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The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that applies and enforces ratings, advertising guidelines, and online privacy principles for computer and video games in the United States. It was established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association. By early 2003, it had rated more than 8,000 titles submitted by 350 publishers. The ESRB may promote media restriction.
Overview
The ESRB applies ratings to games based on their content, similar to the motion picture rating systems used in many countries. Their aim is to aid consumers in determining a game's content and suitability. A game's rating is displayed on its box, in advertisements and on game web sites.
The rating has two parts: rating symbols and content descriptors. The rating symbols are found in the lower right and the lower left hand corner on the front of the box. They suggest what age group the game is best suited for. The content descriptors are found on the lower left or right hand corner on the back of the box. They describe particular content elements that may be of interest or concern.
Symbols and meanings The symbols the ESRB uses are stylized depictions of alphabetical letters meant to convey at a glance a game's suitability: - eC (Early Childhood): Content may be suitable for children ages 3 to 10. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.
- E (Everyone, formerly Kids to Adults (K-A) but changed over in 1997): Content may be suitable for persons ages 6 and older. May contain minimal violence and some comic mischief or crude language. (Equivalent to "G" and "PG" in movies)
- T (Teen): Content may be suitable for persons ages 13 and older. May contain violent content, mild or strong language, and/or suggestive themes. (Equivalent to "PG-13" in movies)
- M (Mature): Content may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. May contain mature sexual themes or more intense violence or language. (Equivalent to "R" in movies)
- AO (Adults Only): Content suitable only for adults, not intended for persons under the age of 18. May include graphic depictions of sex and/or violence. As of May 2003, no games have been marketed for a Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo console with this rating, but as of 2005, there are 18 AO-rated games for Windows and Apple Macintosh computers, as well as the Phillips CD-i. (Equivalent to "NC-17" in movies)
- RP (Rating Pending): Product has been submitted to the ESRB and is awaiting final rating. This symbol usually only appears on ads and websites for games which have not yet been released. (Equivalent to "NR" in movies)
The equivalencies don't translate perfectly with the movie ratings, but they give a rough idea of the content.
Content descriptors The content descriptors appear on the back of the game box as well as in print ads and game web sites. The ESRB has over twenty content descriptors, such as Alcohol Reference, Blood and Gore and Nudity. All of their descriptors are listed on their web site.
The process To obtain a rating, a publisher sends the ESRB actual footage of their game's most graphic and extreme content. They also fill out a detailed questionnaire describing the game's content. Three trained raters, working independently, then watch the footage and recommend a rating. If all raters agree on their rating, content descriptors are added and the ESRB notifies the publisher of its decision.
When the game is ready for release, the publisher sends copies of the final version of the game to the ESRB. The game packaging is reviewed, and ESRB's in-house experts play the game to ensure that all the information provided during the rating process was complete and accurate.
The identities of the ESRB raters are kept confidential. Raters cannot have any ties to the computer or video game industry.
See also
External links - The ESRB web site (http://www.esrb.org/)
- The ESRB Rating Symbols and Content Descriptors (http://www.esrb.org/esrbratings_guide.asp#descriptors)
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