International Nanny Association Demands Drastic Changes to Dante's Inferno Video Game or No Release

Oct. 29, 2009 - PRLog -- Last week the International Nanny Association (INA) drew heat from the gaming and tech world for their public statement denouncing a level of Electronic Art's (EA) upcoming game, Dante's Inferno-- the level unveiled during the company’s Naughty or Nice press event on October 14, 2009.

INA took issue with the "lust level" of the game, which has a February release date, in which “un-baptized babies” are slaughtered by the game player to earn the achievement of "bad nanny."

Lynne Kenney, PsyD, known as "The Family Coach" and author of The Family Coach Method insists "INA has not over-reacted.” She says, “We live in a culture that has become desensitized to killing. To encourage even adults to play games that celebrate and reward killing babies is disgusting and sick. Social isolation, gaming that emphasizes ‘kills’ and companies that spend man hours on this sort of game development contribute to the dehumanization of children, which is appalling."

According to The Entertainment Software Association, in 2009, 68% of individuals in US households now play computer or video games. They also state that the average player is 35 years of age.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, the median age of an individual who is charged with child maltreatment is between 30 and 33 years of age.

INA is shocked by the amount of excitement and anticipation being expressed on hundreds of video gaming message boards and blogs over the unveiling of the lust level in Dante's Inferno. INA feels strongly that marketing a video game that promotes “baby-killing” (a term EA has coined) to an audience that statistically has the highest percentage of individuals charged with child maltreatment is extremely irresponsible.

INA stands by its original statement and demands that Electronic Arts either not release the game or drastically change the verbiage and nature of the lust level in the game.

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The International Nanny Association (INA), a nonprofit organization, serves as the umbrella organization for the in-home child care industry. INA members include nannies, nanny employers, nanny agencies, educators and industry service providers. Since 1985, INA has worked to professionalize the industry by setting high standards for industry professionals and nanny agencies. INA leverages the expertise of industry professionals from around the globe to help increase awareness about the industry, to develop the professional skills of nannies, and to educate parents about the benefits of hiring a qualified nanny to care for their children.

http://Nanny.org
International Nanny Association
P.O BOX 1299
Hyannis, MA 02601
(Toll Free) 888.878.1477
713.526.2670
Fax: 508.638.6462