Indiantelevision.com's Kidology
 
 
Parents in the US increasingly using ESRB Ratings to restrict video games kids play
 
Indiantelevision.com Team
(7 May 2007 2:00 pm)
 

MUMBAI: Research in the US shows shows that
parents are increasingly becoming more restrictive when it comes to limiting the video games their children play according to a study commissioned by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB).

The study found that six in 10 parents (60 per cent) with children under 18 never allow their children to play games rated M for Mature, while 34 per cent only do so sometimes.

Moreover, parents of children under the age of 13 are twice as likely as those with children 13 and older to never allow them to play M-rated games. The ESRB study surveyed over 500 parents who have purchased a computer or video game in the last six monthsand have children age 3 to 17 that play video games.

Nearly 90 per cent of American parents with children who play video games are aware of the ESRB ratings, and 85 per cent use them regularly when buying games for their families -- both of which increased from the same study conducted last year. In fact, three in four parents (73 per cent) reported checking the ESRB rating every time before deciding whether to purchase or rent a game for their child, an increase of 10 percentage points over
last year.

ESRB president Patricia Vance says, "It's extremely encouraging that the vast majority of parents are involved and informed when it comes to choosing which games are appropriate for their families. The ratings continue to be a very important, if not the most important tool to help parents make an informed decision, and it's clear that parents are using and relying on them in growing numbers."

Among the study's other findings:

-- 87 per cent of parents find it very important to be able to monitor and regulate what their children watch, read and play

-- 90 per cent of parents surveyed said that the ratings are very (55 per cent) to somewhat (35 per cent) helpful in helping them buy and rent games they deem
appropriate for their children

-- Other than ESRB ratings, parents turn to packaging (31 per cent), other parents (29 per cent), or their children (21 per cent) as the top three sources of information about games.

-- 83 per cent said that they would consider parental control settings to be very (53 per cent) to somewhat (30 per cent) helpful in allowing them to control the games their kids play

The ESRB rating system includes six age-based rating categories: EC (Early Childhood) for ages 3+; E (Everyone) for ages 6+; E10+ (Everyone 10 and older); T (Teen) for ages 13+; M (Mature) for ages 17+; and AO (Adults
Only) which indicates that the game should only be played by adults age 18 and older. The rating is found on the front of virtually every game sold at retail in the US.

The rating system also includes over 30 content descriptors, found next to the rating on the back of game packages, which describe content in the game that may be of interest or concern to parents or may have triggered a rating category, including violence, sexual content, language, use or depiction of controlled substances, and gambling.
 
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