That woman buying her 12-year-old a copy of Modern Warfare 2 at Gamestop right now may not know about it, but Activision says a recent survey concluded that 82% of gamer parents are well aware of the ESRB rating guidelines and what they mean. The survey also found that 75% of children who play games understand the rating system, and that 70% of parents actually pay close attention to the ratings when buying a game either for themselves or for their families. Note that it doesn't say they follow the ratings, only that they are aware of the system and pay attention to how games are rated.
Gaming families spend a lot of time playing games, too: 76% of parents agree that video games are a big part of their family activities, and among gamer parents, a majority (52%) of their gaming time is spent playing with their children. Finally, a full 59% of kids polled say that "it's a little creepy" when Jane Lynch shows up to play games with you for a Microsoft commercial. Okay, you got us, we lied about that last stat. When anyone from Glee shows up, it's 100% fun.
Reader Comments (45)
Posted: Jan 15th 2010 12:19PM (Unverified) said
So you mean the ratings system does what it's designed to do?
Eat your heart out, Jack Thompson!
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Eat your heart out, Jack Thompson!
Posted: Jan 15th 2010 12:27PM (Unverified) said
This is me jumping on the Bandwagon of Hatred.
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Posted: Jan 15th 2010 12:34PM HighFiveJesus said
i don't think i've ever seen someone go for a straight 30 or so posts (at least the last few days worth) with a perfect whited streak
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Posted: Jan 15th 2010 12:39PM (Unverified) said
You know, you should consider yourself lucky this isn't the Bungie.net boards. Some trolls were giving a poster flak for this same thing and all got banned.
Wouldn't that be a glorious day. Take out the trash like Parasite (Dreaded Fear), SpyderTako, etc.
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Wouldn't that be a glorious day. Take out the trash like Parasite (Dreaded Fear), SpyderTako, etc.
Posted: Jan 15th 2010 12:45PM (Unverified) said
I refuse to be told what to do by a bunch of 15 year olds who are bitter I called their favorite console out.
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Posted: Jan 15th 2010 12:53PM (Unverified) said
I DON'T post here all day. Good hell. And honest comments are not spam.
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Posted: Jan 15th 2010 12:54PM Funkmaster General said
@Solace
The same questions can be applied to you, if you're here calling someone out on their posting frequency.
You're all pathetic.
Reply
The same questions can be applied to you, if you're here calling someone out on their posting frequency.
You're all pathetic.
Posted: Jan 15th 2010 1:05PM Mr Khan said
Ideally, i'd rather there be peace over this whole issue. Bradwart isn't particularly obnoxious (not by joystiq standards, anyway), so i don't see why people have to be jumping down his throat all the time. Though he doesn't help by being combative about it
And let's not anyone judge each other, eh? As long as its not trolling, what does it matter how much we're posting?
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And let's not anyone judge each other, eh? As long as its not trolling, what does it matter how much we're posting?
Posted: Jan 15th 2010 1:11PM (Unverified) said
lol, Bradwart is sounding a lot like me: Calling others children, pathetic/arrogant, and saying the only reason people hate him is because he made fun of their console. Oh, and by the way, not everyone who disagrees with you is me. I'm right here buddy.
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Posted: Jan 15th 2010 1:27PM RudyHuxtable said
Hey Brad,
As you read this, remember I defended you several times before the holidays. I didn't like the fighting and the immaturity. I don't know you personally, and I'm sure you're a great guy. I also truly hate that I'm contributing to this ongoing stupidity. But:
I get upvoted a lot, probably because I post funny but relevant comments. If I don't have something to add, I just lurk and mind my business. I also don't take it personally when I do get downvoted because I don't know who the fuck any of you are.
I suspect this to be another major factor to my upvoting:
Since my joining on Nov 28th 2006, I've posted roughly 500 comments across the nextwork. Three years.
Since November 9th, 2009 you have posted TEN TIMES that amount. Ten times that amount. Three months.
Once again a page of comments is devoted to you and your detractors. I makes me and, I suspect, others leave the site because we get tired of trying to sift through all of your and your detractors' comments to find the funny and relevant ones that are worth reading.
Please, dude, please. If this shit was old before the holidays, it's super duper old now. If you post a comment and it gets downvoted, live with it for now and stop trying to defend your "honor" to people who, if you really thought about it, don't matter. There's plenty of people who post regularly I'd delight in telling to stfu but I don't bother because they'll do exactly what you do: try to get the last word.
Do me the courtesy or surprising me by not replying with an indignant, self-righteous reply.
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As you read this, remember I defended you several times before the holidays. I didn't like the fighting and the immaturity. I don't know you personally, and I'm sure you're a great guy. I also truly hate that I'm contributing to this ongoing stupidity. But:
I get upvoted a lot, probably because I post funny but relevant comments. If I don't have something to add, I just lurk and mind my business. I also don't take it personally when I do get downvoted because I don't know who the fuck any of you are.
I suspect this to be another major factor to my upvoting:
Since my joining on Nov 28th 2006, I've posted roughly 500 comments across the nextwork. Three years.
Since November 9th, 2009 you have posted TEN TIMES that amount. Ten times that amount. Three months.
Once again a page of comments is devoted to you and your detractors. I makes me and, I suspect, others leave the site because we get tired of trying to sift through all of your and your detractors' comments to find the funny and relevant ones that are worth reading.
Please, dude, please. If this shit was old before the holidays, it's super duper old now. If you post a comment and it gets downvoted, live with it for now and stop trying to defend your "honor" to people who, if you really thought about it, don't matter. There's plenty of people who post regularly I'd delight in telling to stfu but I don't bother because they'll do exactly what you do: try to get the last word.
Do me the courtesy or surprising me by not replying with an indignant, self-righteous reply.
Posted: Jan 15th 2010 1:30PM HTCEVO said
I agree his posts aren't bad per say, it's just they're too plentiful. I don't think the guy above was trying to be mean.. but seriously, do you work or go to school or something? Most of the people here are actually older than you btw and have careers and children.
Anywho, proof is in the pudding. I've been here years longer than you. Here's mine post count, here's yours:
Brad: 4767 Comments
Orion: 514 Comments
And fuck, I used to think I posted a lot......not anymore!
Reply
Anywho, proof is in the pudding. I've been here years longer than you. Here's mine post count, here's yours:
Brad: 4767 Comments
Orion: 514 Comments
And fuck, I used to think I posted a lot......not anymore!
Posted: Jan 15th 2010 1:58PM RudyHuxtable said
*sigh* No, rowd, I'm not criticizing his post count. I'm criticizing the tit-for-tat.
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Posted: Jan 15th 2010 2:14PM (Unverified) said
rowd149, guess who continued to insult people personally and made this comment thread longer than it needed to be? Yep, that is right, Bardworst.
Funny, once he disagrees with you, he starts with the personal attacks.
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Funny, once he disagrees with you, he starts with the personal attacks.
Posted: Jan 15th 2010 2:16PM (Unverified) said
"I DON'T post here all day. Good hell."
Just for fun (and boredom), I decided to see if people's criticism's were at least accurate. I didn't look very far back, in fact it was only for yesterday, as this is how many times you posted yesterday within a 24 hour period:
12:12AM - 1:24AM :: 15 Times
I assume sleep is here.
9:21AM - 9:48AM :: 7 Times
10:34AM - 12:25PM :: 17 Times
1:05PM - 2:50PM :: 14 Times
4:17PM - 5:41PM :: 14 Times
7:44PM - 8:32PM :: 2 Times
9:26PM - 10:34PM :: 8 Times
I'll let you be the judge, but I guess it depends on what your definition of "all day" is.
Reply
Just for fun (and boredom), I decided to see if people's criticism's were at least accurate. I didn't look very far back, in fact it was only for yesterday, as this is how many times you posted yesterday within a 24 hour period:
12:12AM - 1:24AM :: 15 Times
I assume sleep is here.
9:21AM - 9:48AM :: 7 Times
10:34AM - 12:25PM :: 17 Times
1:05PM - 2:50PM :: 14 Times
4:17PM - 5:41PM :: 14 Times
7:44PM - 8:32PM :: 2 Times
9:26PM - 10:34PM :: 8 Times
I'll let you be the judge, but I guess it depends on what your definition of "all day" is.
Posted: Jan 15th 2010 12:23PM PlatinumSkeet said
Out of that 80% only 2% refuse to buy games for their kids based on ratings...
=P
Reply
=P
Posted: Jan 15th 2010 4:00PM Kif said
Rated M? For Mild, right?
http://www.gocomics.com/foxtrot/2006/11/11/
Reply
http://www.gocomics.com/foxtrot/2006/11/11/
Posted: Jan 15th 2010 12:25PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said
wait....just 82%!?!?!
the other 18% are the ones bitching about games being TOO violent and how they dont want their kiddies playing them....yet are some how not paying attention to what they are buying
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the other 18% are the ones bitching about games being TOO violent and how they dont want their kiddies playing them....yet are some how not paying attention to what they are buying
Posted: Jan 15th 2010 12:42PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said
LMAO....I dont think Sony has made a Toaster since the 70's....IF then
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Posted: Jan 15th 2010 12:26PM Courtney said
While I understand the ratings, I can't say I've ever used them as a parent. I know I'm not the typical parent as I hang out on a couple of gaming sites on a regular basis, but I let the kid play what I think is appropriate for her, whether that matches up with their ratings or not.
Off the top of my head, the only thing I know we've never let her play is the GTA series.
Reply
Off the top of my head, the only thing I know we've never let her play is the GTA series.
Posted: Jan 15th 2010 12:30PM TheDarkWayne said
The ratings themselves aren't always accurate or too descriptive. Halo is M for not a lot more than purple blood and ragdoll deaths, but Gears lets you eviscerate people and examine their organs after and the only thing to let you know is "graphic violence"
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Posted: Jan 15th 2010 12:44PM BananaBoat said
Probably Custer's Last Stand. It's historically accurate.
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Posted: Jan 15th 2010 12:49PM Courtney said
Ha, probably Halo competitive MP on Live, but that's just because of the other people. She can't wear the headset now unless she's just in a private chat with her friends.
Otherwise she's played a lot of "mature" games with me, like Borderlands, Gears 1&2, L4D, RE5. But even though those are mature, I don't really find the content objectionable in any way, particularly not when it's a family activity for us to play together. When she was younger, she loved watching me play stuff like the Resident Evils and later Prince of Persias.
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Otherwise she's played a lot of "mature" games with me, like Borderlands, Gears 1&2, L4D, RE5. But even though those are mature, I don't really find the content objectionable in any way, particularly not when it's a family activity for us to play together. When she was younger, she loved watching me play stuff like the Resident Evils and later Prince of Persias.
Posted: Jan 15th 2010 12:29PM wcarnation said
"Note that it doesn't say they follow the ratings, only that they are aware of the system and pay attention to how games are rated."
I think this is the important part. There is no obligation to follow the ESRB, not following the "ratings guide" doesn't suddenly summon Satan into your living room and endanger human life.
Some parents out there are actually parents and understand what their kids are capable of understanding and dealing with and guiding their choices based off actually paying attention and caring.
ESRB is not a "back seat parent" any more than you'd want it to be, and I'd hope we'd have more to raising children than a cardboard black and white letter calling the shots.
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I think this is the important part. There is no obligation to follow the ESRB, not following the "ratings guide" doesn't suddenly summon Satan into your living room and endanger human life.
Some parents out there are actually parents and understand what their kids are capable of understanding and dealing with and guiding their choices based off actually paying attention and caring.
ESRB is not a "back seat parent" any more than you'd want it to be, and I'd hope we'd have more to raising children than a cardboard black and white letter calling the shots.
Posted: Jan 15th 2010 12:39PM WiNGSPANTT from TopTierTacticsco said
I'm aware of the ratings and am close to the point where kids could be in the picture in a couple years. I wouldn't say I'd follow the ratings, but seeing an M on a game would certainly make me think about what's in it before blindly letting WiNG Jr. pop it into the Xbox 1080, PS4, Nintendo Us, or Alienware Gaming Tablet
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Posted: Jan 15th 2010 12:40PM EatMoreBread said
Yeah, right.
How many parents falsely claimed they knew the ESRB ratings just to avoid looking like a bad parent?
I have a hard time believing that the overwhelming majority of parents know what the ESRB ratings mean. Maybe I'm just a cynical.
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How many parents falsely claimed they knew the ESRB ratings just to avoid looking like a bad parent?
I have a hard time believing that the overwhelming majority of parents know what the ESRB ratings mean. Maybe I'm just a cynical.
Posted: Jan 15th 2010 1:01PM aristokrat said
In general, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to differentiate between Everyone, Teen, and Mature. It's nothing more than an extremely easy to follow guideline.
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Posted: Jan 15th 2010 2:51PM Katana Master said
Well in UK we have it by age: 3, 7, 12, 15/16 (pegi controls the 16) and 18. My parents clearly know what each rating means.
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Posted: Jan 15th 2010 12:49PM ZenGaijin said
Knowing about the rating and enforcing them are two completely different things. I cannot tell you how many times a day I sell M rated games to kids and warn the parents who are right there and they just go "Yeah I know but he really wants it".
In all honesty its none of my damn business they are the parents and its their kid I just have to make them aware.
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In all honesty its none of my damn business they are the parents and its their kid I just have to make them aware.
Posted: Jan 15th 2010 2:52PM The Tim said
Good guess. He's 6 now. We were playing Halo 1 Slayer, and I was taking it easy on him, letting him get a couple of kills ahead of me. Then I decided to catch back up, and it was harder than I thought it would be. His trigger finger is just plain faster than mine. I'm proud and depressed all at the same time, lol.
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Posted: Jan 15th 2010 5:44PM (Unverified) said
10% of those parents actually know what they mean
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Posted: Jan 15th 2010 6:05PM (Unverified) said
I feel the ESRB needs to evaluate the system again. That, or work on how they rate various titles. Some titles are clearly not "mature" enough for an M rating they may receive. It seems that there is a sort of double-standard in gaming. You can have sexual content, and even nudity in a PG-13 film, yet they immediately receive an M rating in a game, regardless how tastefully it may be presented.
While, comparing films and games may not be the most fair option, the ESRB clearly shows it's flaws when several games receive ratings that they shouldn't. Awareness of these ratings to parents is far from what it should be despite the 82% awareness claims made above. What percentage of these parents truly know, or actually care about the ratings is my question.
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While, comparing films and games may not be the most fair option, the ESRB clearly shows it's flaws when several games receive ratings that they shouldn't. Awareness of these ratings to parents is far from what it should be despite the 82% awareness claims made above. What percentage of these parents truly know, or actually care about the ratings is my question.
Posted: Jan 15th 2010 8:13PM (Unverified) said
I'm glad you decided to write about such an interesting topic. I think people may find the site videogames.procon.org interesting. There you will find numerous arguments on both sides of the issue "Do violent video games contribute to youth violence?" as well as pdf's of many academic articles.
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