How Does the ESRB Rate Video Games?
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- čas přidán 10. 11. 2019
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For the first time ever, the ESRB opens its doors and unveils the process of rating video games.
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Edited & Hosted by Danny O'Dwyer
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"Please don't fax us" 🤣
How do you fax a vhs tape?
@@nygamery Yeah that is ALSO a question I have.
The guy who does the voice is the only 1 I respect at all fro. the esrb
@@nygamery They'd fax "screenshots" by fax, and considering that 99% of fax machines are black and white, means a lot toner / ink was was probably getting wasted, not to mention you wouldn't be able to clearly see details in the game due to the low resolution.
@@eginteractive So a black & white flipbook, I guess that can work. 🖨
I'm hopelessly distracted by the squished face on one of these guy's shirts.
I'm more distracted by his right arm being twice the size of his left
@@ramherrump maybe it's just distortion from wide-angle lens. but yeah, creepy
He has some deviation on one eye, I believe his left one, so he could have had some neurological injury or congenital problem that could have caused that.
@@TheBluestank I was specifically talking about his T Shirt. It almost looks like a pic of Tommy Wiseau
@@0RecklessAbandon0 I'm not 100% sure, but I believe it's a picture of Death from Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey
comment section: ugh you were so toothless and you didn't pressure them on any of the hard questions
me: why didn't you ask them about Hot Coffee
@@mikkelens - That's why it's such an interesting question. That mod coming to light caused a huge issue and resulted in GTA getting re-rated. Which meant R* had to change the physical packaging of all games already in stores or recall them then produce a new master with that content actually removed. The question of how ratings interact with user modifying games, accessing content that's not normally in the game space, etc is one of the more interesting areas of their work and one with the least clear answers currently.
He talked about it on his podcast
yeah but it wasn't, it was already in the game and then rockstar shut it. Then, the mod comes in
they actually need to introduce, the "I" rating, for incomplete game.
No modern game is ever complete at launch anymore.
Its already a thing it's called
EA
Early Access
How would they define that? I mean, for you, a "incomplete game" might be one that happens to have upcoming expansion content. For someone else, a "incomplete game" is one that is missing core, clearly stated features on release. The idea of a "incomplete game" would have to be clearly defined and that definition would probably not be what you PERSONALLY want it to be.
@@startrekmike His comment was a stab at the AAA games industry releasing crap unfinished products at launch like Mass Effect Andromeda and the like, not a serious suggestion.
@@i_fish6657 That is the best comment ever, thank you for making it.
I was really hoping they'd ask about the GTA San Andreas Hot Coffee Mod debacle. It would've been interesting to see the ESRB perspective.
Sadly it's all about "lootboxes" now... Though even that has somehow calmed down with nothing being done about it.
@@Kinglink update:LAWSUIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was thinking exactly the same thing.
I feel like noclip handled the interviews well. He asked the questions on people's mind, and let the esrb people give their response. It's now up to us to decide whether we agree or disagree with them, not for noclip to grill them over.
I do think the esrb does a good job with rating the game industry. There have been some controversies, but for the most part the ratings have done a lot of good. Handling the rating of a massive amount of games is an incredibly difficult task. The way they describe the algorithms' output being customizable to each region sounds amazing. Either the esrb has some genius coders or it doesn't work great lol
much love
The only problem is that they classify what is essentially gambling as rated E for everyone. But it's not even their fault. It's not violent/sexual or as it's called "pertinent content", so the publisher/developer can keep it out of the rating as it's not a gameplay mechanic. It's companies like EA, Ubisoft, and Activision's fault.
Well said. I love the channel's attitude of objective journalism without using outrage and drama to share engaging stories and accounts.
Nice try ESRB
Also, as a journalist, you gotta put in the hard questions and not allow the person you're interviewing to deflect.
Considering all the Noclip docs are paid with Patreon money, this just seems like a big waste. 44 minutes of literally nothing new, just a bunch of people trying to convince us they're "hip", even though they were still USING VHS tapes 10 years ago.
Pro-Corporate Propaganda, a puff-piece masquerading as an informative documentary and journalism. The video doesn't bother pushing back on the ESRB's ridiculous claim loot boxes aren't gambling *DESPITE THE FACT* it has been classified as such in *SEVERAL* countries, nor does Danny bother to point out the obvious *CONFLICT OF INTEREST* in an industry policing itself when profits are at stake (apparently money and influence via trade associations like the ESA shouldn't be regarded as a thing in the countries that don't see loot boxes as gambling). And when has the head of the ESRB *EVER* conflicted with the board of the ESA that is ALSO the board of the ESRB to demonstrate her *"INDEPENDENCE & AUTONOMY?"* A question Danny of course never asks. I hope Noclip loses patrons over this obscene and gross obfuscation of the issues and backstabbing of the everyday people that have supported his work.
Ratings are bullshit. I never cared for them and i couldn't care less for them for my children. Parents are morons.
I mean how many movies has PG13 ruined? It all comes down to money in the end, not ethics.
Pretty sure parents care if gambling is in a game Pat. ffs The Belgians, Dutch and British has already said that Loot Boxes do meet the criteria of Gambling. They are illegal in some of these countries and the UK could be joining them soon. Also the ESRB rating isn't just for Parents. I look at a rating when deciding what I want to play. You are a part of the ESA. The board of the ESA is made up of CEOs from some of the largest studios and publishers in the industry. That is a major conflict of interest. They don't want to regulate loot boxes because it is making them an insane amount of money. That is easy as hell to see with all due respect, NBA 2K20 has a literal slot machine and a pachinko machine. NBA 2K20 IS RATED E FOR EVERYONE. That's gambling. Gambling should not be in a children's game. Gambling is only for adults. If gambling is in a game the game should be Rated M, this is not fucking hard.
Pokemon has slot machines. Do you say pokemon should be rated M?
Actually if its only for adults it would be rated A
does the game force you to gamble your money away? is the "gambling" addictive?
if its not any of these things then it should NOT be rated [M] or [18+] let alone [AO] or really anything more than [T] or [12+] if your rating on the gambling alone. I don't think a Basketball game should be rated [M] or [18+] but [E-10+] or [7+] instead if it has any form of gambling...
@@lucasgreer1736
I'm pretty sure singleplayer Pokemon games didn't let kids gamble with real money. Unlike NBA, FIFA, and many more.
Regulate lootbox/gambling systems.
It's better for everyone, except for the greedy.
Is this comment section literally advocating for gambling in games like NBA 2K20? Serious?
“We’re not gray haired old men in suits”
-Gray Haired Old Man in a Suit
Pretty informative and I liked those 2 guys, but the boss seemed to dance around the lootbox problem which remains unsolved.
They genuinely seem interested in their job, but it also seems like they are subordinate to the capital that wants aggressive gambling allowed in children's games.
@@moredetonation3755 yeah, which is quite disappointing.
Games already have the "post purchases" label and parental controls already restrict it.
It's not really a huge problem
Apparently Gambling is E for everyone.
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
There are sometimes more blatant conflicts of interest with these private organisations than if a government agency rated the medium.
Blame EA
"online interactions not rated by esrb"
Dude gambling is ins sponge bob
"Parents don't care about if lootboxes are gambling, they just care about spending."
Ok, well then maybe you should be helping them out here instead of just brushing it off.
Matt Skora they do, in game spending is labeled
Ekana Stone “in-game spending” is such a vast term, that’s not enough. That doesn’t differentiate stuff that you can just buy straight up from stuff like lootboxes where you pay for a random drop. And the psychological and ethical concerns are vastly different between those two things.
Expertly filmed, you don't get nearly enough credit for the cinematography and color of your shots. Amazing job as always.
Founded to avoid government oversight of the games industry.
Just like the MPAA for the film industry
and with the greed of the corporations now games face govt regulation.....there's a sensation that comes to mind....it's on the tip of my tongue but what is it?? I wonder.....
meh
....OH! yeah it's IRONY! it's ironic tha tthis is all happening now LMAO
^this has been pure sarcasm for everyone's entertainment
@@totlyepic and the government was going to step in if the industry hadn't "self-regulated." Did you watch the video?
Which often times can be a good thing, but not anymore. Looks like it really paid off for them that now they can run rampant on predatory practices with no repercussions.
Founded very quickly. I think thrown together was the term used
Q: So, how about you protecting children from gambling with lootboxes?
A: Well technically they are not gambling according to some arcane rule we created, but let me tell you about parental controls!
She should get into politics, avoiding an answer and redirecting to another subject is a valuable skill there.
I agree this should change, but these people didn’t define gambling. There are legal definitions that are entirely outdated.
@@Generic8864 what should they do, rate rocket league and fortnite M for gambling?
it's not gambling because of the fact that, the skins and stuff you get cannot be "sold back" as they say, in other words they don't have any real value, once you buy them the money stays as skins forever, and you can't get your money back, now if you could "refund" your skins and get more money than what you paid for THEN it'd be gambling
And corruption by getting paid off by bigger companies than yours, which seems to be the case here.
@@exyzt9877 So like gambling with no real potential benefits whatsoever besides you and other players seeing your cool skin or ability to pay to win?
"Loot boxes isn't gambling." Looks like lobbying did it's work.
@Lizardguy The odd thing about trading cards is that secondary markets allow for people to buy cards individually. You can have websites and stores selling individual cards to get around that gambling. I would say that card games like that are gambling, but since there is a way to circumvent the gambling in a way, it kind of works. The problem with lootboxes and digital things like that are there isn't that secondary market. The only way to get these things is from lootboxes, or a currency/buyback system designed by the same companies who sell the lootboxes.
@Azra Rillian Because the winnings are non-fungible. The government doesn't care about the negative impact this has on people, they only care about knowing where the money is.
@Lizardguy you're right, it's worse than gambling.
@Azra Rillian there are some countries that have banned loot boxes because of this issue. I'm not going to go into details about something you can easily Google yourself.
I also like how she is proud they have "Content Descriptors" (also pretty sure Australia was first)... but none of them are for "Loot Boxes" which are what people and parents are asking for now.
Also the NBA2K20 rating didn't have Gambling Real or Simulated... because the classification review copy build in July 2019 was months before the trailer that showed them!!!
Video game manufacturers are exploiting early submissions to classification board to hide planned content until release date.
Imagine doing a gameplay presentation of an adult visual novel, and then explaining the events that lead to it and the action...
depending on the developer... it can range from being a humorous add-on fv to a complete nonsensical shitfest.... So either way, funny af to watch (although not to work with on the ratings side i assume)
Kind of wish you went into not only Hot Coffee, but the Manhunt 2 and Oblivion rating controversies. Would've been really interesting to get insight since ESRB doesn't really have many major scandals.
"Parents are too stupid to know their kids are being exploited so we decided to just ignore it."
Remember this is the same organization that doesn't think a slot machine microtransaction in NBA2K20 is gambling...
Aragorn7884 I thought that was PEGI
@@mysterio1967 Both, but you are partially correct.
actually, the slot machine mechanic is not linked to any microtransaction, it's only for in-game reward
Cuckboii that’s not the problem, Pokémon red and blue got a higher rating for having simulated slot machines... why doesn’t the same apply here?
@@cooldead that's pegi, esrb gave pokemon red en E
My imagination, for some reason: Ahh, I bet it is just a bunch of disaffected bureaucrats at the ESRB wishing they were anywhere else
Rocco Buffalino: Actually, I was born precisely to work here
There is something wrong with that guy and I'm not just talking about his crooked eye.
@@Shinkajo He doesn't seem real
I mean, his history and all. A guy that likes Doom and also likes working has as a regulator and controller of wich fun game can or cannot a kid play, seems fishy
Benjamin Francisco Tapia Rostran you can like doom while still realizing that maybe it’s not the best for an 8 year old
@@kaibeasley5965 it's perfect, that's maybe the first time I tried Shadow of the Collossus or Jack and Daxter series, they all thought me so much, about games and life and steriotipes, it was my favorite media and got me into so much. Doom on the other hand I tried it in 2014, age 15, with the Brutal Doom mod, and live every part of it, the music, the action and all that helped me to get into PC shooters
I would 100% teach my son Doom at that age or lower and also teach him what you should take out of games and the difference between games and reality. Being a bad parent is not an excuse to not teach your son the proper way to watch or play media and what constitutes their likes and dislikes
@@Shinkajo Not really, seems like a passionate guy who loves video games.
Still unconvinced by the ESRB's approach to the growing issue of gambling in games. This doc just reinforces the notion that they have their head in the sand about this and are unwilling to address the issue. Apart from that, another good doc Danny
It's important to remember that the ESRB is about informing parents. Is there any situation where a parent would be ok with their child spending money in a game, but only if it's not lootboxes? What they did (say that there's in game purchases) makes more sense, since parents care more about the spending itself rather than on what you spend on.
@@luizzeroxisYour point is valid.
If I may, though, under another angle, two unadressed problems here is that, in online games, there is money spent without knowing for what, nor indicating the inconstant variable value of it, and even worst, what we spend for is never ours and will be eliminated some day, sooner or later.
There should be some distinctions, even if we may wonder how, briefly...
So the ESRB is there to "protect children" and focuses on things like nudity, language, blood and violence. Concerns born in the 90's.
They do not seem focused on today's issues. Like protecting kids from microtransactions, ingame advertisement, abuse of user data, psychological manipulation to push monetisation and user retention, etc.
They already have a hard time working around their past missions and they have yet to address cureent issues.
It seems to me that, willingly or not (it's difficult not to consider them being part of the esa here), they are outdated.
In the end the day the standards are set by the ESA. Until the government forces these updated standards on to the ESA you will not see the ESRB changing. It is obvious that the industry does not want to self regulate on the topics you just mentioned since they make a lot of money out of them. Just like the first time a legislator must make them.
Seemed like the rating were more for parents than children
No, the ESRB is there to protect the AAA industry's profits and to avoid any true, independent 3rd party regulators. They give the illusion of oversight to the general public, buty they are the inmates running the asylum. At their heart, they do what's best for the AAA publishers / corporations, not consumers.
You nailed.
Ultimately the ESRB serves the interests of publishers, not the public. They only "protect" consumers because they want to maintain a buffer between themselves and government oversight.
Don’t forget that Strauss Zelnick Guy who owns the company that owns Take Two... is a chairman of the esrb
Weird how Rockstar/Take Two were called out as "some of the most compliant publishers out there" by them, huh?
@@LockeTheCole they werent called out, danny put footage and your child mind was easily bought.
@@JG-ib7xk Or it was pretty damn obvious from what he said that he was referring to Rockstar and their many controversies so Danny put that footage in there. Footage that I didn't need to know who was being referred to.
with a 3 on gambling
Fifa is not for everyone it's pure gambling and dirty.
PEGI is in europe, but I agree. $$$
Documentary was highly interesting, enjoyed to watch it. It was a nice inside into a organization no one besides the Publishers knows about, and even they don't know much about the ESRB. I was kinda shocked when Noclip asked her about the Loot Boxes. She was baffled. It's like she wasn't prepared for this question. Yeah, I do think she don't have a proper answer why the ESRB and it's counterparts let companies like EA, Ubisoft and Acitvision slip through the radar. Her explanation was confusing and she solely relied that the platform holders regulating drops and contents of Lootboxes a little better now. There has to be a lot of work done. It almost sounded like she is fearing the big game publishers with their monetizations in videogames.
@@TheAufziehvogel still haven't watched it, gonna do it soon. (this was more of a joke tweet) yeah, the rating boards are basically paid by the big videogame companies that's why they do baffling things like (in cvase of pegi, pegi 3 on nba2k20 with gambling). i am sure that most of the people below the executives on the ESRB and PEGI are just decent people but are probably influenced by their bosses on what ratings they give.
In Australia... NBA2k20 got the same general rating as PEGI and ESRB gave, the reason is as follows
"On 1 July 2019, the Board (The Australian Classification Board) received an application under the Authorised Assessor Computer Games (AACG) Scheme to classify NBA 2k20, wherein a games industry assessor recommended a classification of G with consumer advice of ‘online interactivity’, having indicated in the written report that there were no classifiable elements, including gambling themes or elements, in the game. The Board is not required to conduct a full review of every report and recommendation received from an assessor and on this occasion, accepted the recommendation for a G rating, the consumer advice being ‘General, online interactivity’."
That meant the classification board didn't see the game. The assessor made no report of gambling themes being present.
The game was reviewed months before the "online gambling" youtube trailer was released. The interactive elements were simulated on an incomplete build or not present at time of testing.
While I'm not a parent, and am not the most idealistic person you'll meet, and I have my own opinions on what is(n't) appropriate for a child/teen/adult, I think this was a STELLAR interview and helped me understand why they have a really hard job, that only seems to attract negative attention. To the ESRB, THANK YOU for allowing this interview, and much love regardless of a specific decision or online representation of your disposition at some point in time. Thank you.
Quite simply put, they aren't needed, especially at the rates they dare to charge and especially now that the Internet exists. Simply give all games a default M rating then set up a website where gamers can report game content and vote on each other's reports. On average, within a week of release all content for a new game would be reported and the parent can decide whether or not that content is okay for their kid. Parents themselves can even participate if they find something that no one else found. As is, the ESRB is way more of a development road block than it is worth.
@@isthe9484 - "just release things and let the crowd rate them after they hit retail" is a truly, truly terrible idea.
AngryJoeShow and his debocle with NBA 2k20 ESRB rating made me even more interested in this.
I can not wait for his video.
I asked the Australian Classification Board why they didn't mention gambling themes/elements in their classification. It wasn't reviewed by them it was an independent assessor in July... the assessors reports made no mention of it either. Cause it was months before the "gambling" trailer hit youtube. I don't think the reviewers ever saw an early build of the game!
AngryJoe is histerical idiot, all the time
I've always wanted to see behind their doors, and I'm extremely happy to hear that you guys were the first. Great job as always!
And I'm definitely not anti-ESRB, but I have to say that their stance on lootboxes is definitely a bit strange. I would think there to be more harm done in choosing to overlook it rather than policing it, but I'd be more than willing to hear a better explanation as to why I'm incorrect.
It's more than a little strange, it's alarming. - So no, you're not incorrect, everyone is with you on that it shouldn't be overlooked. - They're just somehow pressured to do so, which smells like corruption or bribery.
When I first heard this video was happening I was thinking "Angry Joe, YongYea, Jim Sterling and etc. are going to be interested in this" but after hearing the introduction I'm like now I'm starting to think this "loot box drama" is the reason is video exists to begin with.
So like in the 25 years you've been around you only now decide to open your doors and it just so happens to occur around the time of the "sports games are casinos for kids" allegations?
Okay then
You realize that nearly everyone who spends loads of money on sports games are full-grown adults, right?
"self regulation is a great thing"
"no we're not going to call loot boxes gambling"
"parents don't know what loot boxes are"
"parents don't care about loot boxes"
Yeah GREAT JOB ESRB.
She said they explained lootboxes to parents and their biggest concern was spending. Their solution, though quite underwhelming, was to put the in app purchases tag on the rating
What she said makes a lot of sense. Most parents don't understand the term but don't want their kids spending real money. That's the main problem. If there were loot boxes and no way to buy them with real money we wouldn't be here. Parents need to take in game purchases seriously.
I would call the loot boxes mechanism more appropriately as "extortion mechanics" like what mafia did back in the day. You know, asking for security money to make sure your bussiness works fine but in the end of the day they are the one that create that insecurity themselves.
While in game, the extortion mechanism work whether by creating the problem of rarity of some in game items or by limiting its time to get, or making it expensive to buy in ingame currency so that it requires constant grinding, and or make it occur only 100.000:1 chances in the loot boxes you get,etc. until it test your passion and temper and then they provide you solution of the problem they created, by paying some cash to them... So, just think of it, isnt that extortion mechanics? Parents would understand it better with that term.
Yeah, I think this is fair. I think ESRB will do a good enough job once this concern becomes unignorable, but it's going to take external pressure to get there.
There might be a need for a cultural shift away from ratings being purely for parents, towards ratings being for "consumers" as a whole in order to bring this about.
Either way it's a fascinating documentary.
@Lizardguy Gambling is placing an ante of money in exchange for a non-guaranteed chance at receiving something of value. That something of value *can* be more money, or something you could convert to money, but it does not have to be. Individual local laws on this may vary.
I think the ESRB actually brings up an interesting point. At the end of the day, their job isn't to restrict content in video games; it's to inform parents of whatever content they might be concerned with. If we assume that whatever A/B-esque tests they ran on parents actually said that parents are mostly concerned with the spending part of lootboxes, then the "in-game purchases" label would suffice for ESRB.
Restricting the content of video games is the job of the government. If the government were to define lootboxes as gambling, they could theoretically try to force the ESRB to rate all lootbox-heavy games as M. But as it stands, I think the ESRB is doing what it's required/meant to do. Changing those requirements is probably necessary, but outside of ESRB's control.
Very few people are asking them to restrict content, but instead to rate it properly.
Gambling is an adult-only activity. Studies have shown (see the UK regulator's findings on the subject) that loot box mechanics, if not directly gambling which really it is in everything but law, can cause addictive behavior.
These systems are not being clearly and properly explained to a parent who can't tell the difference between an in-game purchase being a consumer friendly DLC and a predatory macro-transaction scheme.
It is their job to explain this sort of pertinent information to parents, not to sit by and let publishers sell digital casinos to kids with an E for Everyone label on it.
I think if that was the mission they've already lost. The majority of parents will let their 8 year old play 13+ games at this point. The ratings are clearly out of touch.
@@cizd That's an interesting point. But on the other hand, they still provide useful information for parents. The ESRB ratings are suggestions for parents, not guidelines. If parents choose to let their kids play T-rated games, they're still looking at the ESRB T-ratings to make their decision.
@@cizd What the parents do after they're informed is a different thing. ESRB atm is doing nothing significant to inform parents about games rated E for everyone that have gambling in them.
Having worked on the submission process, this was entirely fun personally. I'd interacted with all but Pat directly, and it was quite nice to see the faces behind the emails. Having emailed Dave what felt like daily for so long, and never knowing that was his voice on the sample package is amazing.
I still disagree with the outcome of how lootboxes were handled, but that was an ESA decision. Solid work, there were definitely some touchy subjects to go through but I think it was presented fairly.
Welcome to a world where violent content matters more than gateway mechanics to developing a gambling habit, I guess. -_-
Welcome to world where ******* constantly whine about something and use KIDS as excuse. Just don't give them credit cards idiots.
@@JamesBond007Nejc Most people online who have a hard on for lootboxes probably coudn't get kids even if they wanted to lol
Until the day when politicians stop laying the blame of mass shootings to video games and characterizing mass shooters as having been trained by video games then we can have an honest discussion about gambling habits. The world you speak of has been around since the columbine shooting in ‘99 and since then there have been countless news reports attributing violent behavior to video games so can you really blame them.
turgger316 The classic “games cause violence”. If they got over it, the world would be a lot better. The only thing gaming that people on the news like is VR, but that’s VR used in non-gaming purposes.
@@aimwell8813 I know as a vr gamer they never talk about well done vr games just other vr less incredible uses for vr
3:46 that thigh gap wtf
Primo Mike Krahulik.
😂😂😂😂
Art.
E for everyone
Extra safe with no camel-toe or package.
So if you are a parent and a gamer, contact the ESRB and start lobbying for more regulations on lootboxes/gambling. Since it looks like gamer voices don't matter, only parents do.
I'm a parent...
...in The Sims.
I wanted them to talk about the AO adults only rating and if its still used
Cb4S 619 it is, but it’s rarely applied.
@@sloanj11 Funny enough they got rid of EC for that very reason!
This is fascinating. Thanks for covering this, Noclip!
Hey ESRB, may I recommend Lightning Fast VHS Repair for all things VHS, in case you ever need that.
I really want an extended interview of those two talking about what they play
Wow I'm amazed at how rational everyone interviewed is. Stuff like encouraging back and forth, laying all the guidelines out there, understanding and asking for all the context. That's seriously impressive.
Also fantastic topic btw.
Cheers!
So they let the digital store rate the games by answering questions??
"Loot boxes isn't gambling." Belgium The Netherlands Denmark etc. all disagree maybe check that statement again?
Not gambling by United States standards. Other countries have different laws regarding gambling.
Depending on its implementation, I find loot boxes mostly the same as Magic cards.
While I personally believe it is, ESRB doesn't cover the countries you mention. In Denmark the agency on the boxes is PEGI.
Europeans are the reason Pokemon games don't have the game corner anymore.
The way he refers to tv viewers as a passive audience is really interesting. I never thought about it that way. For the most part, if you see something on the internet it's because you searched for or clicked on it. It surprisingly makes a lot of sense to regulate/censor tv more than the web.
Well yea; TV is literal surprise mechanics.
Damage Control after the NBA 2k20 fiasco I see.
For what?... 2K21 is out and it's no different.
I feel like the questions about lootboxes were too weak o too few
Ol' boy in the bad guy from Ghost Busters shirt is saying a lot and that's at least a good thing, even though they haven't even mentioned 2K2 (20:15 in).
His boss has told him to stop talking multiple times already.
The whole 'ESRB fanboy' thing worked for the first minute and a half, but it's been all down hill since then.
BTW I think that's the reaper from Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey on his shirt.
Well, working with VHS is a bit embarrassing. But it's possible that they don't want to share history like that too.
this was really enlightening and interesting! I dont give enough thought into the stickers and lables that are attached to the content i consume, and the processes behind them. thanks for the great video!
In Australia they just rate Everything MA 15+ and call it a day. And if it doesn’t fit in that category they just outright ban it.
The R18 rating came out in like 2013.
cheater87 I was telling a joke lol
the AO rating the US is almost never used anyway which begs the question: why haven't they gotten rid of it? Our ratings for TV still only go up to 17
@@Pendleton115now they rate anything R18+ and call it a day unless they were bribed or actually rated the game properly and if there’s anything sexual violence then they ban
8:03 somebody has Finn standing next to the mighty Monarch. Best friend material.
This gave me a new found respect for the ESRB in everything up until the loot box question... Great job Danny, keep it up
New found respect? They not only gave a pathetic reply to the loot box question, they also admitted they rate games without even playing them. What is there to respect? These guys are puppets.
I worked for the ESRB and wrote an article about it back in 2008 for EGM...when it was still a magazine. AMA
Are the ESA and ESRB really as separate and ESRB free from influence from the ESA as they claim in this?
@@LockeTheCole From what I saw, no. And I would bet the farm that influence has only grown over the last 10 years or so.
@@gametimewithunclejer Do you have any examples you can share about how the ESRB bowed to the ESA or publishers, or otherwise made a compromised decision due to the conflict of interest?
Got a link to it?
I've worked in video games and with the ESRB for many years, and it's great to see these discussions with the team. Given how many games they need to review, the process makes sense, and they are always streamlining how things work.
Amazing content as always guys. Finally getting to see behind the doors of this place and the issues they face is fantastic. They all seem really switched on to the issues and are looking to improve a system that is doing its job. Great stuff!
the virgin ESRB vs the Chad PEGI
Sim Gambling Rated T, Real Gambling E for everyone.
Thanks, I would never had expected to thoroughly enjoy a documentary about game ratings company - It where really great. :D
I am 38, and I have been a Patron for a while. I went back to school recently for an IT degree, and one of the classes I had to take was English Composition. The research paper I was assigned was Ethics in gaming content. Not only did my professor let me use your doc as a reference for my paper, he ended up watching the whole doc, and now is a fan. Keep up the good work sir.
Do they have professors in community colleges?
16:36 "We have never seen an example of someone trying to hide something"
Have they never heard of D? When Kenji Eno got the game rated T, then replaced the disc with a different version that contained scenes of cannibalism that definitely would've gotten the game an M?
They have never seen this))) So how would they know?)
While I'm happy that the ESRB agreed to this interview as well as their responses overall, I do think the fact of how they responded to modern day problems like microtransactions, lootboxes, etc. speaks volumes.
They're still acting like it's the '90s with a focus on graphic imagery whereas most gamers nowadays are concerned about monetization mechanics and data usage. At one point, someone stated that the ESRB isn't outdated, yet they show a clear divide in priorities--not to mention how long it took them to drop VCRs until 2008.
I am equal parts admiration and frustration with this documentary.
Admiration that you stuck to your journalistic integrity by not forcing an interpretation on what was conveyed in the interviews.
That there wasn't a deeper dive into the "research" the ESRB did on the loot box/ gambling mechanic issue. If they are a regulatory body basing their findings on current legal definitions and histories, they AREN'T wrong that as the law stands, loot boxes have NOT been included in the legal definition of gambling... but they also artfully dodged the question of what happens when regulation does come into effect? Drop rates ARE important to gamers... whether or not gambling mechanics (games of chance where there is a tangible or perceived personal value/reward) are important to parents.
I'd say if they were thinking understanding how the ESRB works in this documentary would assuage the mistrust gamers have for them as a self-regulating organization that answers to industry members, they were pretty dead wrong. Even Legal Aid must have an arms-length relationship and have a board independent of the Attorney General's office.
An absolute joy to see this! People don't think twice about the oversight involved in the gaming industry. Thank you for this!
They always say "protect parents" but at the same time refuse to increase the ratings even though sexual content and violence does. As if gambling mechanics have no psychological impact at all.
The weight of the cash bags obviously...
You guys need to be on TV or something, your work on documentaries is magnificent!
I’d love to see behind-the-scenes of the Australian rating system for video games mainly because of how long it took them to implement in R rating.
Here in the US the rating for TV only go up to 17 (even for streaming)
37:35 "it does not fit into the criteria of either 'simulated gambling' or 'gambling'" oh, come on! how can she say that with a straight face (case in point: NBA 2k20; FIFAs)
I went to the USK rating company in Germany back in March and it was really interesting to compare the way they approach the ratings to this video :)
What is similar, what different?
@@schwarztaxi The procedure is mostly the same, the game reviewers play the full game and pick out essential scenes for the rating to show them to the jury. They also told us the same about the rating system for digital stores and how it is used by many rating companies around the world :) The only major difference are the categories for the ratings, in Germany they are organized by age
speaking of Germany I noticed Interspecies Reviewers is rated FSK 18 there yet in the US it has an 18 + warning with isn't the same as the FSK 18...aparently since FSK 18 can appear on streaming but American 18 + is ONLY allowed on DVDs and Blu-rays! (even the streaming version of Interspecies Reviewers was censored down to TV-MA(17+)
I love your videos guys, it was so interasting and makes me understand better the industry, thank you so much, i hope one day i can do something like this.
To see the guy that does the voice for all the ratings is just awesome =D
Was watching This Film Is Not et Rated yesterday, a great docu about the MPAA ratings for films. While its good that the ERSB have welcomed you in, still have some slight similar shadyness with keeping raters secret and all, and still get the vibe that i dunno, the system doesn't really work that well buts the only one there is so people just accept it. Of course being in the UK, it doesn't make much difference to me, but oh well.
7:17 Hey you're at the MADE in Oakland!? That's awesome!
Incredible. Thanks for your work noclip team!
Fascinating video. Cheers Danny. I presume PEGI operates in more or less the same way over here in Europe?
Well I like to see both sides of argument. But this feels eerily like the Bethsoft F76s ones. It sure doesn't help having seen Angry Joe go over this with them.
Sorry, great topic but you didn't really delve into it. While you try, you never seem to he critical of what you are being told.
Having rewatched a lot of them, most if not all are some kind of puff. I know it opens doors for you but at the cost of what?
They take a lot of pride in blocking ads due to the content in the ad, not the content it self. They are very keen to protect the publisher rather than the enduser.
37:30 - case in point.
Always great to watch these documentaries. No matter what area of gaming they are about I always find them super interesting. Thanks again!
This was really interesting. The funny mid point of paper pushing office culture and gamer nerds. I'm not 100% convinced by their stance on the loot box thing, but it was really good to see that they all *actually* care and believe in what they do.
This is so interesting. Thanks for the peek behind the curtain!
I loved this look into the ESRB and Rocky is a treasure. But Pat's answer on Loot Boxes was really disheartening.
Just seeing that woman trying to find words to talk about loot boxes...
This video is violently underrated. Not even 100k views after 10 days?
Mum:One of the school teachers are coming to our house for a meeting
Me:immediately hides gta call of duty and all high rated games under bed
Even though it was very cleanly shot and edited, I would not have watched this whole thing if I knew that there would be a non-answer about loot boxes at the end.
Surprise Mechanics 🤫
Wow that IArc tool is really cool. As a Software Dev, I love to hear about highly specific tools that make people's lives easier. So inspiring.
Great work as always! Awesome to see such a detailed glimpse into the ESRB.
Cheers Austin!
Games media is playing checkers Danny, and you're playing chess.
I still think that we need a rating between T and M
And to get rid of the AO
The uk has pegi 15
@@spongebobplushiestuff8612 here in Brasil we have L(everyone), 10,12,14,16 and 18
@@plaguedoctorjamespainshe6009 nic3
@@spongebobplushiestuff8612 PEGI 16, BBFC had a 15.
The US TV rating system has you covered
TV-Y(the equivalent of EC)
TV-Y7(between E and E10+)
TV-G(equivalent to E)
TV-PG(equivalent to E-10+)
TV-14(between T and M but mostly T)
TV-MA(the equivalent of M)
There is no equivalent to AO
"we're not grey-haired old men in suits"
Says the guy, wearing a suit, that dyes his hair
the rating system, the people and their motives were always a mystery to me.. glad to get some insights. The guy at the end (too tired to researchhis name now) is an instant legend for his application and about feeling great getting in contact with all the developers/publishers... Takeaway for me today that I feel kinda bad that I thought the ratings were done by people which don't care/know about games until now..
Tell me lies
Tell me sweet little lies
Rated L for Lies! :(
4:53 THE ZORAMITES ARE BACK! 😱😱😱😱
Always the highest caliber work! Great job, Danny and the rest of the team at NoClip 😎
6:06 RIP seeing Mayor Menino's name is making me cry... RIP
30:00 in and this is a puff piece so far.
We gonna even mention 2K20?
There a part 2 to this?
I knew this would be a puff piece when it said noclip but I thought it could still have some interesting information
This was filmed on 9/11/19 (the guy on the right mentions it) so this was before that whole controversy
@@_gorezone_ and it took them 2 months to edit?
And they didn't go back and ask questions about what happened?
No matter what, it doesn't look good for No Clip.
Cause this video seems a lot like a paid advertisement. I'm a fan of Danny and all that, but this doesn't look good.
If your answer is along the line of, "look what we did years ago" then you are dodging the question and aren't doing all you could be.
Man, I forgot that Mike Krahulik (Penny Arcade) was involved with the ESRB, but his art really is everywhere there, isn't it?
Cool stuff.
I have what I think, would be a great video right up your guys alley. The journey of the PC port. What goes into it, why do some perfectly great console games run into trouble on PC hardware that can be upwards of 5-6x more powerful. I just don't think anyone's done an in depth on this, and I've always wondered what happens to make a game that runs great on a 2 TFLOP console have issues when they get to PC.
Yeah, a slot machine that you pay to play that gives out random loot isn't anywhere near gambling/simulated gambling. You gotta love them trying to push the blame onto parents.
Parents should watch their kids
@@iamaidansmith7542 yep. Because that is completely feasible. They watch their children 24/7 because that’s the only thing parents have to do. They don’t work, cook, have a social life at all...
I’m tired of parents saying games should be censored it’s their job to watch their kids I should be able to play voelint games if I want to don’t censor games that’s parents job not game studios
Any guesses how much money they are getting from gaming companies not to critisize Loot Boxes...
Well, since their fees can run up to a million, I guess they'd like some compensation along those lines per game.
Love the music in this one. So relaxing. What genre would that be? XD
This is a great documentary. Thanks for this. I had no idea the ESRB also reviewed the commercials. Interesting.