ESRB: Anyone under 6 gets the shaft

[NayusDante]

Does the E rating bother anyone else? Originally "Kids to Adults," this rating has always bore the 6+ mark. I don't know about you guys, but some of my happiest gaming memories were from well before I was 6...

According to the ESRB, the only games suitable for those under 6 are the "Early Childhood" rated titles. Now, this wouldn't be a bad thing if there were some QUALITY kids games that fell into this category, but it's all nothing but edutainment quite similar to Nick Jr drivel (and never quite up to snuff with the intellectual level of PBS Kids, which isn't saying much).

I think that this age discrimination is rather silly, but it shows a double standard in the ratings industry. I hear plenty of parents deny their kids teen-rated titles, but never an E. What makes matters worse is that mild language and such is completely permissible in an E title. E10 helps about as much as a PG-12 rating would in the movie industry.

I must be an old codger because I still believe in the RSAC system. Put the descriptors on the FRONT of the box and screw the letters. That way, developers can't go 99% to an AO and get an M. The descriptors gave specific levels of content, making the analysis much more objective and easy for the parents to decide. Different parents have different standards, and RSAC respected that. No sense depriving a decent game to your child because of a letter that you might not even agree with.

[Gamereviewgod]

I think that this age discrimination is rather silly, but it shows a double standard in the ratings industry. I hear plenty of parents deny their kids teen-rated titles, but never an E.



Then doesn't that completely invalidate your point? I'm not even sure what you're trying to say, that E titles aren't acceptable for kids under 6? The ratings are a guideline, nothing more. Many parents wouldn't want their kids playing any younger than that. I didn't start until I was 5.

[skaar]

Are you just looking for things to be affronted at? I mean really, how many 6 year old kids are on here complaining they can't play any of the GOOD games?

[heybtbm]

Are you just looking for things to be affronted at? I mean really, how many 6 year old kids are on here complaining they can't play any of the GOOD games?


Agreed. We seem to have a rash of moronic topics here lately. Are some of you really that bored? Go play some GTA4 or Mario Kart Wii.

[Push Upstairs]

I just typed this naked with a towel over my lap. <-----The only way to properly address moronic posts.

[rkotm]

i just typed thjis with nothing on..top that!!lulz!
but yeah, its a rare 1-5% chance if any that any 6 and under KIDS are bitching about not being to play something a little older. its a different generation, and not every kid played games like we did. hell even kids these days just wanna play something stupid anyway or pokemon.

[NayusDante]

I just typed this naked with a towel over my lap. <-----The only way to properly address moronic posts.

Glad to know I'm not the only one who does that.

[ProgrammingAce]

I guess i'm just not seeing the issue here...

[TonyTheTiger]

The 6 and over thing might not even be an issue of content. Ever try to teach a 3 year old how to play Super Mario 64? It ain't easy.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

Is it me... or is this thread title just a little creepy?

[skaar]

Is it me... or is this thread title just a little creepy?

I'm sure it's setting off alarm bells at some ISP or another.

[Overbite]

its boner town

[Famidrive-16]

Are you just looking for things to be affronted at? I mean really, how many 6 year old kids are on here complaining they can't play any of the GOOD games?

iv alwayss wantid to paly mario galaxi3e but i acnt - tannr!!! :] :] :]

[Push Upstairs]

Glad to know I'm not the only one who does that.

You have to, its in the rules of the forum.

"Do you promise to type out all your posts naked while a towel is draped over your lap?

Well do ya, manimal?

Yes ____
No _____
I'm naked with a towel over my lap right now ______"

[NayusDante]

You have to, its in the rules of the forum.

"Do you promise to type out all your posts naked while a towel is draped over your lap?

Well do ya, manimal?

Yes ____
No _____
I'm naked with a towel over my lap right now ______"

Well, I'm under a blanket right now. Does that count?

[Cryomancer]

Dunno, I played games when I was under 6, and I doubt I would enjoy the hobby as much as I do, and actually have some degree of TASTE in games if I was fed nothing but movie titles and sports. Of course...I did then and still now like atari pac-man...

[exit]

Is it me... or is this thread title just a little creepy?

If you want creepy, check out the Transvestite Handbag thread, halfway through it makes almost anything seem completely normal.

[Fuzzball24]

Wait, what?

[Sothy]

If that pic is really Nayus..... Totally a pedo.

So pissed that 6 year old girl next door cant play guy game with him naked with a towel over his lap.

[NayusDante]

Back on topic, check out Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_st?rs=468642&page=1&rh=n%3A468642%2Cp_esrb_age_rating-bin%3A00010%7BEarly+Childhood%7B&bbn=468642&sort=reviewrank)'s listings for Early Childhood rated games. Somehow, Alone in the Dark is on there, but I challenge you all to find one good game, as in anyone could play it and enjoy it.

[TonyTheTiger]

The problem is that early childhood rated games are not rated such for content. There's nothing particularly inappropriate for toddlers in E rated games. The early childhood games are rated such because they're specifically meant for that group in terms of playability. No matter how sanitized you make a game, if it requires complex button presses or is more than "point to the green square" then it will just get an E.

[Fuyukaze]

The problem is that early childhood rated games are not rated such for content. There's nothing particularly inappropriate for toddlers in E rated games. The early childhood games are rated such because they're specifically meant for that group in terms of playability. No matter how sanitized you make a game, if it requires complex button presses or is more than "point to the green square" then it will just get an E.

I have to agree. The reason why the EC games are so horrible is because of the target audiance. They need to make the games as simple and clean as posible. When the intended target audiance is young enough to just be getting out of diapers and weened off a sippy cup, your dealing with deveoping minds that need more then just entertainment. Just because you do not enjoy a game doesnt make it shovelware either. I cant stand Grand Theft Auto, that doesnt make it shovelware though. It just makes it a game I dont enjoy.

[TonyTheTiger]

Even if there were a game along the lines of "edutainment" it doesn't mean it'll automatically get an EC rating.

Imagine a game starring Big Bird where you have to do math problems. But imagine if the math problems were advanced trigonometry. That will not get an EC rating even if the exact same game just with 2+2 problems would.

The EC rating sort of operates in reverse of the other ratings. The base rating is E and as content gets more 'adult' or 'inappropriate' that rating goes up. Difficulty never really factors in. The EC rating is sort of removed from that and exists as it's own descriptive notation for games designed for very young kids who are just learning how to hold a controller.

Take Super Mario 64, replace Mario with Elmo, Bowser with Oscar the Grouch, Peach with whoever the hell Elmo's girlfriend is (Zoe I think), and make it as "kiddy" looking as possible (right down to defeating the enemies by throwing sunshine at them making them smile and dance happily) and it still won't get an EC rating simply because it's too complicated for a 3 year old to play.

While the other ratings are focused on content, EC seems to be focused on complexity. Obviously this doesn't mean you can have "Duke Nukem Teaches Spelling" with him asking you to spell "F-U-C-K" and expect to get an EC rating but that wouldn't have much of a market anyway so...yeah.

[GarrettCRW]

If that pic is really Nayus..... Totally a pedo.

So pissed that 6 year old girl next door cant play guy game with him naked with a towel over his lap.

And he's changed it.

User Status: PWN3D.

[NayusDante]

And he's changed it.

User Status: PWN3D.

That's what I get when I try to use my pic as a forum avatar? If that's the kind of community that this is, then I suppose I'll stick with my sprites.

[djbeatmongrel]

That's what I get when I try to use my pic as a forum avatar? If that's the kind of community that this is, then I suppose I'll stick with my sprites.

Well you did look like Brian Peppers cousin.

[NayusDante]

Well you did look like Brian Peppers cousin.

Yeah, not the greatest pic, but I thought it was cool.

Here's a better one, without the sunglasses:


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2022/2481648131_bf4e325a5f.jpg?v=0
-Wii camping at BestBuy

Back on topic (yet again): Has anyone found a decent kids game yet?

[Push Upstairs]

You just have to understand that Sothy is the unstoppable force that he is and learn to accept it.

[NayusDante]

You just have to understand that Sothy is the unstoppable force that he is and learn to accept it.

And the best way to beat an unstoppable force is one step to the side.

[Cobra Commander]

Obviously this doesn't mean you can have "Duke Nukem Teaches Spelling" with him asking you to spell "F-U-C-K" and expect to get an EC rating but that wouldn't have much of a market anyway so...yeah.
I don't know. I'd pay at least $10 for a game like that. Just for the experience you know.

[heybtbm]

Well you did look like Brian Peppers cousin.

Brian Peppers (for the uninitiated)...

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/5734/3960au7.jpg