content ratings.
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) was established to assign age and content ratings to video games in order to control what gets in the hands of the consumer and to prevent controversy regarding children playing games with mature content. Full, comprehensive ratings for each game are listen on the ESRB's website, but condensed ratings are printed on the packaging of every single video game. The following is the list of ratings used by the ESRB:
Early Childhood: for ages 3 and up. Typically educational games for the preschool audience and cannot contain ANY objectionable content. Everyone: for ages 6 and up. Can contain infrequent "mild" fantasy or cartoon violence with "mild" language. Everyone: for ages 10 and up. Can contain "mild" violence, language, and suggestive themes but not as much as T-rated games. Teen: for ages 13 and up. Can contain mild to moderate violence, language, and suggestive themes and can contain crude humor. Mature: for ages 17 and up. Can contain intense violence, vulgar language, and stronger sexual themes. Adults only: for ages 18 and up. Contains content unsuitable for those under the age of 18. May include strong sexual themes or content, graphic nudity, etc. Games rated as such usually must be edited to recieve an M rating as major publishers do not publish AO rated games. Few games have ever received such a rating. |
Stores are required to confirm the buyers age before selling a video game. They are also required to inform the buyer of any potential inappropriate content. For example, GameStop employees will list the criteria listed on the game rating (such as Comic Violence, Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, etc.) before you buy. However, ratings are not exactly enforceable. In the same way an adult can buy alcohol for a minor, an adult can buy a Mature rated game for a child. But the difference is that it is not illegal for a child to play a Mature rated game. This loophole is part of what allows children to be exposed to content they may not be mentally ready for. Adults need to be more responsible in this respect to prevent influencing children in the wrong ways.