From the PE.com news article:
WASHINGTON – Inland Rep. Joe Baca Sr. is again calling for the video-gaming industry to improve its rating system of violent and sexually explicit games so that parents have a more accurate idea of what interactive media their children consume.
Baca, D-Rialto, held a press conference on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, saying the ratings on video games, particularly those for teenagers and adults, aren’t clear enough and don’t provide enough information about the amount of violence or sexual material they contain.
“Parents are misled by the video-game ratings,” Baca said.
I have to wonder if Rep. Baca has even seen the ESRB ratings that he claims mislead people? Let’s review the two he’s having the most trouble with now, shall we?
 TEEN Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language. |
 MATURE Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language. |
Seems pretty straightforward to me. T is the “lite” version of M. Everything that could be present in T games will be even more so in M games. It doesn’t take a degree in rocket science to figure this out. Additionally there can be one or more “content descriptors” alongside the rating that gives more information on exactly what to expect in a title.
For example, Call of Duty 2 (rated T) has the following content descriptors: Blood, Mild Language, Violence.
Now compare that to the descriptors for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (rated M) which are: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs.
How is that in any way misleading? How much of a moron do you have to be to not understand that there’s likely to be a lot more that’s objectionable in GTA:SA than in CoD2?
Wait! Don’t tell me! I bet the answer is that you have to be moronic enough to get elected to Congress!
“But—but—people still end up buying those games!”
Because they want to.
“But—but—parents still find themselves shocked by the games their kids are playing!”
Because they (a) don’t pay attention to what they’re buying for their kids, or (b) aren’t providing proactive guidance and leadership as to what’s acceptable for the kids buy themselves.
“But—but—that means people having to take responsibility! Can’t we just outlaw it altogether?”
Aha.
That’s what kicks my mind.
M=17+
A=18+
Is there REALLY that much difference in 1 year?
http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.jsp
No.
An AO game is basically a Rated R movie. An M game is basically a Rated R movie minus nudity.
It’s pretty retarded.
Only in a legal sense. 17 you’re still a minor. 18 you’re a fully formed legal adult.
Except that in most places you still can’t drink alcohol. Old enough to vote or die in a war, but not old enough to drink booze.
One thing that really confuses me about the “age ratings” – in the UK you can have sex legally when you are 16 (although I’ve never heard of these 12 year old parents being prosecuted). However, you cannot watch pornography until you are 18. So for 2 years, you’ve got to have sex with your eyes closed…
GTA: SA – Restricted 18, Note: Contains violence and offensive language.
That would be the NZ version.
Actually, God of War is M rated and has nudity. Along with:
Blood and Gore
Intense Violence
Sexual Themes
Strong Language.
Needless to say I was shocked not only by the the ultraviolence when I put a boot to the back of a harpy and ripped its wings off and by the nudity, when after that level saw animated boobies.
Actually, I was quite surprised by how extreme some of the violence in the game was. When they say “Intense Violence,” they mean business.
Ing. I have often been conundrummed for most of my years by the same thing.
I thought I was the only weird one who was more offended by violence than by sex.
I don’t mind anything between consenting adults; I even like boxing and most codes of football.
But … violence is rape.
And a late news flash – David Beckham is 31 today!!
Let’s … oh, I don’t know. Not celebrate?
Did anyone see the beautiful Kiera Knightly hardly recognisable in Bend it like Beckham?
But look at the curve of this, bend-it-like-Beckham, goal shot:
and this one:
and this just for World Game Style & Precision
Spectacular.
I digressed again didn’t I?