Video game content rating system: Difference between revisions
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! {{flagicon|USA}} {{flagicon|Canada |
! {{flagicon|USA}} {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]] |
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Revision as of 16:13, 13 March 2010
- "12+" redirects here. For the educational examination in use in the UK, see Eleven plus exam.
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]
Comparison
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+ | Adult[4] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  ESRB
|
eC | E | E10+ | T | M | AO | |||||||||||||
 OFLCA
|
G | PG | M | (RC) | Games refused classification (RC) are banned for sale, hire or exhibition in Australia. M is a recommendation, MA15+ is a legal requirement. | ||||||||||||||
| MA15+ | |||||||||||||||||||
 OFLCNZ
|
G | PG | M | R13 | R16 | R18 | All ages may purchase an M title, but parents are advised that content is more suitable for mature persons 16 years of age and over. | ||||||||||||
 BBFC
|
UC | U | PG | 12 | 15 | 18 | All ages may purchase a PG title, but parents are advised that certain content may be unsuitable for children under 8. | ||||||||||||
| ELSPA[5]
|
3+ | 7+ | 12+ | 15+ | 16+ | 18+ | most commonly used across all continents | ||||||||||||
 PEGI
|
3+ | 7+ | 12+ | 16+ | 18+ | In Portugal, some ratings differ from the PEGI standard. | |||||||||||||
 VET
|
3+ | 7+ | 12+ | 16+ | 18+ | ||||||||||||||
 USK
|
Alle | 6 | 12 | 16 | 18 | ||||||||||||||
 MJ/DEJUS
|
ER / L | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | |||||||||||||
 CERO
|
A | B | C | D | Z | ||||||||||||||
| EOCS/CSA
|
General | R | 18+ | Used primarily for Bishōjo games | |||||||||||||||
 GRB
|
A | 12 | 15 | 18 | The KMRB no longer rates video games. | ||||||||||||||
 ESRA
|
+3 | +7 | +12 | +15& | +18&+25 | Some games are forbidden. | |||||||||||||
| TIGRS | Family Friendly | Teen Content | Adult Content | Created for the use of games produced by independent developers | |||||||||||||||
| Apple | 4+ | 9+ | 12+ | 17+ | Created for games distributed through Apple's App Store worldwide | ||||||||||||||
 CSRR
|
普 | 保 | 輔 | 限 | Blue and Yellow ratings need to be accompanied by teacher or guardian | ||||||||||||||
Explanations of specific ratings are available in corresponding articles.
Usage
The image below presents usage of various video game content rating systems around the world. Countries filled with gradients are using several rating systems.
See also
References
- ^ Dr. David Walsh (2000-03-21). "The Impact of Interactive Violence on Children: Testimony submitted to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-07-13.
- ^ Jerry Bonner (April 2008). "How to Fix the Ratings System: A former game rater lists six ways to bolster the Entertainment Software Rating Board," Electronic Gaming Monthly 227, 30-32.
- ^ "Kaufhof schafft Filme und Spiele für Erwachsene ab" (in German). Der Spiegel. 18 March 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
- ^ The age upon which an individual attains adulthood varies per country.
- ^ "computer and video games industry age ratings and codes of practice" (PDF). ELSPA. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7314751.stm
- http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/tiga-responds-to-byron-review
- http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ELSPA-concerned-by-Byron-proposals
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