IL anti-game bill, LA pro-development bill advance

Illinois moved one step closer to restricting game sales on Thursday. Following suit with the state's Senate, the Illinois House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban adult-oriented games to those under the age of 18. Presumably, this would mean games rated M for "Mature" or AO for "Adults Only" by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. The vote was 106 for, and six against the measure.

But while games bearing either the M or AO ratings are not supposed to be sold to minors, such restrictions are voluntarily enforced by retailers, much like an R rating is at a movie theater. The Illinois bill would punish stores that sell games deemed "violent or sexually explicit video games" to minors with a $1,000 fine, according to the Associated Press. Somewhat paradoxically, the onus of determining which games are "violent or sexually explicit" would fall on retailers, who have complained morality enforcement is not within their purview.

Now that it has passed the Illinois Senate and is on the desk of Governor Rod Blagojevich, the chances of the Illinois bill becoming law are almost certain. That's because Blagojevich, a Democrat, introduced the bill himself last summer after seeing a trailer for the PC game JFK Reloaded, which puts players behind the rifle butt of accused John F. Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald.

"In today's world, parents face unprecedented challenges in monitoring and protecting their children from harmful influences," said Blagojevich. "This bill will make their job easier."

Meanwhile, south of the Mason-Dixon line, a pro-game measure moved forward. Louisiana Bill 341, which would grant game developers generous tax credits if they relocated to the Southern state, unanimously passed the state Senate. The bill would give a 10 percent state-tax income credit to studios that spend $300,000 to $8 million setting shop up in the Bayou State and then remain for one year.

Another bill being considered by the Louisiana Legislature would complement Bill 341 by adding game-development curricula at state universities, in order to provide a readily available talent pool. Both bills are being backed by the recently formed Louisiana Game Developers Association, a nonprofit group devoted to luring game companies to the state.