Running With Scissors boss Vince Desi has responded to revelations that his game, Postal, has been linked to the multiple stabbings of visitors to a synagogue in Moscow earlier this week.
Sources: GamesIndustry.biz | Next Generation
Florida Gaming Bill Passes Senate Committee Hearing
The bill is modeled on California AB1179, which imposes government-approved labels on games on top of the existing ESRB ratings, and fines retailers $1,000 per infraction for selling violent-rated games to minors
Sources: Gamasutra | Gamespot | Next Generation | GameIndustry.biz | GameDaily.biz | Game Politics | 1Up.com
Engage In-Game Advertising in Legal Fight with Valve?
Earlier this week, GameDaily BIZ reported on the successful in-game ad campaign of a new firm, Engage In-Game Advertising. Ads for the food chain Subway were apparently placed in the Valve Software shooter Counter-Strike; even though the game’s name was not specifically mentioned in the press release, it was obvious to all that it was CS.
Sources: GameDaily.biz | Joystiq
Related Stories re: Engage In-Game Ads Launch: GameIndustry.biz | GameDaily.biz | ars technica | Business Week
Related Posts:
- Valve, IGA Resolve Controversy Over Counter-Strike In-game Ads (February 16, 2006)
- Engage In-game Advertising in Legal Fight with Valve? (January 13, 2006)
- Advertising in Games (November 11, 2003)
Postal Blamed in Moscow Synagogue Attack
Old-time violent game Postal has been blamed, at least partially, on a horrific knife attack on visitors to a Moscow synagogue.
Sources: Next-Gen Biz | Game Politics | 1Up.com | Ferrago | Euro Gamer
Three Indicted In Xbox Piracy/Modding Case
Two Hollywood video game store owners and a third man who were charged in December for allegedly pirating video games and installing them on modified Microsoft Corp. Xbox consoles were indicted on Thursday, according to the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. The indictment also charged the three with two felony violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act,
Sources: Gamasutra | Next Generation | Information Week
Indian Games Industry and Trade Association Formed
A number of India’s leading video game companies have announced the formation of the Indian Games Industry and Trade Association (iGITA), the first exclusive gaming industry association in the country.
Sources: Gamasutra | Web India | Business Standard India | IndianTelevision.com | Yahoo! Singapore | EFY Times | Animation ‘xpress | Exchange 4 Media
Digital Jesters Wound-Up By British Court
A joint press release from international developer KaosKontrol and French publisher Focus Home Interactive claims that a “winding-up order” has been obtained from the British High Court against troubled publisher Digital Jesters, meaning that this incarnation of the company is no longer allowed to continue trading.
Sources: Gamasutra | GameSpot | GameIndustry.biz
Related Posts:
- Digital Jesters Wound-Up by British Court (January 11, 2006)
- Super X Parts Ways with Publisher Digital Jesters (December 1, 2005)
- Kylotonn Severs Digital Jesters Ties (November 23, 2005)
- Developers Threaten Digital Jesters with Legal Action (November 7, 2005)
Video Game Patents: Its Just a Game Right?
In this interesting article entitled “Its Just a Game Right?“, Ross Dannenberg, Esq. and Steve Chang, Esq. describe the top myths surrounding patent protection of video games, in the hopes of encouraging innovative game developers to take steps to protect their valuable video game innovations.
Source: IP Frontline
Dragon Slayers or Tax Evaders?
Buying and selling imaginary goods in computer-game worlds is big business. Now let’s figure out whether gamers should pay real-world taxes on virtual treasures.
Source: Legal Affairs
Related Virtual Taxation Stories: ars technica | Sci Tech
Related Virtual Currency Stories: Gamespot (Sep 12, 2005 | PC Magazine (Jun 1, 2005) | Gamespot(May 6, 2005) | Wired (Jan 23, 2004) | GameZone(Jan 5, 2004)
GamePolitics Interviews David Walsh on the NIMF Recent Video Game Report Card
In this Gamepolitics.com podcast (originally “aired” on Dec 22, 2005) Dr. David Walsh, President of the National Institute on Media and the Family, is interviewed on the Failing Grade it gave to the ESRB Ratings system in its 2005 Video Game Report Card. In the podcast Walsh provides an overview of the history of institute, its ongoing controversy with the ESRB rating system, and its initiative to promulgate a new rating system.
Source: GamePolitics.com | 
Click Here to Listen to the Podcast
Maryland, Indiana Prepare Violent Video Game Bills
Soon to join the list of states which have introduced legislation against the sale of violent video games to minors, a roster which currently includes California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, and Delaware are new entrants Maryland and Indiana, according to video game weblog GamePolitics.
Sources: Gamasutra | 1Up.com | NextGen.biz | GameDaily.biz
Motion Filed to Dismiss Xbox 360 Overheating Lawsuit
In the motion to dismiss, Microsoft notes that “Significantly, Plaintiff omits the fact that his Xbox 360, purchased in November 2005, is still covered by a 90-day warranty, under which Microsoft agreed to repair or replace it, or issue a refund. In fact, Plaintiff does not allege that he contacted anyone at Microsoft about the alleged defect, let alone that Microsoft refused to honor the terms of its warranty. Moreover, Plaintiff does not allege that his Xbox 360 ever malfunctioned. He alleges only that “members of the class have experienced malfunctions” with their Xbox 360s – not that he has.
[March 29, 2006 Update: ars technica reports that On March 29, 2006, the complainant Robert Byers filed for voluntary dismissal of the case.]
Sources: Xbox 360 Fanboy | Xbox Today | Planet XBox 360
Yee, Schwarzenegger Comment On California Injunction
California Assembly Speaker pro tem Leland Yee and a representative of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger comment on the preliminary injunction halting the implementation of California’s game restriction law.
Source: Gamasutra
GamePolitics Full Coverage Of California’s Violent Video Game Law
Related Posts:
- Yee, Schwarzennegger Comment on California Injunction (December 28, 2005)
- Judge Halts Implementation of California Violent Game Bill (December 22, 2005)
- ESA Launches Legal Action Against California’s Violent Game Bill (October 18, 2005)
- Schwarzenegger Signs Game-restriction Bill (October 7, 2005)
Judge Halts Implementation Of California Violent Game Bill
Text of VSA v. California Preliminary Injunction
Following on the heals of similar decisions in Illinois and Michigan (see stories on Dec 2 and Nov 9, respectively, below), Northern California District Judge Ronald Whyte handed down a preliminary injunction halting the implementation of California’s Game Restriction Bill (see Oct 7, 2005 story below). The law was set to go into effect as of January 1, 2006.
Sources: Gamespot | Gamasutra | GameDaily.biz | | Forbes | San Jose Mercury News | San Francisco Chronicle | L.A. Times | Reuters | MSN Money | ZDNet | TechNewsWorld | 1Up.com | ABC News | USA Today | CNet
VSDA Comments on Injunction | IEMA Comments on Injunction
GamePolitics Full Coverage Of California’s Violent Video Game Law
Related Posts:
- Yee, Schwarzennegger Comment on California Injunction (December 28, 2005)
- Judge Halts Implementation of California Violent Game Bill (December 22, 2005)
- ESA Launches Legal Action Against California’s Violent Game Bill (October 18, 2005)
- Schwarzenegger Signs Game-restriction Bill (October 7, 2005)
18,000 World of Warcraft Suspended for Terms of Service Violations
Take-Two, EA Battle Over NHL Game License
According to the website EAHockey.com, the National Hockey League (NHL) and NHL Player’s Association (NHLPA) are continuing to fight over the question of exclusive video game licenses.
Sources: Gamasutra | EA’s EA Hockey Website
Several XBox 360 Games are Region-code-free
Planet XBox 360 has compiled a list of region-code-free Xbox 360 video games. This seems to be an important new trend.
Sources: Planet XBox 360 | Play-Asia.com
Original XBox Modders Charged with DMCA Violations
Authorities charge three Los Angeles-area men with hacking Xbox game consoles to allow pirated games to run on them.
Sources: Red Herring | Information Week | Reuters UK | 1Up | Techtree | NextGen.biz | Joystiq | Gamasutra | Law Fuel | Xbox 360 Fanboy
Nintendo Threatens to Sue Cancer Researchers over use of Pokeman
Nintendo is threatening legal action, presumably trademark related, to keep scientists from referring to cancer-causing gene by the nickname “Pokemon.”
Sources: Gamespot | GameDaily
Examples of Such Use: Pubmed | The Scientist
Xbox 360 Customer Arrested for Queue Jumping
A Baltimore man was arrested for “disorderly conduct” jumping the queue while waiting to purchase an Xbox 360.
Source: Xbox 360 Fanboy
Xbox 360 Game Files Extracted By Hackers
A potential first step toward cracking the Xbox 360, the dumping of files from Xbox 360 game discs, has been discovered by a team of hackers known as Team PI Coder.
Sources: Gamasutra | Gamespot | GameIndustry.biz
U.S. Family Entertainment Protection Act Introduced in Congress
The Previously proposed Family Entertainment Protection Act is introduced to Congress
Sources: Gamasutra | Ferrago | Outlaw.com | Yahoo! Games | Gamespot | Next-Gen.biz | 1Up.com | GameDaily | Clinton Website Announcement and Summary of Proposed Act | Lieberman Website
GamePolitics.com’s Full Coverage Video Game Legislative Activities in Congress
Related Posts:
- Congressman Joe Pitts Claims his Video Game Comments were Misportrayed in Daily Show Lampoon (July 8, 2006)
- Jon Stewart on Congressional Debate over Video Games (June 22, 2006)
- Congress, FTC Discuss Video Game Rating System (June 15, 2006)
- Views Clash at Senate Game Hearing (April 3, 2006)
- Regulating Youth Access to Violent video Games: Three Responses to First Amendment Concerns (March 29, 2006)
- Senate Panel OKs Video Game Study (March 8, 2006)
- U.S. Family Entertainment Act Introduced in Congress (December 16, 2005)
- IEMA & ESA Respond to Clinton & Lieberman Family Entertainment Protection Act (November 30, 2005)
- Senators Clinton & Lieberman Introduce Federal Game Regulation (November 29, 2005)
- CAMRA Bill Introduced in House of Representatives (October 25, 2005)
- Juvenile Violent Crime Decreases in last 10 Years (October 11, 2005)
Trials and Tribulations, Video Games Many Visits to Courts
Civil Suit in Alabama Goes Forward
Text of Order Denying Motion to Dismiss
The Alabama case in which a Grand Theft Auto gamer killed two police officers and a police dispatcher will go to trial.
Sources: GameSpot | NextGen.biz | Joystiq | WSFA 12 | GameCube Advanced
Related Posts:
- Alabama Supreme Court Rejects Another Motion to Dismiss Take-Two/GTA Slaying Case (March 29, 2006)
- Civil Suit in Alabama Goes Forward (December 14, 2005)
- Alabama Judge Revokes Thompson’s Temporary License (November 19, 2005)
- Thompson Exits GTA Cop Killer Case (November 7, 2005)
- Thompson Comes Under Fire (November 7, 2005)
- Judge Asked to Dismiss GTA Case (November 5, 2005)
- Juvenile Violent Crime Decreases in Last 10 Years (October 11, 2005)
- Judge Sentences GTA Gamer to Death (October 7, 2005)
- Killer Convicted, Despite GTA Insanity Defense (August 10, 2005)
- Grand Theft Auto Sparks Another Game Violence Lawsuit (February 14, 2005)
Marvel and NCSoft Settle Character License Dispute
Marvel and NCsoft did not disclose terms of the settlement, but the result appears to allow NCsoft’s games to continue to allow players to create characters without restriction.
Sources: Gamasutra | GameSpot NextGen.biz | 1Up.com | GameDaily | IGN | Houston Chronicle