I am so honored to bring you this interview with the President of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), Patricia Vance.

The ESRB assigns age and content ratings to video games in North America and they first started rating games 30 years ago this week! To celebrate, they launched a video that gives off some School House Rock vibes:

On September 16, 1994, the ESRB released their first ratings and some of the first rated titles included:

• Doom for Sega 32X (M)

• Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure for Super NES (T)

• Super Punch Out!! for Super NES (K-A)

• Sonic Triple Trouble for Sega Game Gear (K-A)

• Donkey Kong Country for Super NES (K-A)

👆️ How many of those do you remember?

Q&A with ESRB President Patricia Vance

Patricia is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-approved COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

How do you stay up-to-date on the latest trends in gaming?

As you know, this is a fast-moving industry, but ESRB sees just about every major title come through before its release, which gives me – and the whole ESRB team – an opportunity to consistently stay up-to-date on how the medium is evolving. We also have partnerships with all of the major retailers (through the ESRB Retail Council) and most online storefronts (through the International Age Rating Coalition), which gives us enormous and timely insight into what’s going on in the business. We’re also very committed to listening to parents about their challenges on a regular basis, which allows us to frame how we evolve the rating system and better serve our primary audience, parents.

How do you handle ratings for live service games (Fortnite/Roblox et al) that may have new content and modes that could affect their initial rating?

We have been addressing live service games for a long time by requiring companies to submit content to us for rating that might be inconsistent with the core game’s rating. In fact, ESRB requires that certain live service games, like Destiny 2 or Overwatch 2, get reassessed every few years to ensure that the assigned rating information is still accurate.

What’s new is that games like Fortnite and Roblox have become platforms unto themselves. In the case of Fortnite, ESRB actually rates all of the experiences within the platform – in addition to Fortnite itself. For example, Fortnite is rated T for Teen with the Content Descriptor: Diverse Content: Discretion Advised. This means that Fortnite itself has varied content, like Fortnite Festival (T for Teen) or LEGO Fortnite (E10+). Not to mention all of the user-created games and experiences on the platform – which we also rate. Roblox is similar in that it is also rated T for Teen with Diverse Content: Discretion Advised. However, they have their own guidance for individual game experiences available on the platform.

We offer parents in-depth blogs to explain these platforms so they have what they need to decide if it’s appropriate for their kids. The Fortnite and Roblox blogs are actually two of our most popular… only after Minecraft!

• For you AI gurus, the team at Altera builds digital humans you can play games with. They let loose 1,000 AI agents in Minecraft and what happened next is incredible!

• If you are playing games on PC, you’re likely using Steam. They just released the Steam Families feature so you can share games, manage parental controls, and approve requests to buy games - it’s a must for any parents on Steam.

• Looking for something a little more educational? Crayola integrated content from the Smithsonian into their app

• A reader reached out asking for modern equivalents to Math Blaster:

  • We get access to Dreambox through our public school ISD. My son likes the math games - see if your school offers similar!

  • Prodigy Math features wizards, pets, elements, items, & battles

  • Operation Math was recommended by another parent

The Q4 Games I’m Excited To Play

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

• Release Date: 9/26/2024 on Nintendo Switch

• Zelda finally gets her own game! The princess has been more of a hero each game and now is front and center. You’ll use Zelda’s magical powers to solve puzzles, save Link, and repel the evil from Hyrule.

Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred

• Release Date: 10/8/2024 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

• Diablo IV was massive seller in 2023 and was super fun to play on my Steam Deck, this expansion introduces a brand new class and world.

Super Mario Party Jamboree

• Release Date: 10/17/2024 on Nintendo Switch

• An absolute must for families - they just keep packing more and more fun into this virtual board game and it’s great for all ages.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

• Release Date: 10/25/2024 on PC, PS4, PS5, XSX/S, Xbox One

• Every year they release one, and every year it’s the best selling game. If you have a teen or older kid in the house - you’re probably getting this.

Pokémon Trading Card Game: Pocket

• Release Date: 10/30/2024 on Mobile

• If your kids like collecting Pokémon cards you can now do it digitally. You will be able to open two booster packs every day at no cost. Thank goodness, a cost effective way to collect!

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

• Release Date: 11/15/2024 on PC, PS5, XSX/S

• A game featuring ninjas and samurais battling it out in feudal Japan? How can you not want to play that?

P2W: (Adjective) - Stands for Pay To Win - used to describe games where players can buy the best items or powers with money instead of earning them

“I’m tired of losing in this game - you have no shot unless you spend money, it’s too P2W for my taste.”

I hope to bring you more Q&As. If there are areas you want to learn more about, please let me know! Also, Halloween is coming soon 🎃 so stay tuned for our favorite gaming themed costumes and holiday ideas.

GLHF,

Chris

Connect with me: LinkedIn, X (Twitter)

What I’m playing: Elden Ring (I only get a few hours a week, so I fear I’ll be playing this until I retire)