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[Excess Poo Flakes]

When did the (ESBR?) ratings system come into place and who created it? I am writing a research paper on videogame violence, all help gladly appreciated. Preferably with a link!

 

[Vennt]

Because homework, and worse yet, google, are the most difficult thing in the world to do yourself.

 

[Arcticfox]

http://www.esrb.org/about.asp

Edit: Damn, too slow.

 

[teh_pwn]

I recall them first coming out in the early 90s.

Initially the ratings were stuff like KA (kids to adults). They changed that to E (everyone).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESRB

 

[teh_pwn]

The wikipedia article is much better than the official ESRB site, heh. The wikipedia one was made by some bored guy, and the official one was done by an employee. Sometimes free is better.

 

[Vennt]

Sometimes free is better.

And 'effort' and ''letthefuckerdoithimself" are even better than that

(And you guys wonder how unqualified, ex-horseshow employees of lesser ability end up in oh, I don't know, positions of power, here's the seed of an answer for you )

 

[impirius]

Don't forget Sega's rating system before the ESRB

 

[Varian]

The ESRB applies ratings to games based on their content, similar to the motion picture rating systems used in many countries. Their aim is to aid consumers in determining a game's content and suitability. A game's rating is displayed on its box, in advertisements and on game web sites.

The rating has two parts: rating symbols and content descriptors. The rating symbols are found in the lower right and the lower left hand corner on the front of the box. They suggest what age group the game is best suited for. The content descriptors are found on the lower left hand corner and on the back of the box. They describe particular content elements that may be of interest or concern.

Most of that is completely gratuitous and should be deleted.

 

[Matlock]

You might want to cite murder/violent crime rates in Japan and Canada--Japan as a society more conservative, but with more violence in their media, and Canada due to its similarity to America.

It helps bolster the seperation between nature and nurture.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

late '94 i believe. Donkey Kong Country was the first game i owned that had it.

Sega had their own ratings system in place a couple years prior, and Nintendo even had their own just for MK2 and Beavis and Butthead i believe. It was just a little white box that said something about "Not for children under 13" or something like that.

i remember staying up late to watch the senate hearings on Cspan as a kid. Nintendo and Sega had reps on to talk, and for a little while, it turned into a minor fanboy war. IIRC the Nintendo guy made fun of the Street Fighter 2 genesis footage, and then later the Sega guy started pimping the Saturn and 32X leading the the Nintendo guy to remind everyone they had their own "Project Reality" system coming soon.

 

[Varian]

The introduction of the "winners don't use drugs" screen to coin-ops is good, though AFAIK this was a DoJ initiative and is unrelated to the '94 hearings.

EDIT
*sigh* here's a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Sessions