Entertainment Software Rating Board

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that assigns age and content ratings to consumer video games in the United States and Canada. The ESRB was established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association. It became evident that there was criticism of controversial video games with excessively violent or sexual content, particularly after the 1993 congressional hearings following the releases of Mortal Kombat and Night Trap for home consoles and Doom for home computers. The industry, pressured with potential government oversight of video game ratings from these hearings, established both the IDSA and the ESRB within it to create a voluntary ratings system based on the Motion Picture Association of America film rating system with additional considerations for video game interactivity.
The board assigns ratings to games based on their content, using judgment similar to the motion picture rating systems used in many countries, using a combination of six age-based levels intended to aid consumers in determining a game's content and suitability, along with a system of "content descriptors" which detail specific types of content present in a particular game. More recently, the ratings also include descriptors for games with online interactivity or in-game monetization. The ratings are determined by a combination of material provided by the game's publisher in both questionnaires and video footage of the game, and a review of this material by a panel of reviewers who assign it a rating. The ratings are designed towards parents so they can make informed decisions about purchasing games for their children. Once a game is rated, the ESRB maintains a code of ethics for the advertising and promotion of video games—ensuring that marketing materials for games are targeted to appropriate audiences. The company is headquartered in New York City, New York, United States.
==Ratings==
Rating	Description
 	Games that are rated E for everyone are suitable for all ages from 3 and older. Most games at this rating may contain comic mischief, infrequent use of mild violence, crude language, and mild crude humor.
 	Games that are rated E10+ are recommended for those who are aged 10 and older. Otherwise, parental guidance would be recommended. Most games at this rating may contain violence, crude language, crude humor, and some mild suggestive content.
 	Games that are rated T for teen are recommended for those who are aged 13 and older. Games at this rating contain a high volume of violence, infrequent use of strong language, suggestive themes, partial nudity, simulated gambling, some substance abuse, and crude humor.
 	Games that are rated M for mature are recommended for mature audiences ages 17 and older. Games at this rating contain high levels of intense violence, blood and gore, strong language, strong sexual content, nudity, substance abuse, and mature sexual themes.
Category:Rating Systems
Category:Ratings
Category:Age Ratings