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ESRB for MMOs

carebearcarebear Member Posts: 188
in The Pub at MMORPG.COM

I never really thought about what MMOs should be rated when it comes to game content... until reading David Thomas's editorial on Second Life in The Escapist yesterday.

Can you believe that Second Life is rated E for Everyone? That means a 6 year old can walk around in the possibly most imaginative hardcore porn/violence that a human can come up with.

Caution though, the article isn't for those of you with weak minds. No offensive pictures, R-rated words though.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/4/8

Carebear
*WoW = Level 60 Priest*
*EQ2 = Level 25 Druid*

Comments

  • ianubisiianubisi Member Posts: 4,201

    I love the idea behind Second Life...but the constant bombardment of pseudo-porn in that game is pretty unsavory.

    It is pretty hard to imagine that game garners an "E" rating.

  • DinionDinion Member Posts: 879

    Second life requires you be over 18 or older to play on the main server, I believe they are starting a server for teens 13-17 but I really don't see that server being very popular.

    To the point though, from what I understand ESRB rates the base of the game, modless and communityless(is that a word?) thats why you always get that ESRB notice that experience may change with online play or whatever it is.

    ----------------------------------
    MMOs Retired From: Earth and Beyond, Project Entropia, There, A Tale in the Desert, Star Wars Galaxies, World of Warcraft, Eve Online, City of Heroes/Villains.

    MMOs Currently (worth) Playing: None.

    MMO hopefuls: Age of Conan.

  • FadinawayFadinaway Member Posts: 270

    I always thought a MMO should be rated "T" at the minimum.

    The article in The Escapist shows how a game can be a wolf in sheep's clothing.  On the outside Second Life is a happy shiny game.  On the inside, it is definitely for those with a more mature process.  There are harmless areas, but with the ability to change ANYTHING in the game you should really reconsider the rating.

    I have seen the process the ESRB uses in rating a game.  It is generally very thorough, but it seems they miss a lot of areas.  I think they should make employees play the game in beta for at least a month before rating it.

    Fadinaway
    Playerbase Solutions
    http://www.playerbasesolutions.com

  • OwynOwyn Member Posts: 337

    Originally posted by Dinion
    To the point though, from what I understand ESRB rates the base of the game, modless and communityless(is that a word?) thats why you always get that ESRB notice that experience may change with online play or whatever it is.

    Precisely. MMORPGs that are rated by the ESRB are rated based on their existing content, without players. The rating does NOT take into account things that players may use the game systems to do or say to each other. That's exactly why those boxes say "Game Experience May Change During Online Play" right under the rating symbol.

    Worth noting that the ESRB rating is unofficial anyway. It's not mandatory - no game is required by law to be rated by them (although many of the larger chains will not sell games that have not been rated). And stores are NOT required to follow those rules. It's perfectly legal for a store to sell an M rated game to an eight year old. Although again, many stores implement their own policies for this, especially larger chains.

    Owyn
    Commander, Defenders of Order
    http://www.defendersoforder.com

  • CronjoCronjo Member Posts: 23

    Originally posted by Owyn

     

    Worth noting that the ESRB rating is unofficial anyway. It's not mandatory - no game is required by law to be rated by them (although many of the larger chains will not sell games that have not been rated). And stores are NOT required to follow those rules. It's perfectly legal for a store to sell an M rated game to an eight year old. Although again, many stores implement their own policies for this, especially larger chains.

    This is true, and it's also why I keep wishing they would pass laws covering the enforcement and requirement of ESRB ratings.  That way when some kid goes ape and kills someone the Government lackies can't use games like GTA as an excuse.  At that point it will be entirely on the parents to moderate and review the games their children are playing and they will have no one to blame but the individuals who's shoulders the blame should fall squarely on. 

     

    I love my games I really do, but I can't stand people who let games babysit for them because they are too lazy to take and active role in their children's lives. 

  • BrianshoBriansho Member UncommonPosts: 3,586

    I think the ESRB is a waste of time. If people want their 7 year old to have Battlefield 3 or Modern Warfare 3 they will buy it for them even if it's rated 17+.

    Don't be terrorized! You're more likely to die of a car accident, drowning, fire, or murder! More people die every year from prescription drugs than terrorism LOL!

  • VrikaVrika Member LegendaryPosts: 7,992

    Haven't you ever read the text "Online interations not rated by ESRB", I remember seeing that in many games with online component.

     
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