techTalk » Movies

FTC reports staggering statistics

electrikALIEN — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:01:03 +0000

With the amazing push against video games being present in the open market, it’s hard to focus on how other forms of media are doing when mature content spreads across all spectrums.

I found this story via Wired.com’s Game | Life blog in which the author focused on how much mature content was being kept from younger hands over the past years. When I began reading the story, I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw the percentiles of other forms of media.

The FTC, Federal Trade Commission, which takes the control of explicit material through commercial media and broadcast media very seriously, performed a 2008 study in which 13 to 16 year olds were asked to try to purchase R-rated movie tickets, R-rated and Unrated DVDs, Parental Advisory Label (PAL) music CDs, and M-rated video games. The FTC has performed 4 other similar studies in 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2006.

In 2008, the percentage of young teens that were able to purchase M-rated video games was 20%. In my opinion, that’s still too high (check out the original article to see which retail chains are to blame).

However, the next lowest percentile of susseccful purchases by minors is nearly double that of video game’s failure. Movie theater chains allowed 35% of the study’s minors to purchase R-rated movie tickets. However, according to the graph, the theaters have been the most successful over the years keeping mature content from minors, but they don’t seem to be making much headway for improvment.

Retail chains show apauling statistics, with 47% minors able to purchase R-rated DVDs, 51% able to purchase Unrated DVDs, and a staggering 54% able to purchase music CDs with Parental Advisory Labels on the front cover.

Thankfully, these percentages are coming down from the years of previous studies. And maybe because I am a gamer I have a cetain talent for hearing or reading the onslaught of video game bashing brought forth from the likes of Jack Thompson, FOX News, public organizations, city councils and even federal and state governements.

It has been years since I’ve heard a whisper about other violent/sexual forms of media and how to keep them out of the hands of minors. How can those with a voice continually lynch the most successful ratings system that is being enforced better than all the others?

My speculations? Some are simply trying to jumpstart a political campaign (Hilary Clinton, Jack Thompson, etc.) on a topic they know next to nothing about, OR they truly are egomanics crazy enough to label a whole demographic as “neo-nazis” deserving to spend life on deathrow.

Block City? No! Curcuitbuster!

electrikALIEN — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:16:50 +0000

Reportedly, back in February, Blockbuster, mega corporation of movie and game rentals, quietly approached the Circuit City big dogs about a buyout in which Blockbuster would purchase the whole of Circuit City for a sum of $1 billion. Apparently Blockbuster wants to do more than just video rentals now.

Circuit City hasn’t given them a reply and now Blockbuster is making it well known that it seeks to own the electronics retail chain.

This only two months after Microsoft bid for Yahoo!…

Via Wired.

Webisodes getting more professional

electrikALIEN — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:19:24 +0000

Online video is nothing new here in early 2008. Everyone that isn’t under the proverbial rock knows about You Tube. It’s easy to find entertainment online, but how many times can you watch a guy dance through the decades?

A podcast I frequent had a special interview with writer/director of a hugely popular webisode series called The Guild. The sitcom is about a group of people who play an online game together and end up meeting in real life. Hillarity ensues as stereotipical characters begin butting heads.

The main reason I’m blogging about the show, though, is that it is one of the most professionally crafted online shows available for free. So far there are seven episodes, each around 5 minutes in length.

NOTE: The show includes strong language and content not suitable for minors.