It seems that most of us here follow roughly the same beliefs on this issue, mainly that it's an issue of people actually listening to the ratings systems imposed.
As some of you may know, but most of you probably don't, I'm fairly active in the NZ game developement arena, mostly as an observer, and ocassionally, when not working my ass of at uni, as a participant. And frankly, this is one of the major issues of discussion. We had an excellent conference last year, part of which was a discussion with NZ's Chief Censor, and his opinions on video games, and how they're rated (this was just after Manhunt got banned in NZ). The censor actually came off as being very reasonable about the whole thing. His perspective was that he didn't mind violent videogames, as long as they had some, however minor, redeeming aspects. Manhunt had none. Which is fair enough. Anf keep in mind that this guy is probably as jaded as this entire forum combined, as his job consists mostly of helping the police with the fucked up stuff they find on people computers. But the crux of the discussion eventually came down to this:
Video games are rated just like most other media (in fact often more harshly as there is interaction as opposed to merely passivity).
The issue is that people are getting their hands on these games when they shouldn't, and this is because the public view video games as a medium for kids, and only for kids. And frankly that needs to change. It's the same problem that you find with animation and comics. People automatically assume that all of these are kid friendly when they're not. I'm not going to give little Billy a copy of Sin City to read, nor Legend of the Demon Womb to watch, nor GTA3 to play (see
here.) It's a matter of getting the public to realise that they need to have a say in what their kids play and buy. The money has to come from somewhere, and unless your kid is a watchdog for the local crack dealer, I don't think he can afford many games on his own. Use a bit of Goddamn common sense people. If you wouldn't let him (or her) watch an R rated movie, then why the hell are you letting them play an R rated game?
Also, however, there needs to be better enforcement at the retailer level. Retailers have no problems selling these games to underagers most of the time, and they of all people know what they're selling. It should also be up to them to tell customers that what they're buying might be grossly innapropriate for the person they're getting it for. Especially grandparents, because they have no fucking clue whatsoever.
Finally, I would just like to finish with this. There is a man, employed by the NZ censors, to play games for hours a day, while the censors watch. He explores and tries to find bloody and naughty bits. And that's all he does. And he gets paid.
I want his job.