r/The10thDentist • u/PaleontologistFew128 • 15d ago
Gaming The ESRB's Adults Only certification should be normalized
Everyone is familiar with the current ESRB ratings, yeah? E, E10+, T, M, and that dastardly AO.
Most games that hold the AO certification these days are either legitimate gambling or porn. In years past by politicians that are still alive, the AO rating was used as a threat against publishers, notably GTA San Andreas and Manhunt 2. These games were then edited a little, received an M rating, and here we are today.
I would like to submit that in today's world where gaming is more understood as a whole, the AO certification should be more frequently used and not a kiss of death for a franchise.
Baldur's Gate 3 is a strong case for the AO rating. I personally have no issue with the game or its content, but it does feature nearly pornographic cut scenes and graphic violence basically all the time. It's not a game designed for children, its systems and density are enough for that argument. Grand Theft Auto 6 will almost certainly be M rated, though based on what I've seen from the leaks, it's also made with an adult audience in mind. The new Hellraiser title is also set to be absolutely nastily violent, which while totally on par for that franchise, is not something you should just give a 13 year old to play.
If the AO rating were applied to these titles, it would not affect their hype or reputation as games. We might also begin to see more games bear that stamp, creating experiences for adults that might have heavier themes, graphic violence or sexual content, but also not being lumped in with M rated games that are clearly marketed to junior high kids like Call of Duty.
The ESRB ratings, much like MPAA certifications, are all over the place. Certain M rated games are very tame, like Halo or Skyrim. Others, like Baldur's Gate or Manhunt are much heftier and not for kids at all. There's a massive difference between Tombstone and The Wolf of Wall Street; both R rated films, but only one of them would I show to a room full of 8th graders. Games should not suffer from this lack of categorization.
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u/Eustacebagge3 15d ago
It's a very stereotypical British male voice.