Notes

How are Video Games Regulated in the U.S.?

Everybody knows that video games are controlled by your mom, who steadfastly believes that gaming as a legitimate activity is in contrast to reading or playing outside. Big Game, aka the gaming industry, may be wasting time lobbying Congress and other corporate interests to undermine the industry in order to boost its appeal to the masses. What the industry needs to do is go to your home and convince your guardians or parents that playing "Minecraft" will eventually, develop character.



We are having fun. First of all, 74 percent of moms play video games, so the notion of the uncaring, out-of-touch mother - at least as it relates to video games - could probably be put aside [source: ESA]. You might not know that video game ratings are accepted on a voluntary basis, similar to films [source: Crecente]. If a studio or publisher wanted, it could theoretically skip the whole process and just declare the game to be unrated. Most U.S. and Canadian titles are rated, as the majority of stores that sell games only offer them with ratings [source: ESRB FAQ]. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is the body responsible for this. Founded in 1994, the board is a part of the Entertainment Software Association. The ESRB gives six ratings:



Early Childhood (titles suitable for children in the early years)



Everyone (suitable for everyone, but could contain some minor fantasy violence or language)



Anyone 10plus (ages 10and over)



Teens (13 and older)



Mature (17 and over)



Adult (18 years or older) because that additional year is going make a big difference probably. [source: ESRB guide]



Remember: It is retailers that limit the sale of Mature- and adult-rated games to minors. It is legal to sell an 8 year old an Adult game [source ESRB FAQThe FAQ for ESRB.



All of this is nice and fine - and quite easy to comprehend. You may be shocked to learn how the ESRB assigns ratings - and, more specifically what they do not. The panel of ESRB raters does not actually play the game. Which might give you an opportunity to think. Are the raters - and there are at most three for each game - simply watching the box? Actually, they receive a detailed report from a publisher on the relevant information in the game"pertinent "pertinent" that is the content that is considered the most extreme, as well as the game's overall context. They also get a DVD of the pertinent content to be able to evaluate the content for themselves. They also have ESRB staff (but not the raters) test the game immediately after it's released. This helps to ensure that the game meets the standards of marketing.



Keep in mind that raters don't need to be experts on video games. According to the ESRB the term "raters" refers to "adults who typically have experience with children whether through previous job experience or as parents or caregivers." [source: ESRB FAQ]. It could also be your mom. They don't have to play all games. The ESRB is also of the opinion that simply playing the game won't guarantee the same rating.



How well does the rating system work? Well, about 85 percent of parents know about the system, according to the ESRB and 70 percent of parents actually use it [source: Agnello]. Your mom may know what she's talking about, or to put it another manner.



Level up! Level Up!



Agnello, Anthony John. "The ESRB Ratings Are Effective: 85% of Parents know about the System." Digital Trends. Feb. 14, 2013. (May 20, 2015) http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/esrb-ratings-are-super-effective-as-85-of-parents-understand-the-system/



Clark, Neils. "Video Game Regulation Where We Are Today." Gamasutra. Jan. 20, 2009. (May 20, 2015) http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/132300/video_game_regulation_where_we_.php



Crecente, Brian. "How Game and Movie Ratings work." Kotaku. April 27 2010. (May 20, 2015) http://kotaku.com/112690/how-game-and-movie-ratings-work



Entertainment Consumers Association. "Video Games and Government Regulation." 2015. (May 20, 2015) http://www.theeca.com/video_games_government



Entertainment Software Association (ESA). letrastraducidas.com "Majority of Moms Play Video Games New Report Finds." Aug. 27, 2013. (May 20, 2015) http://www.theesa.com/article/majority-moms-play-video-games-new-report-finds/



Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). "ESRB Ratings." 2015. (May 20, 2015) http://www.esrb.org/ratings/index.jsp



Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). "ESRB Ratings Guide." 2015. (May 20, 2015) http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.jsp#rating_categories



Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). "ESRB Ratings Process." 2015. (May 20, 2015) http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_process.jsp



Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). "Frequently Asked Questions." 2015. (May 20, 2015) http://www.esrb.org/ratings/faq.jsp



Fulton, Will. "How Mortal Kombat's gruesome deaths Lead to Video-Game Ratings." Digital Trends. April 16, 2015. (May 20, 2015) http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/how-mortal-kombats-gruesome-fatalities-led-to-video-game-ratings/



Green, Derek. "Regulation of Violent Video Games Sales to Minors Violates First Amendment." Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. 2011. (May 20, 2015) http://www.rcfp.org/browse-media-law-resources/news-media-law/news-media-and-law-summer-2011/regulation-violent-video-ga



National Coalition Against Censorship. "A Timeline of Video Game Controversies." (May 20, 2015) http://ncac.org/resource/a-timeline-of-video-game-controversies/



Salomon, Sanjay. "Violent Video Games and Industry Regulation." Boston.com. April 10, 2013. (May 20, 2015) http://www.boston.com/business/innovation/blogs/inside-the-hive/2013/04/10/violent-video-games-and-industry-regulation/fTKSZgjCKyHkJrfQw45qOP/blog.html


Website: https://www.letrastraducidas.com/