Playing Safe - Video Game Ratings

By Michael Ireland

Video Game violence is nothing new to the world. It started in the 90's with Doom and Mortal Kombat. The debate still goes on today with Grand Theft Auto. Should companies be able to create and sell these games? So how do you know what your kids are playing? Do you let them buy the video games or do you pick them out? You can't possibly know if every video game is inappropriate right? Do you need help?

In 1994 the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) was formed to help inform consumers what's actually in these video games. They created a rating system and have rated over 18,000 video games since 1993. These ratings can be found on every box and most consoles (including XBox360, Playstation 3, and Nintendo Wii) will not license a video game without these ratings on every box.

Every child is different. There's no specific age when your child is ready for violence, nudity, gore, or bad language. You know your child best. You make these decisions. It's not the ESRB's job to be the parent, it's not Gamestop's job to be the parent. It's your job. The ESRB just gives you the tools to make that job easier.

Michael Ireland is a Guest Writer on Clearys Notebook who is the Editor on his own site at http://fraggs.net and also contributes content to onling gaming websites and print media.