Post by *NormalGamer* on Feb 20, 2007 20:38:17 GMT -5
www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4774&Itemid=2
Vance: ESRB Switching to Full-Time Raters
By Kris Graft
Following up on online want ads, Entertainment Software Rating Board boss Patricia Vance tells Next-Gen that the ESRB is moving from part-time to full-time game raters, a switch that she says will help produce more consistent ratings.
New York-based ESRB currently relies on part-time employees to play and review games for ratings consideration. Vance told Next-Gen in an e-mail that the organization will make the move from part-time to full-time raters in April this year. She said the switch has been considered for months.
Vance elaborated, “Having full-time raters will allow for each [rater] to have greater experience actually reviewing content and recommending ratings, given the increased amount of time each one would spend doing it. This would provide each rater with a greater sense of historical parity for ratings, not to mention helping them to be more attuned to pertinent content and how it should be considered from a ratings standpoint.â€
She continued, “The full-time raters would also be responsible for play-testing final versions of the game, time-permitting, which would allow for ESRB to play-test a greater number of games than it currently does.â€
More information about those changes will be made at a later date, according to Vance.
The move to full-timers first emerged when the ESRB placed job ads for reviewers on the parent-focused gamer site GamerDad.com.
The ESRB currently relies on game publishers to disclose all pertinent content within a game, as opposed to firsthand playtime. But when a publisher does not disclose all of the content that may affect a rating, questionable content can make its way into the public with a more lenient rating than deserved. One look at the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas fiasco illustrates such a case perfectly.
ESRB reviewers currently only play a mere fraction of many games' total playing time, mainly due to the amount of games that need to be rated and the length of core-focused games, which can sometimes take dozens of hours to complete.
Last week, US Sen. and Republican presidential hopeful Sam Brownback revived the Truth in Video Game Rating Act, which would require the ESRB to play through games in their entirety.
*NG*: Looks like ESRB is doing it's best improving some things on their rating system.
Vance: ESRB Switching to Full-Time Raters
By Kris Graft
Following up on online want ads, Entertainment Software Rating Board boss Patricia Vance tells Next-Gen that the ESRB is moving from part-time to full-time game raters, a switch that she says will help produce more consistent ratings.
New York-based ESRB currently relies on part-time employees to play and review games for ratings consideration. Vance told Next-Gen in an e-mail that the organization will make the move from part-time to full-time raters in April this year. She said the switch has been considered for months.
Vance elaborated, “Having full-time raters will allow for each [rater] to have greater experience actually reviewing content and recommending ratings, given the increased amount of time each one would spend doing it. This would provide each rater with a greater sense of historical parity for ratings, not to mention helping them to be more attuned to pertinent content and how it should be considered from a ratings standpoint.â€
She continued, “The full-time raters would also be responsible for play-testing final versions of the game, time-permitting, which would allow for ESRB to play-test a greater number of games than it currently does.â€
More information about those changes will be made at a later date, according to Vance.
The move to full-timers first emerged when the ESRB placed job ads for reviewers on the parent-focused gamer site GamerDad.com.
The ESRB currently relies on game publishers to disclose all pertinent content within a game, as opposed to firsthand playtime. But when a publisher does not disclose all of the content that may affect a rating, questionable content can make its way into the public with a more lenient rating than deserved. One look at the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas fiasco illustrates such a case perfectly.
ESRB reviewers currently only play a mere fraction of many games' total playing time, mainly due to the amount of games that need to be rated and the length of core-focused games, which can sometimes take dozens of hours to complete.
Last week, US Sen. and Republican presidential hopeful Sam Brownback revived the Truth in Video Game Rating Act, which would require the ESRB to play through games in their entirety.
*NG*: Looks like ESRB is doing it's best improving some things on their rating system.
