New 'Virtual Presidential Assassin' Game Reaches Appalling New Low

New "Virtual Presidential Assassin" Game
Reaches Appalling New Low

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) today joined Dr. David Walsh of the National Institute on the Media and the Family to announce the Ninth Annual Video Game Report Card.

The year's mixed findings indicate that while nearly nine out of ten retailers now have policies restricting the sale of Mature (M) rated games, the impact on youth of increasingly violent and sexually explicit games is a growing concern. In a secret shopper survey, half of boys aged seven to fourteen were still able to purchase M-rated games. Meanwhile, 87% of boys say they play M-rated games and 78% list an M-rated game among their favorites.

"Parents need to watch the video games their kids are playing before buying this holiday season," said McCollum. "Many of the most popular games contain graphic and extreme violence and sexual content - in which players are 'virtual victimizers' and 'first person killers.'"

"The newly released JFK Reloaded reaches an appalling new low as players are virtual presidential assassins. Awarding $100,000 to someone to 'concentrate, and think like a sniper!' to assassinate the president is outrageous. This is no exercise in history, this is deranged. I know the American people will show good sense and boycott this despicable game," said McCollum.

"Parents have some important resources at their disposal and share responsibility for the games their children are playing hour after hour. The industry must acknowledge the power their games have on young minds, and they must continue to work to make their ratings appropriately accurate - especially for the most violent and sexually explicit games. Retailers have come a long way in implementing verifiable purchasing policies to enforce age restricted ratings. Now they must protect children by enforcing them," said McCollum.