Bans on violent video game sales

Two "states" in two countries - Illinois in the US and Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan - have put restrictions on violent game sales to minors. One game in particular in Kanagawa - Grand Theft Auto III - because "it depicts random killing sprees in public places, cars being blown up and other acts of violence that officials fear teens might try to mimic, the Associated Press reports." Illinois's legislature voted Sunday to "ban the sale of violent or sexually explicit video games to minors ... a move other states and cities have tried but federal courts have repeatedly struck down," the AP reported separately. The legislation "Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who proposed the ban late last year after hearing about the video game 'JFK Reloaded,' which puts the player in the role of President Kennedy's assassin." The Chinese government is moving in this direction too, at a national level - "to root out pornography, eliminate threats to state security, and to stop youths becoming addicted," Reuters reports, citing a report from the official Xinhua news agency. "Online gaming has exploded in China in recent years, with an estimated 13.8 million people taking part." In related news, in its 679 stores nationwide, Best Buy - "under pressure from religious groups" - will require IDs to verify that buyers of M-rated video games are 21+, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.