Douglas Lowenstein

I was very disappointed with your story headlined "Video Game Industry Split on Violence Issue" [May 17]. The Mediascope survey is not the most sweeping survey on the subject of violence and games. In fact, it was rather limited and was conducted by a group predisposed to the view that media violence is problematic. Moreover, you suggest that the rating system is "confusing" and subjective. That's unfair, since by nature any rating system is subjective. And confusing to whom? I agree that more needs to be done to increase its visibility, but confusing?

I was very disappointed with your story headlined "Video Game Industry Split on Violence Issue" [May 17]. The Mediascope survey is not the most sweeping survey on the subject of violence and games. In fact, it was rather limited and was conducted by a group predisposed to the view that media violence is problematic. Moreover, you suggest that the rating system is "confusing" and subjective. That's unfair, since by nature any rating system is subjective. And confusing to whom? I agree that more needs to be done to increase its visibility, but confusing?

Interactive Digital Software Assn. President Douglas Lowenstein isn't playing around when he says unprecedented growth in the video game industry presents difficult challenges for developers and hardware manufacturers. The industry saw a 25% increase in revenues in 1998, with sales of video and PC games jumping from $4.4 billion in 1997 to $5.5 billion last year, according to market research firm NPD Group.

Interactive Digital Software Assn. President Douglas Lowenstein isn't playing around when he says unprecedented growth in the video game industry presents difficult challenges for developers and hardware manufacturers. The industry saw a 25% increase in revenues in 1998, with sales of video and PC games jumping from $4.4 billion in 1997 to $5.5 billion last year, according to market research firm NPD Group.

Violence in video games is bad for children's health. So says the American Psychological Assn., which is calling on the industry to cut it back. Research indicates exposure to violence in video games increases aggressive thoughts, aggressive behavior and angry feelings among youth, the association said in a statement issued Wednesday. In addition, it said, this exposure reduces helpful behavior and increases physiological arousal in children and adolescents.

I do not understand the present expenditure of energy and expense on trying to find out what is wrong with our youth. Surely it is only a very small section of our youth involved, and that, as far as I can tell, exclusively male. We should be asking only why a very few disturbed boys create such mayhem and why girls don't use guns. HARRY RAVEN Ojai Bill Clinton has done it again. In a brilliantly timed political move in light of the recent tragedy in Littleton, Clinton has scapegoated the executives of Hollywood, stating that they have been driven by the almighty dollar to adding a great deal of gratuitous violence and sex to their movies, instead of upholding the ideals of morality and goodness that once pervaded the entertainment industry.

Washington this week became the first state in the nation prohibiting the sale or rental to children of video games that depict violence against police. Video game publishers promised an immediate legal challenge on free-speech grounds. Gov. Gary Locke signed the bill into law Tuesday. Retailers face a fine of up to $500 for violations involving children under 17. Douglas Lowenstein, president of the Interactive Digital Software Assn., a trade group based in Washington, D.C.

The Federal Trade Commission gave entertainment companies a mixed report card Thursday in their efforts to shield children from violent movies, music and games. In an update to Congress, the commission credited studios, music labels and video game makers for better following self-imposed guidelines, including clamping down on the sale of R-rated movie tickets to underage teens and providing better rating information to parents.

Responding to criticism aimed at violent video games after the school shootings in Littleton, Colo., Walt Disney Co. has pulled the plug on several coin-operated arcade games at Disneyland in which players shoot at human targets. Workers unplugged or removed 30 games from the Tomorrowland and Critter Country arcades and at two Disney-owned hotels just west of the park late last month.

Rhetorical guns blazing like a corporate Duke Nukem, a defiant video game industry offered no apologies for its wares and promised a court fight to kill a law signed Friday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that bans the sale of violent video games to children. The Entertainment Software Assn. said it planned to file a lawsuit by the end of the month to prevent legislation by Assemblyman Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) from taking effect.

In a sign of changing priorities, the tax-writing panel of the U.S. House on Thursday voted to hike taxes paid by managers of many investment firms, as part of a broader tax-relief plan for millions of households who would owe extra money this year under the alternative minimum tax. The action by the House Ways and Means Committee ignited a struggle that will be played out in the coming days, as members battle over plans to prevent the AMT from hitting 23 million households this year.

The Senate committee agenda said the day's topic was the system for rating entertainment for sex, violence and foul language. But a four-hour hearing Wednesday ultimately dealt with creative expression, government intervention and race. And the most compelling witness was one who wasn't scheduled at all: Russell Simmons, the rap pioneer and founder of Def Jam Records.