How the ESRB handles downloadable content

by Justin McElroy { Apr 17th 2008 at 4:00PM }

We've always been curious how the ESRB handles the rating of downloadable content, especially after the Ratatouille "Hobo Murder and Cleavage" DLC pack caused such a stir earlier this year. While speaking at the MI6 Conference last week ESRB president Patricia Vance explained, saying, "they have to keep the content in the downloadable product consistent with the core rating. It can't go out of bounds." Presumably, if content was bad enough the game would have to be entirely re-rated.

Here's what we find interesting: If a publisher wanted to release AO content, but were afraid that stores wouldn't carry it, could they wait until sales were on a downturn and then release the naughty DLC? Because if it has nudity or a way of murdering people we've never tried we are totally there.

Tags: dlc, esrb

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

vidGuy @ Apr 17th 2008 4:13PM

I'm surprised that the drunk-driving, prostitute-banging, cop-killing extravaganza that is GTAIV hasn't faced stiffer opposition to the M rating. With 10 hours of DLC already lined up for the 360, there's plenty of material that the ESRB won't directly rate. The potential for a Hot Coffee remake in DLC is huge.

copa @ Apr 17th 2008 4:47PM

I think you misread the article. The ESRB does indeed evaluate the DLC. There is no potential for a Hot Coffee remake in DLC.

vidGuy @ Apr 17th 2008 5:03PM

I did not misread the article. From what I can tell, the ESRB does not directly rate each piece of DLC. The game developer is required to keep their DLC in-line with the original content of the game, and the DLC is then said to have the same rating. So in your example below, a DLC Rock Band song with mild lyrics will be rated T not because the ESRB rated it but because the rest of the game that was rated T had similar traits.

With GTAIV already pushing the limits of the M rating, additional DLC content could break the barrier. In this sense, I think there is a potential for Hot Coffee type content; I never suggested that such content wouldn't rerate the game Adults Only. I think it's possible that the developers would save something from the game and its ESRB rating for DLC. Upon the release, the ESRB will have the incentive to rate the DLC and apply sanctions to the full game's warning as needed.

If the ESRB does indeed rate each piece of DLC, I cannot find evidence of it anywhere on this series of tubes.

mike @ Apr 17th 2008 5:10PM

Again you read wrong. The ESRB DOES rate each peice of dlc. If they find its changed, they will change the rating on the actual game.

vidGuy @ Apr 17th 2008 5:14PM

Link please? Neither the linked article nor the one at 1UP definitively states that the ESRB rates each piece of DLC. The way the articles read, the developer is 'required'/expected to keep DLC within the bounds of the game's original rating.

vidGuy @ Apr 17th 2008 7:48PM

So does anybody agree with me? I know that full arcade/classic games get rated no matter what system they are for, but as far as I can tell the ESRB does not rate additional content for games distributed via DLC. It's up to the content provider to keep in line with the tone of the original game and rating; if they don't, the whole package can be rerated.

That's what the articles say and I cannot find any evidence that each UNO deck or Rock Band song is reviewed by the ESRB as copa and mike are saying.

RabbidMickeyMouse @ Apr 17th 2008 4:15PM

At the possibility that the game may be re-rated, I doubt that any publisher would risk the money, given that a re-rating would cause the game's packaging to change, and bring in costs that may not be covered by the specific DLC in question.

Demexii @ Apr 17th 2008 7:20PM

Or they just pull the DLC... I would think that would be easier. The game doesn't need to change just that extra content.

caustic @ Apr 17th 2008 4:45PM

"ratings" are just another tool that the "the man" and Satan use to ruin your life.

recently while playing a game that was supposed to M rated, I saw the side of a boob.

i've had to quit my job and my marriage to try and overcome the shock.

thanks for nothing ESRB

Curtis the Claw:XBL - supapaypamawio @ Apr 17th 2008 4:27PM

You made an account just to say that?

Jerk Face @ Apr 17th 2008 4:30PM

*shrug*

I thought it was a pretty hilarious comment.

el serpiente @ Apr 17th 2008 4:39PM

Yeah, caustic made a good funny. Why the hate?

Ethan @ Apr 17th 2008 7:07PM

You don't need to make an account to post here. If you did there'd be more fanboys and less normal people. Or funny.

copa @ Apr 17th 2008 4:36PM

This is stupid.

People keep throwing out inane examples like, "What if GTA releases a Cleveland Steamer Fun pack?" That's not going to happen (XBox Live and PSN would not distribute it), and that's not the core issue here.

The problem is that Rock Band is unable to release uncensored songs, because the ESRB insists that every piece of DLC has to conform to the game's Teen rating.

So, out of the hundreds of songs that Rock Band makes available, if they want to distribute a couple with an M rating (like the clearly marked albums in your local record shop), they can't do it.

Never mind that systems like XBox Live have the ability to restrict content downloads on the basis of ESRB rating.

Patricia Vance wants to change ESRB's role from providing information about a game's content, to controlling what content a publisher can or can't distribute. This is completely out of line.

Nick @ Apr 17th 2008 4:54PM

What the hell is this Ratatouille thing? "Hobo Murder and Cleavage?" I wrote this off as another stupid licensed kid's game, what the hell did I miss?!

BrokenMonkey @ Apr 17th 2008 5:01PM

I think it was their attempt at an unfunny joke.

Neowyrm @ Apr 17th 2008 5:49PM

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. I can't find anything about it on the internets...

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Apr 17th 2008 5:00PM

What about user-created mods?

vidGuy @ Apr 17th 2008 7:52PM

"ESRB ratings only address content created by the publisher, and cannot consider content that is created or introduced by individual players when playing the game online. ESRB-rated games that can be played online with other players and which enable exposure to user-generated content are required to display an Online Rating Notice on the game's packaging (if it exists), as well as in the opening screen."

esrb.com

343 Guilty Fart @ Apr 17th 2008 6:40PM

OMG RATATOUILLE: HOBO MURDER AND CLEAVAGE CONFIRMED!!!

Hamza @ Apr 17th 2008 7:53PM

Uh, am I the only one who googled it just to make sure he wasn't joking?

Donald @ Apr 17th 2008 9:40PM

This thread is worthless without pics.

Ethan @ Apr 17th 2008 7:10PM

They have to keep within the general tone? Guess there's no bunny hugging mission coming to GTA then.

Demexii @ Apr 17th 2008 7:20PM

Since it is up to the content providers to ensure that the content is the same as the rating (or get rebranded like Elder Scroll was) I can see Rockstar pushing the limits until the ESRB says something and then pulling that content and doing it OVER AND OVER AND OVER. And I want to know what about user created content? Can I draw boobs on something and give that away?

wes @ Apr 17th 2008 9:14PM

This is rediculous,This is another example of the double standard between games and movies.Why is it the bonus features in movies dont have to keep with the same rating as the film...but say Rock band songs do.Stupid...DLC should be unrated or atleast no have any restictions.

Grrr