Video and Computer Game Rating Systems

In North America, video and computer games are rated by two different classification systems. Most video game manufacturers use the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) system. The personal computer industry has adopted the Recreational Software Advisory Council (RSAC) system. It is unclear at this time whether titles developed both for game machines and computers will be rated using both systems. As new technologies continue to merge, the industry will be pressured to adopt one single rating system for video and computer games.

ESRB Video Game Rating System

Most North American video games manufacturers have adopted the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) system. The Canadian Interactive Digital Software Association (CIDSA) administers the ESRB ratings in Canada.

Manufacturers submit their games to rating reviewers for classification. Members of the CIDSA are encouraged though not required, to submit all new products before they appear in Canadian stores.

This rating system was implemented in September 1994, and most games released since then have the ESRB rating on the product package. Games are classified into five age-based categories:
 
 
 

Early Childhood (Ages 3 and over.)	Contains no violence. Child requires reading skills, fine motor skills and a high level of thinking skills.
Kids to Adults (Ages 6 and over.)	May contain scenes of mild animated violence or realistic violence, some comic mischief or some crude language.
Teens (Ages 13 and over.)	Contains all the above, plus more animated or realistic violence. May have strong language and/or suggestive themes
Mature (Ages 17 and over.)	May contain everything in the Teen category plus realistic blood and gore, obscene language, drug use and sexual innuendos.
Adult Only	Could contain graphic sex and/or violence, in addition to everything in the Mature category.

RSAC Computer Game Rating System

Computer software manufacturers rate their games using the system created by the Recreational Software Advisory Council, an independent U.S. organization established by the industry in 1994. The system relies on giving information about content rather than using age indicators. An "All" icon indicates games suitable for all audiences. Games not in the "All" category use a thermometer icon to indicate levels of violence, nudity and strong language, on a scale of one to four. (The system has been criticized because the symbols are not easily understood by consumers.)

The ratings work like this:

		Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4
VIOLENCE	Harmless conflict/ some damage to objects	Creatures injured or killed; damage to objects/ fighting	Humans injured or killed/ with small amount of blood	Humans injured or killed/ blood and gore	Wanton and gratuitous violence/ torture; rape
NUDITY/SEX	No nudity or revealing attire / Romance, no sex	Revealing attire / Passionate kissing	Partial nudity / Clothed sexual touching	Non-sexual frontal nudity / Non-explicit sexual activity	Provocative frontal nudity / Explicit sexual activity; sex crimes
LANGUAGE	Inoffensive slang/ no profanity	Mild expletives	Expletives/ non-sexual anatomical references	Strong, vulgar language/ obscene gestures	Crude or explicit sexual references

For more information see:
Canadian Interactive Digital Software Association (CIDSA)
Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)
Recreational Software Advisory Council (RSAC)
Cable Delivery of Video Games