I’ll start this post simply with my take on a universal rating system:

SAME LETTERS.

That would be my only limitation. Let’s face it. The ESRB’s letters and the MPAA’s letters may be different but they mean the same thing. E = G. E10+ = PG. T = PG-13. M = R. AO = NC-17. Heck, E10+ is new compared to the E or T, so they really just added their own PG rating. I say, because of this, we could very easily have one unified system for letter ratings, and then you can keep whatever descriptors you already have for your industry’s rating. So basically, the ESRB could keep its descriptors, but it would just put a unified rating on the games so that people don’t get confused. Obviously, I would prefer the systems to stay separate. The RIAA feels that slapping a simple “Parental Advisory” sticker on a CD is enough to deter some parents from buying it for their kids, good for them. The ESRB really does have the best rating system currently. It’s incredibly descriptive. If anything, the other industries should probably adopt the ESRB’s descriptors, but obviously there’s some bias in that statement, being a gamer and all.

Now onto the second part of this post. HB1423, legislation in Massachusetts that would forbid sale of games deemed too violent by the state to minors. Now let’s hit the brakes here for a second. There’s already a rating system for games in place. A VERY GOOD one at that. This “state rated video games” thing sounds eerily similar to what a Mrs. Clinton and Mr. *Ahem*son want done. The whole thing just really makes me feel sick, that Menino and the house would fall to such lows as to copy a bill that already failed in Utah. Not to mention in a state that has an ever growing portion of industry studios. This legislation would hurt both gamers and the studios that make the games. If this bill were to pass, it would only be a matter of time before the studios themselves were attacked. Also note how neither movies, music, nor TV are being attacked by ANYONE, and in all honesty, you see more filth on Fox than you do in a videogame. Why? Because TV is free. Anyone can watch an episode of this year’s new teen drama with all the sex and drugs you can shake a stick at. But put that into a videogame, and suddenly the state wants the right to determine if you can play it?

Boston is beyond this. We can’t let this pass. Here’s some links to more info and how you can help:

The Article at GamePolitics
The Video Game Voter’s Network