ESRB Cracking Down on Hidden Game Content - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

FngKestrel · 09-13-2005, 03:14 PM

The ESRB trying not to appear totally impotent after the last couple of months. Goodbye clever easter eggs. This kind of kills me. When a DVD is shipped, aren't the extra features usually listed as not rated? How is a mod any different? Most games that have online content these days already have a warning that the game experience may change during online play. A polite way of saying, "There are punks online who will probably swear and use sprays tags of a woman giving a blowjob."

From Gamedaily Biz: http://biz.gamedaily.com/features.as...feature&email=

Quote:

ESRB Cracking Down on Hidden Game Content
Apparently the effects of "Hot Coffee" are still being felt. The ESRB is getting very serious about hidden content in games and is requiring that publishers examine all games since September of last year to make sure that no hidden content slipped through. They will have to notify the ESRB of the results in January so that the board may re-rate titles if any new content warrants it.

It's not uncommon for hidden content to be left on video game discs by publishers—sometimes the content is left in deliberately as a bonus or "easter egg"—but if the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is not made aware of that content, then there's a problem.

In the wake of the "Hot Coffee" scandal, the ESRB clearly cautioned that in order to prevent inappropriate content from slipping through in the future, they will "require all game publishers to submit any pertinent content shipped in final product even if is not intended to ever be accessed during game play, or remove it from the final disc."

Hidden content must be shown or removed
However, to make sure that the industry recognizes the seriousness of this issue, the ESRB has distributed an email to all major video game publishers, requiring that they adhere to this protocol, according to Gamasutra.com, which obtained a copy of the email.

"Fully disclosing hidden content accessible as Easter eggs and via cheat codes has always been part of ESRB's explicitly stated requirements when submitting games to be rated. In the July 20 public announcement, which focused on the revocation of a specific game's rating assignment, we formally stated that any pertinent content shipped on the game disc that may be relevant to a rating must be disclosed to ESRB, even if it is not intended to ever be accessed during game play," states the ESRB.

The email continues by explaining that any hidden content that may affect a game's rating must either be presented to the ESRB or removed from the disc entirely: "Coding around scenes, images, or similar elements that might be pertinent to a rating assignment does not render this content irrelevant from a ratings standpoint. If a publisher wishes to 'edit out' pertinent content from a final product, it must remove the content from the disc altogether. If that is not feasible, the pertinent content must be disclosed to the ESRB during the rating process so it can be taken into account in the assignment of a rating."

Internal audit
Not only does the ESRB expect all publishers to follow these guidelines from this point forward, but the Board of Directors has also green lighted an investigation of all games published since September 1, 2004. The request asks that publishers examine their titles to look for any pertinent hidden content that might not have been shown to the ESRB initially. Publishers will have until January 9, 2006 to notify the ESRB of any hidden content so that the board can re-rate certain titles, if necessary.

"If you fail to notify us of previously undisclosed, non-playable, pertinent content by January 9, and such content becomes playable through a subsequent authorized or unauthorized release of code to unlock it, rendering the original rating assignment inaccurate, punitive in addition to corrective actions may result," warns the ESRB.

It's not clear, however, what these punitive or corrective actions might entail, or indeed how much power the ESRB actually has to punish publishers.

Dealing with mods
The board's email also briefly addresses the subject of mods; it was a mod, after all, that unlocked the "Hot Coffee" scenario in GTA: San Andreas and started this whole controversy. That being said, the ESRB is referring to third-party mods that introduce new content and can affect a game's rating, not mods that unlock hidden content. "ESRB remains concerned about third party modifications that undermine the accuracy of the original rating, and we are exploring ways to maintain the credibility of the rating system with consumers in light of modifications of this nature," states the email.

Mods are likely to remain a gray area, though. Most publishers see no harm in letting modders create new content. While some modders will always have the urge to create objectionable content, most just want to expand the experience of a game they love by making new levels, items and more. In fact, one of the most popular PC titles, Valve's CounterStrike, started as a mod creation, so why should publishers go out of their way to stifle this creativity?

Coppertop · 09-13-2005, 03:40 PM

I can see this leading to (unnecessarily) longer development times. Hooray.

FngKestrel · 09-13-2005, 03:49 PM

Absolutely, plus I'd like to see how testing is going to have to handle this, because I know that the onus will eventually fall on them to make sure everything superfluous is gone. That means test plans will be ridiculously long and testing time is going to require more man power and man hours...

pan6467 · 09-13-2005, 05:27 PM

I can see this also raising prices.

As someone who doesn't play online, perhaps I'll sound ignorant but the gaming companies cannot be responsible for what happens online and should have that disclaimer as one enters a "gaming room".

This action sounds like just another way and another excuse to try to censor the internet.

Wingless · 09-14-2005, 07:26 AM

I see release dates for everything being pushed back... even further...

-Ever- · 09-14-2005, 08:08 AM

What's Hot Coffee and Easter Eggs?

FngKestrel · 09-14-2005, 09:43 AM

Hot Coffee is the controversial mod released for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas that shows the main character having sex with his girlfriend. But saying that they're having sex is probably inaccurate. The main character still has all his clothes on. It looks like dry humping. And I think it's more hilarious than scandalous.

Easter eggs are little extras thrown in by game developers that aren't usually found in the normal course of the game. Sometimes it's a photo of the dev team, or slight jabs at a rival development studio.

Mr Honest · 09-14-2005, 01:09 PM

ESRB

please don't tell me anyone gets paid for coming up with shit like this?
Morons.

Confederate · 09-14-2005, 03:09 PM

as far as I am concerned it was mature content in a game rated mature, I fail to see why this is as big of a problem as everyone is making it out to be.

FngKestrel · 09-14-2005, 03:15 PM

The big problem is that the line between Mature and Adults Only involves graphic sex, which Hot Coffee is supposed to be (hahahahaha). Much like the line between R and NC-17/X.

But what kills me is the age difference. M is 17 and up, and AO is 18? I suppose the Magic Fairy of Maturity flies in before a teenager's 18th birthday and waves his Magic Wand of Grow the Fuck Up.

Catdaddy33 · 09-15-2005, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FngKestrel

The big problem is that the line between Mature and Adults Only involves graphic sex, which Hot Coffee is supposed to be (hahahahaha). Much like the line between R and NC-17/X.

But what kills me is the age difference. M is 17 and up, and AO is 18? I suppose the Magic Fairy of Maturity flies in before a teenager's 18th birthday and waves his Magic Wand of Grow the Fuck Up.

I've wondered the same, it looks like they modeled after the Movies. The difference is you can be under 17 and see it with your parent, but not allowed to see an X/NC-17 at all.

So you can play an M rated game as long as a parent is with you? That doesn't work...

They throw their rating on 3rd party mod creations, then forget about buying most online FPS at Wal-Mart or Target...they all gonna be rated AO...

ObieX · 09-15-2005, 05:41 AM

Isnt the ESRB voluntary? I think its about time companies simply stopped going for these ratings because they're crossing the line. If a store doesn't want to carry the game because it isn't rated, simply sell it online, and use the stores that will sell it. If a store wants to give up cash because they don't want to sell a popular game, then that's their problem.

Catdaddy33 · 09-15-2005, 08:32 AM

It's voluntary, but so are the MPAA. They can sell it online, but they have better odds of making money with it being in a store. Most publishers want it on as many store-shelves as they can get it on...

FngKestrel · 09-15-2005, 09:11 AM

Which exactly why Walmart has so much power. They have the huge distribution network and shelf space. So if Walmart doesn't like it, it's the kiss of death for many publishers.

Gary_the_Rat · 09-15-2005, 10:04 AM

The ratings are a good tool for parents who dont have the time or resources to research games themselves, but the ESRB is being a bit silly about obviously locked content.

09-13-2005, 05:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
pan6467 Lennonite Priest Location: Mansfield, Ohio USA	I can see this also raising prices. As someone who doesn't play online, perhaps I'll sound ignorant but the gaming companies cannot be responsible for what happens online and should have that disclaimer as one enters a "gaming room". This action sounds like just another way and another excuse to try to censor the internet. __________________ I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

09-14-2005, 07:26 AM	#5 (permalink)
Wingless Psycho Location: Metro Detroit, Mich, USA	I see release dates for everything being pushed back... even further... __________________ Tommy Nibs is a funny word. So here I am, above palm trees, so straight and tall... You are, smaller getting smaller, but I still see... you. Jimmy Eat World - Goodbye Sky Harbor

09-14-2005, 08:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
-Ever- Junkie Location: San Francisco	What's Hot Coffee and Easter Eggs? __________________ Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster... --Acknowledge your weaknesses--

09-14-2005, 01:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mr Honest Crazy	ESRB please don't tell me anyone gets paid for coming up with shit like this? Morons. __________________ Human beings : who could ever claim to like them all?

09-15-2005, 05:41 AM	#12 (permalink)
ObieX Pickles Location: Shirt and Pants (NJ)	Isnt the ESRB voluntary? I think its about time companies simply stopped going for these ratings because they're crossing the line. If a store doesn't want to carry the game because it isn't rated, simply sell it online, and use the stores that will sell it. If a store wants to give up cash because they don't want to sell a popular game, then that's their problem. __________________ We Must Dissent.

09-13-2005, 03:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Coppertop Getting Medieval on your ass Location: 13th century Europe	I can see this leading to (unnecessarily) longer development times. Hooray.

09-13-2005, 03:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
FngKestrel Junkie	Absolutely, plus I'd like to see how testing is going to have to handle this, because I know that the onus will eventually fall on them to make sure everything superfluous is gone. That means test plans will be ridiculously long and testing time is going to require more man power and man hours...

09-14-2005, 09:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
FngKestrel Junkie	Hot Coffee is the controversial mod released for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas that shows the main character having sex with his girlfriend. But saying that they're having sex is probably inaccurate. The main character still has all his clothes on. It looks like dry humping. And I think it's more hilarious than scandalous. Easter eggs are little extras thrown in by game developers that aren't usually found in the normal course of the game. Sometimes it's a photo of the dev team, or slight jabs at a rival development studio.

09-14-2005, 03:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
Confederate Death Leprechaun Location: College Station, TX	as far as I am concerned it was mature content in a game rated mature, I fail to see why this is as big of a problem as everyone is making it out to be.

09-14-2005, 03:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
FngKestrel Junkie	The big problem is that the line between Mature and Adults Only involves graphic sex, which Hot Coffee is supposed to be (hahahahaha). Much like the line between R and NC-17/X. But what kills me is the age difference. M is 17 and up, and AO is 18? I suppose the Magic Fairy of Maturity flies in before a teenager's 18th birthday and waves his Magic Wand of Grow the Fuck Up.

09-15-2005, 08:32 AM	#13 (permalink)
Catdaddy33 Psycho Location: TN	It's voluntary, but so are the MPAA. They can sell it online, but they have better odds of making money with it being in a store. Most publishers want it on as many store-shelves as they can get it on...

09-15-2005, 09:11 AM	#14 (permalink)
FngKestrel Junkie	Which exactly why Walmart has so much power. They have the huge distribution network and shelf space. So if Walmart doesn't like it, it's the kiss of death for many publishers.

09-15-2005, 10:04 AM	#15 (permalink)
Gary_the_Rat Tilted Location: KY	The ratings are a good tool for parents who dont have the time or resources to research games themselves, but the ESRB is being a bit silly about obviously locked content.