ESRB takes notes from MPAA, recruits parents
The ESRB is looking for a few good adults to rate games. They want people who have experience with children, interest in and familiarity with video games, strong communication skills and live in the New York City area. Hopefully this doesn't mean the ESRB will turn into a secret society like the United State's Motion Picture Association of America's rating board. Currently the system is pretty cut and dry. We'd be nervous to see morality and emotionally subjective concepts begin to influence ratings.
GamerDad, who happens to have an advertisement for the positions on his site, says, "I'm really excited about this, we're getting the opportunity to make sure GamerParents have a say and guarantee that gamers and GamerParents will be better represented by the rating you find on the box. Will this change the rating? No. Except in cases, as above, where the ratings board missed offensive content in a game like Oblivion."
This move seems like a reaction to Senator Brownback's "Truth in Video Games Act" and the possible expectation that the ESRB will have to finish all games, all the way through, before giving a rating. And parents will be the ones doing this? We still can't imagine the army of parents necessary, not to mention the cost, of fulfilling the needs in the bill if it passes.
