Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 - (Page 12)

game reviews ARE YOU FREE TO By Stephan Mack f you are like me, you have purchased a game based on the rating found on its package, only to bring it home and discover that it is completely different from what you expected. You and I are not alone; in fact, a study produced by the Harvard School of Public Health found that 81% of M-rated games contain objectionable content, such as violence and sexual themes, not presented on the game’s label.1 Similarly, a study conducted by the National Institute on Media and the Family concluded that current ratings are inadequate. They go on to say that although the Electronic Software Rating Board, the company responsible for rating games, was made aware of the need for improvements, the system showed no sign of change.2 This is unacceptable. In 2007, Ronald M. Davis, M.D., President of the American Medical Association released a statement that the AMA wants to see a more informative rating system created PLAY? I that “better alerts parents to the content of the video game and recommended age of the player, so they can decide whether or not their child should be playing it.”3 The concern is clearly wide-spread, but parents are not without hope. Plain Games, an independent game media company, with an emphasis on traditional family values, has developed a system for accurately representing game content. This system has been dubbed the Bar Rating system due to its use of five, color-coded bars, sort of like the bars used to show reception on a cell phone. Plain Games rates games on six subjects: profanity, violence, blood, sexual images, magic, and social message. Each of these areas is spelled out within each review so that there are no surprises when you bring a game home. Plain Games also suggests what age a particular game may be suited for, so that you are not left guessing as to a game’s appropriateness. Parents, who make an effort to keep their homes free from negative ideas and images, already have their work cut out for them, and deserve the best tools to help them achieve their goals. Plain Games is committed to providing some of those tools, but does not stop there, though. Plain Games reports information based not only on a game’s content, but also its story line, objectives, and technical information, such as sound and graphic quality that is of interest to gamer players. Parents and their children need to experience games together and what better a way to open up conversation channels than to read the same information. PlainGames.com offers product reviews of electronic and tabletop games and game-related hardware. The site also contains a discussion forum where parents and youth are encouraged to discuss and explore the game entertainment industry together. It is now possible to make informed game purchasing decisions with the involvement of your children. 1 Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006;160:402-410. http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/160/4/402 2 David Walsh, Ph.D.; Douglas Gentile, Ph.D.; Erin Walsh; Nat Bennett; Brad Robideau; Monica Walsh, MA; Sarah Strickland, David McFadden. National Institute on Media and the Family. November 29, 2005; http://www.mediafamily.org/research/report_vgrc_2005.shtml 3 Ronald M. Davis, M.D., American Medical Asociation. June 27, 2007; http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/17770.html 12 CHRISTIAN ENTERTAINMENT REVIEW — SPECIAL EDITION / FALL 2008 http://www.plaingames.com http://www.plaingames.com http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/160/4/402 http://www.mediafamily.org/research/report_vgrc_2005.shtml http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/17770.html

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008

Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 Frequently Asked Questions About the FEC The Dove Foundation: How a Few Parents Launched a Movement The Dove Foundation's Entertainment Content Analysis About the Parents Television Council Helping Parents Choose TV Safe for Their Children Family Friendly Game Reviews Are You Free to Play?

Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008

Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 - Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 (Page Cover1) Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 - Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 (Page Cover2) Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 - Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 (Page 1) Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 - Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 (Page 2) Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 - Frequently Asked Questions About the FEC (Page 3) Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 - The Dove Foundation: How a Few Parents Launched a Movement (Page 4) Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 - The Dove Foundation's Entertainment Content Analysis (Page 5) Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 - The Dove Foundation's Entertainment Content Analysis (Page 6) Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 - The Dove Foundation's Entertainment Content Analysis (Page 7) Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 - About the Parents Television Council (Page 8) Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 - Helping Parents Choose TV Safe for Their Children (Page 9) Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 - Helping Parents Choose TV Safe for Their Children (Page 10) Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 - Family Friendly Game Reviews (Page 11) Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 - Are You Free to Play? (Page 12) Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 - Are You Free to Play? (Page Cover3) Home Media Magazine - Christian Entertainment Report - Fall 2008 - Are You Free to Play? (Page Cover4) http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom789954SDVhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom366570DFVhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom155378GHBhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom808955QBBhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom345611SCXhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom781135SPLhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom482210QWEhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom894435PHLhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom279884VBBhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom187356DFGhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom781386HGBhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom777565RDEhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom189767DVBhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom236779SVBhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom333278DCBhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom151336DSChttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom444120EDChttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom678427KMPhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom441741PLMhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom537789ZLKhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom333224GHJhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom154432QWEhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom786621PMNhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom253664QWXhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom855441XCVhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom453098SDFhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom129780JKLhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom829837XVBhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom774152VJKhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom221452KJNhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom532207SWEhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom892302QZDhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom273006TBBhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom153309AZVhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom783560AXVhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom056627EXChttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom186620BNNhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom547114REDhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom277953XBMhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom189903XCBhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom780336DCVhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom293445WXChttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom185788FDVhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom376425RTChttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom692007DFChttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom903367WCXhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom155403KBMhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom823310ZDChttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom782249PMNhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom_hghd1208http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom137756LBKhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom753378YRThttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom989253CRThttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom292114QPMhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom137746SPLhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom377426CXZhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom-cer_2008fallhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom989113PBNhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom373645CXZhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom854169KDXhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom788146PBPhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom373554CVBhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom834641PNBhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom787165QLKhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom353688HHRhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom781146BLPhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom698335VBLhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom735717CBBhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom_hghd0908http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom262593TTBhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom845147OKGhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom206674PKMhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom942678NCOhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom125531MVBhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom828645HFKhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom654472QWEhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom-cer0708http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom365581NLKhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom852646MNJhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom153368MNHhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom926514JKDhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom-hghd0608http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom852698WCBhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom282637ZBNhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom794427SZPhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom523719NHFhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom852467BVMhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom-cer0508http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom262891WCVhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom042008http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom041308http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom040608http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom033008http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom032308http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom031608http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom030908http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom030208http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/itsbluhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom022408http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom021708http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom021008http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom020308http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom012708http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom012008http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom011308http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom010608http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom-hidef-winter0708http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom-cer0108http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom121607http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom120907http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom120207http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom112507http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom111807http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom-cer1107http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom111107http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom110407http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom102807http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom102107http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom101407http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom100707http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom093007http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom092307http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom-cer0907http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom091607http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom090907http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom090207http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom082607http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom081907http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom081207http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom080507http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom072907http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom072207http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom-daily071907http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom-daily071807http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom-daily071707http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom071507http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom070807http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom070107http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom062407http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom061707http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom061007http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom060307http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom052707http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom052007http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom051307http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom050607http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom042907http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom042207http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom-cinemercado041507http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom041507http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom040807http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom-lieberfarbhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom040107http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom032507http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom031807http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom031107http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom030407http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom021807http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom021107http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr020407http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr012807http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr012107http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr011407http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr010707http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr123106http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr121706http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr121006http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr120306http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr112606http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr111906http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr111206http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr110506http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr102206http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr101506http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr100806http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr-hidefhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr100106http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr092406http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr091706http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr091006http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr090306http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr082706http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr082006http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr073006http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr072306http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr071606http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmrdaily071306http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmrdaily071206http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmrdaily071106http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr070206http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr062506http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr061806http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr061106http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr060406http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr052806http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr052106http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr051406http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr050706http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr041606http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr040906http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr040206http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr032606http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr031906http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr031206http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr030506http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr022606http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr021906http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr021206http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmr020406http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmrmk-v2http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmrmkhttp://www.nxtbookMEDIA.com

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.