Ultimate Parents' Guide to Video Games

Oct. 30, 2007— -- The release of the violent "Manhunt 2" has sitrred controversy within the gaming industry. We offer some information on video game ratings and lingo that you might find helpful when you or your child are shopping for new video games.

The Entertainment Software Ratings Board, or ESRB, is like the Motion Picture Association of America. It sets the ratings for video games, like the MPAA sets ratings for movies.

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If you're a parent, or buying for a child, pay attention, these ratings are important. While you may never have played a game, and don't understand how or why they could be inappropriate, these ratings were designed to empower consumers to make educated decisions.

The ESRB ratings are as follows:

EARLY CHILDHOODTitles rated EC (Early Childhood) have content that may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.

EVERYONETitles rated E (Everyone) have content that may be suitable for ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.

EVERYONE 10+Titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes.

TEENTitles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.

MATURETitles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.

ADULTS ONLYTitles rated AO (Adults Only) have content that should only be played by persons 18 years and older. Titles in this category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity.

You can find out more about the ESRB's rating system by clicking here.

But rating video games is a little more complicated than rating movies, due to their interactive nature — it's a bit more complex than giving a violent game an "R" and a non-violent game a "G."