The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) has been taking quite a beating
as of late, starting with the Hot
Coffee frenzy and continuing with state
legislation that appears to undermine
the ESRB's ratings system. Can the ESRB fight back with sticks and stones? Of course not, but it can play just as
dirty: polling.
The ESRB conducted a 11-day study in October, asking each of the more than 400 participating parents to watch footage
from 8 randomly selected titles (out of a pool of 80) that the ESRB rated last year. The parents were then asked to
rate the games themselves, after which it was revealed to them the actual ESRB rating. Parents finally were asked if
they agreed with the ESRB's rating, found it too strict, or too lenient.
The conclusion? That parents agree with the ESRB 82% of the time, find them too strict 5% of the time, and presumably
the other 13% believe the ESRB is too lenient. While on par with last year's figures (when 83% agreed with the ESRB),
this release comes at a time when the ESRB needs to demonstrates its relevance. Can you think of a time when you did
not agree with an ESRB rating?
