I was just in my local EB earlier today, and they had a really long lineup at the cash register. Apparently some "Grand Theft something-or-the-other" just came out.
But that's not what was really causing the lineup. Everyone buying the game was getting
carded (and they apparently only had one working cash register, for some reason). That's right, the EB clerks were checking to see your photo-ID before they could sell you the game.
At least one person who was in the line to buy the "M" rated title tried to show his school-provided transit-discount card which indicated that he was 15, and he was roughly told to leave the store, with something muttered about "facing thousand dollar fines".
"M" rated videogame titles have apparently become like tobacco products in Canada now. Personally, I think we needed it.
And at EB, they were carding
everybody, regardless of how old they looked. That should really help with parents who aren't paying attention to what their kids are putting on their Christmas lists. Mommy goes into store. "Can I have Bonestorm 12?" "Sure, lemme see your ID." "Why would you want my ID?" "Because children aren't allowed to buy Bonestorm games." Should be a good wake up call.
Do you think this might actually cause some developers to put some minor effort into getting a lower rating on their games? Unlike companies like Tecmo, which put out "Teen" rated products, and only apply for the "M" rating, because it's "cooler" that way.
Edit: Here's a news link from the
CBC