Game Art and Design

Unit 1 Lesson 4
Game Ratings and Ethics

2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,

STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

Big Idea
Knowledge of the history of technology and
societies helps people understand the
world around them by seeing how people
of all times and places have increased their
capability by using their unique skills to
innovate, improvise, and invent.

2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

ETHICS

2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,

STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

Ethics in Game Design

Ethics are moral principles
that govern a person or a
groups behavior.
Ethical behavior is
behavior that is normally
acceptable to everyone.
Unfortunately there is no
clear set of standards for
society unless one looks to
a religious code.
2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

Free Expression in Games

Developers struggle with
ethical and moral questions
when creating games.
Legally, games qualify as a
form of free expression and
thus are protected under the
First Amendment.
Developers may try to push
the moral envelope in order to
sell a game even though the
best selling game are rated E.
2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

What is Acceptable in Games?

Value judgments
concerning games can
vary among players.
Controversy surrounds
games such as Grand
Theft Auto: Vice City,
where serious violence
and sexual innuendos,
have drawn the eye of
censors.
2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

Mature Ratings and R Movies

Violence is always a main topic of
censorship followed closely by sexual
content and foul language.
Creators of the game contend violence is
no worse than an R-rated movie.
Thus, the Mature game rating is much like
an R-rated movie.
The difference being parents must police
the playing of Mature games.
2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

Game Violence and Real Life

Certainly this is the question of
our time.
Many shooting such as
Columbine have had suggested
links to violent game play.
Are these links the same for
other form of entertainment
such as movies?
These questions remain.

2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

ESRB RATING SYSTEM

http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide_print.jsp

2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,

STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

The ESRB Rating System

2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

The ESRB Rating System

The ESRB rates all entertainment software
available for sale at retail in the US and
Canada, and requires that a games rating
be displayed conspicuously and
consistently on the package.
The ratings change periodically.

2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

EC: Early Childhood

Titles rated EC (Early
Childhood) have content
that may be suitable for
ages three and older
This media contains no
material that parents
would find inappropriate.

2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

E: Everyone
Titles rated E (Everyone)
have content that may be
suitable for ages six and
older.
Titles in this category may
contain minimal cartoon,
fantasy or mild violence
and/or infrequent use of
mild language.
2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

E10+: Everyone 10 and Older

Titles rated E10+
(Everyone 10 and older)
have content that may be
suitable for ages 10 and
older.
Titles may contain more
cartoon, fantasy or mild
violence, mild language
and/or minimal suggestive
themes.
2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

T: Teen
Titles 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.
2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

M: Mature
Titles 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.
2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

AO: Adults Only

Content suitable only for
adults ages 18 and up.
May include prolonged
scenes of intense violence,
graphic sexual content,
and/or gambling with real
currency.

2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

RP: Rating Pending

Titles designated as RP
(Rating Pending) have
not been assigned a rating.
This icon appears only in
advertising, marketing,
and promotional materials.
The RP is replaced by a
rating once it has been
assigned.

2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,

STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

ESRB Content Descriptors

Alcohol Reference - Reference to and/or
images of alcoholic beverages.
Animated Blood - Discolored and/or
unrealistic depictions of blood.
Blood - Depictions of blood.
Blood and Gore - Depictions of blood or
the mutilation of body parts.
Comic Mischief - Depictions or dialogue
involving slapstick or suggestive humor.
2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

ESRB Content Descriptors

Cartoon Violence - Violent actions
involving cartoon-like situations and
characters. May include violence where a
character is unharmed after the action
has been inflicted.
Crude Humor - Depictions or dialogue
involving vulgar antics, including
bathroom humor.
Drug Reference - Reference to and/or
images of illegal drugs.
2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

ESRB Content Descriptors

Fantasy Violence - Violent actions of a
fantasy nature, involving human or nonhuman characters in situations easily
distinguishable from real life.
Intense Violence - Graphic and
realistic-looking depictions of physical
conflict. May involve extreme and/or
realistic blood, gore, weapons and
depictions of human injury and death.
2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

ESRB Content Descriptors

Language - Mild to moderate use of
profanity.
Lyrics - Mild references to profanity,
sexuality, violence, alcohol or drug use
in music.
Mature Humor - Depictions or dialogue
involving "adult" humor, including sexual
references.

2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

ESRB Content Descriptors

Nudity - Graphic or prolonged depictions
of nudity.
Partial Nudity - Brief and/or mild
depictions of nudity.
Real Gambling - Player can gamble,
including betting or wagering real cash or
currency.
Sexual Content - Non-explicit depictions
of sexual behavior, possibly including
partial nudity.
2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

ESRB Content Descriptors

Sexual Themes - References to sex or
sexuality.
Sexual Violence - Depictions of rape or
other violent sexual acts.
Simulated Gambling - Player can gamble
without betting or wagering real cash or
currency.
Strong Language - Explicit and/or
frequent use of profanity.
2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

ESRB Content Descriptors

Strong Lyrics - Explicit and/or
frequent references to profanity, sex,
violence, alcohol or drug use in music.
Strong Sexual Content - Explicit
and/or frequent depictions of sexual
behavior, possibly including nudity.
Suggestive Themes - Mild
provocative references or materials.
2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

ESRB Content Descriptors

Tobacco Reference - Reference to
and/or images of tobacco products.
Use of Alcohol - The consumption of
alcoholic beverages.
Use of Drugs - The consumption or use
of illegal drugs.
Use of Tobacco - The consumption of
tobacco products.

2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

ESRB Content Descriptors

Violence - Scenes involving aggressive
conflict. May contain bloodless
dismemberment.
Violent References - References to
violent acts.

2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

Games Sales by Ratings 2012

2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

Big Idea
Knowledge of the history of technology and
societies helps people understand the
world around them by seeing how people
of all times and places have increased their
capability by using their unique skills to
innovate, improvise, and invent.

2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

Game Art and Design

Unit 1 Lesson 4
Game Ratings and Ethics
Images
with permission from
http://www.esrb.org/index-js.jsp

2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,

STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning