They also get a DVD of the pertinent content so they can judge it for themselves. Are the raters - and there are at least three of them for every game - just looking at the box? Nope, they're actually given a detailed report from a publisher about the pertinent content in the game - 'pertinent' meaning the content that is considered the most extreme, as well as the overall game in context. The panel of ESRB raters does not actually play the game. But you might be surprised to learn how the ESRB assigns ratings - or, -more specifically, how they don't. This is all fine and good - and pretty easily understood.

titles are rated, since the majority of stores that sell games will only carry those with ratings. So if a studio or publisher wanted, it could theoretically pass on the whole process and just call the game unrated. Second, you might not realize that video game ratings are accepted on a purely volunteer basis - as are movies, for that matter.

First of all, 74 percent of moms play video games, so the stereotype of the nagging, out-of-touch mother - at least as it pertains to video games - can probably be abandoned. What the industry needs to do is come to your house and convince your parent or guardian that playing 'Minecraft' will, eventually, build character.Īll right, we kid. In other words, Big Game - aka the gaming industry - may be wasting its time lobbying Congress or other corporate interests to deregulate the industry for more mass appeal. Everybody knows that video games are regulated by your mom, who steadfastly believes that gaming as a legitimate pastime pales in comparison to reading or playing outside.

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