 The
Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has introduced a new streamlined
rating process for games that will only be sold and downloaded through console
and handheld storefronts such as Microsoft Xbox LIVE Arcade, Nintendo Wii, or
DSi™ Shop and Sony PlayStation Store.
These games will receive the same recognizable ESRB ratings via a process whose
efficiency and ease of use provides the scalability necessary to address the
steady increase of games delivered digitally across an ever-expanding multitude
of new devices and outlets.
Publishers of these downloadable games will complete a
different submission form than is used for all other games. The
new form contains a series of multiple choice questions designed
to assess content across all relevant categories, such as
violence, sexual content and language, among others. The
questions also address important contextual factors such as the
game's realism and visual style, its incentives (i.e., whether a
certain action is meant to be avoided or results in failure),
the player's perspective (i.e., omniscient, distant or third
person vs. immersed, close-up or first person), and more. The
responses provided determine the game's rating, which is issued
to the publisher as soon as a DVD reflecting all disclosed
content is received by ESRB.
All other types of games will continue to undergo the
traditional rating process, which involves completion of a more
open-ended questionnaire and review of a content DVD by a
minimum of three raters who reach consensus on the appropriate
rating.
The ESRB rating process that has been in use since 1994
was devised before the explosion in the number of digitally
delivered games and devices on which to play them. These games,
many of which tend to be casual in nature, are being produced in
increasing numbers, by thousands of developers, and generally at
lower costs, said ESRB president Patricia Vance. This new
rating process considers the very same elements weighed by our
raters. The biggest difference is in our ability to scale this
system as necessary while keeping our services affordable and
accessible.
All games rated via this new process will be tested by ESRB
staff shortly after they are made publicly available to verify
that disclosure was complete and accurate. In the event that
content was not fully disclosed during this process, the rating
displayed in the console or handheld store will be promptly
corrected. In egregious cases of nondisclosure – which include a
deliberate effort to misinform the ESRB – the game and - more -
all of its promotional materials will be removed from the store
through which it is being sold, pending its resubmission to ESRB.
|
ESRB is a US trade
organisation that assigns the age and content ratings displayed on all
computer and video games, enforces marketing guidelines, and advises on
online privacy issues.
