ESRB/Game board ratings- whats your take on it?

[P Mack]

I am dissapointed with ESRB ratings. I know its to protect kids from all the bad stuff in games, but I think some games get overrated because of it. I mean Metal Gear Solid for example. It didn't have that much bad content in it yet it got a M rating. They are doing the same for PDZ. Nothing bad in it have guns shoot people no cursing yet, but it already has an M label. I don't think they played PDZ either. Rumble Roses got a M because girls westling with each other. I think the ESRB needs to actuall play the games and then rate them. Not by just looking at a couple of gameplay vids and say "oh it looks bad give it an M". I know people will dissagree with me, but this is how I feel about how the ESRB. I want to know how do you take the ESRB always correct or just plain overrated??

[G4everX]

They need to be aggressive when it comes to ratings. Also, they do play every game that comes along. They were given a HUGE amount of complaints when GTA:SA was found to have hidden scenes, and thus being an under rated game.

Sense then, they have made it mandatory for a large list of game to be re-rated. They don't want another mishap, like GTA:SA. Their doing it for the company's own good, people can be 'finicky' about these kinds of things.

Just think, you buy a game that says it's rated E for everyone, for your 5 year old. Come to find out, Elmo has a hidden sex scene with the cookie monster. The kid wouldn't even understand it, but the parent would flip off the handle. Would this be a scenario that is going to happen? No, but hey, things like this is what ESRB is trying to avoid.

My point out of all this? A game can't really be over-rated. Kids can get their hands on any M rated game they want, it's not a big restriction. An under rated game can cause grief for consumers and ESRB. An over rated game can cause grief for possibly the developer, but doubtful. Halo 2 sold how many copies with it's M rating? I don't think it affects sales at all, but it does help avoid arguments.

[P Mack]

I know about GTA: SA, but I just think for some they take it too far. I might be saying this because all the games I want (PDZ, MGS series, etc) are not reachable for me. I can understand cursing and "suggestive" theams, but Metal Gear Acit got M for no reason if you ask me. It was a turn-baesd card game. Sure there was blood and thats it, no suggestive themes and cursing at all. I beat the game if you are wondering. I know they do a good job, but sometimes I think they slack off.

[L.M]

90% of the time the ratings are ignored anyway

so to me i never really look at ratings, Halo2 is M and yet i get 3 year olds mouthing of at me

[GamePlaya4Life]

I think the ratings are under rated myself.

[DeadOneWalking]

I think it depends on the game, as well as the context of the situation. Now, I don't have a problem because I am 23 and can get anything I want, but I know some people who rely completely on the rating system. A game being over rated is better then a game being under rated. Plus, if the ESRB doesn't satisfy the public, the government will take over, and that will be even worse.

[Night Owl]

Yea I mean, I can see the bloody,violent games maybe teen, and if using prifanity M, but I mean, its like a koney loss for game marketing, I mean they will make the great games, but rated M, so most teenagers who want them wont be able to get them, we might still end up doing it, but its a harder thing to do, also I dont know if this has ever happened to you guys, but sometimes my mom will let me pick out a game, Ill et an M game, and at the front when we purchase it, the person starts telling my mom what its rated, its not a good idea for me to get it because it has like guns or something, and its just pointless, I honestly think games would be WAY more successfull with no rating

[xpitbull]

I think its perfect, it keeps violent games away from kids and some teens. Some games are not suitable for kids and this is the way they have to protect it, im against the ppl saying they want to ban violent games, why? well because they'll have to ban movies and mosic and all that kind of stuff. Im mature enought to play any game, but since i dont have the age i cant buy it, so my mom buys it for me, so she is responsible for me. But i think its a great idea

[jt_mares]

i believe that the rating system is necesary, it is flawed, but what isnt?? i believe that it needs to be improved and certain games should be brought down from a M to a teen. Halo violence should be a teen rating in my mind, there is much more violent games that deserve the rating, it does contain profanity however so i belieev that it deserves its rating. excessive profanity and any sort of sexual content should be M, violence however is another thing, we have all become de-sensitized to some degree, and the rating for violence needs to be brought into thre modern age

[P Mack]

I agree the ESRB is a excelent system, but I think games are overrated 10% of the time. I just wish they could be more reasonable with the M label. This is what a game should have to get a M rating:
Excessive profanity
Excessive use of drugs
Nudity of any kind
sexual themes
Graphic violence
Tons of blood

PDZ is M and it has:
Violence
Blood

That is why I think the ESRB is flawed. It can be perfect if they really play the game a good amount and ask questions about the game content. It keeps kids safe, but do they listen? No. I am mature enough to play GTA and almost all M games, but thats because I won't go around killing people in real life and do drugs because it was in a game. I think the ESRB needs to do more background on the game instead of looking at the presentation.

[Cougar50]

Personally I don't look at game ratings because I could care less. For me if I play a violent game it doesn't make me get all violent if any thing it calms me down. If I am kinda stressed whats better then playing a video game and relieving my stress on the characters in the video game by just totally destroying them.

[Jeet]

i think that PDZ should be rated T, but games like GTA and True Crimes should be rated AO, cause there's only a one year difference between AO and M