Mark Ferguson 10/18/09 Mrs. Pugh

 Computer and video games are rated by the Entertainment Software Rating Board(ESRB), whose system includes age recommendations and content descriptors  Ninety percent of parents believe the ratings are very helpful in selecting appropriate games for their children and the same percentage are confident that the ratings accurately describe game content. Furthermore, these findings are generally consistent with the Federal Trade Commission Report, which found that: 87 percent of parents are aware of the ratings; 73 percent use the ratings before purchasing either all, nearly all, or most of the time 87 percent are “very” or “somewhat” satisfied

 94 percent say the ratings are “moderately” to “very easy" to understand.  Eighty-eight percent of parents monitor the content of the games their children are playing.

 All new video game consoles (Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3) include parental controls that limit a child’s access to games based on their Entertainment Software Rating Board(ESRB) ratings.  According to a 2008 study, 76 percent of parents with children under the age of 18 say the parental controls are useful.

 Just as there is a wide spectrum of movies, music and books available to consumers, the video game industry provides a variety of entertainment choices for people of all ages. In 2007, 44.9 percent of games sold were rated “E” (for “Everyone”), 27.9 percent were rated “T” (for “Teen”), 15.5 percent were rated “M” (for “Mature”), and 11.6 percent were rated “E10+” (for Everyone 10+).

 EC (Early Childhood) It contains content that may be suitable for ages 3 and older. There is nothing objectionable in these games.  E (Everyone) These games have content that may be suitable for ages 6 and older. These may contain minimal cartoon violence and possible frequent use of mild language.

 E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) This is where many parents draw the line with their younger children. (Meaning 10 and under.) I suggest that children under the age of 10 stay away from these games unless you feel they are mature enough to handle such content as cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes.  T (Teen) This is where parents really need to start using their own judgment. You have to know what your teen can and cannot handle and what you are and are not willing to let them be subjected to when playing a video game. These games are geared toward ages 13 and up. The content may contain crude humor, minimal blood, violence, suggestive themes, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.

 M (Mature) This is similar to a movie with an "R" rating. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language. Parents should really see the game in action before agreeing to buy them. Again, your best judgment is your guide.  AO (Adults Only) This one is pretty self explanatory. Adults. Only. These are the games that may have scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity. They are not suitable for children at all.  RP (Rating Pending) Finally, we have the Rating Pending. Simply put, that means that they game manufacturers have put in for a rating and have not yet received it. It does not mean that it will fall under a more "mature" category. It just has not yet been rated.

 According to the most recent April 2007 study by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, awareness of the ratings among parents of game-playing children under the age of 17 is at an all-time high of 89 percent  The strong link between video game violence and real world violence, and the conclusion that video games lead to social isolation and poor interpersonal skills, are drawn from bad or irrelevant research, muddleheaded thinking and unfounded, simplistic news reports

 I honestly think that violent video games are very cool and I don’t think that they should be banned but at the same time they can be a bad influence on children and make them believe a fantasy world can interact with the real world.  Do you think they should be banned?

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 Thanks For Your Time