© 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Game Art and Design Unit 1 Lesson 4 Game Ratings and Ethics

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Big Idea Knowledge of the history of technology and societies helps people understand the world around them by seeing how people of all times and places have increased their capability by using their unique skills to innovate, improvise, and invent.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ ETHICS

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Ethics in Game Design Ethics are moral principles that govern a person or a group’s behavior. Ethical behavior is behavior that is normally acceptable to everyone. Unfortunately there is no clear set of standards for society unless one looks to a religious code.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Free Expression in Games Developers struggle with ethical and moral questions when creating games. Legally, games qualify as a form of free expression and thus are protected under the First Amendment. Developers may try to push the moral envelope in order to sell a game even though the best selling game are rated E.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ What is Acceptable in Games? Value judgments concerning games can vary among players. Controversy surrounds games such as Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, where serious violence and sexual innuendos, have drawn the eye of censors.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Mature Ratings and R Movies Violence is always a main topic of censorship followed closely by sexual content and foul language. Creators of the game contend violence is no worse than an R-rated movie. Thus, the Mature game rating is much like an R-rated movie. The difference being parents must police the playing of Mature games.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Game Violence and Real Life Certainly this is the question of our time. Many shooting such as Columbine have had suggested links to violent game play. Are these links the same for other form of entertainment such as movies? These questions remain.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ ESRB RATING SYSTEM

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ The ESRB Rating System The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) was developed following hearings held by two US Senators in The hearings were intended to address concerns over violence in video games. The resulting rating system provides parents and consumers with information about game content and age appropriateness.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ The ESRB Rating System The ESRB rates all entertainment software available for sale at retail in the US and Canada, and requires that a game’s rating be displayed conspicuously and consistently on the package. The ratings change periodically.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ EC: Early Childhood Titles rated EC (Early Childhood) have content that may be suitable for ages three and older This media contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ E: Everyone Titles rated E (Everyone) have content that may be suitable for ages six and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ E10+: Everyone 10 and Older Titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ T: Teen Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ M: 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.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ AO: Adults Only Content suitable only for adults ages 18 and up. May include prolonged scenes of intense violence, graphic sexual content, and/or gambling with real currency.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ RP: Rating Pending Titles designated as RP (Rating Pending) have not been assigned a rating. This icon appears only in advertising, marketing, and promotional materials. The RP is replaced by a rating once it has been assigned.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ ESRB Content Descriptors Alcohol Reference - Reference to and/or images of alcoholic beverages. Animated Blood - Discolored and/or unrealistic depictions of blood. Blood - Depictions of blood. Blood and Gore - Depictions of blood or the mutilation of body parts. Comic Mischief - Depictions or dialogue involving slapstick or suggestive humor.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ ESRB Content Descriptors Cartoon Violence - Violent actions involving cartoon-like situations and characters. May include violence where a character is unharmed after the action has been inflicted. Crude Humor - Depictions or dialogue involving vulgar antics, including “bathroom” humor. Drug Reference - Reference to and/or images of illegal drugs.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ ESRB Content Descriptors Fantasy Violence - Violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or non- human characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life. Intense Violence - Graphic and realistic-looking depictions of physical conflict. May involve extreme and/or realistic blood, gore, weapons and depictions of human injury and death.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ ESRB Content Descriptors Language - Mild to moderate use of profanity. Lyrics - Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol or drug use in music. Mature Humor - Depictions or dialogue involving "adult" humor, including sexual references.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ ESRB Content Descriptors Nudity - Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity. Partial Nudity - Brief and/or mild depictions of nudity. Real Gambling - Player can gamble, including betting or wagering real cash or currency. Sexual Content - Non-explicit depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including partial nudity.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ ESRB Content Descriptors Sexual Themes - References to sex or sexuality. Sexual Violence - Depictions of rape or other violent sexual acts. Simulated Gambling - Player can gamble without betting or wagering real cash or currency. Strong Language - Explicit and/or frequent use of profanity.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ ESRB Content Descriptors Strong Lyrics - Explicit and/or frequent references to profanity, sex, violence, alcohol or drug use in music. Strong Sexual Content - Explicit and/or frequent depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including nudity. Suggestive Themes - Mild provocative references or materials.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ ESRB Content Descriptors Tobacco Reference - Reference to and/or images of tobacco products. Use of Alcohol - The consumption of alcoholic beverages. Use of Drugs - The consumption or use of illegal drugs. Use of Tobacco - The consumption of tobacco products.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ ESRB Content Descriptors Violence - Scenes involving aggressive conflict. May contain bloodless dismemberment. Violent References - References to violent acts.

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Games Sales by Ratings 2012

© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ © 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Big Idea Knowledge of the history of technology and societies helps people understand the world around them by seeing how people of all times and places have increased their capability by using their unique skills to innovate, improvise, and invent.

© 2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, STEM  Center for Teaching and Learning™ Game Art and Design Unit 1 Lesson 4 Game Ratings and Ethics Game Art and Design Unit 1 Lesson 4 Game Ratings and Ethics Images with permission from