A video game content rating system is a system used for the classification of video games into suitability-related groups. Most of these systems are associated with and/or sponsored by a government, and are sometimes part of the local motion picture rating system. The utility of such ratings has been called into question by studies that publish findings such as 90% of teenagers claim that their parents "never" check the ratings before allowing them to rent or buy video games,[1] and as such calls have been made to "fix" the existing rating systems.[2] Video game content rating systems can be used as the basis for laws that cover the sales of video games to minors, such as in Australia. Rating checking and approval is part of the game localization when they are being prepared for their distribution in other countries or locales. These rating systems have also been used to voluntarily restrict sales of certain video games by stores, such as the German retailer Kaufhof's removal of all video games rated 18+ by the USK following the Winnenden school shooting.[3]
The upheaval struck on two fronts. First were the arcades, hit with the release of Mortal Kombat, a fighting game of unprecedented violence. With heightened realism provided by the use of digitized actors rather than hand-drawn characters, the game featured vicious combinations of fighting moves, Romero-worthy bloodletting and vocal exhortations to "finish" your enemy with special "fatalities." Possibly the most controversial fighting game ever released, Mortal Kombat's blend of over-the-top violence and thrilling fights proved irresistible to gamers, turning it into a tremendous success and laying the foundation for a franchise that continues to this day.
Then came the home market later that same year, faced with a similar assault in the guise of the infamous Night Trap. With over an hour and a half of full-motion video and a production cost of $1.5 million, Night Trap told the story of a slumber party gone wrong and the young, nightgown-wearing houseguests who must be saved from horrible fates by the voyeuristic gamer. A commercial flop, the game's sexually exploitative setting and gameplay nonetheless made it a focal point of Congressional hearings on offensive videogame content.
Led by U.S. Senators Joe Lieberman and Herb Kohl, a Congressional hearings on offensive video game content ran from late 1992 into 1993, and resulted in an ultimatum for the industry: Form a workable, self-regulated rating system for videogames within one year, or prepare for the U.S. federal government to implement one of its own. The threat of government regulation led to the formation of not just one but a handful of rating schemes from different corners of the industry.
Sega of America led the charge with the short-lived Videogame Rating Council. Established in 1993, the system was intended to cover all U.S. releases of games for the Sega Genesis, Game Gear and Sega CD. The VRC featured three ratings: General Audiences, MA-13 (Parental Discretion Advised) and MA-17 (Not Appropriate For Minors). The system was simultaneously simplistic and confusing; the lack of rating detail, combined with Sega's failure to document or explain their meaning, often left consumers puzzled over the actual nature of the game's content.
Also founded in 1993 was the 3DO Rating System, for games released in North America on the 3DO console. Similar to Sega's VRC, the 3DO Rating System was even narrower in focus - 3DO games only, which were scant in number - and featured four vague but easy-to-follow ratings: E (Everyone), 12 (Parental Guidance for 12 and Under), 17 (Parental Guidance for 17 and Under), and AO (Adults Only). In a significant improvement over Sega's VRC, details of the in-game content would be contained on the back of the box.
But neither of these systems adequately addressed the demands of the U.S. Congress, and neither survived to see the close of 1994. They did, however, provide a template for a third and somewhat more successful attempt at a comprehensive rating system that would satisfy videogaming critics: The Software Publishers Association's Recreational Software Advisory Council (RSAC). The RSAC provided five levels of ratings in the categories of Violence, Nudity-Sex and Language. Despite the lack of an age-based rating, the system was more detailed than its predecessors while remaining comparatively simple to understand, and for awhile it saw reasonably widespread acceptance. Unfortunately, it suffered from one major, fatal flaw: The RSAC system was for PC software only, therefore inapplicable to console releases. This limitation, exacerbated by the 1995 debut of the explosively popular PlayStation console, rendered the RSAC system all but irrelevant, and in 1999 it quietly passed on.
The big dog in the fight was the result of the April 1994 formation of the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), a trade group assembled from the most powerful game developers and publishers in the country. In July 1994, the IDSA (renamed to the Entertainment Software Association in 2003) presented to Congress its proposal for an industry-controlled rating system; in September of that same year, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) was unveiled.
Initially, the ESRB system included five ratings: Early Childhood, Kids to Adults, Teen, Mature and Adults Only. Over the years the system would mature and be refined to meet the needs of both a growing industry and an expanding gamer demographic. The rating stamps would change to become more visible, and in 1998 the Kids to Adults rating was replaced with an Everyone (E) rating. Content descriptors have been changed and added over the years, giving greater specificity to the ratings. Currently, the ESRB uses a two-tiered system with six age-based ratings, complemented by 32 content descriptors that offer detailed information about a game, including the presence of everything from crude humor to tobacco references and animated blood.[4]
Similar to other forms of media, video games have been the subject of argument between leading professionals and restriction and prohibition. Often these bouts of criticism come from use of debated topics such as video game graphic violence, virtual sex, violent and gory scenes, partial or full nudity, portrayal of criminal behavior or other provocative and objectionable material.
Video games have also been studied for links to addiction and aggression. Several studies have found that video games do not contribute to these problems. Furthermore, several groups have argued that there are few if any scientifically proven studies to back up these claims, and that the video game industry has become an easy target for the media to blame for many modern day problems.[5][6][7] Furthermore, numerous researchers have proposed potential positive effects of video games on aspects of social and cognitive development and psychological well-being.[8] It has been shown that action video game players have better hand-eye coordination and visuo-motor skills, such as their resistance to distraction, their sensitivity to information in the peripheral vision and their ability to count briefly presented objects, than non-players.[9]
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that assigns age and content ratings, enforces industry-adopted advertising guidelines, and ensures responsible online privacy principles for computer and video games and other entertainment software in Canada and the United States.[10]
The Australian Classification Board (ACB) is a statutory classification body formed by the Australian Government which classifies films, video games and publications for exhibition, sale or hire in Australia since its establishment in 1970. The Australian Classification Board was originally incorporated in the Office of Film and Literature Classification which was dissolved in 2006. The Attorney-General's Department now provides administrative support to the Board. Decisions made by the Board may be reviewed by the Australian Classification Review Board.
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), originally British Board of Film Censors, is a non-governmental organisation, funded by the film industry and responsible for the national classification of films within the United Kingdom.[11] It has a statutory requirement to classify videos, DVDs and some video games under the Video Recordings Act 2010.[12]
The Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC, Māori: Te Tari Whakaropu Tukuata, Tuhituhinga) is the government agency in New Zealand that is responsible for classification of all films, videos, publications, and some video games in New Zealand. It was created by the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 (FVPC Act), replacing various film classification acts, and is an independent Crown Entity[13] in terms of the Crown Entities Act 2004. The head of the OFLC is called the Chief Censor, maintaining a title that has described the government officer in charge of censorship in New Zealand since 1916.
Pan European Game Information (PEGI) is a European video game content rating system established to help European parents make informed decisions on buying computer games with logos on games boxes. It was developed by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE) and came into use in April 2003; it replaced many national age rating systems with a single European system. The PEGI system is now used in more than thirty countries and is based on a code of conduct, a set of rules to which every publisher using the PEGI system is contractually committed. PEGI self-regulation is composed by five age categories and eight content descriptors that advise the suitability and content of a game for a certain age range based on the games content.[14] The age rating does not indicate the difficulty of the game or the skill required to play it.[15]
Finnish Board of Film Classification (In Finnish Valtion elokuvatarkastamo (VET), in Swedish Statens Filmgranskningsbyrå (SFB)) is the Finnish Board of Film Classification.
VET/SFB is an official institution of the Finnish Ministry of Education. It is responsible for inspecting and rating the content of movies and interactive games. Only material intended to be accessible to minors (those under 18 years of age) is subject to mandatory inspection before being released to the public; sex films do not need review though the board can watch it if they choose. A proper notification is usually sufficient for adult material, but the board has the right to inspect any material suspected of violating laws or material which was not properly notified of. Until 2001 VET also inspected material intended for adult audiences and could prevent releasing it in Finland if the board deemed it exceedingly violent.
Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK)(Self-Monitoring of Entertainment Software), is Germany's software rating organization founded in 1994.
The Department of Justice, Rating, Titles and Qualification (DJCTQ)(Departamento de Justiça, Classificação, Títulos e Qualificação in Portuguese) rates movies, games and television programs in Brazil. It is controlled by the Ministry of Justice (Ministério da Justiça).
The Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (特定非営利活動法人コンピュータエンターテインメントレーティング機構 Tokutei Hieiri Katsudō Hōjin Konpyūta Entāteinmento Rētingu Kikō) (CERO) is the organization that rates video games and PC games (except Dating sim, Visual novel, and Eroge) in Japan with levels of rating that informs the customer of the nature of the product and for what age group it is suitable. It was established on July 2002 as a branch of Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association, and became an officially recognized non-profit organization in 2003.
The Ethics Organization of Computer Software (一般社団法人コンピュータソフトウェア倫理機構 Ippan Shadan Hōjin Konpyūta Sofutowea Rinri Kikō) (EOCS) is the incorporated association that rates PC games (Dating sim, Visual novel, and Eroge) in Japan.
The Contents Soft Association (コンテンツ・ソフト協同組合 Kontentsu Sofuto Kyōdō Kumiai) (CSA) is the cooperatives that rates PC games (Dating sim, Visual novel, and Eroge) in Japan.
The Game Rating Board (게임물등급위원회 Geimmul Deung-Geub-Wiwonhoe) (GRB) is the South Korean video game content rating board. A governmental organization, the GRB rates video and computer games to inform customers of the nature of game contents.
The Computer Software Rating Regulation (電腦軟體分級辦法) (CSRR) is a rating system used in the Republic of China (Taiwan) for computer software, including computer/console/handheld games. Arcade game machines has a separate regulation and is not governed by the CSRR.
Entertainment Software Rating Association (Persian: اسرا) (ESRA) is a governmental video game content rating system that is used in Iran. Games that cannot be rated are considered illegal and cannot be sold.
The Independent Game Rating System (TIGRS) is a free self-rating system for video game entertainment products. Many developers and publishers of Internet-available games have decided by their own volition to rate their games in order to educate their audiences about potentially objectionable content in their games.[16]
Apple rates applications worldwide based on their content, and determines what age group each is appropriate for. According to the iPhone OS 3.0 launch event, the iPhone will allow blocking of objectionable apps in the iPhone's settings.
Newgrounds rates video games in their site to see what is suitable for that person. It is like the ESRB, but it has 4 ratings instead of 6.
The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers (ELSPA) was the former primary system used for age ratings in the United Kingdom, established in 1989 by video game software publishers and was put in force in 1994. Until 2002 it was known as the European Leisure Software Publishers Association since it was one of the first and strongest such trade bodies across Europe. Until 2010 it was known as the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers' Association (ELSPA). The system ceased to be used in 2003 and was replaced by PEGI, with the companies behind ELSPA no longer focusing on age ratings. In 2010 the organisation was closed and replaced by UK Interactive Entertainment Association (UKIE).[17]
A comparison of currently active game rating systems, showing age on the horizontal axis.
| Country/System | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Unknown | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESRB | eC | E | E10+ | T | M | Ao | RP | This was adopted on 1994 in North America. The E10+ rating was first used in early 2005. | ||||||||||||
| ACB | G | PG | M | MA15+ | R18+ | The restricted categories are MA15+ and R18+, the R18+ rating is to be introduced before the end of 2011. | ||||||||||||||
| BBFC | U | PG | 12 | 15 | 18/R18 | All ages may purchase a PG title, but parents are advised that certain content may be unsuitable for children under 8. | ||||||||||||||
| OFLCNZ | G | PG | R13 | R16 | R18 | All ages may purchase an M title, but parents are advised that the content is more suitable for mature persons 16 years and over. | ||||||||||||||
| M | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ELSPA[18] | 3+ | 7+ | 11+ | 12+ | 15+ | 16+ | 18+ | Does not classify videogames anymore for the UK. The PEGI and BBFC now have this duty. | ||||||||||||
| PEGI | 3+ | 7+ | 12+ | 16+ | 18+ | In Portugal, ratings differ from the PEGI standard, which was 4 and 6, instead of 3 and 7, respectively. | ||||||||||||||
| VET | 3+ | 7+ | 12+ | 16+ | 18+ | Adopted on January 1, 2007. | ||||||||||||||
| USK | Alle | 6 | 12 | 16 | 18 | Not formally recognized. | ||||||||||||||
| MJ/DEJUS | L | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | The same rating system is used for television and motion pictures in Brazil. | |||||||||||||
| CERO | A | B | C | D | Z | U | These ratings for video games in Japan have been used since March 1, 2006. Ratings A-D are actually unrestricted ratings. The Z rating is the only rating that is legally restricted. | |||||||||||||
| EOCS/CSA | General | R | 18+ | Used primarily for PC games (Dating sim, Visual novel and Eroge) | ||||||||||||||||
| GRB | ALL | 12 | 15 | 18 | Prior to 2006, video games released in South Korea were rated by KMRB. | |||||||||||||||
| MDA | ADV | M18 | Adopted on April 28, 2008. | |||||||||||||||||
| CSRR | 普 (General) |
保 (Protect) |
輔 (Counsel) |
限 (Restrict) |
unknown | Protect- and Counsel-rated games should be played with parent or guardian's supervision. | ||||||||||||||
| ESRA | +3 | +7 | +12 | +15 | +18 & +25 | Some games are forbidden. Games with Intense Violence, strong sexual content or Nudity are prohibited. | ||||||||||||||
| TIGRS | Family Friendly | Teen Content | Adult Content | Created for the use of games produced by independent developers | ||||||||||||||||
| Apple Inc. | 4+ | 9+ | 12+ | 17+ | Created for games distributed through Apple's App Store worldwide | |||||||||||||||
| Newgrounds | All ages/ Everyone | Teen | Mature | Adult | A content rating system developed in flash games by the website Newgrounds. The developer of the game decides the rating themselves. | |||||||||||||||
Explanations of specific ratings are available in corresponding articles.
The image below presents usage of various video game content rating systems around the world. Countries filled with gradients are using several rating systems.
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