Entertainment Software Rating Board

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is an organization that applies ratings for video games in the Americas. It started in 1994. The ESRB rates games based on the graphic material, language, references to alcohol, violence, and so on.
Some content descriptors are listed below, along with games that have gotten them. Few games get the rating Early Childhood and Adults Only, unless they were specifically made for that target audience (other than instances like the infamous Hot Coffee incident with Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Windows.).
==Ratings==
The symbols ESRB uses are stylized alphabetical letters meant to indicate the game's suitability.
===Unrestricted ratings===
Abbreviation	Rating 	Activesince	Description 	Agesuitable
 	Everyone (E)TodosEnfants et Adultes 	1998 	Content is generally suitable for all ages. May contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language. 	All Ages (2014-present)
 	Everyone 10+ (E10+)Todos +10Enfants et Adultes 10+	2004 	Content is generally suitable for ages 10 and up. May contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes. 	10+
 	Teen (T)AdolescentesAdolescents 	1994 	Content is generally suitable for ages 13 and up. May contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling and/or infrequent use of strong language.	13+
===Restricted ratings===
Abbreviation	Rating 	Activesince	Description 	Notes 	Agesuitable
 	Mature 17+ (M)Maduro +17Jeunes Adultes 	1994 	Content is generally suitable for anyone aged 17 and up. May contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, nudity and/or strong language. 	Retailers or storefronts may refuse to sell M-rated video games to anyone under the age of 17 unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. ID's may be asked for proof of age. 	17+
 	Adults Only (AO)Adultos ÚnicamenteAdultes Seulement	1994 	Content is suitable only for anyone aged 18 and up. May include prolonged scenes of intense violence, blood and gore, graphic sexual content including nudity, and/or gambling with real currency.	Storefronts may refuse to sell AO-rated video games to anyone under the age of 18 regardless of whether or not they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. ID's may be asked for proof of age. Nintendo does not allow any games rated AO to be published for their consoles.	18+
===Other ratings===
Abbreviation	Rating 	Activesince	Description 	Examples
 	Rating Pending (RP)Aún Sin CalificarCôté en Attente	1994 	Not yet assigned a final ESRB rating. Appears only in advertising, marketing and promotional materials related to a game that is expected to carry an ESRB rating, and should be replaced by a game's rating once it has been assigned.	Upcoming video games, playable demos
 	Shares InfoInformación Compartida 	2013 	Indicates that personal information which has been provided by a user is shared via third-party programs. 	
 	Shares LocationUbicación Comparte 	2013 	Users of the same app can share their locations with others. 	
 	Users InteractInteracción de Usuarios 	2013 	Indicates that users can chat user-to-user and may be exposed to unfiltered, user-generated content. 	
 	This product does not require age classification 	1994 	Products with this are exempt from the ESRB system due to their content not being game related. 	applications, books, subscription services
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===Other ratings===
Abbreviation	Rating 	Active
since	Description 	Examples
 	Rating Pending (RP)
Aún Sin Calificar
Côté en Attente	1994	Not yet assigned a final ESRB rating. Appears only in advertising, marketing and promotional materials related to a game that is expected to carry an ESRB rating, and should be replaced by a game's rating once it has been assigned.	Upcoming games, playable demos
 	Shares InfoInformación Compartida 	2013	Indicates that personal information which has been provided by a user is shared via third-party programs. 	
 	Shares LocationUbicación Comparte 	2013	Users of the same app can share their locations with others. 	
 	Users InteractInteracción de Usuarios 	2013	Indicates that users can chat user-to-user and may be exposed to unfiltered, user-generated content. 	
 	This product does not require age classification	1994	Products with this are exempt from the ESRB system due to their content not being game related. 	applications, books, subscription services
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==Content==
Rating 	Description 	Which ratings it is used for
Alcohol Reference 	Reference to and/or images of alcoholic beverages. 	E, E10+, T, M
Animated Blood 	Discolored and/or unrealistic depictions of blood. 	E, E10+, T
Animated Blood And Gore 	 	T, M, AO
Blood 	Depictions of blood. 	E (Mild), E10+ (Mild), T, M, AO
Blood and Gore 	Depictions of blood or the mutilation of body parts. 	T, M, AO
Cartoon Violence 	Violent actions involving cartoon-like situations and characters. May include violence where a character is unharmed after the action has been inflicted 	E ,E10+, T
Comic Mischief 	Depictions or dialogue involving slapstick or suggestive humor. 	E, E10+, T
Crude Humor 	Depictions or dialogue involving vulgar antics, including “bathroom” humor. 	E (Mild), E10+, T
Drug Reference 	Reference to and/or images of illegal drugs. 	E10+, T, M
Expansion Scenes 	Including Scene s That has Stuffing bellies and Clothing Inflations. 	E10+, T, M
Fantasy Violence 	Violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or non-human characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life. 	E, E10+, T, M
Fetish Scenes 	Scenes that has Includes Big Breasts and Big Butts, Vote and ABDL contents 
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Intense Violence 	Graphic and realistic-looking depictions of physical conflict. May involve extreme and/or realistic blood, gore, weapons and depictions of human injury and death.	M, AO
Language 	Mild to moderate use of profanity. 	E (Mild), E10+,T, M
Lyrics 	Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol or drug use in music. 	E (Mild), E10+, T, M
Mature Humor 	Depictions or dialogue involving "adult" humor, including sexual references. 	T, M
Nudity 	Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity. 	M, AO
Partial Nudity 	Brief and/or mild depictions of nudity. 	T, M
Real Gambling 	Player can gamble, including betting or wagering real cash or currency. 	AO
Sci-Fi and Fantasy Violence	Only Violence Can only With Both Things including Robotic Animals, and Flying Futuristic Vehicles 	E 10+, T, M, AO
Sexual Content 	Non-explicit depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including partial nudity. 	T (Rare), M
Sexual Themes 	References to sex or sexuality. 	E10+ (Mild), T, M
Sexual Violence 	Depictions of rape or other violent sexual acts. 	M, AO
Simulated Gambling 	Player can gamble without betting or wagering real cash or currency. 	E, E10+, T, M
Strong Language 	Explicit and/or frequent use of profanity. 	T (formerly), M, AO
Strong Lyrics 	Explicit and/or frequent references to profanity, sex, violence, alcohol or drug use in music. 	T, M, AO
Strong Sexual Content 	Explicit and/or frequent depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including nudity. 	M, AO
Suggestive Themes 	Mild provocative references or materials. 	E, E10+ ,T, M
Tobacco Reference 	Reference to and/or images of tobacco products. 	E, E10+, T, M
Use of Alcohol 	The consumption of alcoholic beverages. 	E (Infrequent), E10+, T, M, AO
Use of Drugs 	The consumption or use of illegal drugs. 	T, M, AO
Use of Tobacco 	The consumption of tobacco products. 	E (Infrequent), E10+, T, M
Violence 	Scenes involving aggressive conflict. May contain bloodless dismemberment. 	E (Mild), E10+, T, M, AO
Violent References 	References to violent acts. 	E, E10+, T, M
==Where ESRB is used==
Country 	Notes
Canada 	ESRB is officially adopted and legislation is in place to enforce the age classification in shops where video games are sold.
Legally enforced by the Ontario Film Review Board in Ontario
Legally enforced by the Manitoba Film Classification Board in Manitoba
Malaysia 	Not officially recognized or enforced. ESRB ratings are found on official Nintendo products in this country.
Mexico 	ESRB is officially adopted and legislation is in place to enforce the age classification in shops where video games are sold.
Saudi Arabia 	Not officially recognized or enforced. ESRB ratings are found on official Nintendo products in this country.
Singapore 	Not officially recognized or enforced. ESRB ratings are found on official Nintendo products in this country.
United Arab Emirates	Not officially recognized or enforced. ESRB ratings are found on official Nintendo products in this country.
United States 	ESRB is officially adopted and legislation is in place to enforce the age classification in shops where video games are sold.
A series of senate hearings in 1992 and 1994 created the ESRB
==Trivia==
*The first game ever to be rated E10+ was Nintendo's Donkey Kong Jungle Beat for the GameCube.
*Mortal Kombat (1993) is the main game known for the creation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), due to its graphic fatalities.
==See also==
*Computer Entertainment Rating Organization
*Pan European Game Information
Category:Companies