ESRB:
Understanding Video Game Ratings
Introduction
This site aims to
give you the information necessary to make intelligent video game buying
decisions. We are proud to participate in the game industry's standardized
rating system, developed by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). The
ESRB ratings are designed to give consumers information about the content of an
interactive video or computer entertainment title and the ages for which the
title is appropriate. The ratings are not meant to tell you what to buy or to
serve as the only basis for choosing a product. In addition to using the
ratings, consumers should check out content descriptions for more specific
information about a game's content. You can find this information, if
applicable, on the product information pages under the Note to Customers
advisory.
ESRB Ratings Defined
Each product is rated by three independent, trained raters. The raters represent
a wide range of backgrounds, races, and ages and have no ties to the interactive
entertainment industry. Raters include retired school principals, parents,
professionals, and other individuals from all walks of life. Ratings can be
found on the cover of each game, and this site also features a text description
of each rating on product information pages. Here are the ESRB rating
definitions:
Early Childhood
Titles rated Early Childhood (EC) have content
suitable for children ages 3 and up and do not contain any material that parents
would find inappropriate.
Everyone
Titles rated Everyone (E) have content suitable
for people ages 6 and up. These titles will appeal to people of many ages and
tastes. They may contain minimal violence, some comic mischief (slapstick
comedy, for example), or some crude language. This rating was formerly known as
Kids to Adult (K-A).
Teen
Titles rated Teen (T) have content suitable for
people ages 13 and up. Titles in this category may contain violent content, mild
or strong language, and/or suggestive themes.
Mature
Titles rated Mature (M) have content suitable
for people ages 17 and up. These products may include more intense violence or
language than products in the Teen category. In addition, these titles may
include mature sexual themes.
Adults Only
Titles rated Adults Only (AO) have content
suitable only for adults. These products may include graphic depictions of sex
and/or violence. Adults Only products are not intended to be sold or rented to
persons under the age of 18.
Rating Pending
The product has been submitted to the ESRB and
is awaiting final rating.
Content Descriptors Defined
In addition to ESRB ratings, most game
descriptions help clarify the specific content of each game; this information
can be found in the black-and-white box on the back of the game package.
However, Amazon.com also lists this information on the product information pages
under the Note to Customers advisory. These content descriptors give more
details about the product in terms of violence, sexual themes, language, and
other areas that may be of interest to some consumers. If there is no content
descriptor on the back of the package, the rating board believes that the
product does not include content that needs to be highlighted. Here is a list of
content descriptors used by the ESRB:
Mild Animated Violence
Contains scenes depicting cartoon/animated/pixelated
characters in unsafe or hazardous acts or violent situations.
Mild Realistic Violence
Contains scenes depicting characters in unsafe
or hazardous acts or violent situations in photographic detail.
Comic Mischief
Contains scenes depicting activities
characterized as slapstick or gross vulgar humor.
Animated Violence
Contains depictions of aggressive conflict
involving cartoon/animated/pixelated characters.
Realistic Violence
Contains realistic or photographic-like
depictions of aggressive conflict.
Animated Blood and Gore
Contains animated/pixelated or cartoonlike
depictions of mutilation or dismemberment of body parts.
Realistic Blood and Gore
Contains depictions of mutilation or
dismemberment of body parts in realistic or photographic-like detail.
Animated Blood
Contains animated/pixelated or cartoonlike
depictions of blood.
Realistic Blood
Contains representations of blood in realistic
or photographic-like detail.
Suggestive Themes
Contains mild provocative references or
material.
Mature Sexual Themes
Contains provocative material, including
animated or photographic-like depiction of the human body.
Strong Sexual Content
Contains graphic depiction of sexual behavior
and/or the human form (i.e., frontal nudity) in either animated or
photographic-like detail.
Mild Language
Contains the use of words like "damn."
Strong Language
Contains commonly referenced four-letter words.
Gaming
Depicts betting behavior.
Use of Tobacco and Alcohol
Contains images of the use of tobacco and/or
alcohol in a manner that condones or glorifies their use.
Use of Drugs
Contains images of drug use in a manner that
condones or glorifies this behavior.
Informational
Overall content of product contains data,
facts, resource information, reference materials, or instructional text.
Edutainment
Provides user with specific skills development
or reinforcement learning within an entertainment setting. Skill development is
an integral part of the product.
Some adult assistance may be needed
Early Childhood descriptor only.
For more information, please see the
ESRB Web site.
