Censorship wins the prize!

[Gryph]

No, the publisher has to tell the ESRB what exactly is in the game. From the ESRB site:

How are the games rated?

 

To get a game certified with an ESRB rating, publishers fill out a detailed questionnaire explaining exactly what's in the game, and submit it to ESRB along with actual videotaped footage of the game, showing the most extreme content and an accurate representation of the context and product as a whole. Working independently, three trained raters then view the game footage and recommend the rating and content descriptors they believe are most appropriate. ESRB then compares the raters' recommendations to make sure that there's consensus. Usually, the raters agree and their recommendation becomes final. However, when the raters recommend different ratings, additional raters may be requested to review the game in order to reach broader consensus. Once consensus on a rating and content descriptors is reached, ESRB issues an official rating certificate to the game's publisher.

 

And read this from a game developer: http://playfulpassion.blogspot.com/

 

The ESRB is responsible for assigning accurate ratings for every video game that is published, based on what they consider acceptable standards for content across multiple demographics. Therefore, publishers and developers must communicate and make available to the ratings board every byte of content in their games. Smart publishers know that they need to be upfront with the ESRB about possibly objectionable content, rather than leave their testers to stumble upon it. For example, the portrayal of blood, gore, and physical violence is a very important factor in determining whether or not a game should get a "T" or an "M" rating. The standards are detailed, and very sensitive, and have to take into account myriad factors regarding the portrayal in order to arrive at an acceptable rating.

When publishers submit a game for ESRB review, they either have to take video footage of every level, environment, and menu of the game and submit that with a build, or give them cheat codes and access to all levels. They must also tell them about easter eggs, hidden content, unlockable content, etc. The ESRB must know, and should know everything.

[Dooz]

Ah. Alright then.

 

I still don't think they should be punished for an optional ratings system.

[Ryuken]

so i guess the Strong Sexual Content, in M rating doesn't cover it and the rarely used AO rating is needed for computer render porn

Edited July 21, 2005 by Ryuken

[NukeFall]

Hmm i wonder didnt the original Mortal Kombat also need a cheat that unlocks something (Fatalities) that would have changed the rating otherwise.... the only difference is one is about violence the other is about sex hmmm

[Gryph]

An interesting article that has opinions from gaming industry people: Todd Hollenshead (CEO of id), Vince Desi (CEO of Running with Scissors; the Postal guys), and Derek Smart (CEO of 3000AD and also the biggest joke in the industry): http://www.gamecloud.com/article.php?article_id=771

[Elazul Yagami]

Hmm wasnt it that one south park episode that said "It seems as long as sex is around parents dont care about violence"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

it was that manga/anime episode

 

where they didn't care that butters got a shuriken in his eye because Eric walked naked across the stage.

[Shibathedog]

Went to the mall, In both EB Games and Gamestop, NO GTA:SA FOR ANY SYSTEM!!!

 

Pretty retarded......

[Shibathedog]

Okay, so i went to my friends house and he showed me the "Hot Coffee" thing.

 

What....the....Hell....

 

Its not even that sexual, you dont see anything!, There are games like playboy the mansion out, and that has an M rating! That game not bad enough?

 

The Guy game, Yes it was pulled, but not because anyone protested - Real people naked!

 

BMXXXX - Animated nudity, and real nudity!

 

God Of War - Animated Nudity (TONS) and even interactive sex scenes!!!

 

Why are they making a bid deal out of the Hot Coffee thing in GTA?!?! Its NOTHING Compared to the stuff in GTA!

 

Plus, add on that the stuff in GTA you where never ever supposed to even see, it was just extra data they didnt take out because it wasnt supposed to ever be ran!

 

How stupid....You can see muuuuuuuch worse stuff than that stupid Hot Coffee thing just by watching TV.

[Z-Neo]

Yeah, it's the top story on my local 10pm news right now. They said it's been pulled off all local stores.

[Gryph]

I think the big controversy is that it was hidden from the ESRB but that still doesn't make it such a big deal.

[Shibathedog]

Yeah, but not only was it hidden from the ESRB, it was hidden from EVERYONE, no one was supposed to see it!!!!

[Gryph]

Yeah, it's a crappy situation but Rockstar should have been more careful. :-/

[Shibathedog]

I dont even know if you can say that, because almost every game since...ever (even NES!!!) has extra content on the medium its recorded onto no one was ever supposed to see.

[Gryph]

But now the ESRB is wise to such things so it's not good. There either needs to be a revised rating system or they have to start enforcing it so kids can't get the games.

[Elazul Yagami]

ok this is a hypocricy and i'm stating my 2 cents on the matter.

 

it's because a Black man is flocking a white chick.

 

that simple.

 

God of War has sex, and it's rating wasn't pushed up to AO it's still mature.

A bunch of games listed previously in this thread have nudity that's Mature.

 

so BAH