Senator,
Although I am not a resident of your district, I feel the need to comment on your recent press release, “Rating Board Again Fails Parents on Latest Violent Video Game”, found at http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC={EFA496BC-EDC8-4E38-9CC7-68D37AC03DFF}&DE={9AA972F1-DAE6-4A73-B2BC-C7F70258E0DD}.
I work in the video games development industry, and try to keep up to date on many of the issues facing developers and game players. As such, when reading your comments on the recent Manhunt 2 game, I felt some concern. You are quoted as saying “It is unconscionable that the rating board would downgrade Manhunt 2’s rating from AO to M and therefore make the game available to children.” I feel that this sort of statement is hurting the process of educating parents about the ratings system.
Yes, we want to keep inappropriate materials out of the hands of children. Part of this process is to use ratings systems, much like the movie industry uses, which is completely voluntary, and carries no force of law (I direct you to http://www.filmratings.com/questions.htm#Q6, which details some of the movie rating system – including the fact that it is not enforced by law). This system works well because of member activities – just like the ESRB fining Rockstar for the “Hot Coffee” incident, and because people understand the movie ratings system.
I am also confused by your quote of “It is imperative that parents always review the video games their children are playing and realize that the rating system is incredibly flawed.” I completely agree – parents are the best and ultimate filter for what their children experience, and parents should preview games their children will play. And more importantly, parents should play the games with their children, or be with their children as the game is played. However, the fact that children may play a game clearly rated for adult audiences does not mean that the rating system itself is flawed. The rating clearly states that the game is not for children. It is not a flaw in the rating that a child might play the game.
Please, I urge you to assist parents in understanding video games ratings. This includes the fact that “M” rated games are intended for audiences 17 and up, just as R-rated films are. This will help fix the “flaws” in the ratings system – by helping parents understand what is appropriate for their children, we will be keeping Mature rated games out of the hands of children unprepared for such games. I find the “Unrated” movies for sale at retailers more concerning than R or NC-17 movies, for the very reason that they are unrated, and follow no standards at all. At least rated games and movies have content descriptors to assist parents in choosing appropriate games for their children, and to help adults find games and movies appropriate for their tastes.
I thank you for your time.