The ESRB Don't Get No Respect

Via the ffwd linklog, a story on the Hollywood Reporter site discussing the public image of the ESRB, from "pain in the butt" on the developer's side to lax child perverter on the lawmaker's side. From the article: "The issue Greenberg describes is one involving dollars and cents: Almost every single retail chain chooses not to sell 'AO' rated games, period. In just the same way that many movie theaters will not show films branded with an 'NC-17' rating, the 'AO' severely limits a game's distribution, to put it mildly."

WOOSH!

[databoing]

That was the sound of the Rodney Dangerfield reference + joke flying over your head!

Re:Horrible!

[mooingyak]

But at least 'Repect' makes sense.

When i was young

[FidelCatsro]

We had a raitings and do you know what they ment to me when i was 12 , 13 or 14
(UK ratings)
U-(univeraly safe) Boring no chance of nudity of cool fights
UC(universal for children) yawn even less chance of nakidness or violence
pg-(parental guidance)possibly someone will say sh*t , or someone will bleed , yawn still no nudity

12:(age min) hm this could be ok , perhaps some blood and explosions , still no nakedness though

15:(age min)could be some really cool gore , not much chance of nakedness but we may see a nipple WOOO

18:(Age min) wow must see this , this film is for 18 year olds so it must have some great naked women in it and /or some cool violance with exploding heads ...
You see this is why raitings don't work , you slap an 18 or mature on it and kids are going to go out of there way to play it or whatch it . you ban it and you make it a cult .
Gouverment sanctioned censorship just does not work.
I say slap a PG on everything , as honestly it is up to parents to raise their children .
When i have children i will decide what they whatch not some rating designed by a bored that does not know my child , Children mature at difrent rates, alot of children will be fine playing a game like GTA 3 when they are 11 or , but some may be disturbed by a film like Ghostbusters when they are 17.

I'll tell you whats f'd up about ESRB.

[JVert]

So I buy the collectors edition right? it has all the marketing hype on the back on a peice of shiny paper that is tacked on with glue. The rest of the box is all themed out except the stupid little ESRB rating on the front.