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ESRB Survey Fights Back Against Criticism

Posted by simoniker on from the the-parent-trap dept.

Thanks to GameInfoWire for the press release showing the Entertainment Software Rating Board's attempts to deflect recent criticism by publishing a new survey claiming that "...parents overwhelmingly approve of the ratings assigned to computer and video games." Following some notable critiques of the ESRB ratings, particularly in relation to the release of gory stealth action title Manhunt, an independent ESRB-commissioned study "...showed 400 randomly selected parents footage from popular computer and video games... an overwhelming majority of the time (84%), parents agreed with the ESRB ratings [for those games] or thought the ratings were too strict."

12 of 26 comments (clear)

  1. Not enough info... by Mechanik · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Ok, playing Devil's Advocate here...

    With the given info stated in the article, these results mean nothing. Yes, it says footage from video games was shown to the survey participants, but it doesn't say what footage. Was the footage truly representative of the game? Did it show the nastiest, most controversial content that the game had to offer?

    Fictitious example: They show you footage from Grand Theft Auto III, but all they show you doing is racing your car around town, and don't show you killing Chinese Triad members with a flamethrower, screwing hookers to up your health points, beating up random pedestrians with a baseball bat, etc. If you're not shown anything nasty, of course you're going to say the rating is a good match or is too strict. If all they show is you racing around trying to get fast times, they'll probably think that the worst content this game has to offer is encouraging you to break traffic laws. Of course, anyone familiar with the game knows better.

    Without knowing the games they showed the survey participants and what particular content from those games was shown, these numbers are pretty meaningless.

    Note that this is not to say that the footage shown was not representative. It might have been. We just don't know.

    Note also that as previously stated, I am playing Devil's Advocate here. Personally I think the ratings system as already implemented is pretty darn good. It just bugs me when people trot out statistics like these that quite possibly don't mean shit because statistics are so easily manipulated. Even when I agree with them, it still bothers me.


    Mechanik

    1. Re:Not enough info... by smothra · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Agreed. It's also a fallacy of appeal to the majority. I know it's conventional wisdom that fifty million Frenchmen can't be wrong, but how is it significant that 87% of any group agrees with the ESRB rating? Who cares. Does the study group have a background in human psychology and can they provide any insight into what a rating *should* be? Shouldn't the ESRB (or whoever) spend some time on legitimate psychological study to peel back at least some of the curtain covering the "video games made me do it" question?

      --
      Look ma, no tpyos^H^H^H^H^H^H . . . oh crap.
    2. Re:Not enough info... by StocDred · · Score: 5, Insightful
      "Screwing hookers" is a little exaggerated, don't you think? All that happens is the car bounces up and down, which is a visual comedy gag that happens on prime time TV about six times a week, more if they're double-running That 70s Show.

      It's that kind of hyperbole that gets games in trouble! Mainly because the Watchdog groups have more vivid imaginations than any of us.

      Aside: my boss made his teen kids throw out their copies of GTA because "you can kill hookers." I have to wonder how he feels about killing convicts or murderers or terrorists or gang members, the other common types of black-and-white baddies in video games.

    3. Re:Not enough info... by SuperMo0 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Aside: my boss made his teen kids throw out their copies of GTA because "you can kill hookers." Yet another victim of "word-of-mouth" ratings. The ESRB has had less and less sway, as the internet allows people to tell others what a game is like and SEE what's in the game. You can hear from a friend who heard from a friend who heard from a friend that you "kill hookers", when the only place that that is EVER mentioned or done in GTA is on the MadTV sketch parodying the game.

  2. Fighting fire with fire by MMaestro · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So long as anti-video game critics continue to use 'surveys', 'statisically data', and/or 'scientific evidence' to 'claim' that video games cause violence or the ESRB is not doing a good job, trying to disclaim the ESRB for doing this is like the pot calling the kettle black. Compared to whats been said AGAINST the ESRB, this is just a drop in the bucket.

  3. Usually close enough... by tprime · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As a rule, I have usually agreed with the ESRB ratings of games. Manhunt however, seemed a little over the top and is the first game I have EVER played that honestly deserved an AO (Adults Only) rating. Don't get me wrong, some of the parts of this game were suspenseful and nail-biting, but the whole point behind this game is to sneak up on skin-heads and gang members and kill them as graphically as possible via a cut scene movie.

    Like I stated earlier, I usually agree with the ratings (GTAIII and VC deserve the M they got) and I believe that Manhunt is the exception, not the rule.

    Basically what it comes down to is that parents, in addition to looking at the ratings, need to ACTUALLY SPEND SOME TIME WITH THEIR KIDS to see what they are playing, especially when it is a Mature rated game.

    --
    http://www.tomandemily.com
    1. Re:Usually close enough... by magic · · Score: 3, Insightful
      I agree. The ESRB rating system is pretty strict. As a game industry insider, I know that game developers go to incredible lengths to remove objectionable content and get a Teen or Everyone rating (just like movies do for PG/13)


      BUT: If Manhunt, a game where you play a serial killer and act out ghastly murders, doesn't get an Adults Only rating, I don't know what does. The ESRB blew it on that one.


      -m

  4. inconsistencies... by Bansuki · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How is it that this game got the same ESRB rating as Manhunt? They both get an M rating for mature though the comments may be different. But anyone who's played Deus Ex (the original or the sequel) can tell you it involves little violence. The only thing "mature" about it is the complex plot and gameplay. Look at this story for some perspective on how the ESRB needs to redefine its ratings.

    Also note this statement from the article linked in the story above:

    "Game ratings are decided upon in a subjective process that leans heavily on the honor system. Publishers submit footage of what they consider to be the extreme elements of their game. That footage is then viewed by three individuals, who submit a recommended rating. If there is a consensus, the rating stands. If not, more people are brought in to view the elements."

    Here's another article.

    --
    my book
  5. Incredible by Daddio · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I am a parent, 12 year old boy. I let him play GTA3 & VC. Big deal. Manhunt, my nephew has it we watched him play. Looks rather boring compared to a good slasher movie.

    When are people going to realise that games like movies and books are for all ages and not just kids? There are books for children and books that you wouldn't want a 12 year old to read. There are movies that you wouldn't want your 12 year old to watch.

    Get over it America, games are not just for kids, any more than books or movies are.

    1. Re:Incredible by lidocaineus · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It's a bit more complicated than that.

      If a parent teaches their kid about morals, gray areas, why some things are considered right and why some are considered wrong, as well as take an active role in seeing what influences their kids to open up avenues of possible discussion later (video games, movies, tv, etc), then the child will most likely grow up to be well balanced enough to know that something like Manhunt *is* just a game.

      For example, my parents never gave out blanket statements that "DRUGS ARE BAD - DON'T DO THEM!" Instead, when the subject came up, they would point out examples of drug abuse and out of control behavior, as well as why people ended up going in that direction. They pointed out exactly what made abusing drugs a danger and what the consequences were. So whenever the opportunity comes up to do whatever, I may still be curious, but I also know what the potential end result might be, and judgement calls come into play. It was never preachy stuff - it was just them being honest, and it worked wonders beyond saying "STAY AWAY!!!!" which we all knows just makes people want to do things more.

      The problem is when parents just let their kids lose, don't pay any attention to what they're partaking in, and blindly buy them movies and games without even talking about the more controversial types (such as Manhunt) with them.

      Video games are just like any other part of parenting - you're supposed to communicate with your kids and put things in context. Is this easy? Hell no. But no one said parenting was supposed to be easy in the first place.

  6. Should be based on content by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Well Metal Gear Solid 2:The Sons of Liberty got the same rating as Manhunt. Granted, there is Libreal amounts on blood when you shoot somebody but it is nowhere as detailed as Manhunt. For Violence's sake I say it should have got a T. But, becuase of the Mature content matter presented towards the latter half, I think it deserves an M.

    But what was the ESRB thinking?? Manhunt should be AO and should be sold in Adult Stores. Rockstar went to far with this one

  7. Re:The problem with the system is this... by gmezero · · Score: 2, Insightful

    But it is not a guideline, it's a marketing tool. And I don't know what country you've been living in but most people in the U.S. use the TV and video games as a discount babysitter service here. It's a rare case where a parent will watch more than a moment of what their kid is playing and even rarer yet when they actually sit down and share the experience with them.