Ad-free. Influence-free. Powered by consumers.
Skip to Main ContentThe payment for your account couldn't be processed or you've canceled your account with us.
Re-activate
Trying to stay on top of the onslaught of new video games, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has come up with a ratings algorithm: Computers will now rate downloadable games based on how their makers answer a series of questions.
As it works now, actual human beings rate video games for Everyone, Teens, or Mature audiences—16 years or older. The new questionnaire will include questions about offensive language, violence, drug use, and sexuality, as well as the game's style, level of realism, tone, and perspective, among other elements.
Unless a game carries a rating, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft, won't allow them on their console systems--nor will an unrated game be sold by most major retailers. But this switch in tactics is meant to address rating online games, as well as games created for digital devices and social networks. Humans will still rate the video games that are sold on store shelves.
With the onus on game makers to accurately assess their own products, will the ESRB rating lose its power? And would you trust the union of game creators and computers to determine games that are appropriate for your children to play? The ESRB says it will double-check ratings after games are released, but that alone may prove an overwhelming task.
Downloadable video games will be rated by computers instead of people [Consumerist]
Busy job of judging video-game content to be ceded to machines [New York Times]
—Maggie Shader
Build & Buy Car Buying Service
Save thousands off MSRP with upfront dealer pricing information and a transparent car buying experience.
Get Ratings on the go and compare
while you shop
