Post: Video Game Labels Fail to Disclose Content
Video Game Labels Fail to Disclose Content
A new study out today from the Harvard School of Public Health finds that 80 percent of Mature ("M") rated video games included violence, sex, drug use, profanity or gambling that was not disclosed on the label.
Kimberly Thompson, the author of the study, said the study means "Parents should not interpret the absence of a content descriptor to mean the absense of content."
Also new on the video game front, another study finds that playing more violent games increases blood pressure and negative emotions in the short term.
There are 2 replies to this post
Date: April 4, 2006
As a player of many of these games, I assure you ANY game with complex controls or plot will raise anyone's pressure. But it's the same thing as the intensity people feel while watching sports games.
Common Sense, right?....people with poor tempers or self control should probably stay away from aggravating and/or tedious situations.
Date: April 6, 2006
Can someone please tell me what's so hard about understanding an M for Mature rating and content descriptors explaining blood and gore, intense violence, drug and alcohol use and sexual situations? This is a poorly-done study that attempts to undermine the ESRB system, nothing more, nothing less.
Jim, did you apologize to the video game industry over your slanderous comment that all female video game characters are prostitutes and publicly censure Jack Thompson, or did you sweep that under the rug and hope that I forgot?
Link: http://www.esrb.org/downloads/thompson_study_