ESRB Ratings Add Violence Descriptors

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to an ESRB press release saying they've added four new violence-specific content descriptors to their voluntary but near-universally used age/suitability ratings system for games. These descriptors are "Cartoon Violence, defined as 'violent actions involving cartoon-like characters. May include violence where a character is unharmed after the action has been inflicted'... Fantasy Violence, defined as 'violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or non-human characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life.'... Intense Violence, defined as 'graphic and realistic-looking depictions of physical conflict. May involve extreme and/or realistic blood, gore, weapons, and depictions of human injury and death'... Sexual Violence, defined as 'depictions of rape or other violent sexual acts.'" There's also mention of icon redesign to include recommended age ranges and new, more prominent labels on the back of game boxes, presumably in response to legal challenges regarding violent games.

Comments

Rape?

[GuyMannDude]

Maybe I'm a little out of touch with gaming these days but is there really so much rape in videogames these days that it deserves it's own category?

GMD

Re:Rape?

[PainKilleR-CE]

It is just sad that rape is involved in video games.

It's always a controversial issue when it comes up. It's in movies and TV shows on occasion and brings up significantly less controversy in either medium. It's often a significant event in a story which can drive a character (in a good way or bad way), yet people tend to have a much more emotional reaction to it than to things like murder and torture, and so it's less often used in any medium.

Do they really have to include that to sell these games

In my experience, it's not included in any top selling game. However, it's a perfectly valid subject that games could address in a positive or negative manner.

At the same time, other cultures are much more likely to portray rape in their media, so perhaps Americans are simply more sensitive (not in the 'we want to help the victims' way, but rather in the 'dont show it to me I want to ignore it so I can convince myself it doesnt happen' way) to it. Did you think that tentacle-porn anime all involved consensual sex? Is it not rape just because the girl is depicted as having an orgasm from the attentions of the multi-tentacled demon?

Is it really a bad thing?

[Suicide]

I don't have kids, I research my games before I buy them, to see if they are any good. I really couldn't care how violent or non-violent they are, as long as its appropriate for the game. And I really wouldn't object to more descriptive labeling of the content. It wouldn't effect me.

But a parent might not have done their research about all the games out there before heading to the store. Maybe some people are ok with violence of certain levels, but not others. Either way, what people want to buy is their choice, and more descriptive labels never hurt, and lets be honest, even the MPAA ratings aren't enough any more, thats why there a little section listing why a movie got the rating it did.

Re:Is it really a bad thing?

[amuro98]

If St. Louis is any indication, parents don't do any research *now* - and that includes reading the existing ESRB label on the games they buy for their kids.

Instead, they'd rather the government tell them what their kids can or cannot play.

If parents don't bother keeping an eye on what their kids play now, what's the point?

This is all pointless...

[Alkaiser]

...seeing as how the ESRB slapped the "Nudity" descriptor onto Dead or Alive: Extreme Beach Volleyball when there was no nudity in it.

Very skimpy clothing, yes, near nudity, yes, but no actual nudity...and the ESRB decription is VERY clear on this:

""Nudity - Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity.

Partial Nudity - Brief and mild depictions of nudity."

DOA: XVB doesn't fall into either of these categories...it does however fall under:

""Mature Sexual Themes - Provocative material, possibly including partial nudity."

So why did the ESRB choose to blatantly lie about DOA: XVB? Nobody knows. So, I don't care how descriptive the SRB make their tags, becausee they don't use them properly. Might as well just slap, "For Kids of All Ages" on every game, since you're just going to lie about them anyway.

Re:This is all pointless...

[gearheadsmp]

Hey, if they're dumb enough to rate Sid Mier's Alpha Centauri 'E', they're obviously not playing the games they rate. In SMAC, you could do things like using WMD's (Nerve Gas Pods & Planet Busters).