A law that threatens to classify adult video games as X-rated entertainment in the US has been slammed by bosses of major games publishers.

The US Supreme Court agreed in April to review a motion prohibiting the sale or rental of violent video games to minors.

The law would allow individual states to impose sales restrictions on violent games - effectively putting them into the same category as pornography, and preventing their sale to adult citizens.

The Supreme Court is reviewing a federal court's decision to throw out California's ban - which was originally signed by none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"It's very, very surprising that the Supreme Court is hearing the case," Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Rockstar parent Take Two told CNBC.

"I'm worried about it, and I think everybody in our business should be really worried about it."

Graham Hopper, EVP and general manager of Disney Interactive added: "It's not about having a dramatic impact on our bottom line. It's going to make our retailing abilities a nightmare."

Other games industry figures spoke of their fear that other states would push through their own version of the bill - meaning developers would have to create multiple version of games to suit each territory's individual criteria.

"One of America's great exports is entertainment," commented John Riccitiello, CEO of EA. "The implication of Schwarzenegger v. ESA (the case before the Court) is we could end up with state level bureaucracies that define what's marketable in 50 different jurisdictions across the U.S.

"I can imagine [the government] trying to tell Steven Spielberg 'We need 50 different cuts of your movie for each state.' It will screw us up in a real way."

Sony's Jack Tretton was more positive about the Supreme Court's decision to hear the case.

"We believe as an industry that the primary reason the Supreme Court is hearing it is despite the fact that this law has been struck down, [the issue] has come up 12 times [previously]," said Sony Computer Entertainment of America CEO Jack Tretton.

"I think the Supreme Court is looking at it to potentially see if there's something to it or to put an end to it once and for all."

The court will hear arguments in this case in the autumn.

While we they are at it, why don't they make most classical and renaissance sculpture and painting X-rated....
Have you any idea of the number of tits that appear on the ceiling of the sistine chapel? (yes, I know that is in italy, and not likely to be moved. It was more making a point about the genre)

While we they are at it, why don't they make most classical and renaissance sculpture and painting X-rated....
Have you any idea of the number of tits that appear on the ceiling of the sistine chapel? (yes, I know that is in italy, and not likely to be moved. It was more making a point about the genre)

They've made a rod for their own back on this subject IMO.

Many games publishers have repeatedly resisted the age-restriction of sales along the same lines as films. As long as the federal regulations stayed lax and allowed 12-year-olds to buy games like GTA, some state or other was always going attempt something like this.

Frankly I have no sympathy as their lack of foresight has allowed the conservative crazies to back them into a corner.

You have hit the nail on the head. Conservative Crazies!!!

Well, I mean, come on.

The USA is a country where you can buy an assault rifle at a supermarket but apparently violence is caused by films and video games.

Yes but it is conservative crazies who insist that they can buy guns anywhere.

Also music is the cause of violence, just ask many of the rock acts run ins with the conservatives over the years.

I've played 18 rated games since I was 12 and I've only stabbed 4 people.