Yee: 'We Will Prevail' In CA Game Bill

Speaking in an interview with website GamePolitics.com, California Assembly Speaker pro tem Leland Yee has commented on his controversial appearance at the Game Developers Conference in San Jose last week, as documented on Gamasutra, in which Yee debated prominent linguist and education-and-games proponent Dr. James Paul Gee (University of Wisconsin at Madison) and Jason Della Rocca of the IGDA. Yee has previously opposed the ESA-led injunction against his California violent game bill, suggesting: "The $31 billion video game industry is not concerned with the health and welfare of our children; they are simply concerned with their own financial interests." However, he commented to GamePolitics of his GDC appearance: "I don't see this as enemy territory. My ultra-violent video game bill was never against the gaming community or the gaming industry whatsoever. I see [the game industry] as partners in trying to make things better for our children. I felt I was treated fairly." The California speaker also had commentary on what his future plans in the game legislation area might be, noting: "This [current California law] is all that I'm going to be doing with the gaming. I think the other concern that many people have was that this was a slippery slope. 'Are you going to go after other things,' and so on." He concluded: "The honest truth right now - I don't see myself doing anything now or in the future on this gaming thing. It was only this one that dealt with the ultra-violent video games", but commented of the fight over the California game bill, still making its way through the courts: "We believe that we will prevail."