Nov 25
CNN and GameTap get ten gold stars, extra credit
This past Friday signaled the formal start of the holiday shopping season. While most of the major gaming websites have already released a gift guide for those who don’t know what puzzle/RPG hybrid to get our loved ones, so has GameTap, in collaboration with CNN.
What makes this guide different is that it is not a Gamer’s guide, but rather, a Parent’s guide. In an era of Jack Thompson and school shootings, it’s important that parents are aware of what games they are buying for their children. Instead of lumping games into genres, they are classified by rating, and the article even directs readers to the ESRB ratings guide.
An overall sentiment among the gaming community is that it’s not the games’ fault for violence, it’s unaware parents who don’t pay attention to the letter in the lower-left corner of the box. Hopefully, a network with as broad a reader base as CNN will be able to make more steps toward parents’ understanding of the ESRB.
Categories: Editorial, Gaming Industry, Love4 Comments so far
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Over the Thanksgiving break, I was at my uncle’s house, and he was telling me that his ten year old son just beat Call of Duty 4. I didn’t mention anything to him, but I told my girlfriend about how when I have children, I’m totally going to know an understand the rating system. That said, a game rated M is probably not for my ten year olds.
That was a great article explaing game ratings. Thanks for the link.
So true Dexter345. Many parents don’t understand it and haven’t take the time to. It’s so important. I learned about it a couple months ago while going throgh my sons Gamefly account. I learned I could set parent controls to limit the ratings of the games they rent. Then I set the parent controls on our xbox and wii. Gives me a little more piece of mind, but I still sit down and check out what they’re playing. Everyone’s opinions are different for what their kids should be exposed to, that’s why there is nothing like learning about your kids interest and deciding as a parents the ages your kids can be exosed to different content.
I didn’t know about that ESRB has a ratings hotline, 1-800-771-3772. Haven’t used it yet, but it’s nice to know.
I nominate Jenn as mother of the year.