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ESRB: iPhone Game Ratings Are “A No-Brainer”

Tom Ivan's picture

By Tom Ivan

June 11, 2009

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The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has called on Apple to adopt its classification system for iPhone games.

One of the new features of Apple’s upcoming iPhone OS 3.0 software update will be parents’ ability to decide which music, videos and apps their kids can access, but ESRB president Patricia Vance would like to see the platform holder go further.

"ESRB ratings empower parents to do their job," Vance said in a statement issued to Kotaku. "Considering the fact that the vast majority of parents are already aware of and regularly using ESRB ratings, Apple's adoption of them for iPhone games seems like a no-brainer.

“Apple just announced that the parental controls for the new version of the iPhone will block movie and TV content based on their respective ratings,” she continued. “Adding ESRB ratings to the controls they already plan to offer would give parents the ability to exert control over the games their children play as well."

Vance’s comments come shortly after Michael Gallagher, president of the Entertainment Software Association, called for iPhone games to carry ratings.

Edge has contacted Apple for comment.

Markajaw's picture
On June 12th Markajaw said:

ESRB, stop f**king with games you power hungry, conservative controlled, sorry excuse for a ratings board.

Tom Ohle's picture
On June 11th Tom Ohle said:

It's a no-brainer, sure. But if the ESRB is going to charge iPhone developers the same rates it charges for ratings on console and PC titles, and if the ratings process is as complex as it is for those titles, this would totally stifle the market. Sure there are a lot of crappy games on the iPhone platform, but the community aspect is probably the best thing about it. And spending money and time to get games out the door is not going to help with that.

asym's picture
On June 12th asym said:

Agreed. The cost of certification, which might be higher than the total income potential for many moderately-successful apps, is what makes the idea of ESRB ratings for iPhone apps less a "no-brainer" and more a non-starter.

Raul23's picture
On June 11th Raul23 said:

I'm going to say I have to agree that it's a no-brainer--no thanks.

Dan_Chippendale's picture
On June 11th Dan_Chippendale said:

Hang on... will kids be able to afford a friggin 3GS??

Indrema's picture
On June 11th Indrema said:

So Apple has a rating system in place. Then it's done. If he really caredd about families, he'd be happy with that.

I hate that games are such a business now. In the 1990's, we were kicking & screaming about ratings, & we made this system to combat censorship. Now it's just some stupid organization looking out for it's own interests. I still hear news stories about the "dangers" of video games, but where is the old ESRB? The one in parliments around the world fighting for the rights of the industry.

Companies aren't licensing an engine, or a console. They're paying for a voice on the world stage. The ESRB doesn't even remember what's it's own job is.