It was a year when videogames and politics were wrapped up with one another like never before. Next Generation looks at the hot issues that attracted journalists, politicians and heaps of trouble.

Quote: Originally Posted by NextGeneration When GamePolitics.com launched in March, 2005, more than a few folks were scratching their heads. “What do politics have to do with videogames?” was a frequently heard question. Quite a lot, as it turns out. Thanks to an unprecedented run of legislation and a little mix-up which came to be known as Hot Coffee, 2005 became the most politically-charged twelve months the videogame industry has ever endured. The year began with a bang as politicians reacted to Rockstar’s late 2004 release of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The GTA series has been a favorite of gamers as well as favorite target of game critics for years, and San Andreas seemed destined for a similar ride. Little did we know how bumpy that ride would be. Despite past constitutional failures, legislation restricting sales of violent games to minors received serious consideration in a number of states as well as the District of Columbia. In April, Senator Hillary Clinton and several colleagues called for a $90 million government-funded study of the effects of media on children. It would not be the last time the videogame industry faced the scrutiny of the former First Lady and likely 2008 presidential contender. Full story at NextGen.biz