Steam game ratings

[DEITZ]

If a game has adult content but also non se×ual content in is it still considered adult only rating?

[Fake]

Hatred. . . .

[Haruspex]

Define "Adult Content".

The "Adult Only" rating is specific to the ESRB[www.esrb.org], a North American game ratings board. When you go to the store and look at the console games, that rating is the "E", "T", or "M" rating you see on the package. The ratings are as follows:

E - for everyone
E10+ - for everyone 10 and up
T - for teen
M - for mature
AO - for adults only

You won't see any "AO" rated games on the shelf at your local department store, because those stores refuse to carry them. Also the console manufacturers won't allow AO rated games on their platform.

Keep in mind not every game even has an ESRB rating. Steam does not require an ESRB rating to publish there, so you often won't even see one, particularly if it's a small indie game. The ESRB charges thousands of dollars for that rating, so indies won't even bother.

As for your question. "If a game has adult content but not sexual, is it still considered adults only?"

Ignoring the fact that not every game has an ESRB rating, let's look at a typically "M" rated game. This has content many would consider "adult", such as foul language, blood and gore, sexually suggestive content, even nudity. It's equivalent to an "R" rated movie, basically. M rated games are recommended to be played only by those ages 17 and up, but there's nothing legal enforcing this. It's not illegal for someone younger to play an M rated game. The ratings are there to help educate parents on what kinds of games to let little Timmy play, basically.

"AO" rated games are pornography. It's equivalent to a "XXX" rated movie. It includes graphic nudity including very strong sexual content and depictions of sexual penetration. In the US, there are laws in place preventing anyone under the age of 18 to purchase and play these games. They're not quite as strictly enforced as alcohol or tobacco, but it is illegal for a minor still.

Edit: A little note, it's possible for a game to acquire an "AO" rating without being pornography. If the violence is egregious enough and the gore gratuitous enough, it might tip the game into an "AO" rating. Examples are Manhunt 2[www.gamedeveloper.com] and Hatred[www.gamesindustry.biz].

[reg1s7]

Thank you for the explanation, 8bitbeard.

[DEITZ]

Fake님이 먼저 게시:

Hatred. . . .

?

[Crazy Tiger]

Fake님이 먼저 게시:

Hatred. . . .

That game isn't in the Adult Only category on Steam.

[DEITZ]

8bitbeard님이 먼저 게시:

Define "Adult Content".

The "Adult Only" rating is specific to the ESRB[www.esrb.org], a North American game ratings board. When you go to the store and look at the console games, that rating is the "E", "T", or "M" rating you see on the package. The ratings are as follows:

E - for everyone
E10+ - for everyone 10 and up
T - for teen
M - for mature
AO - for adults only

You won't see any "AO" rated games on the shelf at your local department store, because those stores refuse to carry them. Also the console manufacturers won't allow AO rated games on their platform.

Keep in mind not every game even has an ESRB rating. Steam does not require an ESRB rating to publish there, so you often won't even see one, particularly if it's a small indie game. The ESRB charges thousands of dollars for that rating, so indies won't even bother.

As for your question. "If a game has adult content but not sexual, is it still considered adults only?"

Ignoring the fact that not every game has an ESRB rating, let's look at a typically "M" rated game. This has content many would consider "adult", such as foul language, blood and gore, sexually suggestive content, even nudity. It's equivalent to an "R" rated movie, basically. M rated games are recommended to be played only by those ages 17 and up, but there's nothing legal enforcing this. It's not illegal for someone younger to play an M rated game. The ratings are there to help educate parents on what kinds of games to let little Timmy play, basically.

"AO" rated games are pornography. It's equivalent to a "XXX" rated movie. It includes graphic nudity including very strong sexual content and depictions of sexual penetration. In the US, there are laws in place preventing anyone under the age of 18 to purchase and play these games. They're not quite as strictly enforced as alcohol or tobacco, but it is illegal for a minor still.

Edit: A little note, it's possible for a game to acquire an "AO" rating without being pornography. If the violence is egregious enough and the gore gratuitous enough, it might tip the game into an "AO" rating. Examples are Manhunt 2[www.gamedeveloper.com] and Hatred[www.gamesindustry.biz].

like s@x scenes that are very detailed and uncensored along with gore and very vulgar language at times but also has the usual normal stuff in it because im trying to figure out what rating my wip video game should be given

[Ogami]

If you mean the games that are marked as adult only on the store with the " This game has mature content" warning on the store page, those are exclusive to pornographic titles on Steam.
If a game has sex scenes with visible genitals or penetration the game automatically gets a "mature only" rating on Steam. Meaning only users who activate the " adult sexual content" setting in their account preferences will even be able to see the store page of the game on Steam.

[DEITZ]

Ogami님이 먼저 게시:

If you mean the games that are marked as adult only on the store with the " This game has mature content" warning on the store page, those are exclusive to pornographic titles on Steam.
If a game has sex scenes with visible genitals or penetration the game automatically gets a "mature only" rating on Steam. Meaning only users who activate the " adult sexual content" setting in their account preferences will even be able to see the store page of the game on Steam.

ok,thats good to know

[Boblin the Goblin]

THEOCULUSDRAGONYTGD님이 먼저 게시:

8bitbeard님이 먼저 게시:

Define "Adult Content".

The "Adult Only" rating is specific to the ESRB[www.esrb.org], a North American game ratings board. When you go to the store and look at the console games, that rating is the "E", "T", or "M" rating you see on the package. The ratings are as follows:

E - for everyone
E10+ - for everyone 10 and up
T - for teen
M - for mature
AO - for adults only

You won't see any "AO" rated games on the shelf at your local department store, because those stores refuse to carry them. Also the console manufacturers won't allow AO rated games on their platform.

Keep in mind not every game even has an ESRB rating. Steam does not require an ESRB rating to publish there, so you often won't even see one, particularly if it's a small indie game. The ESRB charges thousands of dollars for that rating, so indies won't even bother.

As for your question. "If a game has adult content but not sexual, is it still considered adults only?"

Ignoring the fact that not every game has an ESRB rating, let's look at a typically "M" rated game. This has content many would consider "adult", such as foul language, blood and gore, sexually suggestive content, even nudity. It's equivalent to an "R" rated movie, basically. M rated games are recommended to be played only by those ages 17 and up, but there's nothing legal enforcing this. It's not illegal for someone younger to play an M rated game. The ratings are there to help educate parents on what kinds of games to let little Timmy play, basically.

"AO" rated games are pornography. It's equivalent to a "XXX" rated movie. It includes graphic nudity including very strong sexual content and depictions of sexual penetration. In the US, there are laws in place preventing anyone under the age of 18 to purchase and play these games. They're not quite as strictly enforced as alcohol or tobacco, but it is illegal for a minor still.

Edit: A little note, it's possible for a game to acquire an "AO" rating without being pornography. If the violence is egregious enough and the gore gratuitous enough, it might tip the game into an "AO" rating. Examples are Manhunt 2[www.gamedeveloper.com] and Hatred[www.gamesindustry.biz].

like s@x scenes that are very detailed and uncensored along with gore and very vulgar language at times but also has the usual normal stuff in it because im trying to figure out what rating my wip video game should be given

You don't decide the rating. Go to the ESRB website and follow the instructions to submit it if you want a rating.

[rawWwRrr]

THEOCULUSDRAGONYTGD님이 먼저 게시:

s@x

THEOCULUSDRAGONYTGD님이 먼저 게시:

se×ual

"Sex" is not a vulgar word. You don't have to continue to obfuscate it.

[DEITZ]

rawWwRrr님이 먼저 게시:

THEOCULUSDRAGONYTGD님이 먼저 게시:

s@x

THEOCULUSDRAGONYTGD님이 먼저 게시:

se×ual

"Sex" is not a vulgar word. You don't have to continue to obfuscate it.

ik but some people dont like that word mentioned which is why i censored it

[Hammer Of Evil]

THEOCULUSDRAGONYTGD님이 먼저 게시:

like s@x scenes that are very detailed and uncensored along with gore and very vulgar language at times but also has the usual normal stuff in it because im trying to figure out what rating my wip video game should be given

i'm just saying, if you're actually serious why dont you contact the regulatory boards in the country you intend to post sale in, and ask them directly?

asking randomly on steam is... not really the best approach.

there's a good summary in this thread, but ultimately these things follow an established guideline. they would probably be able to send you a free flowchart or something to estimate where your game falls on the rating scale in a given country.

[DEITZ]

Hammer Of Evil님이 먼저 게시:

THEOCULUSDRAGONYTGD님이 먼저 게시:

like s@x scenes that are very detailed and uncensored along with gore and very vulgar language at times but also has the usual normal stuff in it because im trying to figure out what rating my wip video game should be given

i'm just saying, if you're actually serious why dont you contact the regulatory boards in the country you intend to post sale in, and ask them directly?

asking randomly on steam is... not really the best approach.

there's a good summary in this thread, but ultimately these things follow an established guideline. they would probably be able to send you a free flowchart or something to estimate where your game falls on the rating scale in a given country.

ok then