We're happy about the injunction, and not just because it guarantees kids will be able to develop the skills they'll need to survive in an increasingly zombie-slaying and drug-dealing economy. The bigger picture is that the rulling reaffirms the status of videogames as protected by the first amendment, which helps define their status as art, not just product.

The status of videogames has been nebulous for years — they've become increasingly movie-like in presentation, production values, and of course budgets, but have never enjoyed the same legal and commercial status as movies, television, or even comic books. In short, the developers see them as artistic works, while the FTC sees them as toys.

We can expect a lot more flak over how games are corrupting our children; there will always be politicians who need hot-button topics that get a good knee-jerk response of support from their constituency. But at least for now, the controversy is actually working to change the public perception of games and their capacity to be works of art, which can only be a good thing.

Image from the Entertainment Software Rating Board website