New ESRB system praised by politicians

On Nov. 12, the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB), the entity responsible for rating video games appropriately based on their content, delivered a press release announcing a new video game rating summary.

In the press release, the ESRB "announced the availability of 'rating summaries,' a new, supplementary source of information about game content that parents can use when considering which games to purchase for their children this holiday season and beyond."

While these extended ratings summaries are a welcome addition for parents, what is more interesting is the response this new system has elicited from typical video game industry critics. David Walsh, president and founder of the National Institute on Media and the Family (typically one of the ESRB's detractors), says that the "rating summaries go even further, shedding greater light on a game's rating and giving parents additional detailed information to make healthier gaming decisions."

More interesting are comments by New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and Conn. Sen. Joe Lieberman. Typically, both senators are significantly opposed to the video game industry, calling for a more developed ratings system and more oversight from the ESRB. When "Manhunt 2" was released, both were among the first to protest the release of the game and challenge the ESRB's ratings. The ESRB caved to their pressure and gave the title a rare "Adults Only" (AO) rating, meaning the game could only be sold to those 18 and older. This also meant Wal-Mart and Best Buy would not shelve the item in their stores, effectively killing its marketability. A similar thing occurred with "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" and the "Hot Coffee" scandal.

Given their rich history, it is all the more surprising that both senators offered positive responses to the ESRB's new system. "This new supplement to the ratings is a real gift for parents as we head into this holiday season," Clinton said. "Parents need all the information they can get to make more informed decisions about what's appropriate for their children. These new rating summaries offer more helpful information than ever before to help parents to get involved and get informed."

Lieberman heaped more praise onto the ESRB, saying, "for well over a decade I have called upon the video game industry to inform consumers about the content in video games so they could make the right choices for their children. One result was the creation of the ESRB rating system, which provides useful guidance to parents about game content and age-appropriateness. The ESRB has now taken consumer education one step further with their new rating summaries, which provide a greater level of detail about game content to help parents be even more prepared to make informed game selections for their children. I applaud the ESRB for taking this proactive step to inform video game consumers."

So what exactly does the extended ratings system entail? Parents, or other interested parties, can now look online at the ESRB Web site for further information regarding a specific title. While retail games will still retain shorthand descriptions (i.e. "LittleBigPlanet" is rated "E" for Everyone for Comic Mischief and Mild Cartoon Violence), the online descriptions offer descriptions like "Little Big Planet is an action adventure game set in a whimsical land filled with puppets and platforming puzzles. Players can create, customize, and guide their character through levels of platforms, enemies and hazards. Hazards include bombs, spiked vehicles, stampeding bulls, and even giant shoes. One ancillary character makes belching noises while talking to the player's character."

As this description shows, the ESRB treads into spoiler territory with their ratings summaries, which has been lamented somewhat by the gaming community. They aren't, however, the ones who the ratings summaries are supposed to benefit, so there shouldn't really be any reason for these discontented murmurings (unless the parent or guardian wanted to experience the game with the child - that would destroy the joy in discovery). Instead, the ESRB appears to be overcompensating right now, offering summaries like "exaggerated breast proportions and movement" for Midway's "Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe." It'll only be a matter of time before the video game industry achieves something equivalent to the MPAA-rating for "Team America: World Police": "Rated R for graphic crude and sexual humor, violent images and strong language - all involving puppets."