Likely depending on what age group you fall in to, you may have some sort of animosity toward the ESRB (Entertainment Software Ratings Board). If you’re too young to be playing select titles, it tells you (and your parents) so right on the front of the box. It can prove to be quite a headache should you want that shiny new Grand Theft Auto Double Pack. Puts a real kink in your plans, I’m sure.
I’ve been witness to more than one situation when an underage individual cursed the ESRB’s ratings when he was turned away from purchasing a game that he wanted. And I can totally understand. Well, actually I can’t, as I’m old enough to buy anything I want, and there were no ESRB ratings on boxes when I was underage. I can imagine the heartbreak though, and I do indeed feel all gamers’ pains in that respect, knowing that there’s one game out there that I want – no need -- so badly, but can’t have it. And by the time you can have it, you may not care anymore.
Want to see blood in the Medal of Honor games? Forget it. Electronic Arts doesn’t publish Mature-rated games, and adding blood would take this Teen-rated title to a Mature in an instant. Sorry.
Just like movies, ESRB ratings are meant to allow the consumer a small amount of information as to what to expect within a game. Whether it is foul language, sexual themes, or copious amounts of violence, the ESRB ratings are intended to help the buyer (especially parents) and nothing more. They aren’t present to do harm, but to prevent it. But exactly how useful are they, especially if you’re underage and those letter ratings are costing you a hell of a good game?
As a gamer, trust in the fact that the ESRB ratings are one of the best things to happen to the games industry in recent years. But it wasn’t until the recently that the ratings really began to help the consumer. While the letter ratings were all well and good, they were too vague; much too general to really get an idea of what a game is all about. This is significant because parents base their buying decisions on varying levels of importance. Not all parents are concerned about the exact same things, and so simple letter ratings do little. Does a “Mature” rating mean that the game contains explicit language, or does it depict lots of blood and gore? Is there nudity? Some parents don’t like the idea of their child playing games that show naked chicks, but the violence contained in the bloodier first-person shooters doesn’t concern them. Then there are parents out there whose concern is the exact opposite. A situation such as this must be resolved because if parents are to do their jobs, they need to be as educated as they can be.
As a result of this confusion, the ESRB implemented 30 labels that are content descriptors to expand the usefulness of the letter ratings. Each label that applies to a game (like Blood and Gore, Mature Sexual Themes, etc.) will have it included with it’s corresponding letter rating, telling the consumer why the game got the rating that it did. Not only does this make those letter ratings much more meaningful, but it also helps parents know exactly what they’re buying for their child, in which I’m sure is very comforting. We’ll outline all 30 labels below:
• Alcohol Reference - Reference to and/or images of alcoholic beverages • Animated Blood - Cartoon or pixilated depictions of blood • Blood - Depictions of blood • Blood and Gore - Depictions of blood or the mutilation of body parts • Cartoon Violence - Violent actions involving cartoon-like characters. May include violence where a character is unharmed after the action has been inflicted • Comic Mischief - Scenes depicting slapstick or gross vulgar humor • Crude Humor - Moderately vulgar antics, including bathroom humor • Drug Reference - Reference to and/or images of illegal drugs • Edutainment - Content of product provides user with specific skills development or reinforcement learning within an entertainment setting. Skill development is an integral part of product • Fantasy Violence - Violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or non-human characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life • Gambling - Betting like behavior • Informational - Overall content of product contains data, facts, resource information, reference materials or instructional text • Intense Violence - Graphic and realistic-looking depictions of physical conflict. May involve extreme and/or realistic blood, gore, weapons, and depictions of human injury and death • Mature Humor - Vulgar and/or crude jokes and antics including "bathroom" humor • Mature Sexual Themes - Provocative material, possibly including partial nudity • Mild Language - Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol, or drug use • Mild Lyrics - Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol, or drug use in music • Mild Violence - Mild scenes depicting characters in unsafe and/or violent situations • Nudity - Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity • Partial Nudity - Brief and mild depictions of nudity • Sexual Violence - Depictions of rape or other sexual acts • Some Adult Assistance May Be Needed - Early Childhood Descriptor only • Strong Language - Profanity and explicit references to sexuality, violence, alcohol, or drug use • Strong Lyrics - Profanity and explicit references to sex, violence, alcohol, or drug use in music • Strong Sexual Content - Graphic depiction of sexual behavior, possibly including nudity • Suggestive Themes - Mild provocative references or materials • Tobacco Reference - Reference to and/or images of tobacco products • Use of Drugs - The consumption or use of illegal drugs • Use of Alcohol - The consumption of alcoholic beverages • Use of Tobacco - The consumption of tobacco products • Violence - Scenes involving aggressive conflict
The ratings by the ESRB – while fairly accurate – do sometimes make odd decisions. While Fatal Frame received a Teen rating, adding a few spatters of blood on walls and floors in Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly was enough to make the title a Mature, despite the fact that the content in both titles are virtually identical.
Yes, the fact is that these new content descriptors are going to screw a kid out of a game somewhere is saddening, to a degree. And the ESRB ratings directly affect the games themselves too. Publishers often turn down concepts that are rated too mature for their target demographic. There are even some publishers out there that enjoy making more adult-oriented titles. But the fact remains that despite the small negative effects the ESRB ratings have on the games industry, the good far outweighs the bad. The ESRB (which was voluntarily formed) are doing everything they can to keep parents in control. That in turn, helps to keep the government at bay, making it harder for them to make the decisions for us. Like parents tend to always say, there are some things you won’t understand until you’re older. This may well be one of them, but trust in the ESRB ratings. They are for every gamer’s own good.
