without carding then I do agree with termination of the employee. If for some reason the parents find out and they care enough to raise hell with corporate or even take legal action (they can), then the store can get into SERIOUS trouble.

[Kane Knight]

It's not a store policy to not sell those kind of games to minors, it's the law. That's why they have those ratings, it's just one of those laws that it's hard to catch.

Uhhh...Wrong!

Here's the thing. ESRB is a voluntary system that the companies have willingly opted into. The ESRB has no real weight. Places are currently trying to create laws. A couple of the states have actually had them overturned; this has been biiiig news. In other words, there is no real law that covers this.

Or, in short. Wrong.

[Kane Knight]

Also, it's not a national law to sell R-Rated movies to kids (I think there are states where it's illegal), or PA music.

These are self-enforced policies by the music and video stores.

[G]

i remember trying to rent mortal kombat 3 from blockbuster when it came out and they wouldn't cause i was like 12 or something. so my mom went in right behind me and got it.

[ClockShot]

Nowadays it depends on either the company that sells the game or the state. To my knowledge there are no states with video game sale laws. Yet.

However, some stores, like the store that I work at, whenever an R-rated movie gets scanned through a message requires that we card people that look under 18 before sale. But it's something I doubt you would get fired for if you don't check. Just a small talk on the side asking you to check next time.

[Fignuts]

Zero Tolerance does seem a little harsh, but if it shuts up Jack Thompson even for a little while then I'm all for it.

[Kane Knight]

Nowadays it depends on either the company that sells the game or the state. To my knowledge there are no states with video game sale laws. Yet.

A couple have passed 'em and have them overturned. Cali is trying to pass one (This isn't their first, I don't think).

[Kane Knight]

Zero Tolerance does seem a little harsh, but if it shuts up Jack Thompson even for a little while then I'm all for it.

We both know it won't.

[Fignuts]

Wishful thinking, I know.

[Xero]

i remember trying to rent mortal kombat 3 from blockbuster when it came out and they wouldn't cause i was like 12 or something. so my mom went in right behind me and got it.
I remember going in and renting something when I was like 8 or 9 and the guy asking if I'd like to rent Quake. That was a pretty WTF moment looking back...

[Kane Knight]

I don't think I ever really played M-Rated games before like 21. Played a couple of bloody games before the ESRB came around, but I never cared enough to bother for the most part.

[Dorkchop]

Hmm... I agree and disagree with it. More on the disagree side.

If it's the store's policy, I'd say give a warning for the first instance, suspend or do something similar for the second, and if it happens a third time, then fire them. Firing someone for selling an M rated game to a teen is really harsh.

Since parents are going ape shit over violent and adult video games, I'd suggest more stores enforce not selling m rated games to minors. Have more parents purchase the game with their kids so they can, you know, actually pay attention to what their kid is going to play.

Not that it's going to happen in most cases. Most parents are just going to shit all over Rockstar for making violent video games, than themselves for not paying attention to what their kids are doing.

[Kane Knight]

I agree. Parents still buy their kids the games. Then they complain. It's like, "Fuck, didn't you look at the package?"