ECA's Hal Halpin Dishes on Universal Ratings

I think there should be ratings systems for each medium of entertainment, the government needs to stop looking at entertainment as one large beast and realise that there is a different style of entertainment in every area, I would suggest going further and adding the chances of the raters splitting the rating between genre, with sandbox games being given slightly more lenient ratings given that the worst content is few and far spaces between, whereas survival horrors and LSL games are all a 5 hour OMGWTFWASTHAT?!?! spree

Universal ratings boards are a bad idea period.

With as many similarities as there are between the different mediums, when considering ALL the aspects of each, they absolutely CANNOT be rated in the same way.

Video games, for example, typically have a LOT more content than any other medium. It's the only one that's TRULY 3-Dimensional. As such, it requires greater description than the others.

It is kinda funny that most parents will let (or even encourage) little kids read Halo books, but freak out if they ask to play the game. Hey, do books even have ratings or content descriptors?

I'm a little surprised at the overall satisfaction with the ESRB expressed over here. Don't get me wrong, I think the ESRB rating are vastly superior to other rating systems, but it's still somewhat lacking.

I don't know about the average consumer, but particularly in between Teen and Mature and between Mature and Adults Only, there's a LOT of different material covered.

If the principal purpose of game ratings are to inform people like parents who are not in the loop about game content, then I find the ESRB ratings to be fairly lacking in their usefulness. Better than most, but still inadequet.

The ESRB is superior to other ratings systems, because it is clear and insightful. They don't just stamp "T" or "M" on the box. They also include content warnings like, "Strong Sexual Content" and "Partial Nudity," or "Mild Violence" and "Blood and Gore." Unless you're illiterate, you should know what's in the game before buying it, simply by turning it over and reading the ESRB.

Of course, while the ratings are fine, the ESRB itself needs some work. They don't play the games all the way through (Oblivion got a Teen rating at first, even though it was obviously an M game), and they're too easily swayed by public outcry (the Hot Coffee incident was just shameful, they shouldn't have changed the rating).

The bigger problem with the Universal Rating system is that most of its backers are legislators. As in, governmentally run instead of independant and voluntary. This is just another way for the government to try and exert control over the gaming industry. If the ratings system was officially sanctioned, or run, by the government, they'd finally be able to pass laws based on that ratings system.

I don't agree with Universal Ratings, but I would only accept it if it was managed by an independant group and was voluntary (like the ESRB currently is).

@GRIZZAM

Part of the reason Halo doesn't get a 15+ rating here is because the ESRB doesn't have a 15+ rating. ;)

But, yea, I don't like the idea of a universal rating system either. If only because then Hillary and friends would have a single avenue of attack should they attempt a Federal takeover. Even if they didn't go for legislation, it would be much easier for them to pressure a single rating group. And if the RIAA and MPAA were part of the ratings board, I wouldn't trust them to not compromise. Especially if the pressure is heavily slanted against games, as they would surely love to slap an AO on as many games as possible in order to limit their competition.

Hm...

You know, since gamers primarily fight for equality with movies and music, a blanket rating system could be useful in reaching that goal and eliminating the prejudice that exists. If everything is held to the same standards of content and quality control in that way, that's good, right?

On the other hand though, games, movies, and music are all vastly different forms of media, and after reading this, I can see why it wouldn't work.

I guess I'd file the idea of a universal rating system in a folder marked "Last Resort", personally, but as long as times are not that desperate, there seems to be no need for it.

No matter what though, Hillary will still be a crazy bitch.

Universal ratings system is only ideal to a few, those who want it everywhere and those who are paranoid with fear from those politicians who beet the F-n drum most of the time....


The rest of us, Videogames and Movies and Music are rated differently by different ratings systems for the commercial market.

Also for those who will do anything to force those same ratings onto games on the internet, well you CAN"T have ratings for games on the internet because it is just not possible because the internet is not a market, it is more like people who have made a game themselves can self rate a game in their own way, it is just too much time and money to just try to get an official rating from the Commercial market.

Before you ever take drastic action on the industry, THINK how you would like it if you are making something special for you, and have someone from the outside barging in onto your creative work telling you that you can't do this or you will have to put a Universal; rating on it and go though all the f-ing process of getting it rated when it was just a simple piece of art that you just wanted to make for fun...

"...been working on his own universal system for rating call girls..."

Heh, good one, GP.

Governments want control of everything, its the nature of the beast. Ratings systems should be independant of governments, made up of a representative segment from each industry.

@ Chopperlink

It depends on how the Universal Ratings system was controlled. If it is run by an independant group, then we have nothing to worry about. However, that's not what legislators (like Hillary) want. They want a government run ratings system. Here's why that's bad.

Up to now, a lot of bills have been passed trying to regulate sales of video games based on the ESRB. "If you sell M rated games to 16 year olds, we'll fine you!" But every time, those bills have been deemed unconstitutional. Mainly because the ESRB is an independant group. The government has no regulatory control over them. If the ESRB really wanted to, they could stamp "E" on every single game, and no one could really do anything about it. Furthermore, no developer is required to turn in thier game for ESRB consideration. They only do so now because it is in thier best interests. If the government managed to step in and start fining stores, companies might chose to abandon the ratings system to avoid the regulations.

But, if the government came up with a new ratings system, one that they controlled and required game companies to use, they could pass any damn law they please about it. And with that power, they could stiffle free expression, as companies toned down the violence and sex and language to appease their new government masters. It wouldn't matter if the game was intended for adult audiences, they'd tone it down just to fly under the radar. Because a lot of stores would be too scared to carry adult-oriented games.

A uni system would be great as long as it’s handled more like a joint operation than a single minded one.

I can easily point out ways this can work first off you have 3 or more boards one for games one for video/TV one for music, books,comics ect.

Maybe make 4 boards if you just HAVE to nanny music.

You then create a simple descriptor's system akin to what the ESRB has and your age slots, then you develop some rules like intent of content or overall focus of the content is what ups it in the ranks,
Most metal/rap/angst or booty calling music would be PG13, cussing is a non issue in music IMO precise vulgar lyrics could get a R but frankly PG13 and 3-4 descriptors will be better than slapping it with a R.

TV/film/games get handled much like they are now only it would be under one roof with a focus to drive media into "like” slot ranges.

Also one could add a retailers non reviewed ratings sticker/bag, what this will do is retailers follow a list/guideline so that they under some simple contract with the ratings board they can unrated media into its age ranges, violate it to many times pay a huge fine the point of this is not to over ride the current rating but rate stuff that’s not rated.



Expanding on the multi prong train of thought you’d have
But before I start you could merge music with books because it’s a medium fueled more by imagination than hard visuals, one could put comics and magazines with TV/film or have it is own board…mmmm
so
Board for music
Board for Books, comic, magazines , Internet(it’s coming get over it)
Board for TV and film
Board for Games interactive media
To
Board for music, book, literature.
Board for Comic, Magazine, Internet.
Board for Games and interactive media/software
Board for TV/ Film

These boards each have 10-80 people working in them the top 2-3 go to the main board meetings to issues and where the while is headed they set the mandate and the rules to try and equalize rating slotage for all mediums .

Basically rappers life on the big screen is a R his album is PG13 both have 2 or 3 out of 4 “like” descriptors ,the film having nudity/gore on it.

IMO music, song and book will always be 1 level short of visual mediums you do it like this even the music and book Nazis cannot complain about age slotting on their mediums.

Now to get this to work the government will have to force it since the for profit ratings boards will never merge without being forced to do so in some way.

It can work but melding the current systems together getting the direction and rules polished up and running is another issue.

posted in the forums come chat btches!
http://forums.theeca.com/showthread.php?p=72392#post72392

"Actually, I guess we can count Spitzer out of the mix as he has apparently been working on his own universal system for rating call girls."

ROFLMAO !! :D :D