Proposed bill would label video games as possible cause of aggressive behavior

Censorship has been a hot button topic of late, with bills like SOPA targeting more than just piracy—instead jeopardizing people's access to free information. Likewise, the fight for respect and uncensored creative expression in the video games industry persists with a proposed bill that would label most titles with the following warning: "Exposure to violent video games has been linked to aggressive behavior.”

Joe Baca (D-Calif.) and Frank Wolf (R-Va.) introduced the Violence in Video Games Labeling Act on Monday in response to the negative effects that video games allegedly have on people's health—despite increased findings that suggests otherwise.

"The video game industry has a responsibility to parents, families and to consumers—to inform them of the potentially damaging content that is often found in their products," Baca said. "They have repeatedly failed to live up to this responsibility."

If the bill passes, the only games that would be exempt would be those with an ESRB rating of Early Childhood (EC). All others would require the warning on the game box, regardless of whether the game actually featured violent content.

Previous attempts to pass the bill occurred in 2009 and 2011. The Entertainment Software Association, which represents video game publishers in the US, called the bill  "unconstitutional." In a statement made to Game Informer, the trade group said, "We would commend Representatives Baca and Wolf to the reams of bourgeoning academic research demonstrating that video games can be innovative learning and assessment tools in engaging and educating America’s youth, especially in core subjects such as science, technology, engineering and math."

Baca and Wolf disagree about the inherent nature of video games. "Just as we warn smokers of the health consequences of tobacco, we should warn parents—and children—about the growing scientific evidence demonstrating a relationship between violent video games and violent behavior," Wolf said. "As a parent and grandparent, I think it is important people know everything they can about the extremely violent nature of some of these games."

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