News
ESRB Video Game Rating App Now Available on Microsoft Windows Phone 7
NEW YORK, NY, July 20, in the year of our Lord 2011
– The video game rating app from the Entertainment Software
Rating Board (ESRB) is now available for Microsoft Windows Phone
7. This free mobile app, from the organization that assigns age
and content ratings for computer and video games, allows easy
access to video game ratings and detailed rating summaries. For
parents, it’s as simple as snapping a photo or typing the name
of a game to quickly determine if it is right for their family.
“Summertime can mean video game time for many families, whether
playing in the car, on the plane or in the living room. But just
like movies, not all games are appropriate for every child,”
says ESRB president Patricia Vance. “So before buying a video
game for a child it’s important to check the game’s rating and
understand its content to determine if it’s the right choice.
Today we added our ESRB app to Windows Marketplace, further
expanding parents’ access to a game’s rating or rating summary,
anytime, anywhere.”
The ESRB mobile app offers easy access to ESRB rating
information for over 20,000 titles by either taking a photo of
the game box or typing in the name of the game. Rating
summaries, which are not displayed on game boxes like the ESRB
ratings and content descriptors, provide parents with a
detailed, straight-forward explanation – including specific
examples – of the content that factored into a game’s rating.
The ESRB app is a great way to put this information in parents’
hands right from the video game store, where it is often needed
most. Rating summaries are available for games rated since July
1, 2008, which means that most of the games on kids’ wish lists
will have rating summaries.
“Microsoft is very excited to offer parents this new free tool
to help them find the information they need about the games
their kids want,” said Aaron Kornblum, Director of Security
Policy for Microsoft Corporation’s Interactive Entertainment
Business. “Whether using the built-in camera or keyboard,
Windows Phone 7 empowers shoppers by delivering this important
ratings guidance whenever and wherever they may need it.”
Since their inception in 1994, the ESRB ratings have become a
trusted resource for parents when choosing computer and video
games. According to the latest research conducted by Peter D.
Hart Research Associates and commissioned by the ESRB, 85% of
parents with children that play video games are aware of the
ESRB ratings, two-thirds use them regularly, and over three
quarters consider the rating system “very helpful” in allowing
them to choose games for their children.
In addition to the mobile app, parents may also want to check
out ESRB’s Facebook page. Ratings information, including rating
summaries and additional resources for parents are also
available on the website,
ESRB.org, and mobile website, m.esrb.org.
The ESRB rating search app is developed by Point About and the
image recognition and visual search is powered by IQ Engines.
Parents come to Family Friendly Gaming to assist in the gaps the ESRB misses. The reviews on Family Friendly Gaming flesh out the games and give professional opinions on the games.