NIMF Releases Agenda For Game Ratings Summit

The non-profit National Institute on Media and the Family organization has released the agenda for its previously announced National Video Game Summit, a two-day event organized to address issues surrounding video game ratings and concerns with inappropriate games being made available to children. Scheduled to take place from October 20-21 at The University of Minnesota Continuing Education and Conference Center in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, the summit will feature a gathering of more than twenty scholars, educators and experts on media violence and child behavior issues. The event will also include several presentations and meetings covering a wide variety of high profile topics such as video game violence and game ratings. One of the more noteworthy speakers confirmed for the event is Iowa State University's Craig A. Anderson, Ph.D., who will present a session titled "Violent Video Games: Effects and Public Policy." In addition, Dr. David Walsh, president of the National Institute on Media and the Family, will chair the event's closing presentation titled “Summit Call for Action.” Ultimately, the National Institute on Media and the Family hopes to emerge from the gathering with a proposed "10-year action agenda based on the summit's conclusions". The two day event will also see a number of panel and working group sessions covering such topics as game ratings and research, as well as educational and legislative policy. Organizers note that those participating in the summit will attempt to determine the validity and accuracy of the current rating system, as well as government regulation and policies concerning education. For more information concerning the National Institute on Media, or the upcoming National Video Game Summit, visit the official website.