The ESRB is evil!?

[Rocketshipper]

http://www.mediafamily.org/research/report_vgrc_2005.shtml

I found this link after reading about the artciel on Plugged In, and I wanted to know what other gamers think. Personally I think their rant about how the ESRB rating system is "broken beyond repair" is dumb.

[Nate]

"Kids are six times more likely to see nude or partially nude figures in M-rated video games today than they were in the late 1990s. Yet the ratings haven't changed."

WHY SHOULD THEY?!

An "M" rating for a game is equivalent to an "R" rating in the movies. A movie can be rated R with or without nudity. I fail to see how more nudity in M rated games should result in a change in the ratings. If you look at the listings for M, sexual content is in there, so the rating is apt if a game contains nudity. Geez.

In fact, wanna know something interesting?

According to the Federal Trade Commission, the ESRB is "the most comprehensive of the three industry systems" and "there is much in the game industry's rating disclosure requirements that merits duplication by others."

Mediawise is a bunch of idiots.

[Tommy]

They even added that useless E10 just to be safe. Playing an M rated game, is equivelent to an R-rated movie, therefiore a kid shouldn`t be getting an M-Rated game to start with. It isn`t ESRB`s fault, it is the fault of the parents. I don`t believe ESRB was aware of the "Cofee" incident when they rated it. ESRB is more safe than movies are. They usually rate games higher than what they should be

IE: Super Smash Brothers, Ratchet and Clank, ect.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

the question is: WHY ARE KIDS PLAYING M RATED GAMES?

[Azier the Swordsman]

Well, the ESRB doesn't even play the games they rate. They simply watch a short video submitted by the game company themselves and judge on that.

Source: Electronic Gaming Monthly

[Tommy]

Um, that is sort of dumb.

[Myoti]

I remember this thing where a guy complained about cussing in an E-rated game. At first, I agreed with him, but now I'm confused. I mean, many E-rated games are the equilivant of a PG movie, so it's kinda understandable, but saying "Everyone" would make you think G, which is misleading. :l

[Tommy]

Now, that I think of it thee is a poimt to E10.

E- G
E10- PG
T- PG-13
M- R
AO....you get it.

[TroutNinja]

I HIGHLY disagree with their findings on rating accuracy. Their basis for giving it an F is not a very logical finding. I would have given it an F if there were some E10 or T-Rated games that deserved a higher rating, or if they left out content that should have given it a lower rating.

The entire hot coffee scandal was a problem on the part of Rockstar, not the ESRB. The ESRB, even if they had actually played the game, would have not found the offending content. It's only after the PC version of GTA:SA was released that anyone knew anything about the 'mod.' Rockstar's problem, not the ESRB's.

Example: Whenever I'm at home for a longer period of time, I work at a game store near my house. I know that if a game is rated M, that is very much deserves it, and I will personally warn the parent and let them know exactly why it is Rated M. I trust their rating system, because I've found it to be accurate, and descriptive of what exactly is in the game.

Oh, and personally? I, and everyone in my store, will NOT sell to an 'underage' customer because if it is a sting operation, it costs the store $5000, along with some fines for the employee as well.

Oh yeah, and the whole.. not appropriate thing. That's a big one for me, I'm not a fan of M-Rated games.. highest I will recommend to anyone is a T-rated game.

[Tommy]

Couldn`t agree more.

[Myoti]

E- G

I just said that some (especially before E10) have the equvilant of PG (Shadow the Hedgehog is E/E10 and has cussing it).

Oh yeah, and the whole.. not appropriate thing. That's a big one for me, I'm not a fan of M-Rated games.. highest I will recommend to anyone is a T-rated game.

There are only a few M ones I prefer, like Halo and RE4.

[everdred12a]

I'm sorry... I don't think I could read this whole article without wanting to go 'murder simulator' on a few people....

Moving on... is it really the ESRB's job to raise kids? Hold on, let me check... oh, wait, that's right, it's the parent's job, isnt' it? I hate it when people can't admit that it's their own fault and accept the consequences.

And to add to what kaemmerite said, if kids want to find porn, they *will*. And it's a whole lot easier than hacking a video game. I don't know a thing about hacking, so I think that I can safely say that if there's a 10-year-old somewhere out there who can hack, they've probably already seen something more 'hardcore' than what's in San Andreas.

Why are kids playing M-Rated games? Because parents are either too lazy to actually look at what they're buying their kids or because they're too stupid to tell the difference. That's not to say that kids don't get M-Rated games themselves. I've seen 100s of kids buying M-Rated games from the Gamestop near where I live without a second look from the employees.

I think I'm done fuming now... but to help me vent I think I'll go 'murder' a few goombas in Mario bros. because *everybody* knows that Mario is the most psychopathic murderer of them all, right?

[Tommy]

Yes, Super Mario 64 did deserve an M rating. It influenced children to squixh things with their butt. XD

[DaughterOfZion]

the video game industry is not here to babysit. most of the blame should fall on parents IF the child is playing an M rated game. of course if the child gets ahold of it without the parents knowing thats diffrent. its there job to limit what their children see hear and play. dont get me wrong im not saying grand theft auto is an ok game to put on the market.im not accusing anyone who plays it but some teenagers use it to train themselves. its wrong for them to blame ESRB for everything that happens. if the wrong game with the wrong rating gets into the hands of a child its either because the parent allowed them to or the retailer sold it to them. its not ESRB that puts those games into the hands of the child. if a parent buys a child an E rated game its there fault for giving a child with content that is not acceptabble to the familys belief the parents are to blame for not checkin.g why its rated for what it is.im using the word blame loosely so dont get me wrong

[Joshua Christopher]

Probably a bit controversial to say, but I don't pay much attention to anything Plugged-In says.

Any site that does an article on the "objectionable content" of Napoleon Dynamite is of no use to me.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Well, the ESRB doesn't even play the games they rate. They simply watch a short video submitted by the game company themselves and judge on that.

Source: Electronic Gaming Monthly

yup, the game company puts all the worst stuff from the game in the video, and the ESRB judges off of that.

[Arnobius]

I think this group is out of line... and I'm one who condemned Rockstar for the Hot Coffee.

Games rated M are for R rated material. Parents need to realize that games aren't for kids anymore.

Some of their examples are irrelevant... like the clerk who told the kid to change the age. The ESRB has no legal standing... but neither does the MPAA ratings. it's voluntary. It's about Parental responsibility. Sure the ESRB needs to be accurate (and their credibility did take a hit on account of the Coffee incident), but the parents need to use the resources, or it IS useless.

[Shao Feng-Li]

It's not that it's jsut rated M, it's why it's rated M. (I think they over rated Halo. Closer to teen would of been better, methinks.)

I've always found ESRB to be pretty accurate. Parents just need to read what's printed on the box. :\

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Here everything is rated by the Australian Office of Film and Literature (yet to see books rated though) and we used to have:

G - general audiences (eg. Need for Speed series)
G8+ - general audiences 8 years and over (eg. Age of Empires series)
M15+ - recommended for mature audiences 15 years and over (eg. Thief series)
MA15+ - strictly for mature audiences 15 years and over (eg. Doom series)

Sometimes games would be rated by the ESRB:
E - everyone, T - teens, M - mature
but very rarely.

Now we have:
G, PG - Parental Guidance recommend, M and MA15+.


The thing is these ratings whilst good aren't necessarily all that accurate. Some are too leanient and others too extreme. For example.

There's a game called Impossible Creatures. Its an RTS with no blood and very little violence and it still gets a T rating (which is stupid) since many T games are far more violent.
Then there are games like the GTA series which get an MA15+ here (granted some stuff is cut) but I really think these games are very wrong and should be rated higher (not that we have a higher rating).

Really in the end it comes down to the discernment of the individual as too what is suitable. But I think its very irresponsible to give a child a mature game. They are mature for a reason.

[Arnobius]

I thought Australia refused to certify games stricter than M15... or am I confusing you for New Zealand.

[Azier the Swordsman]

I've been gaming for a long time and I generally find the ESRB ratings to be generally innacurate. 9/10 boxes are missing or sport incorrect content information. The rating itself is only accurate about 6/10 times.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Your confusing us with New Zealand. If that were the case, most First Person Shooters would be banned. I mean No One Lives Forever 2 (great funny game) is MA15+! For anyone who's played it, don't you think that's a little extreme?

[DaughterOfZion]

its like cartoons. parents see south park and seeing its a cartoon they then buy it for there children. then one day they come in and they see their child whatcin it and ask where they got, and the kids say that the parent baught it for them

[Myoti]

I hate it when people can't admit that it's their own fault and accept the consequences.

Indeed. -_-

Probably a bit controversial to say, but I don't pay much attention to anything Plugged-In says.

I listen to few of those anymore. I do trust NP now, because they're honest in what they say, even if they don't want to.

Any site that does an article on the "objectionable content" of Napoleon Dynamite is of no use to me.

Say WHAT? O_o

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Yes, I think discernment is needed here and in other places. There are too many stupid people in the world and too many people who don't know how to be parents. Would be so much easier if they read up on it in the Bible and actually used their brains instead just their wallets to appease their child's wishes.

[desperado]

One thing you all have to realize, there is something like this every single generation, last one it was rock.
Secondly the media does not like video games, video games are a direct competitor for your time in front of the tv. And you know how the media acts to things it feels are a threat or does not like.

[Rocketshipper]

One of my on-line friends thinks the reason some people are making such a big deal about M rated games is because they still have the mis-conception that video games are only for kids and Teens (not unlike some people when it comes to "cartoons" ^^), and they think Mature video games shouldn't exist at all.

[Arnobius]

That's a common attitude among some more rigid people I've known. I think it's rather ignorant myself. The fact is it exists, so parents need to be educated.

[Bobtheduck]

That's one of many reasons I'm moving to Japan... Fewer people are psychopathic game opponents... The industry is just respected a little bit more... Not much, but enough...

[Arnobius]

I used to want to move there, but now I realize i'd be out of place, and in some ways I know I wouldn't WANT to fit in...