14 DAY TRIAL // The Entertainment Software Ratings Board website has been one of the most looked at websites when it comes to the Internet habits of videogame fans because of the fact that the organization sometimes leaked important information regarding upcoming games that it rates. Some crucial information related to the content of Grand Theft Auto 4 was leaked when the ESRB assigned its rating and recently, information regarding Wii Virtual Console and Wiiware games was also leaked from the ESRB.
But it seems that happy days are over as game publishers have been quietly talking to the ESRB about tightening some of its policies so that such leaks become history. A memo sent by the organization describes one of the measures designed to accomplish this objective.
The online submission form that publishers use to send game information to the ESRB is now getting a new field containing a date when the publisher feels that the game information can be made public. If the field is left blank, the ESRB will put the information up 30 days after the rating is assigned. If there's a date offered, the ESRB will keep the information published so as not to interfere with the marketing schedule of the game.
Their memo read that "while we recognize some publishers have concerns regarding earlier-than-desired 'announcements' of product on our website, the ESRB system will not work for consumers if publishers arbitrarily select dates bearing no reasonable relationship to consumer interest in the product".
The new measure might limit some of the information regarding upcoming releases, but most of the publishers will probably not bother to use the "embargo" date on the submission form. Probably only highly anticipated titles like Starcraft II or the next Call of Duty will get an ESRB date that is very close to the actual release.