CheckThe Rating on Every Video Game (NAPSA)—Computer and video games make great gifts, but how can you be sure which games are right for your family? Here’s one easy way—checktherating! Almost every game sold today is independently rated by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). Gameratings have twoparts: rating symbols, which suggest what age group the game is best for and content descriptors, which tell consumers about content elements that may be of interest or concern and help explain why a gamereceived a particular rating. There are five rating symbols, which are always found on the front of the game box: EC (Early Childhood) means the game maybesuitable for children ages 3 andolder. e E (Everyone) means the game mayberight for kids 6 and over. T (Teen) is for ages 13 and up. M (Mature) means the game is intended for mature audiences and maybe appropriate for players 17 andolder. Finally, an AO (Adults Only) rating means the game is not appropriate for children or teens and is intended only for audiences 18 andolder. These rating categories provide quick insight into the age-appropriateness of individual games. But to take full advantage of the rating system, the ESRB recommends that parents turn the box over and examine the content descriptors—the short, standardized phrases printed on the back. Content descriptors provide detailed information about what’s TES suv a C 3 AUTS | \ iy sy Sy CU ssp (Ss aiURE a ESRB yTa U7) [> Ceam SESE ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE RATING BOARD Rating Symbols @ in the game and fall into several categories including educational content, violence, sexual themes, and bad language. The Entertainment Software Rating Board recently changed the way content descriptors are displayed on game boxes to increase their visibility and ensure that consumers can't miss the important information they convey. Now, content descriptors appear alongside the rating symbol on the back of the game box, illustrating how rating symbols and content descriptors work together to help parents and other consumers make informed purchasing decisions. “The best advice for parents is to check both the rating symbol and the content descriptors every time they're shopping for computer and video games,” says Patricia Vance, president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board. The ESRBhascreated an interactive website (www.esrb.org) where parents can check theratings of specific gametitles before they go shopping. The Entertainment Software Rating Board is a self-regulatory body established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association.
