A Games Rating System Based on Islamic Law

November 29, 2010

The Index Conferences and Exhibitions Organization and the Iran National Foundation of Computer Games announced a new Islamic-based ratings system for video games during a press conference held at the Dubai World Game Expo this week. The ratings system, the Entertainment Software Rating Association (ESRA) was created by a research team at the National Foundation of Computer Game.

"The approach of Islam is based on Human being innateness 'Al Fitra,' and the most important innate trends are truth, virtue, benevolence, excellence tendency, innovation and creativity," said Dr. Behrouz Minaei, the Managing Director at Iran National Foundation of Computer Games. "That's why we made sure that ESRA team are proficient in these areas; Religion, Psychopathology, Educational psychology, Social psychology, Sociology of the family, Family Sociology, Emotional Psychology, Family therapy and Educational technology."

Minaei added that this ratings system is based on a lot of research including other ratings systems used around the world to rate games.

"The rating system is designed based on the culture, society and the special values of Islam". It was not revealed which countries in the Middle East might adopt this new ratings system, but it is probably safe to assume that Iran will be one of the first countries to give it a try.

Story and image source: zawya.com

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Comments

Re: A Games Rating System Based on Islamic Law

Submitted by Cheater87 on Mon, 11/29/2010 - 17:58.

Isn't Iran's the rating system with the 25 and up age rating and THEN a banning?

Re: A Games Rating System Based on Islamic Law

Submitted by ZippyDSMlee on Mon, 11/29/2010 - 16:18.

The more the merrier the one that gains the most support will be the one to "win".

ANd why do I have a feeling Japan will be targeting them with a ton of virtuous(in the name of) guro and rape sims......*rolls eyes*

...

/Sarcasm

I have a dream, break the chains of copy right oppression! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/2010/05/21/cigital-disobedience/

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Re: A Games Rating System Based on Islamic Law

Submitted by Zerodash on Mon, 11/29/2010 - 15:27.

Interesting. Does anyone know if any Christian groups in the US have tried to create their own rating system? What about other religions?

Re: A Games Rating System Based on Islamic Law

Submitted by Arell on Tue, 11/30/2010 - 07:57.

There are Christian based reviewers that form their opinions on conservatively defined morality, and basically tell other Christians which games are "bad" for you and your soul. Common Sense Media comes to mind, but there are many others online, like guide2games. Some aren't so bad, but many like to condemn video games widely, and are dismissive and derogatory of any game that offends them. They can't simply say, "this game might not be for you." Instead, they snarl and sneer at the sinful displays and blame them for the corruption of " core values" and the downfall of civilization.

I'm not too hopeful that this "Islamic" ratings system will be as thoughtful as their press release makes them out to sound. Basing anything on religious "virtues" is tricky, since we're not talking about simple content descriptors here, but judgements based on a rigid morality system.

Re: A Games Rating System Based on Islamic Law

Submitted by killatia on Mon, 11/29/2010 - 14:18.

Wasn't there another gaming board in the middle east just for video games. Seems kind of redundent to have two boards on the same thing.

http://www.magicinkgaming.com/

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Cecil475: @PHX Corp - The dude's a moron who wouldn't know crap if it came up and kicked him.05/19/2013 - 6:36am

PHX Corp: http://kotaku.com/ea-sports-developer-calls-wii-u-crap-and-nintendo-wa-508481261 EA Sports Canada Moron calls Wii U 'Crap' and Nintendo 'Walking Dead'05/18/2013 - 11:42am

E. Zachary Knight: If the videos are of sufficient quality that people subscribe and watch regularly, then those let's players are providing a service that people want. That is the heart of capitalism. That is not something that should be shamed.05/17/2013 - 8:06am

E. Zachary Knight: I have no idea who either of those people are. However, I still don't see why making a business out of creating let's play videos is somehow evil or wrong.05/17/2013 - 8:04am

MaskedPixelante: It sure is if you're just doing it for the money. See Tobuscus and/or Pewdiepie for what happens when people get into it just for the money.05/17/2013 - 7:30am

E. Zachary Knight: Why is it wrong to make money doing LPs? Why should that be something that should be shamed?05/17/2013 - 6:20am

MaskedPixelante: https://twitter.com/PsychedelicSA/status/335183893214924801 Now here's an interesting, glass half full thought about the Nintendo LP thing. It outs the people who are just doing LPs to make money.05/17/2013 - 5:56am

E. Zachary Knight: I responded in writing to all this "let's play" stuff Nintendo Started. No need for my permission, I won't give it. It's not mine to give. http://divineknightgaming.com/?p=29205/16/2013 - 2:21pm

E. Zachary Knight: Lars Doucet of Levelup Labs has a Reddit going on game companies that allow monetization of Let's Play videos. http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/1egayn/lets_build_a_list_of_game_studios_that_allow/05/16/2013 - 1:04pm

Sleaker: @Imautobot - yah I wouldn't use an emulator as a good first run test of how stable the console is, haha.05/16/2013 - 11:47am

E. Zachary Knight: The 50th person to jump off a bridge is just as dumb if not dumber than the 1st.05/16/2013 - 10:03am

MaskedPixelante: Yeah, let's all jump on Nintendo for doing this, even though they're hardly the first company to do this...05/16/2013 - 9:47am

E. Zachary Knight: Wow Nintendo, this is wrong. http://kotaku.com/nintendo-forcing-ads-on-some-youtube-lets-play-video-50709238305/16/2013 - 8:44am

Imautobot: @Sleaker, further gameplay has revealed that the controller button do stick under the faceplate. Also, The NES emulator (Emuya)keeps crashing on me, though I think a bad ROM is causing it.05/16/2013 - 7:10am

Papa Midnight: AE: I wonder if any other publishers will follow suit.05/15/2013 - 8:12pm

Andrew Eisen: EA is ditching Online Pass. http://venturebeat.com/2013/05/15/ea-kills-its-controversial-online-pass-program/05/15/2013 - 7:20pm

Avalongod: @Zach and quicnkold...I've read the bill and the intent of it is to fear-monger. It's not a balanced message. I don't recall the ESRB being mentioned at all. It's more "keeps your kids away from these movies/games or they'll become violent"05/15/2013 - 4:35pm

E. Zachary Knight: quiknkold, The big problem with that legislation is the amount of misinformation out there. Who is going to ensure that the information in the pamphlet is accurate?05/15/2013 - 3:25pm

quiknkold: REBeardogg : I'm on the fence about this. on one side, I want parents to be aware of the ESRB, and even Movie Ratings. On the other hand, I feel this will be used for nothing but Propaganda. The ESRB does a good job.05/15/2013 - 3:07pm

IanC: Frostbite is coming out on iOS devices. Yet the Wii U cant handle it? *coughbullshitcough*05/15/2013 - 2:31pm

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