How does the ESRB rate the games? Slate, an MSN site, has a
write-up on how the entire game-ratings process works. In a nutshell, the developer fills out a survey listing
all the not-so-clean content, sends that in with a video of the game's plot and the questionable scenes, along with
other supplemental material (the game's script, song lyrics, etc.). Three or more people with no affiliation with
the game industry watch this video and fill out a survey. The board plays through parts of the game (not all,
just parts) and takes all this information to designate a rating for the game.
The article does a great job of explaining why game developers are so concerned with receiving an M rating instead of
Adults Only: Wal-Mart won't stock an AO-rated game. So, if you were wondering why Rockstar should worry itself
about a change in San Andrea's rating, there it is: GTA would join the ranks of only 18 games to receive an AO rating
and would lose its place in the Wal-Mart electronics department, which, if you live where I grew up, is located
conveniently next to the hunting rifle department. It might be a good idea to separate those two sections after
all.
[Thanks, b]
Reader Comments (22)
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
I think the main problem with the ESRB rating system is that parents don't take the ratings seriously enough. Most people know what an R rating is and know that you shouldn't let a little kid watch an R rated movie. On the other hand parents routinly buy little Johnny a mature rated game then get all up in arms when they find out little Johnny's been killing hookers.
Reply
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
exactly. parents should take these things seriously, and if they have a problem with their kids blowing people's heads off, running over hookers, and stealing cars in a game then they should say "no".
it's the parents' responsibility.
Reply
it's the parents' responsibility.
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
The ESRB will probably need to start doing a television, radio, print and in-movie theater ad campaign in order to educate the public about how the video-game rating system works.
Have they ever done this? I cannot recall EVER seeing informational ads that explain the ESRB ratings. In the early days of the MPAA ratings, MPAA had to advertise how their ratings system works -- that's how they got the U.S. government off its back.
The video-game industry is going to have to do this, and start contributing to the ESRB's funds so there will be money for this. They can't expect to keep running the ESRB on the cheap (which they do). The major video game companies (EA, I'm looking at you) are going to have to quit being so greedy and do this, or their entire business will be threatened by equally greedy politicians.
Reply
Have they ever done this? I cannot recall EVER seeing informational ads that explain the ESRB ratings. In the early days of the MPAA ratings, MPAA had to advertise how their ratings system works -- that's how they got the U.S. government off its back.
The video-game industry is going to have to do this, and start contributing to the ESRB's funds so there will be money for this. They can't expect to keep running the ESRB on the cheap (which they do). The major video game companies (EA, I'm looking at you) are going to have to quit being so greedy and do this, or their entire business will be threatened by equally greedy politicians.
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
I think they ask Jack Thomspon which publisher he plans on sueing next, then stick all of their games in the M department.
Reply
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
I remember seeing ads I think. Some baseball player guy hitting balls and they say the rating stuff. I think I cant rem for sure.
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Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
I know how they do it ...they ask the bible///4
But for real who cares if gta has sex mini games....you got to be very perverted to go the extra mile of 3 hours of gaming to see it.
Sex and the City rapes all ratings and Desprate Housewives ...things you see you can unsee...but things you hear like ideologies and sick conversations can never be unheard...
kuddos ..love your blog..why did gamespot down your link and call you guys dyslexia?
http://www.epicempire.com/
http://www.epicempire.com/
http://www.epicempire.com/
Reply
But for real who cares if gta has sex mini games....you got to be very perverted to go the extra mile of 3 hours of gaming to see it.
Sex and the City rapes all ratings and Desprate Housewives ...things you see you can unsee...but things you hear like ideologies and sick conversations can never be unheard...
kuddos ..love your blog..why did gamespot down your link and call you guys dyslexia?
http://www.epicempire.com/
http://www.epicempire.com/
http://www.epicempire.com/
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
Well I live in the state of Washington. Unlike you all anyone under 18 cannot purchase an M-rated game. So be it M-rated or Adult rated, I wouldn't be able to buy it and would have to get a parent to purchase it for me.
Reply
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
I didn't know how games were rated before so I appreciate this post. Thank you.
Reply
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
The thing about ratings are they mean nothing to todays society. Im not old by any means but I remember the bollocking I got when I was found watching Evil Dead as a kid. Now times have changed and we see more graphic, depraved and mindless acts of violence on the news than we have in games or film. Most of what kids see today is perpetrated by American forces (torture, murder but to name a few) If you think its games that are affecting kids behaviour guess again.
When its a choice between letting my kid play a game like GTA and keeping him away from the very real lure of crime that exists, I know what i'll choose. Playing doom as a kid certainly didnt turn me into a shotgun wielding nutcase nor anyone else in the UK. You yanks have two problems: Lawyers, who like controversy and Stupidity, which means too many of your vast population beleive in it.
Isnt it time you as a country took some responsibility for yourselves. Its always someone else to blame with you people. Each and every one of us is responsible for our own actions.
Reply
When its a choice between letting my kid play a game like GTA and keeping him away from the very real lure of crime that exists, I know what i'll choose. Playing doom as a kid certainly didnt turn me into a shotgun wielding nutcase nor anyone else in the UK. You yanks have two problems: Lawyers, who like controversy and Stupidity, which means too many of your vast population beleive in it.
Isnt it time you as a country took some responsibility for yourselves. Its always someone else to blame with you people. Each and every one of us is responsible for our own actions.
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
There is an interview on IGN about the whole Hot Coffee controversy that surprisingly, I actually agree with. If you actually put down your controllers for a minute you'll see what he's saying makes a whole lot of sense and should become law.
http://ps2.ign.com/articles/634/634229p2.html
Reply
http://ps2.ign.com/articles/634/634229p2.html
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
Whoops, linked to page 2 of the interview. It's with Senator Yee by the way.
Heres page 1
http://ps2.ign.com/articles/634/634229p1.html
Reply
Heres page 1
http://ps2.ign.com/articles/634/634229p1.html
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
I've read what Assemblyman Yee said, I don't mind laws enacted that will fine retailers. The UK and Australia has similar laws. But he is wrong and biased on several accounts-this worries me greatly.
1. He villifies the ESA as not wanting legislation, but wanting to sell games to minors.
2. He wrongfully assumes that the movie rating system works. And believes video games are a larger threat. 80% of minors with mature games get them from their parents.
3. He says he doesn't want to target violent games, just interactive violent games. Huh?
He doesn't seem knowledgeable at all.
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1. He villifies the ESA as not wanting legislation, but wanting to sell games to minors.
2. He wrongfully assumes that the movie rating system works. And believes video games are a larger threat. 80% of minors with mature games get them from their parents.
3. He says he doesn't want to target violent games, just interactive violent games. Huh?
He doesn't seem knowledgeable at all.
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
These politicians are entitled to their opinions, but not their own facts. Click on this link for the facts.
http://www.theesa.com/facts/games_youth_violence.php
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http://www.theesa.com/facts/games_youth_violence.php
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
Yee contradicts himself, revealing his biased views and true purpose: political capital gain. READ:
"The gaming industry has argued that the voluntary rating system should be sufficient to deter any [under-age] individual from going in and purchasing a game. The problem with that is that it is a voluntary system, and that voluntary system doesn't work."
But he then says the following:
"There is an inherent conflict of interest. [Companies] don't want their game rated "AO," they want it rated "M" or lower so that more people can buy the game."
So does it work or it doesn't? If it doesn't work, why would companies go out their way to prevent their games from being rated M or AO? Obviosuly, it's because the rating system DOES work!
And while we're at it, here we are with crazy politicians bashing a voluntary rating system because some polygon dude has sex with his GIRLFRIEND and it's supposedly wrong, but having regulations to keep our air clean and prevent your whole family from dying from cancer is fine as long as it remains voluntary!
Reply
"The gaming industry has argued that the voluntary rating system should be sufficient to deter any [under-age] individual from going in and purchasing a game. The problem with that is that it is a voluntary system, and that voluntary system doesn't work."
But he then says the following:
"There is an inherent conflict of interest. [Companies] don't want their game rated "AO," they want it rated "M" or lower so that more people can buy the game."
So does it work or it doesn't? If it doesn't work, why would companies go out their way to prevent their games from being rated M or AO? Obviosuly, it's because the rating system DOES work!
And while we're at it, here we are with crazy politicians bashing a voluntary rating system because some polygon dude has sex with his GIRLFRIEND and it's supposedly wrong, but having regulations to keep our air clean and prevent your whole family from dying from cancer is fine as long as it remains voluntary!
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
only 18 and up can buy mature here in Ontario (stupid since M means 17+, its AO that's 18+) That being said, parents are the ones buying the gamesalmost all of the time, so that doesnt stop poor "johnny" from getting GTA.
Reply
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
The ratings CANT be taken seriously. A character smoking a cigarette gets the game an M rating. Who is going to pay the slightest bit of attention to a ratings system that is so asinine?
And remember, the entire myth that playing a game or watching a movie or reading a book depecting ANY behavior will alter your kids behavior is just that, A MYTH. It has never been, and will never be, proven. Playing a game, watching a movie, reading a book will not change how a person acts in real life besides making them desire to push some buttons while sitting in front of a TV.
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And remember, the entire myth that playing a game or watching a movie or reading a book depecting ANY behavior will alter your kids behavior is just that, A MYTH. It has never been, and will never be, proven. Playing a game, watching a movie, reading a book will not change how a person acts in real life besides making them desire to push some buttons while sitting in front of a TV.
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
Maybe the ratings system really is the problem. Would it be to hard to adopt the rating system for movies? Perhaps parents will follow that instead. I mean use the G, PG, PG13, R, etc. couldnt they just do that? I just dont think that parents are paying attention to the ratings system they currently have in place. After all it is all one form of media.
Reply
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
I'm not sure about the myth bit, there was one time where, I'm not exactly sure, but i think someone got hung, on a hook in a bathroom. I seem to remember it to be a reinactment of a game gone wrong, but maybe I am remembering incorrectly.
Reply
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
Seeing that it mentioned that one of the 18 AO games was "Water Closet: The Forbidden Chamber", I wonder how many of the total are also Japanese hentai imports. Is there a list somewhere?
Reply
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
It's worth noting that in Australia, we do use the same rating system for movies as we do for games, and people understand it.
Of course, I can't be too uppity about it, because any game considered R (or 18+) is simply not rated, and thus banned from the country at ALL.
Dodgy.
Reply
Of course, I can't be too uppity about it, because any game considered R (or 18+) is simply not rated, and thus banned from the country at ALL.
Dodgy.
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