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ESRB President Defends Game Rating System

Posted by Zonk on from the crecent-throws-some-stones dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board wrote an open letter to Kotaku in response to an editorial that ran there a few days back about the ESRB and the system used to rate games. The editorial basically said that the ESRB isn't doing their job and needs to start if they don't want to be replaced by the Feds. The letter today said Kotaku is wrong and explained why. Does the current rating system serve its purpose?"

1 of 37 comments (clear)

  1. Ratings Are Guides, Not Gospel by kkrista · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think the problem here is that many people think that a rating system is a replacement for their own judgement and thought process. Nothing can replace a parent's own judgement as to what works for his/her child. Is a "Teen" rating really appropriate for all teens -- of course not. It's guidance - just a suggestion. It's a tool -- one tool -- to help make a parent make a more informed decision. Look past the letter and the real information is right underneath it -- mild violence, sexual content, drug use. Go out and read previews and reviews of the game to get a better understanding of the content. Talk to other parents. Don't just rely on the letter on the box. The ESRB rating is what is believed to work for most teens, not necessarily for your teen.

    Is your child mentally unstable? If so, it's probably best not to give him something that has potentially disturbing content, regardless of the rating. Is your 54 year old father scared of clowns? You might not want to give him a copy of Twisted Metal -- a game the ESRB deems appropriate for most adults but has a scary clown on the packaing (and in the game). Ok, these are silly examples, but I hope you see my point.

    Every child is different and it's up to the parent to know that child well enough to understand what is and is not appropriate. Parents need to use all teh tools available to them, including their own brains. Then again, the parents that just rely on a letter on the box to determine if their child gets to play Rainbow Six probably don't really know their children well enough to make that determination anyway.