US Senate to Change Game Rating System?

For those of you who aren’t already aware, in June, the US House of Representatives Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Subcommittee came together to discuss the issue of violent video games. During this conversation, many politicians seemed to have a negative opinion about the way the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) rates video games. Cliff Sterns (R-FL) had then proposed that they correct that system, and initiated the “Truth in Video Game Rating Act” (H.R. 5912). What does this act mean to us? Simply that the Federal Trade Commission would determine the future ratings of the video games we know and love.

Currently, ESRB determines game ratings by viewing a video tape of each game’s most offensive content, which is created by the publisher of the game. Sterns believes that the ratings need to incorporate the game’s entire content, and there should be rules set up that forbid the publisher from disclosing any information (about the game) from the rating system. His bill would also require the US General Accounting Office and the General Comptroller to research the effectiveness of the bill, and develop alternatives to the current ESRB rating system. One of these alternatives includes a general rating system for all music, movies, and games, and TV.

Now jump ahead to present day…

Yesterday, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) followed up on Stern’s bill and sent a similar bill to the Senate. Seems like this is a pretty serious topic. Anyways, the exact text of the bill hasn’t been released just yet, but Brownback seems to have the same concepts in mind that Sterns brought up. He said that watching a video tape of edits simply isn’t enough, and that his bill would “direct the Federal Trade Commission to require that reviewers consider the full content of a video game before issuing a rating.” His thoughts are also shared with Sterns, with the ideas of a possible general rating system.

Don’t think this is all going down without a fight though, the Entertainment Software Association has responded with President Douglas Lowenstein telling Sterns that his bill would not succeed, and that people would not be represented by the average American parents.

Since we are the gamers, we should have some input on what the ratings are, or how they work. What do you think? Should we incorporate more than just the basic “Everyone”, “Teen”, and “Mature” (besides some others)? Perhaps a “Pre-teen”, “Mature Teen”, or “Adult Only”? Are we ok with the current ratings, but just need to include more detailed research on games before the ratings go up? Tell us what you think!

For those of you who aren’t already aware, in June, the US House of Representatives Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Subcommittee came together to discuss the issue of violent video games. During this conversation, many politicians seemed to have a negative opinion about the way the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) rates video games. Cliff Sterns (R-FL) had then proposed that they correct that system, and initiated the “Truth in Video Game Rating Act” (H.R. 5912). What does this act mean to us? Simply that the Federal Trade Commission would determine the future ratings of the video games we know and love.

Currently, ESRB determines game ratings by viewing a video tape of each game’s most offensive content, which is created by the publisher of the game. Sterns believes that the ratings need to incorporate the game’s entire content, and there should be rules set up that forbid the publisher from disclosing any information (about the game) from the rating system. His bill would also require the US General Accounting Office and the General Comptroller to research the effectiveness of the bill, and develop alternatives to the current ESRB rating system. One of these alternatives includes a general rating system for all music, movies, and games, and TV.

Now jump ahead to present day…

Yesterday, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) followed up on Stern’s bill and sent a similar bill to the Senate. Seems like this is a pretty serious topic. Anyways, the exact text of the bill hasn’t been released just yet, but Brownback seems to have the same concepts in mind that Sterns brought up. He said that watching a video tape of edits simply isn’t enough, and that his bill would “direct the Federal Trade Commission to require that reviewers consider the full content of a video game before issuing a rating.” His thoughts are also shared with Sterns, with the ideas of a possible general rating system.

Don’t think this is all going down without a fight though, the Entertainment Software Association has responded with President Douglas Lowenstein telling Sterns that his bill would not succeed, and that people would not be represented by the average American parents.

Since we are the gamers, we should have some input on what the ratings are, or how they work. What do you think? Should we incorporate more than just the basic “Everyone”, “Teen”, and “Mature” (besides some others)? Perhaps a “Pre-teen”, “Mature Teen”, or “Adult Only”? Are we ok with the current ratings, but just need to include more detailed research on games before the ratings go up? Tell us what you think!