ESRB Stats for 2009
The Electronic Software Ratings Board is the ratings system for games. Just like movies. An E rating = PG, An E-10 is a cross between PG and PG-13, a T is PG-13, and an M is rated R. Have you noticed how most people who dont understand video games – yet willfully pretend to will tell you that the game industry is targeting kids with their M-rated garbage? They claim that the industry is vile. Turns out they couldn’t be more wrong. Bear in mind the following stats reflect games submitted and RATED by the ESRB – not games based on sales. Here’s the stats:
Of the 1,791 ratings assigned by ESRB in 2009:
– 60% received an E (Everyone) rating
– 16% received an E10+ (Everyone 10+) rating
– 18% received a T (Teen) rating
– 6% received an M (Mature) rating
How about that. Seems that the game industry IS targetting children – only they’re doing it with games appropriate for that age group. Good job Game Industry!
DISCLOSURE: GamerDad has a history of criticizing the ESRB, as well as a history of working with them. Currently we are unaffiliated.
January 13th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
The NPD 2009 figures come out tomorrow. We should compare ratings to sales.
January 13th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
I’m curious as to what the percentages looked like in 2006, before the wii came out. I’m guessing it had a pretty big impact on these statistics.
January 13th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Yeah, that would be interesting. Good point Umm
January 13th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
I think the key here is that you pointed out even the most open rating is PG- Parental Guidance. I see time and time again parents (at least in my community) buying games with very little consideration to the rating and what is involved in the game.
I guess you can’t control ignorance can you?
January 13th, 2010 at 11:59 pm
Excellent point Umm – and don’t forget the DS.
But I just found 2004 figures. Remember that this is before E10+
54 percent received an E (Everyone) rating
33 percent received a T (Teen) rating
12 percent received an M (Mature) rating
Less than 1 percent received an AO (Adults Only) rating [ref]
So I actually think it’s been roughly the same for a long time – the M games get all the controversy but they really are in the minority.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:04 am
To me the more popular (and sometimes better) games are M.
January 14th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
The figures disagree, Wampa:
1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (360) – M
2. Wii Sports Resort (Wii) – E
3. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii) – E
4. Wii Fit (Wii) – E
5. Wii Fit Plus (Wii) – E
6. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) – E
7. Wii Play (Wii) – E
8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS3) – M
9. Halo 3: ODST (360) – M
10. Pokemon Platinum Version (DS) – E
So, 3 Mature games, and two of them are the same game.