Entertainment Software Rating Board

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB for short) is a non-profit, self-regulatory video game rating organization. The organization assigns age and content ratings, enforces industry-adopted advertising guidelines, and ensures responsible online privacy principles for computer and video games in North America (United States, Canada, and Mexico). The system was established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association due to violent content found in various video games. They aim to aid customers in determining a game's content and suitability. By late 2009, it had assigned nearly 19,130 ratings to over 350 publishers. 
Although the rating system is technically voluntary, nearly all video games are submitted for rating. Many retail stores prohibit the sale of unrated video games and the major console manufacturers will not license games for their systems unless they carry ESRB ratings.
==Ratings==
Image	Abbreviation 	Active 	Description
 	Early Childhood (EC)	1994-2018 	This rating contains no material that an adult would deem inappropiate for young children. Usually Early Childhood games are educational.
 	Kids to Adults (K-A)	1994-1997 	This rating was assigned to games that appealed to people of many ages and tastes. Titles in this category may feature minimial violence, comic mishief, or crude language.
 	Everyone (E) 	1998-present	This rating is basically the same as the K-A rating. Titles in this category may contain miminal cartoon, mild, or fantasy violence.
 	Everyone 10+ (E10+) 	
Early 2005-present	This rating might be unsuitable for children under the age of 10. Games in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy, violence, language, animated blood and/or minimal suggestive themes.
 	Teen (T) 	1994-present	This rating contains content appropiate only for teenagers (13 and up) and older. However, it is not required for an adult to accompany an under aged child in order to buy the game. This category contains more intense language, suggestive themes, crude humor, blood, simulated gambling, and/or infruquent use of strong uncensored language.
 	Mature (M) 	1994-present	This rating contains content suitable for anyone 17 and older. These games often contain more blood and gore, strong language, and sexual themes/content.
 	Adults Only (AO) 	1994-present	This rating contains content unsuitable for anyone under 18 years old. These games contains blood and gore, strong language, nudity, sexual themes/content. Only games with uncensored graphic sexuality will get this rating.
 	Rating Pending (RP) 	1994-present	This rating is given to games while they're in the process of being rated.
==Content Descriptors==
Content Descriptor 	Description
Alcohol Reference 	Reference to and/or images of alcoholic beverages
Animated Blood 	Unrealistic or discolored blood
Blood 	Depictions of blood
Blood and Gore 	Depictions of blood or mutilation of body parts
Cartoon Violence 	Violent actions in cartoon-like situations and characters
Comic Mischeif 	Depictions or dialogue involving slapstick or suggestive humor
Crude Humor 	Involves vulgar antics, including "bathroom" humor
Drug Reference 	Reference to illegal drugs
Fantasy Violence 	Violent actions of a fantasy nature
Intense Violence 	Graphic and realistic depictions of physcial conflict
Language 	Mild to moderate use of profanity
Lyrics 	Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol or drug use in music
Mature Humor 	Depictions or dialogue involving "adult" humor, including sexual references
Nudity 	Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity
Partial Nudity 	Brief and/or mild depictions of nudity
Real Gambling 	Player can gamble, including betting or wagering real cash or currency
Sexual Content 	Non-explicit depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including partial nudity
Sexual Themes 	References to sex or sexuality
Sexual Violence 	Depictions of rape or other violent sexual acts
Simulated Gambling 	Player can gamble without betting or wagering real cash or currency
Strong Language 	Explicit and/or frequent use of profanity
Strong Lyrics 	Explicit and/or frequent references to profanity, sex, violence, alcohol or drug use in music
Strong Sexual Content	Explicit and/or frequent depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including nudity
Suggestive Themes 	Mild provocative references or materials
Tobacco Reference 	Reference to and/or images of tobacco products
Use of Drugs 	The consumption or use of illegal drugs
Use of Alcohol 	The consumption of alcoholic beverages
Use of Tobaaco 	The consumption of tobacco products
Violence 	Scenes involving aggressive conflict. May contain bloodless dismemberment
Violent References 	Reference to violent acts
Category:Companies