Supreme Court to decide if states can regulate video game sales

The Supreme Court said today it will hear a challenge to a California law that makes it illegal to sell violent video games to minors.

The law was blocked by a federal judge before it could take effect, but this is the first time the highest court has agreed to render a verdict on the issue:

The California law now in question prohibits the sale of video games to minors under 18 "where a reasonable person would find that the violent content appeals to a deviant or morbid interest of minors."
As with laws governing obscenity, the state statute exempts games that have "serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value."

At least nine other states and localities have enacted similar restrictions, including Washington, Minnesota and Illinois. In California, retailers are subject to $1,000 fines for each violation.


In every other case, though, the legislation has been defeated in court as a violation of the First Amendment.

The Supremes now have a chance to settle this question once and for all.

In all likelihood, the California law will also be ruled unconstitutional and overturned (as the Entertainment Software Association predicts) and this will end the legal debate over whether states have the power to manage video game sales in the same way they do tobacco and alcohol sales.

Of course, Congress could step in and enact legislation (presumably it would have to be an amendment to the constitution) allowing states to regulate game sales to minors.

I would be very surprised if that happened, though

original article.
category: Videogame Accessories
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7-Eleven to Begin Selling Used Games

In a partnership with Game Trading Technologies, convenience store chain 7-Eleven will soon begin selling used games in its stores. Games will be priced under $20 -- hence the promotion's name "Great Games Under $20" -- and will be available in about half of 7-Eleven stores in the United States, which works out to around 3,000 stores.
"What this means to consumers is that they will have many convenient locations, most open 24/7, to buy value-priced video games," said Game Trading Technologies president and CEO Todd Hays. "The program is available to all 7-Eleven US franchisees, and we hope to have most US stores on board by September."

"We partnered with GTT because of their experience and expertise as a third-party provider of video games and the terrific selection they'll offer to our customers," said Michael Jester, 7-Eleven category manager for gaming and electronics. "More than 60 percent of U.S. households now have at least one video game console, and consumers are searching for convenient ways to stretch their entertainment dollar in this challenging economy."

7-Eleven permanently added videogames to their inventory in late 2008 following a trial run with big name games like Madden and World of Warcraft. Though they initially had some issues with breaking street dates (namely, with Wrath of the Lich King), the company refocused its efforts on ensuring that it wouldn't happen anymore.

As Hays noted, having stores that are generally open 24 hours a day is a pretty nice perk, though it's unclear how many sales of used games they'll really be making at 3 in the morning. But maybe that will be the key to succeeding where other retailers, such as Best Buy, have failed to make much of a mark in the used games business.

original article.
category: DVD Comedy
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Blockbuster planning on movie, game mail rental service

gamers! morning.
sorry if this is a boring article but like i said all the ones on google news on this category. soo hpefully this isnt something that is going to bore you to sleep haha.
have a great week!

Blockbuster is currently performing a trial service in Cleveland for a by-mail rental service that would allow customers to rent both games and movies, with plans to expand nationwide later in the year.

Blockbuster has begun testing its "Games by Mail" service in Cleveland, Ohio, with "plans to expand nationwide before the end of the year." According to the terms of the trial (which can be viewed here), customers will be able to add unlimited "one at a time" video game rentals to their traditional plans for $8 more a month. The game will count against the rental amounts, and the charge will only be levied during months in which games are shipped, and customers will not be able to switch out games at the Blockbuster retail stores like they can with movies.

Paravirtualization Case Study with Buyken Metal Products: Download nowBy combining the additional charge to the standard two-or-three-DVD a month rental plans, customers will be able to have movies and games sent to them from the same service. Currently, most of the major nationwide by-mail rental services only send one type of media--movies (Netflix) or games (GameFly).


original article.
category: DVD Documentary
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