Entertainment Software Rating Board: Difference between revisions
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[[File:ESRB_Logo.png|thumb|270px|The ESRB logo.]] | [[File:ESRB_Logo.png|thumb|270px|The ESRB logo.]] | ||
The '''Entertainment Software Rating Board''' ('''ESRB''') are a self-regulatory organization that applies and enforces ratings, advertising guidelines, and online privacy principles for computer and video games and other entertainment software in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]] (officially adopted by individual provinces 2004-2005). It was established in 1994 by the [[wp:Entertainment Software Association|Interactive Digital Software Association]]. By early [[2003]], it had rated over 8,000 titles submitted by 350 video game publishers. Many believe that the ESRB may promote media restriction, while others think that it is necessary for software to have content ratings. The decision to found the ESRB was influenced by the graphic "fatality" killing moves of | The '''Entertainment Software Rating Board''' ('''ESRB''') are a self-regulatory organization that applies and enforces ratings, advertising guidelines, and online privacy principles for computer and video games and other entertainment software in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]] (officially adopted by individual provinces 2004-2005). It was established in 1994 by the [[wp:Entertainment Software Association|Interactive Digital Software Association]]. By early [[2003]], it had rated over 8,000 titles submitted by 350 video game publishers. Many believe that the ESRB may promote media restriction, while others think that it is necessary for software to have content ratings. The decision to found the ESRB was influenced by the graphic "fatality" killing moves of Mortal Kombat and other controversial video games depicting violent or sexual situations at the time, and by pressure from the United States government. | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
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| [[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 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. | ||
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| [[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 [[2010]], there are 23 (a full list of AO rated games can be found here [[wp:List of AO-rated products|here]]) AO-rated products, most of which are available on [[wp:Microsoft Windows|Windows]] and Apple Macintosh computers, as well as the [[wp:Phillips CD-i|Phillips CD-i]]. The AO rating is a subject of heated controversy because of the extreme restrictions it puts on game sales. Notably, '' | | [[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 [[2010]], there are 23 (a full list of AO rated games can be found here [[wp:List of AO-rated products|here]]) AO-rated products, most of which are available on [[wp:Microsoft Windows|Windows]] and Apple Macintosh computers, as well as the [[wp:Phillips CD-i|Phillips CD-i]]. The AO rating is a subject of heated controversy because of the extreme restrictions it puts on game sales. Notably, ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas'' was re-rated AO due to the release of the "[[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. | ||
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| [[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. | | [[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. | ||