14 DAY TRIAL // The Entertainment Software Rating Board, a non-profit independent organization which awards ratings to more than 1,000 video games to help customers with their decisions, has announced that it is implementing a new program which will have the task of rating digitally-distributed console-based video games.
The program takes into account violence, sexuality, drug use and other subjects that may offend, just as humans would do, with each developer asked to complete a questionnaire and penalties for those who do not fully disclose the content of their games.
The system will apply to titles for Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, WiiWare and DSiWare and the ESRB did not say whether the system might be expanded to other releases.
The boards of the ESRB sought to eliminate any fears about games getting a wrong rating, saying in a statement that, “All games rated via this new process will be tested by ESRB staff shortly after they are made publicly available to verify that disclosure was complete and accurate.”
Patricia Vance, who is the serving president of the ESRB, has added, “The ESRB rating process that has been in use since 1994 was devised before the explosion in the number of digitally delivered games and devices on which to play them. These games, many of which tend to be casual in nature, are being produced in increasing numbers, by thousands of developers, and generally at lower costs.”
She says that the automated process to be used is very close to what human employees do and that no major errors are expected.
Recently, the ESRB has offered information about the video games that were launched during last year, showing that the majority of titles got an E for Everyone rating, which as the name suggests means that there are no major offensive elements in the game, with just 5 percent of all launches getting the M for Mature rating.