Do parents understand the esrb ratings system?

[Lost In The Void]

Meh my parents were good with pretty much any game by the time I was 13 save for GTA, and sex games. Now that I'm 18 it doesn't really matter anymore, but I think that this system works quite well

 

[Hollock]

i had mortal kombat when i was 5 so no

 

[Robert632]

I think a better question is "Do Parents Care About The ESRB Ratings System?"

i think the better question is "do we need another parents not caring about esrb rating thread?"

seriously though, they just want to have a happy kid...who enjoy's murdering people.

 

[vampirekid.13]

I for one have had to answer many questions my uncle has about games for his son because he doesnt understand it. Not to mention the kids that live wit their grandparents or anyone who is not in touch with technology. So my question is should the explanations on the back of the box rating square be more specific? KInd of like how movies have the "and a scene of teen drinking" thing.

lol, esrb is a bad system, i know R Rated movies id let my kids watch at 13ish...


why do ppl take that system seriously anyway?

 

[RemoteControlRox]

So my question is should the explanations on the back of the box rating square be more specific? KInd of like how movies have the "and a scene of teen drinking" thing.

There are explanations for what the game was rated for on the back of the box, actually. Unless they've stopped doing that for some reason.

 

[walls of cetepedes]

My parents know it is there, and they respect it. They know I'm mature enough to play most games though, but they draw the line at GTA.

Basically the same. My Dad wouldn't let me play San Andreas until I was 14.
Also, he plays Gears of War with me, so what does that say?

 

[Mr. Tibbles]

The rating system is a moot point because kids always want what they are told they cant have. And because most people just dont care. Either way kids can get ahold of the games regardless. Xbox live is proof of that.

 

[gavinator93]

To be honest i think most games have the wrong ratings anyway, take left4dead as an example, the only reason it gets to be an 18 is because it has "frequent strong bloody violence and gore." and having played it alot, the gore doesnt really seem that strong or you dont notice it at all because A)its too dark to see much most of the time and B) your'e to busy tring to not die to take any notice of it. and the actual gore is worthy of about a 15 anyway.

similar thing with halo, it derserves a 12 at most.

 

[walls of cetepedes]

... I am left with my annoying brother and friend who keeps telling me to get a 360.

Punch them, and feel happy that you get to play games from my favourite series, and I don't.

 

[Motti]

In Australia, the game rating system is the same as the system for film (albeit missing a much-needed R18+ rating) so it's a lot easier to understand for parents, not that many probably care.

 

[DeathsAmbassador]

My parents understands, but they don't care at all.

 

[sanomaton]

Huh, well I guess the PEGI ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_European_Game_Information ) is a bit easier for people who don't really know about these kinds of ratings, because they directly state the recommended age (12, 16, 18, whatever) instead of a letter that represents an age-rating.

I guess the ESRB could replace their code with numbers, too, to make it easier for people out of touch of media/technology.

-snip-

I've been trying to find out what these "Rated R" and "Rated M" letterings mean and I still don't know what they mean. And if I can't get into those how can a parent who doesn't get in touch with technology much? I second this thought, maybe ESRB could change into the same system as Europe.

As for my parents, they don't really care what kind of games I play. (I'm turning 18 soon enough anyway)

 

[Sir Ollie]

When I was younger nope, my parents let me play Resident Evil, Silent Hill when I was 6/7. Its not like I went on a zombie killing spree......yet.

 

[Bhuggy]

My mom? She would've bought me anything as long as I paid her back in extra chores... ;D

ditto!

 

[NAKEDsnake2010]

So my question is should the explanations on the back of the box rating square be more specific? KInd of like how movies have the "and a scene of teen drinking" thing.

There are explanations for what the game was rated for on the back of the box, actually. Unless they've stopped doing that for some reason.

It doesnt really explain what it is though. LIke halo having blood on the back but all it is is alien blood. Im saying have a more concrete definition on the back

 

[RemoteControlRox]

So my question is should the explanations on the back of the box rating square be more specific? KInd of like how movies have the "and a scene of teen drinking" thing.

There are explanations for what the game was rated for on the back of the box, actually. Unless they've stopped doing that for some reason.

It doesnt really explain what it is though. LIke halo having blood on the back but all it is is alien blood. Im saying have a more concrete definition on the back

Ah, right, like "Cartoon Violence"? Usually it seems that the brief summations do a somewhat decent job of describing a broad amount of things that you encounter in a game. Strong language, level of violence or gore factor... It's not an in-detail list, but usually it doesn't have to be. There are actually cartoons that have a warning aired before them for "flirtatious dialogue," and in a similar way it covers a broad range while still being specific enough to hazard a guess at what the content of the show might contain. Just like a scene with a teen drinking in a game could be covered under a warning of "drug and alcohol use."
And alien or not, blood is still blood.

 

[Antlers]

Working at a gamestop, one starts to notice that some parents won't buy a game if it has an M rating even if that M rating is from purple alien blood, while others will buy their kids the bloodiest, verbally filthiest game there is as long as there is no sexual or sensual content. I even saw a parent buying his kid Leisure Suit Larry. When I told him its contents, he was all like, "yeah, but there's no violence is there?" Some parents are extremely protective on some things and lax on others. My mom? She would've bought me anything as long as I paid her back in extra chores... ;D

Haha I completely noticed that working in a game shop! This one mother was buying GTA San Andreas for her kid and I said 'you know... this is a pretty violent game' (we were obliged to say this, as you probably know, and her kid was about 10).
'Oh it's ok. He sees this stuff on tv. He knows it's not real.'
'Well loads of the missions are gunning people down...'
'Ah he knows. It's ok.'
'There are prostitutes in it.'
'WHAT?'

How is that worse?!