ESRB ratings streamlined for digital games

[Master Devwi]

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has announced a new initiative which aims to streamline the rating process for downloadable video games. The Digital Rating Service makes it easier for developers to get their games rated while allowing parents to learn key facts about what their children are playing.

Using a simple questionnaire, digital developers can submit their games to the ESRB for a free evaluation. The board hopes that this will allow its ratings to become even more pervasive than they already are. New ratings for interactive elements are being added as well: Share Info (personal info may be sent to third-parties), Share Location (your physical location may be visible to others), and Users Interact (game contains communication, multiplayer, and/or user-generated content).

Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony are already on board, so you can expect these new interactive element ratings to show up alongside the traditional E, E10+, T, M, and AO rating categories and content descriptors on the Windows Store, Xbox LIVE Arcade, PlayStation Network, and Nintendo eShop, among others. With the big three gaming platforms on board, do you think Google and Apple will follow suit?

[IGN]