WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On Thursday, December 9, shortly before a joint meeting
of the Senate Judiciary and Government Affairs committees were to hear
testimony about the adverse impact of violent-theme video games on
youngsters, a coalition of video-game manufacturers, publishers, dealers,
and retailers announced an industry-wide iniative to establish a uniform
rating system on the contents of interactive video games.

Illene Rosenthal, general counsel for the Software Publishers Association,
said the video-game industry is prepared to police itself. "The market
does not need and the public does not want another government entity to be
created for this purpose," she said.

Sens. Joeph Liebergam (D-CT) and Herb Kohl (D-WI) have proposed
legistlation that would give the industry one year to come up with its own
plan before the government intervenes.

Sen. Lieberman said, "Creating a rating system is, frankly, the very least
the video-game industry can do, not the best they can do."

Sega of America modeled the industry proposal after its own rating system
that has been in effect for about eight months: general audience, 13 or
older, and 17 or older.

Howard Lincoln, Nintendo senior vice president said he supports the
industry-wide rating system, but it's not a substitute for corporate
responsibility. He added that Nintendo will sponsor an industry forum
early this year to discuss guidelines and develop a game-rating system.

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