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Parents urged to check ratings when purchasing video games

Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell is urging parents and other consumers to check the Entertainment Software Rating Board rating before purchasing computer or video games as gifts.

The rating symbols are on the bottom corner of the front of the box covering a video game. They range from “EC” for early childhood and “E” for everyone to “M” for mature. The ratings also include age-appropriate content descriptions, such as “E 10+ for cartoon violence.”

More than 50 percent of computer and video games are sold during the holiday shopping season, so it is important shoppers make sure the games they give to young people are age and content appropriate, McDonnell said.

“As the father of five children, I encourage all parents to check a game’s rating to make sure that what they’re giving as a gift is OK to play,” McDonnell said. “The ratings system makes it crystal clear whether or not the content of the video game is appropriate for young children. Parents should know that when it comes to buying computer and video games, the control is in their hands.”

Michael D. Gallagher is CEO of the Entertainment Software Association, the trade association representing U.S. computer and video game publishers.

“As parents choose titles from the broad range of entertainment choices our industry offers, we urge them to use the ESRB ratings system to ensure the games they purchase for their children are appropriate,” Gallagher said.

Patricia Vance, president of the ESRB, noted: “The ESRB ratings are easy to understand and provide valuable guidance about the age appropriateness and content of video games so parents can decide which games are suitable for their children. I strongly encourage parents to check both the ratings and content descriptors on every game box so they can be sure that the games they purchase as gifts this holiday season are appropriate for their children.”

The Entertainment Software Association is a U.S. association serving the business and public affairs needs of companies publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers and the Internet.

The ESA offers services to interactive entertainment software publishers including a global anti-piracy program, business and consumer research, federal and state government relations, and First Amendment and intellectual property protection efforts. For more information visit www.theESA.com.

The ESRB is a nonprofit self-regulatory body established in 1994 by the ESA. ESRB independently applies and enforces ratings, advertising guidelines and online privacy principles adopted by the industry. For more information visit www.esrb.org.

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