Tougher to buy 'M' games: Study

The US Federal Trade Commission did some undercover shopping at 400+ videogame stores nationwide and found that it's getting harder for kids to buy games rated "M" (Mature). The FTC had "secret shoppers" aged 13-16 try to buy M-rated games without a parent, and 42% were able to buy one, down from 69% in 2003. "National sellers were much more likely to restrict sales of M-rated games," the FTC found. "Only 35% of the secret shoppers were able to purchase such games there. Regional or local sellers sold M-rated games to the shoppers more frequently – 63%." The shoppers noted other improvements, too: More stores provided info about ratings, and more cashiers asked the shoppers' age as they were trying to buy M games. Here's coverage from GameDaily.com and the Wall Street Journal, reporting that members of the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association, representing "nearly 30 of the top retailers accounting for nearly 75% of the market of electronic and videogames," had, under public pressure, committed in 2003 to "prohibiting the sale of the M games to children under 18 by the end of the following year." And here's the ratings-description page at the Entertainment Software Rating Board's site. For an update on anti-violent-game legislation and debate on Capitol Hill, don't miss this thorough report at GameSpot, with the subhead: "Psychologists and anti-game activists verbally spar with free-speech advocates, industry reps at Capitol Hill session."