How about you put the ACTUAL RATING on games?

[Dr Oshawott]

I'd love to find a game that's age appropriate for me (13), but I can't tell what the ESRB ratings are. How bout it?

[Spawn of Totoro]

ESRB:
http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.jsp

Other countries:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_content_rating_system

All ratings are located on the bottom right of the store.

ESRB has no specific ages, just age groups. At 13 you would fall under the T for Teen section.

Steam shows the full ESRB ratings when a game has a ESRB rating. Ratings are not required to sell a game.

[Dr Oshawott]

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

Steam shows the full ESRB ratings when a game has a ESRB rating. Ratings are not required to sell a game

I know they're not required to sell games, I just want to find a game that's age appropriate.

[Spawn of Totoro]

I explaind that part too. It is in the first link. It explains what each rating is. That is how you can tell. For your age, T for Teen is the proper catagory. There is no "Not recommended for children under 3" or "3+" for games.

[Lynx]

I think what he means is he wants to see the ESRB rating on the Steam Store page itself. Being an adult and no longer having to worry about that for the time being I have no problems not having the rating there, but this is a pretty good idea to help guide parents and the sadly rare responsible kid into what's age appropriate for them.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by Fast Eddie:

I think what he means is he wants to see the ESRB rating on the Steam Store page itself. Being an adult and no longer having to worry about that for the time being I have no problems not having the rating there, but this is a pretty good idea to help guide parents and the sadly rare responsible kid into what's age appropriate for them.

If that is what it is (I'm all for it if it is), then he needs to take a moment and rethink how to say it.

I'm just trying to explain how the ESRB works, since that is what it looks like he doesn't understand in his post.

[Dr Oshawott]

Ugh, okay. I want to see the Game's ESRB RATING on the GAME PAGE (for some games that applies, but not ALL) Does THAT make sense?

I'm Looking for a GOOD E, E10 or T rated game, NOT an M rated one.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by Oshawott 8.8:

Ugh, okay. I want to see the Game's ESRB RATING on the GAME PAGE (for some games that applies, but not ALL) Does THAT make sense?

I'm Looking for a GOOD E, E10 or T rated game, NOT an M rated one.

That's better.

[EmmaSamBlossom]

This is something I really very much want as well. I'm 30 but I truly don't want to play any 18+ games.

When I'm on this page: http://store.steampowered.com/ and I hoover over the games a pop-up comes up with some extra information. I would like it if there's some information about age recommendation in that pop-up. A little logo or something, I don't know. Seeing the logo of Borderlands 2 doesn't make me think 'Wow, that must be 18+!', so very often it's hard to tell.

Even better would be if it would be possible to filter on such metrics (which is what OP would like as well I think). So when I'm here: http://store.steampowered.com/genre/Strategy I can click on age recommendations in the filter options on the right as well.

I realise that ratings might be different in different countries. My account is in Dutch, maybe there's some kind of rating there in English which I now cannot see? "All ratings are located on the bottom right of the store." Not in my Steam store...

If this is all too difficult I wouldn't mind an option in my account settings to not show any games with rating this or that. I know that the ratings are in the Steam database, so this would be a nice way of using them.

[EmmaSamBlossom]

I just actually clicked on 'Borderlands 2' to see if it shows a rating somewhere, but an age verification page comes up. So I guess that helps a bit. Still, it would be nice to be able to filter on these metrics (it can't be that hard to program).

[Resurrection89]

Hey this is such an old thread so I apologise for re-opening but this is something I was going to suggest too!! I have just decided to build a PC for my neice and nephews basically for crafting games like minecraft etc, and I just wanted to quickly find games that were age appropriate in the steam store to fill up their collection... Obvious games like Scribblenauts and Lego / Disney titles are fine, but I would love to know the content rating of all games in a clear fashion on the front store page of every game because it gives us more choice as a family to select games appropriate without worrying that we might have a surprise cutscene / dialogue that they shouldn't see.

I know in the UK we age rate games in the same way films are rated, and this would be fantastic on STEAM. I would even go so far as to suggest there is a way for adults to implement a filter of content based on this rating permanently for a given account**. (to save unsafe browsing in the store simply by putting an incorrect date of birth into the current setup) or that simply if a steam account is opened, the actual date of birth of the user prevents access to anything above their given age rating rather than inputting DOB every time (thus allowing more content to be available as they get older) or there is simply a tick box system so you can exclude content you don't want them to see.

**If you are unsure what I mean then think NETFLIX where there is a KIDS section within every account. Accessing this prevents unsafe content even being displayed n the store.

I know there are other methods of finding games such as via the tag system.... but unfortunately not all games are tagged and some are tagged in comedical fashion - which is fine until you actually want to use the tags. Also early access games don't seem to be clear in their ratings as they are constantly changing. (i'm thinking of SALT for example... which looks very much like a sandbox exploration game... but there is no clear indication of child safety / age rating related to combat and content)

Also this doesn't prevent them accidently opening the internet browser for example, or from searching the games store.

Anyone else had a similar issue with setting up their family's computer gaming system and content ratings?

[slothrop]

Originally posted by Resurrection89:

Hey this is such an old thread so I apologise for re-opening but this is something I was going to suggest too!! I have just decided to build a PC for my neice and nephews basically for crafting games like minecraft etc, and I just wanted to quickly find games that were age appropriate in the steam store to fill up their collection... Obvious games like Scribblenauts and Lego / Disney titles are fine, but I would love to know the content rating of all games in a clear fashion on the front store page of every game because it gives us more choice as a family to select games appropriate without worrying that we might have a surprise cutscene / dialogue that they shouldn't see.

I know in the UK we age rate games in the same way films are rated, and this would be fantastic on STEAM. I would even go so far as to suggest there is a way for adults to implement a filter of content based on this rating permanently for a given account**. (to save unsafe browsing in the store simply by putting an incorrect date of birth into the current setup) or that simply if a steam account is opened, the actual date of birth of the user prevents access to anything above their given age rating rather than inputting DOB every time (thus allowing more content to be available as they get older) or there is simply a tick box system so you can exclude content you don't want them to see.

**If you are unsure what I mean then think NETFLIX where there is a KIDS section within every account. Accessing this prevents unsafe content even being displayed n the store.

I know there are other methods of finding games such as via the tag system.... but unfortunately not all games are tagged and some are tagged in comedical fashion - which is fine until you actually want to use the tags. Also early access games don't seem to be clear in their ratings as they are constantly changing. (i'm thinking of SALT for example... which looks very much like a sandbox exploration game... but there is no clear indication of child safety / age rating related to combat and content)

Also this doesn't prevent them accidently opening the internet browser for example, or from searching the games store.

Anyone else had a similar issue with setting up their family's computer gaming system and content ratings?

You can moniter their library fairly easily.

[slothrop]

And not give them any credit card access to stop them from getting most games.

[76561198001062896]

sounds like a fairly reasonable request for me


now being well over 18 it doesnt affect me much but sure, why not?

[Resurrection89]

Hey all thanks for commenting. I think most of the issues here are sorted? Family sharing now allows a parent to pin protect an account to limit access to the store and the internet (awesome) and you can even limit the games they are allowed access to so if you find a game you have bought them Is inappropriate in your opinion it can swiftly be removed. Really really impressed with the family safety on steam. Unfortunately the only thing outstanding now is the early access game ratings. I know these games are mid development but surely they should be rated as they develop? Made some huge headway getting my niece and nephews computer up and running now with a library crammed with games. One more steam sale should do it ;)

[76561198281772997]

Hey this is such an old thread so I apologise for re-opening but this is something I was going to suggest too!! I have just decided to build a PC for my neice and nephews basically for crafting games like minecraft etc, and I just wanted to quickly find games that were age appropriate in the steam store to fill up their collection... Obvious games like Scribblenauts and Lego / Disney titles are fine, but I would love to know the content rating of all games in a clear fashion on the front store page of every game because it gives us more choice as a family to select games appropriate without worrying that we might have a surprise cutscene / dialogue that they shouldn't see.

I know in the UK we age rate games in the same way films are rated, and this would be fantastic on STEAM. I would even go so far as to suggest there is a way for adults to implement a filter of content based on this rating permanently for a given account**. (to save unsafe browsing in the store simply by putting an incorrect date of birth into the current setup) or that simply if a steam account is opened, the actual date of birth of the user prevents access to anything above their given age rating rather than inputting DOB every time (thus allowing more content to be available as they get older) or there is simply a tick box system so you can exclude content you don't want them to see.

**If you are unsure what I mean then think NETFLIX where there is a KIDS section within every account. Accessing this prevents unsafe content even being displayed n the store.

I know there are other methods of finding games such as via the tag system.... but unfortunately not all games are tagged and some are tagged in comedical fashion - which is fine until you actually want to use the tags. Also early access games don't seem to be clear in their ratings as they are constantly changing. (i'm thinking of SALT for example... which looks very much like a sandbox exploration game... but there is no clear indication of child safety / age rating related to combat and content)

Also this doesn't prevent them accidently opening the internet browser for example, or from searching the games store.

Anyone else had a similar issue with setting up their family's computer gaming system and content ratings?