Videogame Violence and Sex Reviews for Parents

Electronic Nightmares:  Sex and Violence Invade Your Game Console

Not all video games are created equal.  Some games are intended to educate, some are for the enjoyment of children.  And some, though fewer in number, are intended for adult gamers.  These "mature" games are often filled with a tremendous amount of bloody violence, foul language and, sometimes, sexual material.

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has designed a rating system intended to accurately describe the content and appropriate audience for all video games.  These symbols appear on the front of the video game's package as well as in most advertisements for the product.  Much like movie ratings (G, PG, R) these symbols are designed to give consumers an idea of the content of the game.  Unlike movie ratings, however, ESRB ratings only serve as a guide and not as a method of restricting young persons from purchasing games designed for older players. The most common ratings are E (for Everyone), T (for Teen), and M (Mature). [Other ratings are EC (Early Childhood), K-A (Kids to Adults), AO (Adults Only) and RP (Rating Pending).]  The age-based ratings are usually accompanied by specific content descriptors (such as "Blood" or "Strong Sexual Content").

Although far more E-rated video games are released on the market every year than M-rated games, the games designed for older players tend to attract more attention, and more buyers.  Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto III, which was the best selling game of 2001, drew fire for its realistic depictions of violence and its explicit sexual content, which included the ability to pick up hookers and be "serviced" by them.

At the end of October, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, a prequel to Grand Theft Auto III hit store shelves.  Acclaim's BMX XXX is scheduled for release on November 19 (just in time for Christmas).  Although these M-rated video games are specifically designed for and rated for adult gamers, too often they fall into the hands of children.

These games offer graphic sex and violence, and exhibit no shame in promoting those features.  An article about Vice City trumpets the fact that players now have 40 different weapons at their disposal (the original Grand Theft Auto had a measly 25).

Drawing more attention is BMX XXX .  In creating BMX XXX, the publisher decided to "Make the naughtiest, most juvenile gaming experience possible," according to an industry publication.

Patterned after the mostly harmless, "extreme" sports games on the market, BMX XXX adds several new twists: nudity, graphic language, and live footage of strippers.  Here's how the game is promoted on the official website, www.bmxxxx.com:  "Live strippers, pimps, ho's and enough dog doo to make you piss your pants. WE'RE GOING TO HELL, AND YOU'RE COMING WITH US.  Come Inside, Enjoy the Ride and Keep It Dirty."

A recent PTC study found that a full 30% of all video game advertisements airing during programs in which children might be expected to be in the viewing audience, were for M-rated video games, including Grand Theft Auto III.

Any parent with young children should be alarmed at the idea that children have easy access to this kind of material.  Although the video games are rated, there is no existing enforcement mechanism to ensure that young children can't buy the games.  In fact, according to a recent study by Dr. David Walsh published in Pediatrics, 90% of teenagers say that their parents never check the video game ratings before allowing them to rent or buy computer or video games.  Parents need to do their job to ensure that their children don't buy these kinds of games.  But isn't it also time for the video game industry to take responsibility for the content of the games they produce and market to children?

Parent-Friendly Retailers

The following retailers participate in the ESRB Commitment to Parent program, where they pledge to use their best efforts not to rent or sell M-rated games to children under 17 without parental consent.

A & B Sound - Canada
Blockbuster
Blockbuster Canada, Co.
Comp USA
Electronics Boutique
Future Shop - Canada
Gamestop
Hastings
Hudson's Bay Company
KB Toys
Kmart
London Drugs Limited - Canada
Radio Shack Canada
Rhino Video Games
Rogers Video - Canada
Shop-Ko
Toys "R" Us
Wal-Mart