Yesturday, Five groups convened to announce the "10 worst violent videogames," hoping to warn parents about products likely to tempt their children this holiday season. The groups also called for retailers to cease sales of such games to minors, and urged the game industry to develop an improved content rating system.
The following games were: Doom 3, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Gunslinger Girls 2, Half Life 2, Halo 2, Hitman: Blood Money, Manhunt, Mortal Combat: Deception, Postal 2, and Shadow Heart. These games have had the biggest hits of the year to some of the more obscure titles released. Interestingly, Blood Money is not expected to be released until next year.
The groups consisted of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), the National Council of Women"s Organizations, Mothers Against Violence in America, Center for Advancement of Public Policy, Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ, and NYC Council Member Eric Gioia.
"Some retailers are allowing children and teenagers to purchase the most violent, the most graphic, and the most sexually explicit video games ever created, notwithstanding ratings and warnings on the packaging," commented Council Member Eric Gioia. "An investigation I conducted last year showed a minor could walk into almost any store selling video games in New York City and purchase them without difficulty.
While the message was strong, Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association (IEMA), a game retailer group, has already issued a response, claiming that the groups" criticisms of industry self-regulation come too early: