Entertainment Software Rating Board
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is an organization that rates video games. Rating is voluntary. Game publishers do not have to submit their games for ratings. There are seven ratings: E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+), T (Teen), M (Mature 17+), AO (Adults Only), and RP (Rating Pending). Some retailers make people show identification to prove their age if they want to buy M-rated games. Many retailers will not buy and sell AO games so it is very hard for gamers to find AO-rated games.
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| Non-profit, self-regulatory | |
| Industry | Organization and rating system |
| Founded | 1994[1] in Canada and United States |
| Headquarters | Canada United States Mexico |
Area served | Canada United States Mexico United Kingdom (only on television) |
Key people | Interactive Digital Software Association (now the Entertainment Software Association) |
| Parent | 3DO Rating System (by The 3DO Company, now defunct) Recreational Software Advisory Council (now defunct) Videogame Rating Council (by Sega of America) |
| Website | http://www.esrb.org/ |
On the back of each game's box, the ESRB also rates elements of the game. The back of Super Princess Peach has the words "comic mischief" on it to tell parents that it contains comic mischief.
Ratings
Unrestricted
| Rating | Meaning | Image |
|---|---|---|
| E | Content is generally suitable for all ages. May contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language. | 
|
| E10+ | Suitable for 10 and up. May have relatively mild cartoon humor or mild language/violence. | 
|
| T | For 13 and up. May have more intense language or violence than the E10+ rating. Contains uncensored blood and nudity, but mild. | 
|
| EC | Content is intended for young children. | 
|
Restricted
| Rating | Meaning | Image |
|---|---|---|
| M | Only for 17+. Contains obvious, uncensored blood/gore and strong violence and profanity. Many retailers prohibit sales of M games to people under 17 years old. | 
|
| AO | For 18+ only. Many retailers do not even carry these products, or put them in the "adult" section. | 
|
Unsure
| Rating | Meaning | Image |
|---|---|---|
| RP | Rating Pending; The ESRB has not given this game a rating yet. | 
|
Controversy
The AO rating
Some critics come to believe that the ESRB only rates games AO if they have sex in them, regardless of how explicit the language, violence or even blood is.[2] This also lead them to think the ESRB is not doing its job.[3] Twenty-three games have received and kept adult ratings, but apparently twenty (almost all) games were given it for sexual themes and content. Two had violence, and the other one was given the "Adult" rating for real gambling.[4]
"Tone Down" controversy
Some publishers of games decide to tone down the game's explicitness in order to qualify for an "M" rather than an "AO" rating.[5] For example, the game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas had an original M rating, but the game that could be unlocked by bypassing the patch, called "Hot Coffee", seemed to spark major controversy with the game, because it features sex and erotica. Thus, the ESRB decided to re-rate the game as an AO. Rockstar Games then chose to leave the game out of the release, then release an exploit fix that completely disallowed access to the game. However, other games have trouble being "toned down". Thrill Kill, for instance, was given an AO, and then Electronic Arts decided to purchase the publisher, Virgin Entertainment. The release of the game was then canceled, and the game never was toned down.[6][7]
References
- ↑ What is the ESRB? from the ESRB FAQ
- ↑ Critics on the case of the ESRB, ESRB Site. 2000-5-6. Retrieved 5-6-00.
- ↑ Is the ESRB Actually Doing Its Job? 2010-4-9. Retrieved 4-9-10.
- ↑ Critics on the ESRB's case for the AO rating. 2008-9-8. Retrieved 9-8-10.
- ↑ Tone-Downing: From AO to M.
- ↑ The GTA Exploit from Rockstar Games.
- ↑ Thrill Kill company bought by Electronic Arts, from concern of sadomasochistic sex.