Friday, 04 March 2005

Video Games get a new ratingA new video game rating category, E10+ (Everyone 10 and older), was introduced this week by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) in order to give parents more guidance when determining the age appropriateness of a particular video game title.

Nintendo' s Donkey Jungle Beat will be one of the first to receive this new rating.

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory body set up by the industry in response to the rising tide of video game violence in the the early 1990' s.

The board is not a government organization rather it independently applies and enforces ratings, advertising guidelines, and online privacy principles adopted by the industry. The ESRB says it rates over 1,000 games per year.

The board said that " E10+" would mark games that might contain " moderate amounts of cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes." Games appropriate for all ages will continue to receive an E ( Everyone ) rating.

In a statement issued this week, the ESRB said it had consulted numerous child development experts and academicians in creating the E10+ category and found broad agreement with its introduction and the theory underlying it.

" Given the significant developmental differences between very young and teen-age children, the E10+ category will be very useful for parents," added Dr. Ralph I. Lopez, Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Cornell Medical College, and Author of " The Teen Health Book: A Parent' s Guide to Adolescent Health and Well-Being."

" We expect that many of the best selling sports, racing, and adventure games will continue to receive E ratings appropriate for ages six and older," said Vance. " Games with content that may not be suitable for younger ages of six to nine, such as racing games with more extreme crashes or fighting games with super heroes, will now receive an E10+ rating," Vance explained.

Video games now have six ratings which range from " EC" for early childhood to " AO" for adults only.

Parents should note that the ratings are meant to be a guide and may not always be in line your views.

Digital Home Canada recommends parents still take the time to examine any video game your child buys to ensure it meets with your approval.


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