PSP World

ESRB adds E10+ rating

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) yesterday announced a new E10+ rating for video games appropriate for everyone 10 and older. The rating will go in between Everyone (ages 6 and older) and Teen. The rating is meant to weed out games that while family oriented, may contain content not suitable for very young children—such as "cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes."

“We expect that many of the best selling sports, racing, and adventure games will continue to receive E ratings appropriate for ages six and older,” said Vance. “Games with content that may not be suitable for younger ages of six to nine, such as racing games with more extreme crashes or fighting games with super heroes, will now receive an E10+ rating,” Vance explained.

Vance added that the ESRB consulted experts when creating the E10+ category. "Given the significant developmental differences between very young and teen-age children, the E10+ category will be very useful for parents," added Dr. Ralph I. Lopez, Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Cornell Medical College, and Author of "The Teen Health Book: A Parent's Guide to Adolescent Health and Well-Being."