42% of stores sell violent games to kids

PS2 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - Special EditionThe Federal Trade Commission of America says unauthorized sales of video games considered too mature for children declined last year due to stronger enforcement efforts. The FTC says an undercover investigation of 406 electronic and video games stores found that 42 percent improperly sold games with mature content to children 16 and younger who weren’t accompanied by an adult.

That 2005 figure is a drop from 69 percent in 2003. National chain stores were much more likely to restrict sales of the so-called M-rated games. Only 35 percent improperly sold them, compared to 63 percent for regional or local sellers.

Half of all the stores surveyed also asked the child’s age when he or she tried to make a purchase, an increase from 24 percent in 2003. The latest investigation involved stores in 43 states.

I think they are finally on the money here, instead of blaming game developers for releasing properly tagged mature titles influencing children, they should have been looking at the stores selling those same mature games to underage children all along.