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06/15/2010
Canadian-Made Video Games Once Again Showcased to the World at E3
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04/14/2010
Canadian Video Game Industry Proposes Strategy to Win In the Digital Economy
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In The News
06/26/2010
Video Games at G8 and G20
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Canada Featured Partner Country at Gamescom
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Canadian video game developers strut at Los Angeles expo
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Monsters in the gaming Industry
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Facts & Research: Ratings
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings are designed to provide concise and impartial information about the content in computer and video games so consumers, especially parents, can make an informed purchasing decision. ESRB ratings have two equal parts: rating symbols suggest age appropriateness for the game and content descriptors indicate elements in a game that may have triggered a particular rating and/or may be of interest or concern.
There are 7 ratings for video games:
- EARLY CHILDHOOD
Titles rated EC (Early Childhood) have content that may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.
- EVERYONE
Titles rated E (Everyone) have content that may be suitable for ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.
- EVERYONE 10+
Titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes.
- TEEN
Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and nolder. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humour, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.
- MATURE
Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.
- ADULTS ONLY
Titles rated AO (Adults Only) have content that should only be played by persons 18 years and older. Titles in this category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity.
- RATING PENDING
Titles listed as RP (Rating Pending) have been submitted to the ESRB and are awaiting final rating. (This symbol appears only in advertising prior to a game's release.)
ESRB ratings are prominently displayed on the cover of most computer and video game products on Canadian store shelves.
For more information about video game ratings, please visit the website of the Entertainment Software Rating Board at www.esrb.org