How the ESRB rates games
How does the ESRB rate the games? Slate, an MSN site, has a write-up on how the entire game-ratings process works. In a nutshell, the developer fills out a survey listing all the not-so-clean content, sends that in with a video of the game's plot and the questionable scenes, along with other supplemental material (the game's script, song lyrics, etc.). Three or more people with no affiliation with the game industry watch this video and fill out a survey. The board plays through parts of the game (not all, just parts) and takes all this information to designate a rating for the game.
The article does a great job of explaining why game developers are so concerned with receiving an M rating instead of Adults Only: Wal-Mart won't stock an AO-rated game. So, if you were wondering why Rockstar should worry itself about a change in San Andrea's rating, there it is: GTA would join the ranks of only 18 games to receive an AO rating and would lose its place in the Wal-Mart electronics department, which, if you live where I grew up, is located conveniently next to the hunting rifle department. It might be a good idea to separate those two sections after all.
[Thanks, b]
