Game Ratings Open Consumers' Eyes

As a parent in today's era of high technology, you constantly are faced with decisions regarding your child's development. These choices can seem especially daunting when you are buying or renting software for children to use on computer- and video-game systems. With an amazing number of software titles on the market, how can you know that you are choosing the right game for your child's age and development level?

To help provide parents and consumers with objective information so that they can make informed decisions regarding software, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has developed a standardized rating system for interactive entertainment software. The ESRB is an independent rating system which was established by the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), the leading trade association for the interactive entertainment software industry. The ESRB is a voluntary rating system which gives information about the content of video and computer games so that consumers can make knowledgeable purchase and rental decisions. Be aware that the ESRB ratings are based only on the product's content, not on other qualities like game play or graphics.

The system offers two kinds of visual representations of the ratings. The first is called the Rating Symbols. These symbols/icons can be found on the lower left- or right-hand corner on the front of the software box. These icons offer - at a quick glance - the rating given to your purchase.

* Early childhood - the content is suitable for persons age 3 and older.
* Everyone - the content is suitable for persons age 6 and older.
* Teen - the content is suitable for persons age 13 and older.
* Mature - the content is suitable for persons age 17 and older.
* Adults only - the content is suitable only for adults.
* Rating pending - the product has been submitted to the ESRB and is awaiting final rating.

In addition to the rating icons, check the lower left- or right-hand corner on the back of the box for Content Descriptors. This offers content information about the product in terms of violence, sexual themes, suggestive language and other areas that may be of interest to consumers. If there is no content descriptor on the back of the box, it means that the board believes that the product does not include content that must be highlighted. An example of some content descriptors are:

* Mild realistic violence - contains scenes depicting characters in unsafe or hazardous acts or violent situations in photographic detail.
* Animated blood - animated/pixilated or cartoon-like depictions of blood.
* Gaming - depiction of betting-like behavior.
* Strong language - commonly referenced 4-letter words.
* Mature sexual themes - contains provocative material, including depictions of the human body in either animated or photographic-like formats.
* Edutainment - content provides user with specific skills development or reinforcement learning within an entertainment setting. Development skills are an integral part of the product.

For more information on the ESRB's rating system, call (800) 771-ESRB or visit www.esrb.org on the Internet.

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