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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."

5 of 26 comments (clear)

  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?

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  2. Strict ESRB by Zevets · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I think the ESRB is way to strict. The article says that 84% of parents agreed with the ESRB, or thought that they were too strict.

    On TV there is more blood and violence than some videogames, and TV is free. If you dont want your kids to buy violent videogames, dont give them enough money to afford it.

    On the flip side however, Americas Army, which contains M worthy material, blood and guns, recieved a T. It is also free, available for a download by anybody, not even checking their age. Why? Because it is a US Army recruiting tool. Lets face it, we have to indoctrinate our children while they are young.

    Your kids will also get their hands on bad games anyway, at a friend house or some other uncontrollable way. And if you wnat to shelter your kids from porn and other forms of sexual entertainment you would have to take away the internet.

    So what happens is that once developers realize that they cant have just a smidgen of violence, they turn games into SOF2, which has buckets of gore and blood.

    The ESRB is a big fat corrupt organization, designed to give parents a security bubble, when parents should be responsible for thier kids.

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  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.

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  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.

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  5. 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.