Violent Video Games for Kids?

This Supreme Court decision that reverses the California video game ban makes no sense to me.  The court decided that governments cannot ban the sale or rental of violent video games to minors because it would violate free-speech rights.  Really?  I can see that banning the production of violent video games might violate the free-speech rights of the video game makers, but do they really have to be able to sell them to kids?  I suppose that means that anything that people are free to say also has to be available to kids?  What about pornography?  That has to be available too, because the people who produce pornography are free to produce it, right?

I was thinking that, but then I read this question asked by Stephen Breyer, one of the dissenting justices.  "What sense does it make to forbid selling to a 13-year-old boy a magazine with an image of a nude woman while protecting a sale to that 13-year-old of an interactive video game in which he actively, but virtually, binds and gags the women, then tortures and kills her?"  So I guess the same logic/freedom of speech doesn't apply to pornography?  Really, it makes no sense. 

Rain Delay

Image via WikipediaSerious rain today. We were at our friends' house in Milwaukee, and Cory wanted to get home because he had a games night at the library. About the time we needed to leave, it started pouring. So, we waited for it to let up. In the meantime, Jeffrey went out in the rain a couple of times, loaded the van, got the umbrella, moved vehicles so ours was behind and we could get out. Then, when it let up a little, we all ran for the van and headed home.

About then it started raining hard again. Streets were flooded so we had to turn around and take an alternate route, and it was hard to see. There were a few places on the interstate that were flooded - luckily in the opposite lane. Cars were backed up over there and taking their time getting through. Still, we managed to get Cory to the library, about half an hour late. And by then the rain had pretty much stopped - or we just drove out of it.

Cory's game night ended up going later than originally planned, so he really didn't miss all that much. It sounds like they had fun. They played some board games or party games and some video games on the Wii and playstation 3, and no-one was ready to go home at 8:00 as planned. This would be why we don't plan to pick Cory up at any particular time. We just tell him to call when he's ready or if he is getting a ride.

I've Got a Bowling Alley in my Basement

And a tennis court, and a baseball diamond, and a golf course, and... Well, actually it's a really nifty new video system (is that the proper terminology?) that came to live at our house. Yes, Cory has been wanting a Wii for a while now, and his dad has kind of been wanting one, too. So, Sunday night they went off and had some father / son bonding time, and waited in line for a couple of hours so they could buy one. I guess these things are extremely hard to come by, but this particular Best Buy had a special invitation-only event. They guaranteed that they would have a minimum of 30 Wiis in stock just for this event, which started at 8:30pm. They got there early and were 4th in line, so they got the Wii. They also got an extra remote and some extra games that came packaged together.

The next night they ran to Game Stop and bought Guitar Hero III for the Wii. So, now Cory is set for a while. He does not get anything else for a good long time!

After the jazz band concert tonight, he wanted me to play with him, so we played bowling and tennis and baseball. Those were all pretty fun. Then he wanted me to play Guitar Hero. I'm not sure I'm ever going to get the hang of that, or even if I want to. Cory's enjoying it, though.

StarCraft for PC

I was reading an article in Newsweek about Lego and how, after a certain age, girls aren't really interested any more. The boys? They love it. As I'm reading about this upcoming PC game starcraft 2, I'm thinking the same thing is true. Do the girls really want to play this, or is it just the boys? I know, I shouldn't generalize, but this kind of game looks like something the boys in the house would enjoy, but us girls probably won't even understand it!

The thing that interests me about all the video games my son plays is the way that he can go online and get hints and tips and 'cheats' in order to make it through the game. I keep asking isn't that cheating? The word 'cheats' kind of makes me think so. He doesn't seem to think it's cheating, just help to get through the game and reach levels and do things he wouldn't get to for a long time without help. Over at CreepColony, they have the same thing for the StarCraft game. What I can't find over there is what I need to know as a mom. What is this game rated? Is it something my 15-year-old son should be playing?