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javierdlopez

ESRB: Wtf?

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9 Comments
by
javierdlopez
, 09-02-2010 at 10:27 AM (2278 Views)
Growing up a gamer, I don’t remember there being an ESRB. As a parent and well informed gamer, it’s easy for me to figure out what titles are appropriate for my daughter to play, regardless of the ESRB rating. A coworker recently asked me a few questions on specific titles and I realized that the ESRB ratings are too vague.

For example: if Halo 3’s single player campaign were to be recorded and released as a movie, it would probably be rated PG or worse case scenario PG-13. I’ve played Halo 3 and ODST and both those games have a modest amount of graphic violence, I’m not sure I remember any foul language an zero sex or drug references. Gears of War 2 on the other hand, has graphic depictions of violence (exploding heads, curb stomps, etc.) and constant use of foul language. Both of these games have received an M-rating.

So how does a non-gamer parent figure out what’s appropriate for his/her kid? Well in the case of my co-worker, he simply will not buy any M-rated games for his kid. Other parents completely ignore the ESRB ratings altogether. Both options are a disservice to the gaming industry, the consumer and ultimately the gamer.

The industry would serve itself best by re-addressing the rating system and clarifying the ratings to better serve parents. Not only would this benefit sales, it would prevent the kind of public outcry that tends to follow the release of the more controversial titles (think Grand Theft Auto). My concern is that as gaming continues to venture into the mainstream pop culture, our governments will politicize the issue and we’ll start seeing pressure on developers and publishers which would result in stifling creativity and censorship of the media.

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Comments

  1. November Mike's Avatar
    Oblivion is rated M. Fallout 3 is rated M. Anyone's who played both would scratch their head at Oblivion's rating.
  2. meu2's Avatar
    The active killing of a human character in a “realistic” looking game where blood is shown virtually guarantee’s an M rating. Of course change the colour of the blood to green and that seems to be okay…
  3. November Mike's Avatar
    There is some foul language in Halo 3 and ODST, just not any F-Bombs.
    And there is that nearly entirely nude AI:


    But does that justify an M rating? Not sure.
  4. javierdlopez's Avatar
    I just think there's a big difference between this:


    and this:

  5. CausalSpark's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by November Mike
    Oblivion is rated M. Fallout 3 is rated M. Anyone's who played both would scratch their head at Oblivion's rating.
    I was thinking the exact same thing. Apparently, Oblivion used to be rated T until ESRB noticed that there's a skinned body (LaChance of the Dark Brotherhood, upon discovering his "betrayal"). That's when they changed it.
  6. November Mike's Avatar
    I see your point. How should it all be carved up then? Dropping the M title would be nice since age doesn't make anyone mature.
  7. nazzar's Avatar
    Do people pay attention to ratings?
    Anytime i've been in a game shop and a parent is buying for a child they could care less about ratings. Also staff are blame too, I recall a clerk describing GTA4 to a parent as a racing game with a bit of violence. Can you imagine a parent and their 10year old child being allowed in to see a violent horror movie?
    Being a gamer surely makes picking a game for your kids to play easier, since you can have a fire through it first to make sure it's appropriate. Ultimately it's the person buying the game that has to make sure it's appropriate for who is going to be playing it, the cashiers might not offer the best explanation and the rating might not either.
  8. Nectar's Avatar
    And there is that nearly entirely nude AI:

    But does that justify an M rating? Not sure.
    Non-sexual nudity really shouldn't factor at all but with today's ESRB, nudity (even non-sexual) and sexual situations take precedent even over the most graphic of violence. The re-rating of Oblivion and GTA:SA prove that they have a puritanical agenda. The Oblivion re-rating was the most absurd because it was simply due to a hack that let you play female characters topless. No sex, just breasts. It's the same with the MPAA. I better not get started.
    Updated 10-13-2010 at 08:43 AM by Nectar
  9. November Mike's Avatar
    ToysRus has a prominent ad for Fallout New Vegas in their weekly ads today. Does anyone see something wrong with that?