ESRB’s Rating System for Video Games
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Research Essay
ESRB’s Rating System for Video Games
Since 1994, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has been issuing ratings to all video games produced. They have done this in order to inform gamers and parents about the content that is included in the game. They have created a system of rating that contains a letter grade for the certain section that the game falls under. Along with the letter grades, the ESRB has also designed a system that specifically points out what led to that letter grade. Lastly, there is an ongoing debate whether or not the ESRB is accurately grading the games and not just stereotyping each one based on the games content.
When the ESRB was created, they set out to provide an accurate grading system for game developers. Their first step was creating their letter (or rating) symbols. At first there were only five ratings: early childhood (EC), kids to adults (KA), teen (T), mature (M), and adults only (AO). In addition to these five, the ESRB created a rating pending (RP) rating for demos or pre-releases of games that were unfinished or ones that had not yet been released to the public. Games with an early childhood (EC) rating contain content that is considered suitable for children 3 years old or younger. Generally, games with this rating contain no material that parents would find inappropriate. Games with an EC rating are specifically intended for young children and are usually educational in nature. The next rating, kids to adults (KA), contained content that was meant for anyone who was age 6 or older. Games under this rating contained titles that appealed to people of all ages and tastes. Usually, games with this rating contain minimal violence, comic mischief, or some form of crude language. This rating however was replaced with the everyone (E) rating in the beginning of 1998. Next came the ESRB’s teen (T) rating, which contains games with content that may be considered unsuitable for anyone under 13
Research Essay
ESRB’s Rating System for Video Games
Since 1994, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has been issuing ratings to all video games produced. They have done this in order to inform gamers and parents about the content that is included in the game. They have created a system of rating that contains a letter grade for the certain section that the game falls under. Along with the letter grades, the ESRB has also designed a system that specifically points out what led to that letter grade. Lastly, there is an ongoing debate whether or not the ESRB is accurately grading the games and not just stereotyping each one based on the games content.
When the ESRB was created, they set out to provide an accurate grading system for game developers. Their first step was creating their letter (or rating) symbols. At first there were only five ratings: early childhood (EC), kids to adults (KA), teen (T), mature (M), and adults only (AO). In addition to these five, the ESRB created a rating pending (RP) rating for demos or pre-releases of games that were unfinished or ones that had not yet been released to the public. Games with an early childhood (EC) rating contain content that is considered suitable for children 3 years old or younger. Generally, games with this rating contain no material that parents would find inappropriate. Games with an EC rating are specifically intended for young children and are usually educational in nature. The next rating, kids to adults (KA), contained content that was meant for anyone who was age 6 or older. Games under this rating contained titles that appealed to people of all ages and tastes. Usually, games with this rating contain minimal violence, comic mischief, or some form of crude language. This rating however was replaced with the everyone (E) rating in the beginning of 1998. Next came the ESRB’s teen (T) rating, which contains games with content that may be considered unsuitable for anyone under 13
Cited: Anderson, Craig A. “Violent Video Games: Myths, Facts, and Unanswered Questions.” Psychological Science Agenda. American Psychological Association, Oct. 2003. Web. 16 Nov. 2009. <http://www.apa.org/science/psa/sb-anderson.html>. Entertainment Software Rating Board. Entertainment Software Association, 2009. Web. 13 Nov. 2009. <http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.jsp>. United States. Cong. Senate. Federal Trade Commission. Marketing Violent Entertainment to Children. Report to Congress. April 2007. “Video Games: Reading the Ratings on the Games People Play.” Federal Trade Commission Consumer Alert. FTC, June 2006. Web. 16 Nov. 2009. <http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt154.pdf>.