Blood
Between first-person shooters and role playing, video games contain a lot of blood. There are six content descriptions for blood, listed in least to most realistic.
Animated Blood
Animated Blood and Gore (including severed body parts)
Blood
Blood and Gore
Realistic Blood
Realistic Blood and Gore
It's important for parents to realize how advanced video games are becoming. With the release of the newest systems, some games are so detailed it is hard to tell where the animation ends and the real footage begins. Realistic blood, and realistic blood and gore, can be traumatic for younger audiences and uncomfortable for older ones.
Violence
Violence and blood often go hand in hand. It can be as insignificant as a cartoon character in a dangerous situation to a hand-to-hand battle where someone loses a limb. Looking at the pictures on the back of the package can help you with how violent a video game is, but ratings also come in handy. Violence has six classifications:
Animated Violence
Mild Animated Violence
Mild Realistic Violence
Mild Violence
Violence
Realistic Violence
Sexual Content
Thankfully I've yet to see a game which includes sexual violence, but I'm sure they are out there. It will only take a matter of time to make them mainstream if parents continue to allow sexual content to invade the games they are playing. Look for these four listings when purchasing games, and please avoid them.
Suggestive Themes
Strong Lyrics
Strong Sexual Content
Mature Sexual Themes
Language and Crude Humor
Even in the "Everyone" rating area, the games meant for 6 year olds on up, there is vulgar humor related to passing gas and going to the bathroom. Depending on the rules in your house, games in this category may encourage behavior in your son or daughter that cause confusion later on. When in doubt, RENT a game before you buy it and try it out before the kids do. There are
Comic Mischief
Mild Lyrics (swearing, suggestive references)
Strong Language (basically four letter words)
Strong Lyrics
Drugs
One thing I must applaud the ESRB for is their tobacco warning. Although many parents are still smoking, children in non-smoking homes can be influenced through video games. Smoking kills! Thank you ESRB for reminding us ALL of that danger.
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