How about adding IARC rating process for developer?

[Acekey]

I think it's good idea to add IARC (International Age Rating Coalition) process to steamworks. It's easy for developer to obtain age rating classification from multiple regions at once.(ESBR, PEGI, USK, GRAC, etc.) And this would be good for customer to check for the age rating.

Here is how it works:
https://www.globalratings.com/how-iarc-works.aspx

There are some storefronts using this process but I cannot find Steam in the list.

Maybe adding IARC process as the optional for developer who realky need rating classification. Doing this process on their own cost a lot of money while IARC is free.

[mimizukari]

steam is US platform, they display the esrb.

[Acekey]

Originally posted by Yuiko:

steam is US platform, they display the esrb.

You cannot display esrb rating without actually passing their classification process.

That's why I prefer IARC.
This way, developer will get rating classification from multiple regions at once.

[mimizukari]

more effective to do your own research. tons of times the rating on any board is completely wrong because they don't explore the hidden content of a game (see the scandal that made GTA:SA adult only rating and had to be pulled from shelves, etc) ... not to mention horribly skewed. a game like witcher 3/gta v with tons of nudity and sex becomes mature, while any non aaa game displaying the same thing becomes adult only and impossible to market.

[Acekey]

I don't think adult only non aaa games have no place in this market. Even the rating system is approved. They still find their own way. And a lot of indie games that(non aaa games) are going to console or mobile, still need rating classification.

Maybe adding IARC process as the optional for developer who need rating classification. Doing this process on their own cost a lot of money while IARC is free.

[Start_Running]

Originally posted by Yuiko:

more effective to do your own research. tons of times the rating on any board is completely wrong because they don't explore the hidden content of a game (see the scandal that made GTA:SA adult only rating and had to be pulled from shelves, etc) ... not to mention horribly skewed. a game like witcher 3/gta v with tons of nudity and sex becomes mature, while any non aaa game displaying the same thing becomes adult only and impossible to market.

Yeah but to be fair that's because the devs did not expect the players to be able to hack their way into a part of the game that was never meant to be accessed.

OP. Steam does not require any rating. Deves are free to put what ever rating they have up. You cannot aply such things without the explicit consent of the developers.

[crossmr]

I'd really like this to be added. Makes getting ratings for places like Korea much easier.

[Conabe]

Originally posted by ロザリンド:

steam is US platform, they display the esrb.

No, they display the country's rating in that country. They get your location from your IP.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by Shizune:

Steam does not set ratings, developers do, if the developers choose not to set a rating thats up to them, most indy games dont have ratings and I dont see that ever changing in the near future.

Devs don't set the rating, they just get the game rated. Getting the game rated is not a legal requirement but it is up to the store whether they will sell games that have not been rated by the ESRB.

[Crashed]

Necroed thread. The .aspx at the end of OP's link says a lot of how the ESRB is so antiquated. (Check WHOIS and you'll see they own that domain)

That said, most likely their system incurs a licensing fee and may scare away developers who would be forced to comply with their rules, even for non-gaming software.

[76561199418627359]

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.