ESA Not Happy With A Universal Rating System Option
On August 31 the FCC will be reporting to Congress about media blocking and rating methods. The report will be the first step of the FCC's inquiry into a universal rating system encompassing television, mobile devices, and video games. It's all for the children. Won't anyone think of the children?
The ESA however (who has been thinking of the children for years) isn't buying into the idea of a universal rating system, and issued a stern "Thanks, but no thanks," statement.
"The ESA appreciates the FCC and its important role. However, the ESRB rating system is considered by parents, family advocates, the Federal Trade Commission, and elected officials as the gold standard in providing caregivers with the information they need to make the right choices for their families," said Rich Taylor, senior vice president for communications and industry affairs, at the ESA. "Universal ratings will, in the end, only serve to confuse consumers, violate the Constitution's first amendment, and are a solution in search of a problem."
The legal side of the argument seems to be all up in arms about first amendment rights, but I think that's getting ahead of the argument a bit. Personally I'm more concerned about how practical and effective a universal rating system would be in the first place. Television, cell phones, and video games are such vastly different forms of media that I cannot picture a rating system that covers all of them in a complete and informed manner. In essence, a universal rating system would only be able to rate video games on their visual aspects since that it what it shares with television and cell phone media, essentially removing the interactive element of games from the equation. Is it the same experience to watch someone play a video game as it is to play the game yourself? No. So why should the two experiences be rated as the same?
If the point of a ratings system is to inform parents so they are not buying objectionable content for their children, then I would much rather have a rating system that is specific to each form of media rather than a catch-all rating system that covers more ground but does a half-assed job in each area. But maybe parents do want uninformed and incomplete ratings to protect their children. I don't have kids, so what do I know?
U.S. Will Consider Single Rating System for TV, Phones, Games [Bloomberg]
NaviFairy
Posted to Hot Stuff, Video Games on 28 August 2009
· Comments (5)
Other stuff like this: bad idea, congress, ESA, FCC, rating system, ratings
Why is the government so interested in indulging parents who are too spineless to talk to their own children? That little bit of initiative would solve every problem that seeing violence and adult themes could possibly cause, but nooooo.
I have to dissagree. I think a universal system could greatly benefit and be less confusing.
I do have to think about kids and I think having multiple ratings systems causes confusion. for example, whats the difference between TV-14 on TV and a T rated video game and a PG-13 Movie? I assume they are all similar, but why is TV for 14 year olds, but movies are ok for 13 year olds?
Also, not to be mean, but your example above stating how ones a visual non interactive media and another you play, so they shouldn't be rated the same. I'm not sure about others, but an M rated game is an M rated game, im not going to let mykid watch an M rated game being played just because he's not holding the controller. Nor let him watch an R rated movie until the content is more appropriate for his age.
I think (and hope# that the FCC sees how effective the ESRB is at what they do #they have the best easiest to understand and most clear ratings system of all# they would set up a similar program for movies and television #staffing qualified people# and just utilize the same ratings #E,E10,T,M,AO# it may not be the same experience playing a game vs watching a show, but whats appropriate for the average 10 year old or Teen, can be classifed in both forms of media. I really think that would make it less confusing, not more. That way, I can tell my kids they can watch or play anything with a Teen rating #after running it by a parent#, and know that most the time, the content is going to be age appropriate for the medium.
Can't we have it all? Uiversal ratings #so we can understand them better)provided by speacialists in each media types feild?
@Zacqary Adam Green
It's not that simple. They want a universal rating, so that you could for example turn on a block for all content Teen or above on your tv and gaming system and not have to worry (kids like to try and watch things their parents dont want them to# and parents are always right next to their kids, when their flipping through channels or staying up late playing games with friends who bring things over from households that do not share the same ideas on whats appropriate for their kids.
I can say as someone with kids, I very much appriciate the ratings system as i dont have time to watch every movie or show or play every game before my kids do. But I can read the box or check the details and tell them that they cant play or view something because of the content.
I'm guessing you dont have kids based on your tone. I was probably the same way before I had to think about that kind of stuff. The truth is I do talk to the kids about the content that we view. We talk about the sex or swearing or violence that may be included and I use sites like commonsensemedia.org to get a more detailed example, so I don't have to go through that akward moment where a girl looses her top #breif nudity is sometimes breasts and sometimes butt just FYI).
So please dont assume that this is happening because parents arent talking to their kids about content, its just a helpful tool for those of us parents who do care about what they are exposed to controll what goes on when we arent around.
I don't really want a universal rating system, but I want the ESRB to change their ratings names. They really need to get rid of the "mature" rating--it's misleading and counter-productive.
@boy1der1983
Not really, just the government sticking their noses in where its not wanted.