What do you think of the ESRB rating system?

[Guilherme Zoldan]

And rating systems in general for that matter. Personally I think that these kinds of things shouldn't even exist. Let the kids see the silly gore and sex and they'll eventually just realize that its rather shallow entertainment.
Then again these rating systems are a descent defense against the mobs of angry parents who want the government to regulate games.

 

[TheIronRuler]

It's better than regulating titles when they're in pre-production.
I was 6 when I saw my first decapitation and various lose of limbs, A few scenes later I saw a full nudity scene with men and women.
Yes.
Sat there with my father. Nothing weird about that.
Go Starship Troopers.

 

[SomeLameStuff]

Well, I don't really support it, but I do agree that it is somewhat necessary. I'm more of a "ratings as guidelines" kind of person, that the ratings warn people of the content, but the person can buy said game if he really wants to.

 

[BrailleOperatic]

Personally, I think they're a good idea. They tell you a lot about a video game may not know much about. And frankly, a lot of people will buy games knowing little more than what's on the box. The box art can be deceptive. Without ratings imagine how many people would have purchased Conker's Bad Fur Day, expecting some wholesome tale of squirrels and adventure. It's an informed consent issue. It's a consumer right's issue. It's a extra defensive against the slavering wolves of conservative interest groups who view games as being potential threats to the virgin eyes and ears of children everywhere.

ADDENDUM: E-10 is a stupid rating.

 

[Exile714]

It's dumb. I can find out what's in the game by looking online. And it rates games more harshly for sex than it does for violence, which is silly.

 

[JCBFGD]

I think it's a good idea to have a rating so that you know what kind of game you're about to buy. Use the ratings kind of like a suggestion..."Oh, this game has a lot of gore, but that stuff's not my cup of tea..."

What I don't like is how the ESRB makes companies pay them to censor their games. Talk about adding insult to injury. "Yeah, you have to get this boob outta here if you want a T. Now give us a few thousand dollars. Damned pervert." I also don't think ratings should restrict who is and isn't allowed to buy a game. Everyone wins in that case. Kids get their games, companies get their money. If you don't want your kid to play a game, don't let them play it. It's not the developer's, the publisher's, the government's, or some random company's job to protect your kid from fake guts and boobs. And anyways, who cares? They're fake guts and boobs...

 

[Tensacloud]

It is a nessecary evil to protect the industry from those who don't understand games. It could also use some refinement.