ESRB.com says that the definition of M is:

MATURE
Titles rated M - Mature have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain mature sexual themes, more intense violence and/or strong language.

A couple days ago I was trying to buy Diablo II and the expansion pack Lord of Destruction from EB Games with a friend of mine who was trying to do the same. The clerk asked me for ID proving that we were seventeen years old. I'm not, neither is he. I'm fifteen and turning sixteen in February, in ten days. I had bought Half-Life two Collectors edition (Three M rated games) from the same EB games, They let me, no questions asked. I traded four games in at Block Buster for Prince of Persia: The Warrior Within, they also let me, no questions asked. I was EB games on Boxing day where I felt the need to buy Resident Evil and Resident Evil zero due to the release of Resident Evil four and wanted to see what they were like. They let me, both games rated M, no questions asked. Today I tried to buy Resident Evil four and the same clerk asked for id, I'm like "What the heck?! I bought Half-Life 2 and Resident Evil Zero and one from here within the last six months, and you didn't care!" He just said he didn't care now. I just walked out, then a couple blocks to Toys "R" Us where I bought it for the same price, no questions asked.

Now for the questions. Why would they stop me now? Nothing has changed from when I bought the other games. Unless there has been some rule of some sort stopping underage people trying to buy M rated games? I mean I feel mature enough to play these, and my mother doesn't care.. For all they know I'm buying it for some relative who doesn't have access to a store with games or something :P. I just want to see what you people think.

Umm yeah EB just started a no tolerance rule for selling M games to kids under 17, you just missed the boat. Sorry brah, but like you said ... there are other places to buy games.

This whole rating thing is pretty stupid. What next, rating books?

"I'm sorry sir, I really don't think the Bible is appropriate for your age. It contains high level violence, sexual references, and adult themes."

Yes, I recall hearing about this. So far EB seems to be the only one who is really taking this seriously? In terms of in town anyway. When did this go into effect? Hmmm, maybe I should keep up with the times more. So dissapointing... Cheapest I've seen in town is EB and they won't let me buy it...

It's dumb but it's the law. You don't lose anything if you get sold a game, whilst being underage. However, the seller can be heavily fined. Stupid, isn't it.

It's not law, at least in the US. Purely up the to retailer whether they want to sell M rated games to people under 17.

In terms of the whole rating system, I think thats REALLY stupid. I mean like if you really TRULY anaylze a game these days, ALOT of games don't deserve the rating of "E". They do have animated violence etc, etc. Yet by just changing how its presented in the game, they say it can be presented to everyone. I think the ESRB rating system is questionable...

I don't think it's stupid at all. Coming from me, that's saying a lot.

Games should be rated, just like movies, and if it deters a parent from buying their 10 year old San Andreas I say "good for the rating system".

That's wierd, 2 weeks ago when I bought RE: Code Veronica, I had no problems getting it at all (didn't ask for my ID), not that it would matter because I'm 18 but still. Oh well, at least you got the game.

As long as it slows down the 12 year old population in CS games I support it with all my heart.

The rating system is fine. We have it in movies as well - same theory.

Just because something that wasn't enforced now is doesn't mean something is wrong - it means finally people are doing their **** job.

Our local Babbage's tried to enforce such a policy, so, the day I turned 17, I went and bought me Red Faction there. It was the only time I've been asked for ID for age verification. Ever.

http://www.esrb.com/esrbratings_faqs.asp

Same as any video/DVD purchase, just have an adult buy it/be there with you.

Personally I think that all they should do is point out the rating and the content description if its M/AO, and not prevent you from buying the game. If the parent doesn't want the child to play the game then they wouldn't let them.

Order online from EB! Beat them at their damn games (no pun intended)

But it sorta stops annoying parents from filing lawsuits due to the content.

Yep, blame your mom...not EB.

This is why you need to be on first name basis with all the employees.

Talk about bad for business..

Yes actually, I am aware of the whole lawsuit thing. Which I believe just goes back to that advice they gave people a long time ago. For parents to watch what your childern play and their reactions to it! I mean the rating system is just a guidline, But I mean if you were a parent and your kid is playing a really violent game no sweat, your okay with it, fine. But if your kid is going crazy trying to mow everyone on the screen down with a gun or whatever else there is and its affecting their life away from the screen that could be a problem. I mean everyone reacts differently to a game. They could love it or they could want to smash the disc. They could play it forever or they could want to hide it in their closet. I don't mean to start anything annoying here but you know, for me it was just kind of sudden thats all...

I don't question it at all. I think it's there for a reason, and it's there for a purpose. I don't want to see some 10 year old playing a Grand Theaft Auto game as much as then next guy. But for them saying it's Mature is what gets me. I mean, I'm mature enough to play these games. They've sold them to me before, I play them and think of it as a video game. A form of entertainment. I just don't why they stopped me now just because I'm 16 and they think I shouldn't be "mature" enough to play the games. And when I can walk over to a Toys "R" Us (A store made for children, none the less) and buy it for the same price. I mean for the love of God, what am I going to do? Pull out a bow and shoot electrcity at people? fire mabey? WITH A BOW?! Am I going to start shooting people in the lags and wheel house kick them in the head and watch it fly off? Am I going to pick up a wierd big gun thing and throw boxs at people? No. I'm not. I'm going to do these as a form of entertainment. No more, no less.



I'm canadian and my mother (-_-) won't let me, I've even asked her...

Precisely, Diego, it's the parents fault for filing lawsuits. Don't blame a company cuz they're trying to save there ***.

Am I the only one that doesn't see the big deal with ratings? If yuo aren't old enough to buy a game go out and read a book or something, don't complain about it.

That's how I feel. I wish they had ratings when I was little. When I was like 4 or 5 we went to pick out a NES game for me, I wanted battle toads but my mom made me get some disney game. That disney game ended up being pretty cool and I played it till I was about 8 (it was hard). But if they had ratings the whole time, maybe we could have avoided lawsuits and companies wouldn't be as paranoid about what they're putting in the games.

You all have to realize something: the rating system in the US was put into place due to the government becoming upset over violent video games. If volunteers had not formed the ESRB then we may have had a rating company headed by Lieberman. So, if you ask me, I'm quite happy with the current rating system.

I agree with SG_129. The industry is self-regulated, and I believe everyone is far happier right now than we would be with government involvement.

Game ratings are stupid, IMO. while I agree that little kids shouldn't be playing San Andreas or Postal 2, it seems excessive to be carded before you can buy a game. While this does not affect me personally, (being 21 and all) I feel that it is not the place of the stores or the ESRB to create and enforce a standard of decency for games. In games, the decency point is moot, b/c its not real and anything you do in the games has no means of affecting the real world unless you are stupid enough to try and reenact it.

Its not fair on the kids who've seen it all before and want to play sexually orientated games, aswell as those who are into gang fighting in stolen cars. etc. It's just not RIGHT.

If it's not right, then I'm sure their parents would be more than happy to go pick up the game for them...

I think the ESRB is a good thing, they're just doing a really ****ty job. Take The Wind Waker and SSB: Melee, for example. SSB was rated T for "Comic Mishchief." How the hell does Comic Mishchief (whatever that means) make it deserve a Teen rating? On the other hand, you have The Wind Waker, which is rated E. It's a hack and slash adventure game, where you travel from island to island essentially killing everything that stands in your way. Plus, in the ending sequence, your character (who can't be more than ten) shoves the Master Sword through Ganon's forehead! Which game do you think really deserves the Teen rating?

I like the ratings a few years back, when they were reasonable. Now they're just making every popular fps, excluding a few, rated M. I used to play Rogue Spear avidly. It has animated blood, and enough of it, but it was rated Teen. Then at Best Buy I see the next R6 in the series rated M for animated blood. This kind of thing just makes me want to pirate.

Ringmaster, I see your point...but it seems like it was messed up then and is better now. How is shooting people in the face considered teen? I definetly see why it should be mature...

Apart form showing ID when getting pre orders, the only time i was asked to show ID (btw: the age is 15 for most violent games, and 17 for the most violent ones, and the heavy sexual theme ones rarely make it int australia) was when picking up Black and White: Creature Isle.

That's something I'd like to complain about. BANNING games from the country! I think that's really poor form. Just introduce an R rating, already!

Or almost as bad, EDITING a game, like taking the prostitutes out of GTA. I was under the misapprehension that I was buying the FULL GAME when I bought it; obviously not.

And they don't want me to pirate? Pfft.

I fully agree. New Zealand's oppressive government recently banned Postal 2. (IMO, any government that has a censorship bureau is not to be trusted) It's actually a crime to possess it over there.

I know Liberman or some other misguided politician would do the same damn thing here if he could.

Seeing as I've not seen Postal 2 anywhere, I think it's been banned from here, too.

Damn government.

It'll be difficult to find a copy of Postal 2 even in the US. Not that it was actually banned, but quite a few stores refused to carry it.

the only place you can get it (other than warez) is directly from Running with Scissors, or so I've heard.

My local gamestops have several copies of postal2...you guys just suck

People go crazy about games, but turn their head the other way when confronted with rap songs that contain lyrics that have much strong referees to violence or sexual content. Although, I couldn’t care less if games like "Leisure Suit Larry" or some Playboy game we banned. Only a total looser would buy that. What kind of idiot pays money for CG pr0n?

Leisure Suit Larry is an amazingly awesome game. You've obviously never played the first 5 or so incarnations. They were awesome for their time--the humor was nice, the gameplay was somewhat addictive, and the world was quite expansive. It was more about the humor than anything...hell even the new one is more about humor than anything. Of course it's more crude and coarse now...

Just goes to show that you don't have any roots.