GameWebX XBox 360 Top Games Review and Blog

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory body that has created an unbiased and standardized rating system to help you determine whether an XBox360 game is appropriate for yourself or your child. The ESRB was established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). Based on principles adopted by the general public regarding the entertainment software industry, the ESRB independently determines and enforces game ratings, game advertising guidelines, and the online privacy standards for all XBox 360 games.

To help parents prevent their children from playing games that are inappropriate or their age, the Xbox 360 console allows parents to set the maximum ESRB rating, from EC (Early Childhood) to M (Mature), that will play on the system. The Xbox 360 reads the ESRB rating from each game disc to determine whether the game meets these parental settings before allowing the game to run. Note that by default, the Xbox 360 game console is set to play all content. You must enter a pass code if you choose any ESRB protection level other than ALL.

The current ESRB rating system levels as of July 2009 are follows:

	EARLY CHILDHOOD Titles rated EC (Early Childhood) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.
	EVERYONE Titles rated E (Everyone) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.
	EVERYONE 10+ Titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10+) have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language, and/or minimal suggestive themes.
	TEEN Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.
	MATURE Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, and/or strong language.
	RATING PENDING Titles listed as RP (Rating Pending) have been submitted to the ESRB and are awaiting final rating. This symbol appears only in advertising prior to a game's release.
	ADULTS ONLY Titles rated AO (Adults Only) have content that should only be played by persons 18 years and older. Titles in this category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity.

The ESRB also supplies content descriptors to further explain why a game has received a particular rating. These content descriptors can be found on the back of every XBox 360 game box. The current ESRB Content Descriptors as of July 2009 are defined as follows:

Alcohol Reference	Reference to and/or images of alcoholic beverages
Animated Blood	Cartoon or pixilated depictions of blood
Blood	Depictions of blood
Blood and Gore	Depictions of blood or the mutilation of body parts
Cartoon Violence	Violent actions involving cartoon-like characters. May include violence where a character is unharmed after the action has been inflicted
Comic Mischief	Scenes depicting slapstick or gross vulgar humor
Crude Humor	Moderately vulgar antics, including bathroom humor
Drug Reference	Reference to and/or images of illegal drugs
Edutainment	Content of product provides user with specific skills development or reinforcement learning within an entertainment setting. Skill development is an integral part of product
Fantasy Violence	Violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or non-human characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life
Real Gambling	Betting like behavior
Informational	Overall content of product contains data, facts, resource information, reference materials or instructional text
Intense Violence	Graphic and realistic-looking depictions of physical conflict. May involve extreme and/or realistic blood, gore, weapons, and depictions of human injury and death
Mature Humor	Vulgar and/or crude jokes and antics including "bathroom" humor
Mature Sexual Themes	Provocative material, possibly including partial nudity
Language	Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol, or drug use
Lyrics	Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol, or drug use in music
Mild Violence	Mild scenes depicting characters in unsafe and/or violent situations
Nudity	Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity
Partial Nudity	Brief and mild depictions of nudity
Sexual Violence	Depictions of rape or other sexual acts
Some Adult Assistance May Be Needed	Early Childhood Descriptor only
Strong Language	Profanity and explicit references to sexuality, violence, alcohol, or drug use
Strong Lyrics	Profanity and explicit references to sex, violence, alcohol, or drug use in music
Strong Sexual Content	Graphic depiction of sexual behavior, possibly including nudity
Suggestive Themes	Mild provocative references or materials
Tobacco Reference	Reference to and/or images of tobacco products
Use of Drugs	The consumption or use of illegal drugs
Use of Alcohol	The consumption of alcoholic beverages
Use of Tobacco	The consumption of tobacco products
Violence	Scenes involving aggressive conflict

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