Ratings in movies and videogames.

[marurun]

MPAA movie ratings aren't law, either, despite the fact that they are uniformly enforced. Look at the 2011 documentary film Bully. It was originally assigned an R because of content... filmed documenting grade school bullies. So the kids who really needed to see the film to be aware of the subject matter couldn't see it, since the R rating is largely enforced. The MPAA refused to come down to a PG-13, even with several cuts, until the Weinstein Company decided to go without the MPAA rating and release it unrated. Most theaters won't show unrated films, but AMC decided they would buck that trend and show it, even allowing kids to watch it with parental permission. This caused the MPAA to backpedal and work with the Weinstein Company because they complained that if the theaters didn't enforce the voluntary rating system it would become meaningless.

Hell, this directly contradicts the idea of a voluntary ratings system. If it only works if it is uniform, it isn't really voluntary. Either that or it isn't really effective. Either way, the MPAA system is effective censorship, even if it isn't government-sponsored. And unlike most government policies (most, alas, but not all), it isn't transparent at all. Guessing what the MPAA will rate a movie is like reading tea leaves, because the MPAA won't talk about their ratings guidelines or the people who are on the ratings committees.

If the ESRB becomes this big and bad, what will be left?

[BoneSnapDeez]

I don't see why a 10+ kid shouldn't play Diablo 3 or Bionic Commando.

This is the type of stuff that everyone seems to say before they actually have children.

I like the ESRB just fine. Glad we have the E10+ rating now, before that so many games were either overrated or underrated (E was probably too low for Ocarina of Time, T was too high for Final Fantasy Chronicles, etc...).

[J T]

For those interested in the MPAA process in all its flawed glory, I recommend this movie:

This Film is Not Yet Rated

[oxymoron]

I don't see why a 10+ kid shouldn't play Diablo 3 or Bionic Commando.

This is the type of stuff that everyone seems to say before they actually have children.

I like the ESRB just fine. Glad we have the E10+ rating now, before that so many games were either overrated or underrated (E was probably too low for Ocarina of Time, T was too high for Final Fantasy Chronicles, etc...).

Let's put our difference about the ESRB aside. Do you think big name stores should enforce like a law?

[Hobie-wan]

Let's put our difference about the ESRB aside. Do you think big name stores should enforce like a law?

Like a law? No, but some parents are pretty stupid when the ratings can be helpful. They'll tell someone to shut up and sell the damn M game to their 8 year old, then pitch a fit when they find out what it is like.

[oxymoron]

Let's put our difference about the ESRB aside. Do you think big name stores should enforce like a law?

Like a law? No, but some parents are pretty stupid when the ratings can be helpful. They'll tell someone to shut up and sell the damn M game to their 8 year old, then pitch a fit when they find out what it is like.

Yes, there will be stupid parents and store clerks but does that mean we should all get punished for them? Imo, no.

[Erik_Twice]

The goal of video game rating systems is to protect the industry from external intervention and in that regard they are pretty successful. Sure, you still can't show blood in Germany and there are many problems in the United States but they have prevented many censorship laws from coming into place.

As far as the ratings themselves go, they are all bollocks. Violence is overrated to ludcicrous degrees (Portal = 16+) and showing a tit gives you an automatic Adults Only rating (Meaning retailer ban in the US so no AO games are made). They are ultraconservative and backwards.

[BoringSupreez]

The goal of video game rating systems is to protect the industry from external intervention and in that regard they are pretty successful. Sure, you still can't show blood in Germany and there are many problems in the United States but they have prevented many censorship laws from coming into place.

As far as the ratings themselves go, they are all bollocks. Violence is overrated to ludcicrous degrees (Portal = 16+) and showing a tit gives you an automatic Adults Only rating (Meaning retailer ban in the US so no AO games are made). They are ultraconservative and backwards.

No. Far Cry 3 proves otherwise. It may have once been that way, but not anymore.

[ZeroAX]

I'm more curious how anyone plans to enforce ratings in the age of digital distribution. It's not even about parental controls on the machine. If the rating agencies can't force the film/game publisher to get their products rated by them to get a release (with all the "X won't show/sell this without a rating" thing gone out of the way), how will they keep on existing?

[oxymoron]

I'm more curious how anyone plans to enforce ratings in the age of digital distribution. It's not even about parental controls on the machine. If the rating agencies can't force the film/game publisher to get their products rated by them to get a release (with all the "X won't show/sell this without a rating" thing gone out of the way), how will they keep on existing?

I'm pretty sure the ESRB will still exist. It'll be like when you rent a "R" rated film from Redbox. When you add the film to your cart a screen pops up and asks you to check a box confirming you are 17+. Like Norris said, without the ESRB/PEGI type organisations censorship would be imminent. I don't see why any gamer would want that.