ESRB ratings are given to video games and software to help parents identify age-appropriate content. Ratings range from EC for early childhood to AO for adults only. Publishers submit information about the game’s content to determine the rating. Parents should still preview games before allowing their children to play.
ESRB ratings are ratings, just like movie ratings, given to all interactive video game and software titles. ESRB ratings are issued by the Entertainment Software Rating Board to help parents identify the age-appropriateness of a video or computer game. While ESRB ratings are subjective, the process for assigning a rating is quite accurate.
While software publishers are not required to obtain ESRB ratings, most titles sold in retail stores in the United States and Canada have an assigned ESRB rating. The process of obtaining a rating begins with submitting information about a game’s content. The publisher sends out a questionnaire and other material such as scripts, screenshots, and often beta versions of the game which the raters use to determine which rating to give. The ESRB ratings are based on the presence of specific content including language, violence, sex, drug use and gambling.
The current ESRB ratings are as follows:
EC is an early childhood assessment. This means that a game does not contain inappropriate content and may be considered safe for children 3 years of age and older.
E is a rating of Everyone and indicates that a title contains content considered appropriate for children 6 years of age and older. A title with an E rating may contain minimal amounts of cartoon or animated violence and/or mild language.
And 10+ is an assigned rating of Everyone 10 and above. A title with an E 10+ rating may contain more frequent animated violence and mild language along with possible slightly suggestive themes.
T is a rating for teenagers and is assigned to a grade considered appropriate for children 13 and older. Titles with this rating may contain any combination of violence, crude humor, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent but strong language.
M is an adult rating and means the content is not considered suitable for anyone under 17. A title with an M rating may contain suggestive themes, sexual content, gore and gore, intense violence, and strong language.
AO is a rating that indicates adults only. This rating indicates that a title has content appropriate only for adults over the age of 18 and may contain any combination of strong language, intense violence and prolonged scenes of intense or explicit sexual content, nudity, drug use, and other suggestive themes.
RP indicates that a rating is pending and means that the information has been submitted to the ESRB and is awaiting the final rating. This applies to titles that are advertised before their release.
ESRB ratings are designed to help parents be selective about the videos and computer games they allow their children to play. By further examining the ESRB rating box located on the game packaging, consumers will find a brief description of the content that led to the game’s final rating. By using ESRB ratings as an age-appropriate guideline, parents can have more control over what their children play. However, it should be noted that this is not a foolproof system and parents are still responsible for previewing any games that may be of interest to them before their child plays.
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