iPhone screen cap of ESRB ratings
If you’re like me, shopping for video games can be confusing. The games I like are definitely not the ones my two sons enjoy. I’ve made the decision to allow my fifteen-year-old to play anything but the most mature games, but picking out suitable games for my eleven-year-old gets a little chancy.
This year, the ESRB (Entertainment Sofware Rating Board) has introduced a new app for the iPhone and the Android that should provide quicker and more complete information to parents shopping.
ESRB president Patricia Vance talked about the new app in an interview with GeekDad and expanded on why she thinks the ESRB ratings are so valuable.
How does this new app work?
Our current iPhone app allows you to type in the name of a video game to look up its rating summary, which is a detailed explanation — with specific examples — of the content that factored into that game’s ESRB rating.
The version we’re releasing soon adds photo-recognition to the search options, so all you have to do is take a photo of the game box to find the rating summary. You will still be able to search by text as well.
The current ESRB app is available now for free in the App Store, with the new photo-recognition function being added in the next few weeks. We’re also bringing the ESRB mobile app to the Android Market for first time. That version will launch, complete with photo-recognition, at that time, too.
For other mobile phones and devices, we also have an easily accessible mobile website, m.esrb.org. And, of course, you can always access rating summaries from home via our website at esrb.org.
What kind of information is provided to parents?
By using the ESRB mobile app, parents can access rating summaries right in the store, when they most need the information they provide. The rating summaries go well beyond the rating category and content descriptors, which can be found on the game box, and provide specific examples of the content that earned a game the rating it was assigned.
We hear from parents across the country that rating summaries really complete the picture when it comes to having all the information they need to make those tough decisions about whether a game is OK for their child to play.
Why does the ESRB believe that ratings are important, especially since they are voluntary?
Video games are a hugely popular form of entertainment for all ages today, and not every parent can keep up with every game. So we provide a very specific service for parents.
Is the content of that game my 10-year-old son wants appropriate for him? Only a parent or guardian can make that call, but they need the information to make sure it’s the right one. That is where the ESRB comes in.
Between the ratings on the game’s package and the rating summaries available via our website and mobile devices, we’re empowering consumers, especially parents, to make informed decisions about which games they deem suitable for their children and families.
Our latest research shows that 86% of parents are aware of ratings and 75% use them regularly when buying games. This mirrors the results of similar research conducted by the FTC and reported to Congress in 2007. It’s clear parents appreciate and rely on the ESRB rating system.
Retailers also recognize that importance of and need for an effective ratings system. All major video game retailers support the ratings via their store policies regarding the sale or rental of Mature-rated games to customers under the age of seventeen without a parent’s permission.
What is the ESRB stance on supposed harm done by video games to children?
While I am not a scientist, I do know that the current research does not show a causal relationship between playing a violent video game and violent behavior.
We need to shift the discussion from “harm” to “suitability.” But ultimately the decision about what’s “suitable” is not up to us — it’s up to parents to make the decision, hopefully an informed one, about which games are OK for their own children to play.
Once armed with ESRB information about what’s in a game, parents can make rational choices based on the unique characteristics and development of each of their children and their own values and tolerance for exposure to different sorts of content.
One parent might be OK with strong language in a game but have a low threshold for violence in the media they consume, while for another strong language may be more objectionable than violent content. The more information we can provide, the better decisions parents can make about a game’s suitability.
What would you say to those who cry “censorship” by the ESRB?
Our role is to provide consumers with information that they can use to decide what content is right for themselves and their families. We never dictate to game publishers, in any way, what they can or cannot put in their games. Our role begins and ends with assigning ratings so consumers are informed about the content and age-appropriateness of video games.
What is the dividing line that causes a game to move from E to Teen or Teen or Mature to Adult? Sex? Violence?
First, it may be helpful to explain the rating process a bit. Each ESRB rating is based on the consensus of at least three specially trained raters who view content based on numerous criteria. Raters must be adults, and typically have experience with children through prior work experience, education or by being parents or caregivers themselves.
The raters review a DVD that depicts typical game play, cut scenes, along with the most extreme instances of pertinent content in a game, including instances of violence, sexual or suggestive material, strong language, use or depiction of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco — basically the types of things parents would likely want to know about when deciding whether a game is one they deem suitable for their child.
And due to the interactive nature of games, we also train raters to evaluate elements that are unique to video games, such as a game’s reward system (whether players are rewarded or penalized for an action), degree of player control (whether the player is just watching other characters or is actually participating in the action on the screen, and if so, how much control they have), as well the frequency of depictions and their intensity. Finally, but by no means least important, the raters consider the game’s overall context, including storyline, mission and objectives, and use their best judgment in recommending ratings and content descriptors that they deem to be appropriate and most helpful to consumers.
So, to answer your question, there aren’t rigid rules or formulas when it comes to assigning ratings.
The process inherently involves some subjectivity, at least to a degree. After all, part of the raters’ job is using their best judgment to decide what rating they believe will be most appropriate given a game’s content. Having strict rules or bright lines that mandate that the presence of X content will invariably yield Y rating would constrain the raters from using their judgment in considering nuanced, albeit important elements like context. After all, is all violence the same? What about all suggestive content? How do you quantify the amount of each that would necessitate a different age category?
It’s impossible, let alone futile. Judgments are made based on what we feel reflects the average consumer’s expectations about content. And research consistently confirms that we’re meeting those expectations.
All that being said, we do strive to assign ratings as objectively as possible, and there are some relatively concrete factors that raters also take into consideration, including historical parity, for example. Ensuring that ratings are assigned consistently for similar content results in consumer trust in and reliability on the system.
There’s a detailed description of the rating process on our website (http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_process.jsp) and one of our FAQs addresses ratings criteria (http://www.esrb.org/ratings/faq.jsp#15).
What do you think is the one most important thing parents should do to make sure the video games that their children play are age appropriate?
It’s most important for parents to be involved in the process when deciding which games to buy, rent or even play. Parents ultimately know what sorts of content they feel is appropriate for their children.
We provide ratings on the front and back of virtually every video game sold, along with content descriptors. Retailers only carry video games that are rated by the ESRB. If after checking the rating information on the box, a parent still can’t decide, there is additional information about the specific content that was considered during the rating process in ESRB ratings summaries that are easily accessible online or via our mobile phone app. Typically, those tools are sufficient to make an informed decision.
However, while using tools like the ESRB ratings and rating summaries is a great start, it’s by no means all a parent can or should do. They can research games online to get a better sense of their content, including checking out reviews on game enthusiast sites that often feature videos and screenshots. They can talk to game store associates, who are very knowledgeable since they’re often gamers themselves.
And finally, they should play the games with their kids!
Just as with anything else, the best way to get acquainted is to jump in. Visit the virtual worlds that your child enjoys visiting, and meet the characters they enjoy spending time with. This can be a great way to not only learn more about the games he or she likes, but also become familiar with the content. And, most importantly, have fun!
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