Video Game Ratings for Parents
I recently came across a story that was posted on My719Moms.com that talked about a controversial new game called “We Dare”. The “We Dare” game trailer slogan dares you to “have a spicy evening!”. The commercial features a group of attractive men and women gathered together to play “We Dare” and shows scenes of them flirting with one another, kissing the Wii game controller and getting very close and physical. While the game is only going to be available in Europe the game trailer sparked some controversy in Europe because of the mature nature of the game that got a European 12+ rating and highlights a potential problem with our ESRB Video Game rating system.
This story also highlights why it is important for parents to understand what games their kids are playing. As a parent this can be difficult though, unless you are a gamer who actively follows the gaming industry. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a non-profit, self-regulatory body established in 1994 and assigns computer and video game content ratings. The rating system is voluntary, although virtually all games that are sold at retail in the U.S. and Canada are rated by the ESRB. Many retailers, including most major chains, have policies to only stock or sell games that carry an ESRB rating. This link will highlight the current rating system.
Even though video games come with this rating system, it is just a guide and sometimes it may not be in line with what you find appropriate for your children. Unfortunately this rating, just like a movie rating, is just a letter and does not give you much detail. As a parent you will want to know more about the games, and that is where the following two web sites can help.
The first web site is WhatTheyPlay.com and is a very well organized site that gives you a full detailed review on each game. The reviews break the game down into three sections: What the game is about, how you play it, and what the rating means. I think the most important piece of information is the last one where the reviews tries to examine why the game received the rating that it did. This is valuable information when trying to decide if your child should be allowed to play the game.
The second web site that I wanted to highlight was Common Sense Media. Here is another well organized web site that offers a review for all the popular games but breaks things down a lot better for you. Each review highlights the good things about the game, but then also highlights some things that you need to be aware of. Then they also offer a section that lays out what parents need to know. This breaks down the game into terms that you can understand and highlights key points that you as a parent can understand. There are also talking points that you can use to discuss with your kids if you allow them to play the game. Finally there is an interactive section of the review where other parents have been able to vote on the game and also leave comments about the game itself. This section allows you to see feedback from real parents and have some valuable information about the game that will help you make an informed decision.
Parents are put into a tough situation when it comes to deciding if a kid can play a video game. Most parents I talk with have no clue where to even begin, but most parents should be able to make a well educated decision by using the sites listed above. While your kids may not agree with your decision, at least now you have good information to give you the confidence in making the decision.