FTC commends ESRB and gaming industry for self-regulation practices
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Dec 4th 2009 at 10:30PM }
The report praises the ESRB's ratings system, stating that 80 percent of M-rated games sales to minors are prevented by retailers. In addition, the report found that no ads for mature games were being run before 10 p.m., adding that the Commission found little evidence of M-rated game advertisements being targeted towards minors. The only exception? That episode of Hannah Montana where Hannah traveled back in time to 15th century Italy to become a professional assassin. Admittedly, that was kind of ethically dubious.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave @ Dec 4th 2009 10:33PM
i'm flattered
Szayel Aporro Grantz @ Dec 4th 2009 10:34PM
I'm rated E for Everyone ;)
Alan Smithee @ Dec 4th 2009 10:37PM
Well, good. It's nice to see some good press about a ratings system for once.
Sidebuster @ Dec 4th 2009 10:37PM
Score one for Gamers! **Does a jig** (but not really)
Special Agent Steve @ Dec 4th 2009 10:44PM
I always knew there was more to Hannah Montana than just the singing. SHE'S AN ASSASSIN!
MystileArmor @ Dec 4th 2009 10:55PM
A Ninja gerbil.
CheeziePotato @ Dec 4th 2009 11:11PM
She's an assassin to my ears. Fucking Disney pop shit.
Dreaded Fear @ Dec 4th 2009 10:49PM
"80 percent of M-rated games sales to minors are prevented by retailers"
I call bullshit on that statistic. All I hear is kids online on Xbox live whether it is Halo, MW2, etc... Most of the people who aren't complete twats seem to have done the smart thing: unplug their mics, and have everyone muted.
This is what I like about PC gaming and servers. Annoying little kid? Banned - simple as that.
/rant
Cheesus Crust @ Dec 4th 2009 10:58PM
I have MW2, and NO DAMN BAN for those annoying assfuckers, since there aren't any dedi. I dont to debate this issue once more.
Cheesus Crust @ Dec 4th 2009 10:58PM
want*
yamugushi @ Dec 4th 2009 11:09PM
...You do realize parents can buy the game for said minors right?
Malachi @ Dec 4th 2009 11:19PM
The statistic makes sense. The games are sold to the parents/guardians who then give it to their children.
Of course parents/guardians = parent/grandparent/uncle/aunt/nephew/cousin/brother/friend etc. The only way to really make it work is to have the actual parent/guardian there. Depending on the day there are times I refuse to sell a game to a minor just because his friend is over 17.
yamugushi @ Dec 4th 2009 11:08PM
LOL I could have sworn I saw GTAIV ads 24/7 right before it came out... maybe it was just because I watched a lot of G4 back then...
johnson412 @ Dec 4th 2009 11:23PM
They could just be talking about network television, but I have no evidence to back that up.
About the 80% minor statistic... I would tend to believe it. Kids that are online playing Halo at midnight yelling obscenities into their microphones are generally the kind of kids whose parents would buy them an M rated game without batting an eye. Most of those kids probably got these games as gifts from the parents. You can't fault a game creator or retailer for that.
OmegaWarrior @ Dec 5th 2009 10:34PM
You can always trust the nerds to self regulate :)
carmaction @ Dec 5th 2009 2:21AM
Suck it, Trebek. Suck it long and hard.
About time someone credible raises a gilded shield in defense of gaming.
jonac13 @ Dec 5th 2009 2:23PM
@johnson412: Totally right about that. Regardless of how successful a ratings system might be, uninformed parents are usually the bigger problem in the scheme of things. I think what John Davison did with What The Play? was a good step in the right direction and it'll definitely be interesting to see how the video game industry goes in terms of education as the medium gains more and more traction as a legitimate form of entertainment.