Videogame Ratings In Action
Posted by: j_john | From: June 17, 2006
Recently, while ordering a glass of wine at dinner and later picking up a six-pack of beer before finishing up the great LOST viewing, I barely batted an eye when I was not asked to show ID. Let's face it, at almost 30 years old, I am an old man. However, the next day I strolled into my local GameStop to browse the racks, and realized that the long-awaited "JAWS UNLEASHED" game had been released. I asked the saleskid for a copy and was promptly asked to produce my ID--which I initially did without hesitation, and then it hit me. "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!"
I mentioned something to the kid about how I don't get carded for alcohol, but now I'm asked to show my ID for a game that REQUIRES ME TO BE 17 YEARS OLD. He said "blame Hilary Clinton for it", and I tried to laugh it off and got out of there. However, this experience inspired me to do a little research about the different policies and legislation that exist regarding selling videogames (especially those rated "M" for Mature, and "AO" for Adults Only). Here's a list of all the things the Entertainment Software Rating Board looks for in a game:
ESRB Content Descriptors
Alcohol Reference - Reference to and/or images of alcoholic beverages
Animated Blood - Discolored and/or unrealistic depictions of blood
Blood - Depictions of blood
Blood and Gore - Depictions of blood or the mutilation of body parts
Cartoon Violence - Violent actions involving cartoon-like situations and characters. May include violence where a character is unharmed after the action has been inflicted
Comic Mischief - Depictions or dialogue involving slapstick or suggestive humor
Crude Humor - Depictions or dialogue involving vulgar antics, including “bathroom” humor
Drug Reference - Reference to and/or images of illegal drugs
Edutainment - Content of product provides user with specific skills development or reinforcement learning within an entertainment setting. Skill development is an integral part of product
Fantasy Violence - Violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or non-human characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life
Informational - Overall content of product contains data, facts, resource information, reference materials or instructional text
Intense Violence - Graphic and realistic-looking depictions of physical conflict. May involve extreme and/or realistic blood, gore, weapons and depictions of human injury and death
Language - Mild to moderate use of profanity
Lyrics - Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol or drug use in music
Mature Humor - Depictions or dialogue involving "adult" humor, including sexual references
Mild Violence - Mild scenes depicting characters in unsafe and/or violent situations
Nudity - Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity
Partial Nudity - Brief and/or mild depictions of nudity
Real Gambling - Player can gamble, including betting or wagering real cash or currency
Sexual Themes - Mild to moderate sexual references and/or depictions. May include partial nudity
Sexual Violence - Depictions of rape or other violent sexual acts
Simulated Gambling - Player can gamble without betting or wagering real cash or currency
Some Adult Assistance May Be Needed - Intended for very young ages
Strong Language - Explicit and/or frequent use of profanity
Strong Lyrics - Explicit and/or frequent references to profanity, sex, violence, alcohol or drug use in music
Strong Sexual Content - Graphic references to and/or depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including nudity
Suggestive Themes - Mild provocative references or materials
Tobacco Reference - Reference to and/or images of tobacco products
Use of Drugs - The consumption or use of illegal drugs
Use of Alcohol - The consumption of alcoholic beverages
Use of Tobacco - The consumption of tobacco products
Violence - Scenes involving aggressive conflict
Some of that is pretty standard, but most of it is hilarious. "Real Gambling"! "Scenes involving aggressive conflict." I love that "Edutainment" is on the same list as "Sexual Violence." Their site requires you to register before it will cough up the details on enforcement, so I don't know the specific details, not to mention how bored I got spending 5 minutes on their site.
Anyway, I refuse to believe that their policy will actually limit the availibility of questionable content reaching young kids. I have decided not to purchase anything at GameStop or EB Games (one and the same now), and will hope that Target doesn't follow a ridiculous trend that actually forces employees not to use their brains. Though I might act like one, I do not look like a 16 year old.
I work in the electronics dept. at the Target in Fairview, and I can attest that we're prompted to ask for ID by the register for any game rated M or over (but good luck findinf an AO game anywhere) if the customer looks under 40. Maybe the GameStop/EB registers are the same way.
But given that the cutoff age is 17 though, that's pretty much ridiculous, so I tend to rely on my l33t age-guesstimation skillz instead.
Posted by: nate at June 21, 2006 11:40 PM