Attorney General Gansler Urges Parents to Check
Ratings When Purchasing Video Games for Holiday Gifts

BALTIMORE, MD (December 11, 2008) - With the holiday shopping season underway, Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler is urging parents and consumers to check the Entertainment Software Rating Board (“ESRB”) rating before purchasing computer or video games this holiday season. At a time of year when more than 50% of computer and video games are purchased, shoppers are urged to make sure the games they give to young people are age and content-appropriate.

“Parents should not be overwhelmed by the vast number of choices when it comes to buying computer and video games this holiday season,” said Attorney General Gansler. “Parents need to be aware that when it comes to selecting these games for their family, the control is in their hands. The first step for any parent when narrowing choices is to check the rating on the box to make sure its content is appropriate for their family.”

The Attorney General is urging parents to do two simple things: Check the ESRB ratings when buying computer and video games this holiday season, and set the parental controls on their new game consoles.

The ESRB ratings are designed to provide information about computer and video game content, so consumers can make informed purchase decisions. ESRB ratings have two parts: rating symbols that suggest age appropriateness for the game, and content descriptors that indicate elements in a game that may have triggered a particular rating and may be of concern.