The Toronto edition of Metro International newspapers/Toronto Star explains why Canadian gamers now need photo identification to buy or rent computer and video games. The new restriction is part of the Retail Council of Canada's (RCC) Commitment to Parents initiative, which "requires retailers across Canada to support and enforce the ESRB ratings for computer and video games." The Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) and the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) are also partners in the program.

The RCC says that it has the support of 90% of game retailers in the voluntary program. Retailers that support the program include "Hudson's Bay Company retail outlets the Bay and Zellers, Best Buy, Blockbuster Canada, EB Games, Future Shop, RadioShack, Rogers Video, Toys 'R' Us, and Wal-Mart."

The program is based on one that has been in operation in British Columbia since 2001.

The Ontario government plans to come up with its own game ratings system after the Ontario Film Review Board gave Manhunt an 'R' rating in March 2004.

On April 28, the Manitoba government introduced Bill 25 -- The Amusements Amendment Act that would allow the  Manitoba Film Classification Board to classify and rate computer and video games. The bill made it illegal for retailers to sell or rent mature-themed games to minors, and set out penalties for retailers that did so. I've linked to the Manitoba Hansard at the foot of this article, following progress of the bill, as read into the record of the Manitoba legislature. Bill 25 received Royal Assent on June 10, 2004. [UPDATE 2004.10.15: A brief article from Canadian Press says that the Manitoba bill was passed into law last spring but the law hasn't been enacted. Manitoba seems to be backing down from its original plans to introduce its own ratings system. "Ken Rodeck, manager of the Manitoba Film Classification Board, says the province will likely use a ratings system developed by the video game industry itself." The ratings system the story refers to is the ESRB system.]

How the program will be implemented is unclear since there don't seem to be any guidelines provided by the RCC. Will everyone, regardless of age, be required to produce photo ID? Will showing a photo ID card to the retailer be enough, and if so, what will be considered an acceptable form of identification?

Even though the average gamer is in his/her late-20s according to statistics maintained by the game industry, the issue is further complicated because many customers are likely to be minors. Aside from those teenagers who have drivers licences, many minors don't have photo IDs that also show their age.

Will the retailers opt for a more detailed customer database system that also captures name and address information, similar to those used by many nightclubs? If so, that obviously raises privacy concerns that are inherent to databases of that type. It also raises issues for minors.

While the introduction of legislation seems like a well-intentioned, positive development, it doesn't answer the question of where parental responsibilty lies and whether this is an abdication of the parental role to the state.

All the information that parents need to make decisions about what content is suitable for their children is already available to them. The above-mentioned ESRB ratings system has specific ratings and descriptions that are clearly marked on the box of every game. Parents need to take a moment to read and understand what they are buying and what kind of media their children are consuming.

I haven't come across many kids who have $50-$80 to spend on a game. It is parents who buy these games for their children. Games like the Grand Theft Auto series and Manhunt are clearly for adults, and are clearly marked as such. So why do parents buy these games for their children if they disapprove of the content? Would they do the same for other media like movies or music?

Parents need to use the decision-making tools already available to them to educate themselves -- and especially their children -- about what kinds of media are appropriate.

Ultimately, it is parents who need to enforce their own values in their own homes, instead of relying on the state to do so.


Retail Council of Canada


Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)


Media coverage

Related coverage


Legislative Assembly of Manitoba