How To Find Games With Appropriate Content

The problem most parents have when buying games for their children is that they are often not gamers themselves. Without knowing where to look for information on a game’s content, a parent is left in the dark about what type of game their children are playing.

Imagine if you did not know the difference between a movie that was rated PG or rated R. How would you decide what movie to buy your kids?

We have all become familiar with the MPAA ratings system used in movies and one day this will be the same for videogames. That day is not today, and many parents do not know the difference between a game that is rated E and one rated M. This guide will explain what those ratings mean and show you how to use this information, as well as information from other sources, to choose the right game for your child.

The ESRB Ratings

The ESRB (or Entertainment Software Ratings Board) is a non-profit organization that independently assigns ratings to video games based on the content of potentially inappropriate material. Ratings include EC, E, E10+, T, M, AO, and RP. The list below describes each rating in detail and also offers the closest equivalent to the ratings you would see on a movie.

Early Childhood - EC

Games that are rated EC, for Early Childhood, are suitable for ages 3 and older. These titles contain no material that most parents would find inappropriate.
Closest Movie Equivalent: G

Everyone - E

Games that are rated E, for Everyone, are suitable for ages 6 and older. These titles may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language
Closest Movie Equivalent: G

Everyone 10+ - E10+

Games rated E10+, for Everyone 10 and older, are suitable for ages 10 and older. These titles may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes.
Closest Movie Equivalent: PG

Teen - T

Games rated T, for Teen, are suitable for ages 13 and older. These titles may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.
Closest Movie Equivalent: PG-13

Mature - M

Games rated M, for Mature, are suitable only for gamers ages 17 and older. These titles may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.
Closest Movie Equivalent: R

Adults Only - AO

Games rated AO, for Adults Only, are only to be played by adults 18 years and older. Titles in this category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity. Except for in the rarest of circumstances, you will likely never come across a game for a console rated AO.
Closest Movie Equivalent: NC-17

Rating Pending - RP

Games listed as RP, for Rating Pending, have been submitted to the ESRB and are awaiting final rating. This will only appear in advertising prior to a game's release. Once a game has been released, it will receive its official rating. If your child is interested in a game that has not yet been rated, try checking the ESRB website periodically and searching for the title. The ESRB often will have ratings posted before the game is officially released.
Closest Movie Equivalent: Unrated

Not All “M’s” Are Created Equal

Neither are “E’s” nor “T’s” for that matter. Ratings are given based on a combination of content found within the game. A game rated “T” may have received it for having Minimal Blood or for Minimal Suggestive Themes or other such content. You may feel that some of this material is perfectly appropriate for your child, while others are not.

You can find more information about the specific content that caused the rating by looking at the back of the box. There you will find additional information about the content. You can look for specifics such as: Language, Violence, and Sexual Themes. This will provide you with additional information about the content, so you can decide for yourself which material is appropriate for your children.

While shopping on eBay, you will not always be able to see the back of the box. In this case, you can visit the ESRB website and search for the title of your game. You will be able to view the game’s rating and the specifics of its content.

Videogame Magazines and Websites

Look into the multiple video gaming magazines and websites available to you. By viewing the information presented by these sources, you can view screenshots (still screens of the game being played) and read reviews to give you a better understanding of a game’s content. By viewing still images of the game, you can see for yourself the nature of the title and have a better understanding of why a game may have received its rating. Reading reviews will also help for two reasons:

•    You can look for games with a high rating score to increase the likelihood of finding a great game that your child will enjoy.
•    Reviewers will often discuss the difficulty of the game. Use this to match up a game with child’s skill level to avoid them being frustrated with a game that is too hard.

World Wide Gaming

One of the biggest advances in this generation of gaming is online play. However, this brings about new challenges as well. Some of these games feature live chat features or other user-created content that are not part of the ESRB rating. These online games have a warning on the package that reads, “Game Experience May Change During Online Play.” You may want to monitor your child’s usage more when they are playing online.

Who Knows Your Child Best?

Be sure to consider your child’s unique personality and abilities as you take all of the above into consideration. You are the only one who truly knows your child. Use your best judgment to determine what type of content that your child is mature enough to experience.

Take time to monitor your child’s playing habits and start playing games together. You’ll get a better understanding of their playing habits, you’ll have something extra to talk to them about, and you might just discover a fun and exciting new hobby for yourself. Video games are a great form of entertainment, but just like any other medium, you want to be sure that you control their experience


* Although I am an eBay employee, this content reflects my personal views and is not written on behalf of eBay Inc.