![2000px-Esrb_ratings.svg[1].png](https://i.imgur.com/pmfzTr6.png "2000px-Esrb_ratings.svg[1].png")
What's the point of having this if parents are too dumb or lazy to utilize it?
>>323985351
>generalizing
We TOLD YOU it was rated M and not for children. Now what grounds do you have for a lawsuit?
>>323985351
Presumably so the store doesn't get sued after someone buys a game for their children and comes back the next day telling them they saw a single titty and are unhappy their children saw such filthy pornography
>>323985351
>eCEET MARP
CEET MARP
>>323986078
>not eCEETenT MARP
>>323986038
This. It's also for self-regulation. If the ESRB ratings didn't exist, the government would create a system.
>>323985351
So the government doesn't have to take control? Not the esrb fault parents are too lazy to parent.
>>323986190
real?
>eCETenplusET MAoRP
>>323985959
pretty much this. parents can no longer pass off ignorance of the world when they get ass blasted because timmy thinks he's a gangbanger after playing gta for a whole summer vacation.
>>323985351
>the cashier actually cards you when buying a game
>>323985351
It exists so the government won't determine what is and isn't acceptable in video games. Parents actually using it was just an afterthought.
It's there, so the god damn LIBERALS will stop crying
>>323985351
>everyone
>everyone 10+
Well then that's not everyone, is it?
Have there been any recent games with the adults only rating? I'd imagine it'd have to be literal porn in order to classify.
>>323987401
Hatred is all that comes to mind,but that's old news by now
>>323987401
Hatred.
What point did we start seeing the rise of lazy parents who blame everyone but themselves?
>>323986978
It's everyone that's 10+.
Perhaps you revisit elementary school.
>>323987401
Hatred
Some lewd Japanese VN that wanted cleared for sale in the US, mainly at conventions
GTA San Andreas with Hot Coffee
>>323985351
mostly to just cover their own asses. Just like the MPAA.
They don't care what your kids are exposed too. Fuck WANT you to buy the game for the kid. That M rating is like a big shiny piece of candy to a 13 year old.
>>323985959
Not even that. It's so parents can feel like they're doing something by lobbying for rating systems, then either completely fail to use it, or give teen or mature rated games as rewards or presents for being good.
It's mostly to smooth moms' egos and make them feel like they, collectively, are doing something to protect children from violent video games, even though they themselves don't actually go by the ratings at all.
>>323985351
>>323986078
>>323986187
>>323986190
>>323986347
How do you pronounce it?
>>323987401
Most games in Aus
>>323987829
e-SEET Mahrp.
>>323987583
Manhunt 2 also got it but Rockstar also sold a censored M rated version so people could buy it outside of the internet and porn shops.
>>323986428
Yeah they have too. Just give them your drivers and be on the way and let the cashier do his fucking job.
He's underpaid and doesn't need to have to argue with your stupid ass
>>323985351
>What's the point of having this
Nothing. Things should not be censored at all, the end.
I wouldn't have a problem with the ESRB rating system if stores nationwide didn't refuse to stock AO titles. It's like a death warrant for a title because major distributors won't carry them.
>>323987401
all games with real money gambling are rated A
>>323987401
You can literally get the ENTIRE list on Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AO-rated_video_games
>>323988104
I have never been carded for video games. He probably just has an unfortunate case of babyface.
>>323987567
it's clearly for everyone as well, but you need at least 10 people to play
I wish people had the balls to release AO games.
People worry about sales as the primary reason but if you market it properly its not a problem
>>323988194
>a label giving you information is censorship
Call the surgeon general.
>>323988336
Or you just go to places where the cashier doesn't give a shit about doing his job.
Either way just have an idea ready. Like an adult.
>Use amazon since 2003
>Never had to deal with 'sorry you need a parent present for this m-rated game' from eb games ever again
I just gave my mom the money when I bought something. Easy as hell to do when you were the neighborhood bike mechanic, and still are. People pay lots of money when they don't understand how something works.
>>323988475
>Give game AO rating
>Major distributors will refuse to stock it
>Effectively forcing the developers to censor the game into an M rated title
Yes, it's pretty much just streamlined censorship.
You COULD release an AO game, but it would be shooting yourself in the foot.
>>323988407
The big 3 won't allow them on their systems because chains won't sell them, its a matter of money. Can't make cash if your retail outlets aren't gonna stock them.
So all you got is steam and all other digital platforms.
>>323988336
I'm bald, fat and wearing a thick beard, and I get carded wherever I go (with the exception of Wal Mart, but why would I buy video games there)
>>323988407
Honestly the whole AO rating was pointless to begin with, simply a year off from M rating is completely pointless.
>>323988336
As a former cashier for a major retail chain, it would prompt us to check literally every customer buying an M-rated game or R-rated movie.Thank god I got out, but I sold some good games.
>>323985351
>CEETMARP
What does that even mean?
>>323988718
>Implying steam allows nudity
>>323988615
I think that's called "pandering to demographics", not censorship.
>>323988407
stores wont stock them, like NC-17 movies. the only option would be to release the game unrated but that hasn't happened since the ESRB was created.
Video games almost never get A's for violence, and A games never had a high enough budget where increased market penetration is necessary to make a profit. so it's a non issue
now if the ESRB were tyrants like the MPAA you'd have a case.
Covering their asses.
"Well, it clearly says HERE that our game is for ages 17+."
>>323986078
>>323986190
>>323986347
>not CEET MARP: e10+o
some dev needs to make a game out of this. set in the future with math puzzles or some shit.
>>323988832
>the practice of officially examining books, movies, etc., and suppressing unacceptable parts.
I'm not really seeing how it doesn't fit that definition here. Maybe you can enlighten me?
>>323988475
It is censorship because if you aren't 18 you can't buy a game with a Mature rating.
>>323988975
The ESRB doesn't suppress anything first of all so you're off to a flying start.
>>323988975
No suppression by an official body. You don't even have to get your game rated by the ESRB to sell it, just in most physical stores. If you aren't 18, you aren't even considered a full citizen by the United States yet.
>>323988735
>I'm bald, fat and wearing a thick beard, and I get carded wherever I go (with the exception of Wal Mart, but why would I buy video games there)
Well, knowing you, you probably needed an industrial barrel of cheetos and Mr Pib
>>323989057
>Censorship
>Not being of legal age to buy it yourself
Suddenly the censorship disappears when you come back with your dad, grumpy as fuck because he had to come right after work to buy your fucking underaged panty quest 9
>>323989204
I can't play video games on a barrel of cheetosyet
>>323988975
It doesn't specify who examined and who suppresses, it is vague.
If a movie is recut to get an NC-17 rating down to R, that's a choice made by the creators. Even more common is editing R to PG-13, lower rating = wider audience = more sales.
There is a meaningful difference between that and the rating body or even a government altering content directly.
>>323989253
Yes, but there's no reason for there to even exist "legal age" for video games in the first place you mongoloid.
>>323989128
They don't change the game code themselves, but they hold the AO gun at developers heads and say "change it or you don't get to sell at any major stores". Same damn thing.
>>323989189
The ESRB is effectively the official body for video game rating. It doesn't have to be a government entity to be "official".
>>323989342
Again, it's just an outside organization forcing the creators to change their product for ratings.
>>323986428
>be 31
>start balding
>have massive beard
>want to buy game
>"are you 16 yet?"
>>323989501
there's no law stopping a kid from buying a violent game, that's just store policy.
the ESRB exists only to keep the government out of video games.
>>323989562
You're acting like "don't get to sell at major stores" is censorship. It isn't. You can sell at any number of places, especially considering that the platform we're talking over right now has almost completely abandoned major chains as a form of distribution. There is no law saying a company CAN'T sell an AO game in their stores. They willfully choose not to.
I think you have an issue with the companies you buy your games from, not the people putting letters on them.
>>323989501
At least for the U.S. There isn't. Being carded to buy games at retailers and indeed the ESRB were measures taken to avoid government intervention.
>>323989562
>forcing
That's the part that is false, though. That's why I mentioned the difference. The creators are not forced. The change is a choice, the lower rating resulting in larger potential sales.
>>323985351
Companies covering their ass from liability lawsuits from negligent parent maybe.
>>323988336
During the time I was working at gamestop we had to card everyone, even if we knew them or risk getting fucked by the higher ups. Yes this includes carding 75 year old grannies buying their grandson the latest call of duty.
>>323985351
I think the Ceet Marp system is pretty solid, myself.
>>323989720
It's censorship either way.
If a bookstore refused to sell you a book because you were 14 years old, then everyone would lose their shit.
>>323988615
>You COULD release an AO game,
Then it's not censorship, you fucking idiot.
>>323989954
this guy is right, absolutely the one reason.
>>323990108
If a movie theatre refused to let you watch a movie because you were 14 years old, then everyone would lose their shit, right?
>>323989562
>the actions of corporations that have no ties to the ESRB = the ESRB making demands
So the ESRB owns walmart along with every other major retailer/distributor plus Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft and has 100% say in what they stock or allow?
I did not know that.
>>323990196
Eh.
No they wouldn't, because everyone thinks censorship is fine if it's "for dem kids".
In other words, people like you.
>>323985351
do you guys notice how some games are now just barely earn a rated "M" but still so lenient that almost everyone could get into it?
it's a marketing strategy. they know kids want to play rated M games and that parents are going to get them the game regardless but also not too insane that parents will start coalitions to tarnish their reputation or boycott their games.
there are so very few hard "M" games out there intended for actual mature audiences and not just manchildren.
>>323988746
Yeah I worked at Target when I was 18 and it would prompt us and not let us pass until we scanned the ID. Same for alcohol and some other things. Old folks are always pissed when you ask them for their ID.
>>323990362
Moving the goalposts, much?
>>323990530
I don't think you know what moving the goalposts mean.
The fact that people aren't losing their shit over movies being censored, doesn't mean they wouldn't lose their shit over books being censored.
But try again.
>>323990650
Not censored. Please use another term.
>>323989947
>Being carded to buy games at retailers and indeed the ESRB were measures taken to avoid government intervention.
I'm pretty sure the government is in there somewhere, because should any retailer listen to what the ESRB says, if there is no threat of force involved?
>>323990752
It is censorship m8.
The fact that you are denying someone the right to watch, or use a media of their own free will, simply because of their age, is censorship.
I'd like to see what would happen if you denied someone the right to watch a movie if they were gay, or had black skin.
>>323990992
Once again, this is an issue with the companies that sell games. Not the ESRB.
>>323985351
Because you don't know the joy of turning down 8 year old kids trying to buy Call of Duty or GTA. Or seeing the parent's face freak out when you say there's nudity in Far Cry or Watch Dogs.
Seriously, it's one of the top reasons why I like working atGamestop.
>>323990779
They don't want to get sued. Just like how every major theatre company in America attaches a little letter from the MPAA to every movie, it's covering their asses so someone can't say "I wasn't warned". They care far more about their money than any kind of morality.
>>323991231
So what?
If a restaurant refuses to sell food to black people, they will be called racist and discriminatory, and will probably lose a lot of customers, if not get a hefty fine.
Even if this is something the companies have agreed to do between themselves to satisfy public opinion, doesn't make it right.
The ESRB is a pointless institution and shouldn't exist.
>>323991365
Yes but this seems counter-intuitive.
By putting a sticker on your movie, and refusing people who are underaged from seeing it, you are by definition not caring about your money, because you will get less of it.
>>323990779
...yes. Because it's better to do the bare minimum and avoid regulation entirely. They can get in trouble with publishers, but not the government (generally, this may change by state, the point is it isn't national law).
Were you guys not around when mortal Kombat caused a violence scare prompting government scrutiny? The ESRB was created to shut the complainers up and get the government to stop looking so close. That was the whole point.
>>323985351
>CEET MARP
What did he mean by this?
>>323991597
A few tickets, versus a multi-million dollar court case happening every time some inane parent hears the word "Fuck" in a movie while watching it with their kids?
>>323991758
>versus a multi-million dollar court case happening every time some inane parent hears the word "Fuck" in a movie while watching it with their kids?
How would people win a case like that in America?
>>323991869
Emotional damages. They claim that their children are now permanently traumatized because they saw they don't agree with.
Yes, this does happen, and people do get rich doing it.
>>323992018
So the ESRB exists, simply because your justice system is fucked.
Good to know. Then it makes more sense.
The ESRB is 100% voluntary and had no legal authority whatsoever.
The videogame industry got together and created it to self-regulate themselves so the government didn't do it for them. It was created in a time when the religious right was pushing to ban almost everything videogame related.
Being voluntary means there is no legal obligation for developer or even retailers to participate. They mostly do participate though because it's better than having the government do it for them.
not every parent ignores the ratings
I can't believe persona 4 was rated M
>>323991246
can you steal some games from there?
I don't see why it's still even around anymore. Every fucking parent I ever had to help at my store would always ask me what's in the game, instead of reading the back of the fucking case like a normal person would.
>um excuse me my son wants grand theft auto 5, is it a game for kids?
>>323988867
>stores wont stock them, like NC-17 movies
Stores do sell NC-17 movies(and of course Unrated movies). Showgirls is an NC-17 rated movie and you can buy it in stores.
What's the point of an AO rating if nobody's willing to publish and sell it?
>>323985351
There's a small percent that, if they don't and they get all uppity when they don't like the content it's their own fault.
>>323993585
with the dawn of online shop, AO rated games could sell well enough (e.g Hatred on Steam). That rating is there to remind us that some game developers simply don't give a fuck about what other people think about their games and just want to make a game of pure gore, violence, and sweet vanilla sex.
>>323988537
Fucking this, the other tenants know I work in computers so they always ask me to fix their tech stuff, usually some beer or dinner, if it's nothing huge I just tell them it's all good, I don't want their money, I just want them to like me.
