Apple’s Sept. 9 Event: 5 Hot Bets
Apple’s announced an invitation-only bash Sept. 9 in San Francisco — here’s what will most likely go down at this shindig.
At Wikipedia, It’s a Man’s World
A new study breaks down Wikipedia users by gender — and, whether it’s reading or writing, this is one domain the dudes definitely dominate.
Hate Hidden Fees? PC World Wants to Hear from You
PC World invites readers to share their tech-related hidden fee horror stories for an upcoming report.
Snow Leopard Users’ 4 Biggest Gripes
Here are the top 4 complaints — and a few suggestions — regarding Apple’s newest operating system update.
Subscription iTunes TV? Great, But It’ll Never Happen
Apple may want to offer a la carte TV through iTunes, but the networks won’t like the idea.
Wikipedia Color-Codes for Credibility
The online encyclopedia adopts “WikiTrust” feature so readers can assess an article’s reliability at a glance.
Fox Juices ‘Fringe’ Re-Runs with Twitter Twist
Fox will air repeate episodes of TV shows Fringe and Glee with “tweet-peat” crawls at the bottom of screen.
Hands-On: SanDisk Sansa Clip+
The affordable, solid player is enhanced by a microSD slot and some minor design tweaks.
Why When the FCC Speaks No One Should Listen
I don’t know who over-inflated those windbags over at the Federal Communications Commission, but recently the obnoxious government agency has felt the need to ventilate about video games. Perhaps I just haven’t been paying attention to an upcoming reelection. Usually bureaucrats and politicians don’t start clucking on their soapboxes unless someone’s seat is in jeopardy.
GoNintendo recently posted an article in which FCC chairman Julius Genachowski stated that the Commission was considering a compulsory ratings system for movies, television and games, which would effectively nullify and override the voluntary ESRB system currently in place and quite literally trod over the First Amendment with some rather muddy boots.
Sounds disturbing, huh? Well, it’s actually not because the chairman’s boisterous statements are nothing more than a bunch of meaningless fist-shaking, as I’ll explain.
Now, let me start by acknowledging that I know why websites post stories like these. For one, they’re news relating to video games, and two, they incite gamers to stand up and protect their valued hobby, a noble desire. I am not saying that publications shouldn’t post stories like these. I have no problem if they do.
Rather, utilizing two things that the FCC absolutely detests – free speech and critical analysis – I am going to show you why you should ignore the FCC every time it speaks about video games, and instead go back to your slow-motion headshots without worry. Then hopefully gamers will ignore this cyclical soap-box pandering and instead utilize their limited time for more productive means, such as arguing over the proper chronology for the entire Zelda series.
Let’s start with our first lesson: jurisdiction. The FCC has no jurisdiction over movies or gaming as far as content is concerned. Period. The same applies to both cable and satellite television. Is this a startling revelation for anyone? I hope not.
What is jurisdiction? Jurisdiction is the ability of the government to have control and authority over you – the power to implement and enforce its laws. The FCC doesn’t have that power over gaming. It never has, and it never will. If the FCC attempted to fine, say, EA, for releasing, let’s say, Playboy Bunnies Go to the Beach (imaginary title here), it would have no effect and would be unenforceable for a lack of jurisdiction. Why is this? I’ll explain.
The FCC was established in 1934 as the successor to the Federal Radio Commission. Its simple goal was to regulate the use of radio (and later television) broadcasting so that private organizations and individuals did not flood the limited frequency band with overlapping broadcasts. The FCC was not originally intended to regulate the content of broadcasts.
But in 1978 the United States Supreme Court handed down the landmark case of Federal Communications Commission v. Pacifica Foundation, which gave the FCC power to regulate “indecent” (note that indecent does not mean obscene) content being broadcast over the airwaves. It was also the case made infamous by comedian George Carlin’s seven dirty words you can’t say on television.
The Supreme Court attempted to justify this strange rule by declaring that broadcasts were particularly invasive because they entered one’s home without permission - nevermind the fact that you can simply turn off the TV or even learn to deal with opinions that contradict your own.
Video games aren’t broadcast over airwaves (they aren’t sent over AM/FM frequencies or broadcast television channels), thus, the FCC has no jurisdiction to impose a mandatory ratings system on them. Unless NBC starts broadcasting free games that you can play on screen with your TV remote, the FCC will have no ability to intervene.
Dirt 2 Direct-Feed Gameplay Walkthrough Cares Not For Opposing Racer’s Hurt Feelings
Tired of slamming relentlessly to car after opposing A.I. car in your racing game of choice without nary a obligatory flipped bird aimed your way?
Fear not, as Codemasters’ Senior Director of Marketing, Brad Schlachter, drops by to demonstrate opposing driver "vengeance" A.I., updated graphics, 5-second Flashback and much more in over 11 minutes of direct-feed gameplay from their upcoming rally racer, Dirt 2.
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