Entertainment Software Rating Board
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| Entertainment Software Rating Board | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Canada United States Mexico |
| Website | www.esrb.org |
The Entertainment Software Rating Board, or ESRB, is an organization that applies ratings for video games in the Americas. It started in 1994. The ESRB rates games based on the graphic material, language, references to alcohol, violence, and so on. Some content descriptors are listed below, along with games that have gotten them. Few games get the rating Early Childhood and Adults Only, unless they were specifically made for that target audience (other than the infamous Hot Coffee incedent with GTA: SA for the PS2.).
Contents |
Ratings
Edit
The symbols ESRB uses are stylized alphabetical letters meant to indicate the game's suitability.
Unrestricted ratingsEdit
| Abbreviation | Rating | Active since | Description | Examples | Age suitable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Early Childhood (EC) Ninos Pequenos  Jeunes Enfants  | 1994 | Titles rated Early Childhood have content that may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate. | 3+ | |
 | Everyone (E) Todos Enfants et Adultes | 1998 | Titles rated Everyone have content that may be suitable for ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language. | Mario Kart Wii | 6+ |
 | Everyone 10+ (E10+) Todos +10 Enfants et Adultes 10+ | 2004 | Titles rated Everyone 10 and older have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes. | Mario Strikers Charged | 10+ |
 | Teen (T) Adolescentes Adolescents | 1994 | Titles rated Teen have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language. | Super Smash Bros. Brawl | 13+ |
Restricted ratingsEdit
| Abbreviation | Rating | Active since | Description | Examples | Age suitable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mature 17+ (M) Maduro +17 Jeunes Adultes | 1994 | Titles rated Mature have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language. | killer7 | 17+ |
 | Adults Only (AO) Adultos Unicamente Adultes Seulement | 1994 | Titles rated Adults Only have content that should only be played by persons 18 years and older. Titles in this category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity. None of Nintendo games are ever rated by AO (rated M instead). 21 games have kept this rating (none of them are released on Nintendo). | None. | 18+ |
Other ratingsEdit
| Abbreviation | Rating | Active since | Description | Examples | Age Suitable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating Pending (RP) Aun Sin Calificar Cote en Attente | 1994 | Titles listed as RP (Rating Pending) have been submitted to the ESRB and are awaiting final rating. (This symbol appears only in advertising prior to a game's release.) | Upcoming games. | Any. |
(No Symbol) | This product does not require age classification. | N/A | This is for titles that are not recognized by the ESRB as games. | Applications E-Books Non-Game Software | Any |
Former ratingsEdit
| Abbreviation | Rating | Active | Description | Examples | Age suitable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Kids to Adults (K-A) | 1994–1998 | These titles will appeal to people of many ages and tastes. Titles in this category may contain minimal violence, some comic mischief (i.e. slapstick and gross-out comedy), or some crude language. Examples are Castlevania: Dracula X, Super Mario 64, Tetris and Diddy Kong Racing. This rating got replaced in the year 1998 by the E rating, which replaced all previously rated games that were Kids to Adults. | Mario Kart 64 | 6+ |
ContentEdit
| Rating | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol Reference | Reference to and/or images of alcoholic beverages. | Conker's Bad Fur Day |
| Animated Blood | Discolored and/or unrealistic depictions of blood. | |
| Blood | Depictions of blood. | |
| Blood and Gore | Depictions of blood or the mutilation of body parts. | Call of Duty: Black Ops |
| Cartoon Violence | Violent actions involving cartoon-like situations and characters. May include violence where a character is unharmed after the action has been inflicted. | |
| Comic Mischief | Depictions or dialogue involving slapstick or suggestive humor. | Super Mario 64 |
| Crude Humor | Depictions or dialogue involving vulgar antics, including “bathroom” humor. | Conker's Bad Fur Day |
| Drug Reference | Reference to and/or images of illegal drugs. | |
| Fantasy Violence | Violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or non-human characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life. | |
| Intense Violence | Graphic and realistic-looking depictions of physical conflict. May involve extreme and/or realistic blood, gore, weapons and depictions of human injury and death. | |
| Language | Mild to moderate use of profanity. | |
| Lyrics | Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol or drug use in music. | Conker's Bad Fur Day |
| Mature Humor | Depictions or dialogue involving "adult" humor, including sexual references. | |
| Nudity | Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity. | BMX XXX |
| Partial Nudity | Brief and/or mild depictions of nudity. | Aliens: Infestation |
| Real Gambling | Player can gamble, including betting or wagering real cash or currency. | |
| Sexual Content | Non-explicit depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including partial nudity. | Conker's Bad Fur Day |
| Sexual Themes | References to sex or sexuality. | |
| Sexual Violence | Depictions of rape or other violent sexual acts. | |
| Simulated Gambling | Player can gamble without betting or wagering real cash or currency. | |
| Strong Language | Explicit and/or frequent use of profanity. | |
| Strong Lyrics | Explicit and/or frequent references to profanity, sex, violence, alcohol or drug use in music. | |
| Strong Sexual Content | Explicit and/or frequent depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including nudity. | |
| Suggestive Themes | Mild provocative references or materials. | |
| Tobacco Reference | Reference to and/or images of tobacco products. | The Kore Gang |
| Use of Alcohol | The consumption of alcoholic beverages. | Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns |
| Use of Drugs | The consumption or use of illegal drugs. | True Crime: New York City |
| Use of Tobacco | The consumption of tobacco products. | Doctor Lautrec and the Forgotten Knights |
| Violence | Scenes involving aggressive conflict. May contain bloodless dismemberment. | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3: Defiance |
| Violent References | References to violent acts. | Jewel Link Chronicles: Mountains of Madness |
Where ESRB is UsedEdit
| Country | Notes |
|---|---|
| American Samoa | Follows U.S. customs |
| Argentina | |
| Bahamas | |
| Belize | |
| Bermuda | |
| Bolivia | |
| Brazil | Used along DJCTQ ratings. |
| British Virgin Islands | Follows U.S. customs |
| Canada | ESRB is officially adopted and legislation is in place to enforce the age classification in shops where video games are sold. Used alongside PEGI ratings on French language games. |
| Chile | |
| Colombia | |
| Costa Rica | |
| Ecuador | |
| El Salvador | |
| French Guiana | |
| Guam | Follows U.S. customs |
| Guatemala | |
| Guyana | |
| Honduras | |
| Mexico | ESRB is officially adopted and legislation is in place to enforce the age classification in shops where video games are sold. |
| Nicaragua | |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Follows U.S. customs |
| Panama | |
| Paraguay | |
| Peru | |
| Puerto Rico | Follows U.S. customs |
| Samoa | Follows U.S. customs |
| Suriname | |
| United States | ESRB is officially adopted and legislation is in place to enforce the age classification in shops where video games are sold. |
| United States Virgin Islands | Follows U.S. customs |
| Uruguay | |
| Venezuela |
TriviaEdit
The first game ever to be rated E-10 was Nintendo's Donkey Kong Jungle Beat for the GameCube.
See alsoEdit
- List of games by ESRB rating
- Computer Entertainment Rating Organization
- Pan European Game Information
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