ESRB Explained

Video games, like all entertainment mediums, fit into different categories, genres and age demographics. For an outsider to gaming, this can be a bit overwhelming since the gaming industry continues to churn out titles in rapid succession. How do you know if a game is appropriate for your child? Many parents are unaware that many games are not age appropriate for their children and that all games are rated based on age.

Similar to movies, games are rated based on the contents within the game itself. The Entertainment Software Rating Board or ESRB is a self-regulating, independent body that is responsible for rating video games and all interactive software entertainment. The ratings should be used as a guide for parents and guardians to determine if a game is appropriate for their children.

To fully understand the ESRB rating of a game, you need to check both the rating symbol on the front of the video game box, and the content description on the back of the box. Rating symbols suggest the age appropriateness for a game, and the content description goes into detail as to why the game got its ratings symbol.

Here are a few examples of rating symbols and the content descriptions that fall in their respective categories based on the ESRB ratings.

EC - EARLY CHILDHOOD
Titles rated EC (Early Childhood) have content that may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.

Some examples of games rated EC are:
Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends
Boogie

E - EVERYONE
Titles rated E (Everyone) have content that may be suitable for ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.

Some examples of games rated E are:
NBA Live 08
Project Gotham Racing 4

E10 - EVERYONE 10+
Titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes.

Some examples of games rated E10 are:
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Need for Speed : Pro Street

T - TEEN
Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.

Some examples of games rated T are:
World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade
Transformers

M - MATURE
Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.

Some examples of games rated M are:
Halo 3
Mass Effect

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