Joseph Oliveira

November 20, 2014

B5
Writing 1010
Video games are an amazing way to get out of reality and dive into the
depths of another world. Whether you are playing games like Skyrim, Spyro:
the Dragon, or Destiny; you are placed in someone elses shoes. Seeing
through their eyes. Although there is a difference between these games. The
difference is their rating. Skyrim is rated M for things like Blood and gore and
sexual themes, while Spyro: The Dragon is rated E for something called
Comic Mischief, but what does a rating mean? Where do they come from and
why are they necessary? Could it affect what age prefers what rating such as
Pokmon vs. Call of Duty? Well lets find out.
Video Game ratings (In the United States and Canada) come from
something called the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board.) Starting
in 1994, their sole purpose is to apply ratings ranging from EC (Early
Children) to AO (Adults Only 18+). The interesting thing about this industry is
that it is actually not enforced by federal law, it is a de facto standard
because it is treated as an industry. Meaning that is has gotten public
acceptance and/or market forces. Ironically, the reason that the ESRB even
started was because of a game series that started back in 1992 called,
Mortal Kombat (which is now rated M). According to Wikipedia.com, The

series is known for its high levels of bloody violence, including, most notably,
its Fatalitiesfinishing moves, requiring a sequence of buttons to perform,
which, in part, led to the creation of the ESRB video game rating system
(Wikipedia.com)
The ratings start with the rating EC. This rating is given to games that
have pretty much no form of violence are usually educational. Such games
include games like Bubble Guppies and Kinect Sesame Street TV. Next rating
up is rated E for Everyone. This rating is given to games that have some form
of violence like fantasy or cartoon violence, but they arent bad for children
to play. Some examples of these games include, Crash Bandicoot: Warped,
and Spyro: Year of the Dragon. Then we have rated E10+. This rating
(meaning rated everyone ages 10 and up) is a relatively new rating, starting
in March 2005. This rating is given to children games that have a little more
violence in them with added things like weapons. An example of a game with
this rating is Crash Bandicoot: Tag Team Racing. This game is a cartoony
racing game where you can morph with other vehicles to gain weapons on
your car that can shoot things like rockets. While there is no blood or gore in
the game when you shoot at other players, there is still violence. Next up is
rated T for teen. This rating is given to games that are more violent than
most games. These kinds of games show things like profanity, blood, and
heavy hand-to-hand/weapons combat. A perfect example of this game is
Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception. This game introduces profanity such as s***,
ass, and b****, blood, and mature combat that is still suitable for the T

rating. Next up is rated M for Mature 17+. This rating takes violence in
games to the next level. I can explain this entire rating in just four words.
Grand Theft Auto V. The final rating, and the worst one, is rated AO. This
rating is given to games that have either grotesque violence and/or explicit
sexual content. Examples of these game include Sexy Beach 3 and Manhunt
2.
Now that the ratings have been explained, we can start discussing the
problems with the young society and Video Games. Children these days are
playing very violent games that are not age appropriate for them. An
example of a game like this is the Call of Duty Franchise. Call of Duty is firstperson shooter franchise that originated in 2003 as World War II rated T
games, but started going rated M and the end of 2007 with their release of
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Many children of todays society have a
strange obsession with the Call of Duty Franchise. As Paul Davies stated,
kids are spending a disproportionate amount of time playing violent video
games, relishing the photorealistic gore, a wild look in their eyes as they gun
down wave after wave of pixelated baddies. (Beyond the call of duty: how to
teach your kids about the reality of war). In my opinion, the most disturbing
fact about this when you go onto the online section (aka multiplayer) of the
game and all you can hear is a 7 year old in the background yelling about
how much better they are then you and how much they slept with your
mother. Jonathan Holmes states, Its surprising to me how much younger
kids are attracted specifically to videogames that are supposedly made for

adults (Why do the kids love Call of Duty?). What makes this statement so good
is that it is so true. You can ask pretty much any kid today if they have either
heard of and/or played Call of Duty and they will probably say yes. Other
examples of adult games that children like include games like, Grand Theft
Auto V and Mortal Kombat. These kinds of games make children more
aggressive adults, Researchers found that over time children start to think
more aggressively. And when provoked at home, school or in other situations,
children will react much like they do when playing a violent video game.
(Violent video games make children grow up into aggressive adults, study
claims)

If you look on the other side, Adults are beginning to enjoy games that
are made for children, primarily Pokmon. As Gamesbeatxmlrpc states,
Many adults who have continued to play Pokmon have been doing so for
years. These games have captivated us since adolescence. (Hey, you!
Youre too old to play Pokmon) Pokmon is fun, energetic, and strategic.
Everything an adult looks for in a good time. Other games that bring adults
back to their wondrous childhood include, Crash Bandicoot, and Spyro: The
Dragon

Pokmon vs. Call of Duty has been an interesting topic for many years.
The fact that Call of Duty is played by kids and Pokmon is played by adults
is just an interesting, yet ironic topic. I feel that children should not even be
able to play violent games anymore because they are learning too much
profanity at such a young age. When I was young I was playing games like
Spyro and Crash Bandicoot. These days, young ones are playing Call of Duty.
It is quite the shame that todays days, children wont be getting a good
childhood.

Sources
"Call of Duty." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 July 2014. Web. 09 Dec.
2014.
Duncan, Alasdair. "Why Playing Pokemon As An Adult Is Still Okay." Junkee.
N.p., 14 Oct. 2013. Web. 10 Dec. 2014."
"Entertainment Software Rating Board." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12
June 2014. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.
Gamesbeatxmlrpc. "Hey, You! You're Too Old to Play Pokmon." VentureBeat.
N.p., 22 Oct. 2013. Web. 10 Dec. 2014."
"Mortal Kombat." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Sept. 2014. Web. 10
Dec. 2014.
"Pokmon (video Game Series)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Sept.
2014. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.
Reilly, Rachel. "Violent Video Games Makes Children Grow up into Aggressive
Adults, Study Claims ." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 25 Mar. 2014.
Web. 10 Dec. 2014.