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In today's ever-expanding world of dynamic, interactive entertainment, knowing which games are right for
children can be a little overwhelming. That's why GameStop and EB Games have partnered with the
Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) to provide you the tools you need to
make informed decisions. While the ESRB rating system is one of the best ways to evaluate games,
there are also many other valuable tools to encourage responsible gaming.
Tips for Parents and Caregivers | Starting the Conversation | Helpful Links
Check Ratings and Descriptors - Both the rating symbols on the front of a game's box and the content description
on the back can give you a good idea about the overall content.
Look Beyond the Ratings - While the ratings provide you a powerful tool to monitor a game's content, our
team members at GameStop and EB Games can also help answer your questions. You can further evaluate a
game by reading reviews and checking out the previews, images, and demos found on the
GameStop and EB Games websites.
Consider Each Child - Each child has a unique personality and abilities. Use that knowledge to help
determine which games are appropriate.
Monitor and Play Along - As with any movie or TV show, you want to know what's safe for children to see.
Taking an interest in the types of games kids are playing - and playing along with them - is one of the
best ways to monitor a game's content. You can have fun together while you get to know what the child
enjoys about a particular game.
Use Caution with Online-Enabled Games - Online games enable users to play against strangers and with
multiple people in massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs). Some games allow users to change
content themselves. For example, online players could alter
the character models ("skins") and settings ("maps") or introduce weapons and live chatting. To
check whether a game is online-enabled, look for the warning on the package: "Game Experience
May Change During Online Play."
Be Aware of Downloads - The content of most PC games can be changed through downloadable programs -
"mods, packets, or point releases" - found on the Internet. Because users can alter a game's content
after it is purchased, this subject matter isn't used to determine the ESRB ratings.
Use Parental Controls - Some of the newer video game consoles and handheld devices -
Xbox 360, Wii,
PlayStation 3, and PSP -
include built-in parental controls. This feature limits your kids to playing only the games with the ratings and content you
determine appropriate.
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