8. 9 AVES EG SH PAS FL Oyo 4 =, - D wl 5 oe ye q ~ 7REN 2 Re M VEY Bffete213 Choosing The Right Computer And Video Gme (NAPSA)—If you’re prent, chnces re good tht you’ll be buying computer or video gme for your fmily this yer. But how do you know which gmeis right for your children? Just check the rting. “Almost every computer nd video gme hs rting symbol nd brief description of the content right on the box,” sys Dr. Arthur Pober, president, Entertinment Softwre Rting Bord (ESRB). “When prents check the rting, the control is in their hnds.” There re two prts to the rting system—rting symbols tht suggest wht ge group the gme is best for nd content descriptors tht tell consumers bout prticulr content elements tht my be of interest or concern. Content descriptors give more detils bout the product in termsof violence, sexul themes, lnguge, nd other res tht my beof interest. Rting symbols re found on the front of gme boxes, while content descriptors re on the bck. ESRBlso offers n dvnce serch engine on its Web site (www.esrb.org) tht llows prents to generte list of gmes tht mtch their content preferences, before they go shopping. To use the Website, prents input the rtings nd content descriptors they wnt—or wnt to void—ndthe serch engine does i @ EVERYONE sd ESRB Content mybesuitble for persons ges 6 nd older. My contin miniml violence nd some comic mischief or crude lnguge. @ KNOW BEFORE YOU GO— Above is the “E” for Everyone rting, one of the six rtings of the ESRB. Otherrtings re “EC” for Erly Childhood, “T” for Teen, “M” for Mture, “A” for Adults Only nd “RP,” which mens Rting Pending. ll the work. ESRBlso hs tollfree number for gmerting infor- mtion (1-800-771-8772). “Prents cn trust this system becuse the people rting the gmes hve noties to the gme industry,” sid Pober. “Ech gme is rted by three independent rters who come from ll wlks of life. They include retired school principls, prents nd other professionls.” The ESRBis n independent, non-profit orgniztion estblished in 1994. To dte, ESRB hs rted more thn 7,000 computer nd video gmes. ESRBlso rtes Internet gmes nd interctive Websites. Congress nd leding child dvoccy orgniztions hve prised the ESRB rting system.
