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Game Ratings & Descriptor Guide: ESRB Rating Symbols

The ESRB provides ratings and content descriptors for video games to help consumers, especially parents, make informed purchasing decisions. The ratings suggest age appropriateness and the descriptors indicate content elements that influenced the rating or may be of interest. It's important to check both the rating symbol and content descriptors for full information on a game's content. The ESRB assigns ratings based on factors like violence, language, sexual content and more.

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cisco012
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75 views

Game Ratings & Descriptor Guide: ESRB Rating Symbols

The ESRB provides ratings and content descriptors for video games to help consumers, especially parents, make informed purchasing decisions. The ratings suggest age appropriateness and the descriptors indicate content elements that influenced the rating or may be of interest. It's important to check both the rating symbol and content descriptors for full information on a game's content. The ESRB assigns ratings based on factors like violence, language, sexual content and more.

Uploaded by

cisco012
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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5/4/2011

Entertainment Software Rating Board

Game Ratings & Descriptor Guide


The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings are designed to provide
concise and impartial information about the content in computer and video games
so consumers, especially parents, can make an informed purchase decision.
ESRB ratings have two equal parts: rating symbols
(http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.jsp#rating_symbols) suggest age
appropriateness for the game and content descriptors
(http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.jsp#descriptors) indicate elements in
a game that may have triggered a particular rating and/or may be of interest or
concern.
To take full advantage of the ESRB rating system, it's important to check both the
rating symbol (on the front of the box) and the content descriptors (on the back).

ESRB Rating Symbols


EA RLY CHILDHOOD
Title s ra ted EC (Early Childhood) have co nte nt tha t m ay be suitable for
age s 3 and older. C ontains no m a terial that pa rents would find
inappro pria te.

EVERYONE
Title s ra ted E (Everyone) have content that m a y be suita ble for ages 6
and older. Titles in this cate gory m ay contain m inim al cartoon, fantasy
or m ild viole nce a nd/or infrequent use o f m ild language.

EVERYONE 10+
Title s ra ted E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) ha ve content that m a y be
suita ble for ages 10 a nd olde r. Title s in this ca tego ry m ay co nta in
m o re ca rto on, fa nta sy or m ild vio lence, m ild la nguage and/o r m inim al
suggestive them es.

TEEN
Title s ra ted T (Teen) have co nte nt tha t m ay be suitable for age s 13
and older. Titles in this cate gory m ay contain viole nce, sugge stive
the m e s, crude hum or, m inim al bloo d, sim ulate d gam bling, and/or
infrequent use of strong langua ge.

MA TURE
Title s ra ted M (Mature) ha ve content that m ay be suitable fo r perso ns
age s 17 and o lder. T itles in this catego ry m ay co ntain intense
violence , blood and gore , se xua l content and/or stro ng la nguage .

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Entertainment Software Rating Board


A DULTS ONLY
Title s ra ted A O (A dults Only) have co nte nt tha t should only be playe d
by perso ns 18 ye ars and older. Titles in this cate gory m a y include
pro longed sce nes of inte nse violence and/or gra phic sex ual co nte nt
and nudity.

RATING PENDING
Title s liste d a s RP (Rating Pending) have be en subm itte d to the ESR B
and are a waiting fina l ra ting. (This sym bol appears only in a dvertising
prio r to a ga m e 's re lease .)

ESRB Content Descriptors


Alcohol Reference - Reference to and/or images of alcoholic beverages
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
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
Crude Humor - Depictions or dialogue involving vulgar antics, including
bathroom humor
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
Mature Humor - Depictions or dialogue involving "adult" humor, including
sexual references
Nudity - Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity
Partial Nudity - Brief and/or mild depictions of nudity
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
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

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Entertainment Software Rating Board


Tobacco Reference - Reference to and/or images of tobacco products
Use of Drugs - The consumption or use of illegal drugs
Use of Alcohol - The consumption of alcoholic beverages
Use of Tobacco - The consumption of tobacco products
Violence - Scenes involving aggressive conflict. May contain bloodless
dismemberment
Violent References - References to violent acts
NOTE:
When a content descriptor is preceded by the term "Mild," it is intended to
convey low frequency, intensity or severity of the content it modifies.
C ontent descriptors are not intended to be a listing of every type of content one
might encounter in the course of playing a game. For more detail about how
ESRB assigns content descriptors, click here
(http://www.esrb.org/ratings/faq.jsp#12), or to learn how to access ESRB rating
summaries for detailed descriptions and specific examples of game content, click
here (http://www.esrb.org/ratingsummaries/).

Online Rating Notice


Online-enabled games carry the notice "Online Interactions Not Rated by the
ESRB." This notice warns those who intend to play the game online about possible
exposure to chat (text, audio, video) or other types of content created by other
players (e.g., maps, skins) that have not been considered in the ESRB rating
assignment.
For more helpful tips and resources, click here
(http://www.esrb.org/about/resources.jsp)

About Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)


The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory body
established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). ESRB
independently applies and enforces ratings, advertising guidelines, and online
privacy principles adopted by the industry.

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