Kotaku
Sixty percent of parents with children under 18 never allow those kids to play M rated games, while 34 percent only do sometimes, according to a recent study commissioned by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.
The study also shows that parents of children under the age of 13 are twice as likely as those with children 13 and older to "never" allow them to play M-rated games.
The study was conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates in early April, and surveyed over 500 parents who have purchased a computer or video game in the last six months and have children age 3 to 17 that play video games.
It's interesting to see that 64 percent of parents seem to agree with the mature rating. While I appreciate the work of the ESRB, I can say that I find the T rating a bit too broad. Of course, as parents we all have to make our own decisions based on good information.
Hit the jump for more findings from the study.
Among the study's other findings:
87% of parents find it "very important" to be able to monitor and regulate what their children watch, read and play
90% of parents surveyed said that the ratings are "very" (55%) to "somewhat" (35%) helpful in helping them buy and rent games they deem appropriate for their children
91% say the ESRB ratings are the "most important" (17%), a "very important" (52%), or a "somewhat important" (22%) consideration when selecting games
Other than ESRB ratings, parents turn to packaging (31%), other parents (29%), or their children (21%) as the top three sources of information about games
83% said that they would consider parental control settings to be "very" (53%) to "somewhat" (30%) helpful in allowing them to control the games their kids play.
"It's extremely encouraging that the vast majority of parents are involved and informed when it comes to choosing which games are appropriate for their families," said ESRB president Patricia Vance. "The ratings continue to be a very important, if not the most important tool to help parents make an informed decision, and it's clear that parents are using and relying on them in growing numbers.""Awareness and use of the ratings is clearly continuing to rise to considerably high levels, still showing steady growth from where they were just a few years ago," said Jay Campbell of Peter D. Hart Research Associates. "What is quite telling is that the number of parents who say they 'never' allow their children to play M-rated games rose as those who 'sometimes' do declined. This suggests that parents are becoming more assertive in using the ratings to set and enforce restrictions with respect to the games they allow their children to play."
Comments
Break T into T13+ and T16+. Just like how E10+ is now part of the "E" category. Does Tristan get to play E10+ games?
EC - ?
E - ?
E10+ = 10+
T = 13+
M = 17+
AO = 18+
I can't see a 16 rating being useful. 3 years in a row with independant ratings? No. We don't need a T16+ rating. Maybe 15... maybe.
@myspambox: E is usually considered 6+.
Uh, I'm going to call horse raddish on this one. I used to work at GameStop and there were mothers buying San Andreas and Halo for their ten year old kids by the hour. When I would list WHY it was a Mature rated game, only a few mothers would actually care. I call this article horse raddish, I say!
Ah, my fault. I meant 15 :( Thought M was 18+ for a second when I originally posted.
@atma:
A) It's horseradish, not horse raddish.
B) The article is perfectly fine, it's just that they have no way of finding out if the parents are lying through their teeth... and you're absolutely right, they sure are.
I've seen a bazillion kids who've played GTA or some kind of violent game waaay before they were 17. My cousin, when he was like 12, got GTA:VC.
Parents lying about surveys... who'd thought?
I owned Halo at the age of 10. All of my cousins have played an M game. They need more people to be surveyed.
All of my cousins with kids use the ESRB as a guide. Most of the kids are at T-for-teen, even the 17 year old can't get a mature game until he moves out (his mom is a control freak).
Either they coincidentally got a lot of parents who actually follow the ESRB ratings, or they were just lying.
My dad bought me Mortal Kombat for the SNES was 5, so all I can do is laugh at this.
The reason the T rating feels broad is because it is the equal to PG-13. Both ratings that plague or limbo things in between mature and mainstream.
@itcomesinwaves: Well mature is 17+, so they just aren't letting him get it cause the younger ones might see him play and then play it themselves? Ahhh how horrible, well family tv + family system = family rules.
@bthumme: Didn't Mortal Kombat for the snes not have any blood? Thought only the genesis version had blood. "Nintendos Teh Kiddie System"
Has anyone else noticed that in the Movie trailers giving the movie's rating it also lists short reasons why? Taken from the ESRB's book? "Rated PG-13 for violence and some mild language."
ESRB should be a guideline, not a written rule that says you can't get this game and that. If a parent finds their child mature enough for a M-rated title, then they should give it to them. Its their parenting methods.
Halo != GTA
That's my problem with the ESRB.
Good to see that awareness is rising for the game rating system, but that is about all I can think of good to say. I mean I have trouble liking the importance people place on the ESRB after the whole hot coffee debacle. I mean the fact that publishers completely have to clean their title of even content that can be hacked in is... ridiculous. But, that is ancient news and water far under the bridge. So, uh, good for parents, and a big bah humbug from me.
I think the parents lied to not look like bad people letting their kids play M rated games.
60% eh? Of everyone I know there is only one that isn't allowed to play banned games... and almost everything about him freaks me out.
Tyrannical made the best point. Out of all the responses I have seen, i agree with his the most. Becuse the ESRB follows strict guidelines about what a game requires. His example was perfect. Halo 1 or Halo 2 for that matter are in no way shape or form equivalent to any of the GTA games. I dont think the ESRB is an appropriate system to follow because it doesnt accurately judge games. Im only 16 years old and ive played all kinds of games. Mom wont get M games, but dad will. ive played Halo and GTA. my little brother plays Halo with me. hes 6. he understand that its not real. however, i would NEVER let him play GTA. The games are in two different categories to me. In one game, you are killing ALIENS, with the main premise being the SAVE THE WORLD. in GTA the main premise is basically to shoot our way to the top of the criminal world, while having sex with pretty much any woman who u can stop the car next to without running her over. Two completely different games. Same rating. anyone else see a problem with this?
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