Respect the Ratings: GameStop unveils new campaign
by Ross Miller 
{ Dec 8th 2006 at 2:15PM }
The campaign's website is a meager four pages but is designed with the time-strapped parent in mind. Featured on the website are ratings explanation, genre classifications, and even a glossary of popular phrases so that parents can "crack the code" of the gaming language. We're impressed by the selection of terms, including troll, patch, and lamer. However, some more spelling variants would've been amusing: while they do have both "owned" and "pwned," why not include pwnt, pwnz, and 0wnz0rd? And Leetspeak is all well and good, but the deduction-challenged adult might not connect the term with 1337.
The Resources page offers a comprehensive list of links to peruse, including many gaming sites (CVG, GameSpot, GameRankings), safety-oriented sites, and main ESRB page. We'd like to see a news tab that gives a personal feeling to the site and coerces return visits. We're not expecting full-blown coverage (leave that to us), but maybe a weekly post that gives a brief highlight on the news to keep parents up to date on some of the news that the gaming kids love to use.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Marty @ Dec 8th 2006 2:30PM
just don't respect GAMESPOT's reviews....
Marty @ Dec 8th 2006 2:38PM
First paragraph - they're = their.
Proofreading, anyone?
crono141 @ Dec 8th 2006 4:48PM
I'm so glad leetspeak has fallen out of "popularity" at least in online forums.
Chris @ Dec 8th 2006 2:46PM
Marty-
"While they're at it"... as in "while they are at it" contraction... no "their"...
0ldb0y @ Dec 8th 2006 2:46PM
Gaming 101 glossary - the k in "Hack" and the g in "Lag" aren't bolded.
HTML hardcoding, anyone?
Mauricio @ Dec 8th 2006 6:44PM
Chris 1 - Marty 0
or
Joystiq 1 - Marty 0
Martin @ Dec 8th 2006 2:59PM
Why are there two of me??? I have to change my name again... how about Eduardo? Should I use that?
Balla360 @ Dec 8th 2006 3:00PM
I like it that the grammar-challeged have gone from looking ignorant in their own posts to trying to correct grammar that's already correct.
On topic: a news page would be a great idea, especially if it featured major releases for the week/month with in-depth explanation of the content. Such a page could provide parents with the information needed to decide if the games are appropriate for their specific child, as opposed to the generic ESRB rating.
Ross Miller @ Dec 8th 2006 3:26PM
The "their"-"they're" problem Marty #2 (or #1? I can't tell) is referring to was fixed without an update tag, as it wasn't major. He was right, I slipped up, and it was fixed. Now that that's said, let's move on to more fun discussion topics, like the contents of the post itself :p
Rosco
Joystiq.com
Kiesteredbeetle @ Dec 8th 2006 3:34PM
Nice article, I give it an 8.8
32_Footsteps @ Dec 8th 2006 4:18PM
I think the post hits it on the head - while it could use a bit more meat to help explain things more fully, it's a great start.
2ez @ Dec 8th 2006 5:44PM
8.8
Jon S. @ Dec 8th 2006 6:12PM
It seems if they really cared about the rating system they would have reveled it 2 months ago, before games like Gears and Fall of man came out.
Mauricio @ Dec 8th 2006 6:56PM
Acutally this is a good job by Gamestop. Put the responsibility of buying games on the PARENTS. If PARENTS dont want ~their~ kids playing violent games ITS NOTS THE GAME DEVELOPERS OR THE GAME PUBLISHERS FAULT! ITS THE PARENTS FAULT FOR BUYING THE KID THE 'M' RATED GAME IN THE FIRST PLACE!
The Video Game industry did their part by organizing the ESRB. Parents should be educated enough to use it.