The holiday season is on its way, and every mom I know is beginning to think about all of the preparation that goes into this magical time of year. Purchasing presents is one part of a parent’s tasks, and an affordable gift across the kid consumer market is a video game. I have to be honest, when I think about shopping for video games my body tenses up a little and I feel slightly queazy. So when the invitation from mom central came in to blog about ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board), I jumped in, thinking I could use the education and also pass along some useful information to other moms at this time of year.
What is ESBR?
The ESBR is a non-profit self-regulatory board that independently assigns ratings, enforces advertising guidelines and helps ensure responsible online privacy practices for the interactive entertainment software industry. No doubt you have seen an ESRB code on your latest video game purchase. This little code provides a valuable tool in helping us parents decide what video game is age and content appropriate for our children. It is a great guideline for time conscious parents.
On the cover
On the front cover of a game box the ESRB rating symbol is displayed ranging from EC (Early Childhood 3+) to AO (Adults Only 18+) and on the back cover is a description of the content. This two-part rating system helps us understand age appropriateness and what type of content puts it in the designated category.
Another great tool
In addition to using ESRB ratings, a feature on the new generation of game consoles Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and Sony Playstation 3 enables parents to set up parental controls for our kids. These controls can be used to set boundaries, ensuring our children have an appropriate gaming experience.
Do your homework
One thing I have learned from my past experience with purchasing video games is that it pays to do a little homework. Before you purchase a new game for your child, ask around for a personal recommendation. Think of someone you know who has a teenage boy. A teenage video savvy boy will usually really know the ins and outs of gaming and can be an excellent resource. Or read a review online gamespot.com
Join in on the fun
Last but not least, join in on the fun. Asking my son Sam to play a video game with me came as quite a surprise to him, however, he didn’t hesitate in happily challenging me to a game of Wii sports. Out of our tennis, golf and bowling matches; bowling was my favorite. I really did enjoy the game time with Sam and, equally important, I now have a clearer understanding of the video game rating system and why my son enjoys gaming so much.
Such a great post. Point by point I was in complete agreement. There are an infinite number of resources out there to help parents out when it comes to video games. The most important of all being staying engaged and up to speed on what’s out there.
My whole family takes part in gaming and we enjoy it immensely. In our case, we use the online game rental service Gamefly (think netflix for video games) and they, like Xbox 360, Wii and PS3 enable us to set up parental controls on the account. How this translates in the online experience is that when our children go to Gamefly online, they cannot access any games that have an adult and/or mature rating. The account is password protected. Only my husband or myself can access anything beyond a “T” (or Teen) rating. We’ve set it up so. If your children are younger you could set it up to only allow “E” (or Everyone) rated games. The power is yours.
In addition to this feature the site also offers full game reviews written by reviewers as well as the community at large, which, as you point out, is a great way to get a feel for what you’re getting in a game. They also have ESRB ratings and, best of all, if you end up renting something you’re less than jazzed about you can simply pack it back up and drop it in the mail back to them.
Overall, I’ve found them extremely family friendly, not to mention economically supportive as gaming is a ridiculously expensive past time these days and renting is far more cost effective than buying. You can keep your game rentals as long as you desire with no late fees. And if you end up with someone no one really enjoys, you can drop it back in the mail and get a new one to replace it.
Anyway, just wanted to give kudos for a wonderfully well informed post. It’s always refreshing to find other parents out there enjoying games with their kids in an intelligent and conscious way.
Hi Sienna-
Thanks for your comments. I love the tip for Gamefly, we will definitely check it out. You may enjoy reading my experience with Guitar Hero 3- Rock Star Wanna Be http://www.truewellbeing.net/Truewellbeing2/blog.html
Best wishes to you!
Beth
Thanks Beth! Will do. Happy gaming!