Entertainment Software Rating Board: Difference between revisions

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| [[Image:ESRB_EC.png|none|40px|ESRB Rating: EC (Early Childhood)]] || '''EC''' — '''Early Childhood''': Contains content that may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate. Games that fall under this rating are specifically intended for young children and are usually educational in nature. However, some educational games with more complex problems (Such as the ''Dr. Brain'' series) may be rated E.

| [[Image:ESRB_E.png|none|40px|ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)]] || '''E''' — '''Everyone''': Contains content that may be suitable for ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language. It is often likened to the MPAA's "G" rating.  It was known as ''K-A'' until 1998.

| [[Image:ESRB_E10+.png|none|40px|ESRB Rating: E10+]] || '''E10+''' — '''Everyone 10 and older''':  (Also known as Preteen) Contains content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language, minimal and/or infrequent blood and/or minimal suggestive themes. Added to the ESRB ratings icons on March 2nd, [[2005]]. ''Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat'' was the first game to receive this rating. Super Smash Bros. Melee and The Incredibles could possibly have had this rating if they were released after that date.  This rating is often likened to the MPAA's "PG" Rating.

| [[Image:ESRB_T.png|none|40px|ESRB Rating: T (Teen)]] || '''T''' — '''Teen''': Contains content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, mild sexual content, minimal blood and/or infrequent use of strong language. It is often likened to the MPAA's "PG-13" rating.

| [[Image:ESRB_M.png|none|40px|ESRB Rating: M (Mature)]] || '''M''' — '''Mature''': Contains content that may be suitable for ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, and/or strong language inappropriate for young audiences. It is often likened to the MPAA's "R" rating, and is the video game equivalent. Many retailers (such as Wal-Mart) have a policy of not selling games with this rating to minors without  parental presence and approval.

| [[Image:ESRB_AO.png|none|40px|ESRB Rating: AO (Adults Only)]] || '''AO''' — '''Adults Only''': Contains content that is suitable only for adults. Titles in this category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity. This is often compared to the MPAA's "NC-17" rating because of the similar age limit and amount of restrictions that are placed on sales. As of [[2006]], there are 22 AO-rated products, most of which are available on [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] and Apple Macintosh computers, as well as the [[Phillips CD-i]]. The AO rating is a subject of heated controversy because of the extreme restrictions it puts on game sales. Notably, ''[[wikia:c:en.gta:Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas|Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]'' was re-rated AO due to the release of the "[[Wikia:c:en.gta:Hot Coffee mod|Hot Coffee]]" hack. '''Note:''' After the code in ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas'' was patched on the [[Personal Computer|PC]], a second edition was released with the old "Mature" rating.

| [[Image:ESRB_RP.png|none|40px|ESRB Rating: RP (Rating Pending)]] || '''RP''' — '''Rating Pending''':  Product has been submitted to the ESRB and is awaiting final rating. This symbol appears only in advertising prior to a game's release.

==See Also==

*[[PEGI]], the [[Europe|European]] computer and video game rating system

*[[OFLC]], the [[Australia|Australian]] media rating system

*[[CERO]], the [[Japan|Japanese]] computer and video game rating system

==External Links==

[[Category: Rating systems]]