[casual_games] If Vista is going to be such a problem... (ESRB)

[Jamie Carlson]

Sorry, I should have read the rest of the thread before responding 
(many people have commented on the ESRB process, so now I am merely a 
redudancy)...
I always hate it when people do that, and now I'm one of them!  :)

- Jamie

At 09:28 AM 12/22/2006, Jamie Carlson wrote:



>>Or is it possible that casual game developers could get a "minigame" ESRB

>>ratings package, which is substantially cheaper, based on he volume of

>>content required to check? I mean, you should be able to look at Diner Dash

>>or Bejeweled for like 2 minutes to see that this is safe content, no? Why

>>should they be charged the same price for evaluation as games like Far Cry

>>or Gears of War - which must take days and days to look through the content?

>

>

>Actually, submitting for an ESRB rating is a fairly "superficial" 

>process for all types of games (regardless of their size/duration).

>

>There's a 30 page application which asks the developer to disclose 

>all notable instances of violence, profanity, drug use, or other 

>"questionable content". Completing the form takes about an hour 

>(I've done it twice) and then you (or your publisher) will have to 

>record an hour's worth of footage that needs to be submitted.

>

>Here's an overview taken straight from the application:

>

>         ESRB Submission Form (Overview Section)

>         http://www.sonalystsgames.com/ESRB_Submission_Form_Overview/

>

>         NOTE: I took screen captures in MS Word but you could 

> probably just get the application DOC

>         from ESRB.org once you've created an account - 

> https://www.esrb.org/publishers/getting_rated/index.jsp)

>

>

>After reading that and getting a feel for the process you'll come 

>away with a pretty good understanding of how the "Hot Coffee" mod in 

>"Grand Theft Auto - San Andreas"  went easily undetected by the 

>ESRB. The process is just not setup for that level of scrutiny. 

>Given the extensive level of content and gameplay that is available 

>in any retail PC/Console game (as you mentioned) it's near 

>impossible for them to give each game the attention it deserves for 

>an appropriate rating.

>

>Not really related to the initial discussion, but just thought I'd 

>add a tangential slice of information about the ESRB for those who 

>are interested and were not aware of the process.

>

>Happy Holidays!

>- Jamie