Vance Defends the ESRB

November 2, 2005 2:29 PM

North America's video game ratings organization, the ESRB, has come under a lot of fire recently for being an inadequate resource to inform parents and make sure that games are being played by their appropriate audiences. Many believe that an industry such as the games industry cannot be trusted to self-regulate when it comes to categorizing potentially harmful content in its products. Even many gamers believe that putting the rating responsibilty in an independent hands would, if nothing else, cast less blame upon the industry itself when controversies such as the Hot Coffee incident arise. On the other hand, some gamers believe that it would be dangerous to take control out of the hands of the industry.

Online trade magazine Next Generation has an interview with ESRB president Patricia Vance, in which Vance defends the ESRB and explains why it should remain in control of ratings information. She notes that the actual ratings themselves are assigned by independent sources, and points to films as a good example of another self-regulatory industry.

"The real issue, frankly, boils down to why parents are happy to make those purchases for their kids. They saw the five descriptors on GTA, and the M rating. Why isn't the parent hesitating before bringing that home? Because parents have the right to make up their own minds about what's appropriate for their kids. Parents are involved in a purchase something like 90% of the time. They are either making the purchase of approving the purchase."

So which way should it work? Would an independent organization be a bad move, or is the ESRB botching it up?

Chris Remo

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