As a child of the ’90s, I can vividly remember the heated debates surrounding video games and their impact on society. The ESRB‘s creation was a game-changer (pun intended) that not only calmed the storm but also made gaming more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Way back in September ’94, the Entertainment Software Rating Board kicked off rating video games across North America. Fast forward to today, they’re still at it! Even though their 30th anniversary isn’t until September 16, they’ve decided to party a bit early by unleashing a catchy new tune called “E is for Everyone”. This song playfully breaks down what those game ratings are all about.
According to the ESRB’s website, this tune draws inspiration from the educational songs from the Schoolhouse Rock series of the 70s and 80s. It seems likely that the animated characters in this video are modeled after real employees at the ESRB, though they aren’t identified individually by name. The song’s lyrics provide an overview of the rating process, the main ratings categories, and the rules about displaying these ratings in game advertisements, which are enforced by the Advertising Review Council.
The song doesn’t discuss the reasons why video game companies initially needed to use the ESRB. In 1993, some politicians took advantage of games like Mortal Kombat and Night Trap to stir public outrage about violent or graphic games that they accused of being targeted at children. This led to congressional hearings where the industry was criticized harshly. To prevent more negative attention, Nintendo, Sega, and other publishers decided to adopt the ESRB’s well-known rating system.
Over a span of 30 years, the ESRB has assigned over 16 million ratings to various games and apps, as stated in their operation. In a released statement, the ESRB expressed gratitude for the video game industry’s backing and pledged to continually enhance and refine the tools they provide to ensure that children’s gaming experiences remain age-appropriate in the future. However, it seems unlikely that there will be new melodies released annually.
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2024-08-30 19:08