The Entertainment Software Rating Board Interactive (ESRBi) was a branch of the Entertainment Software Rating Board

Entertainment Software Rating Board

The Entertainment Software Rating Board is a self-regulatory organization that assigns age and content ratings, enforces industry-adopted advertising guidelines, and ensures responsible online privacy principles for computer and video games as well as entertainment software in Canada, Mexico and...

 which existed from 1998 to mid 2003 which rated website

Website

A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...

s and online game

Online game

An online game is a game played over some form of computer network. This almost always means the Internet or equivalent technology, but games have always used whatever technology was current: modems before the Internet, and hard wired terminals before modems...

s.

Overview

ESRBi issued ratings providing information on the age appropriateness of a site, as well as information regarding the site's content.

ESRBi objectively labeled and provided information with regard to age appropriateness and content on each rated website. When used with an enabled, PICS-compatible

Platform for Internet Content Selection

The Platform for Internet Content Selection is a specification created by W3C that uses metadata to label webpages to help parents and teachers control what children and students can access on the Internet. The W3C Protocol for Web Description Resources project integrates PICS concepts with RDF...

 browser

Web browser

A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content...

, ESRBi users could screen rated sites based on their preferences. In any case, ESRBi provided reliable information that can be used by consumers when deciding whether to access rated areas.

If an entire website was rated, the ESRBi rating icon

Icon (computing)

A computer icon is a pictogram displayed on a computer screen and used to navigate a computer system or mobile device. The icon itself is a small picture or symbol serving as a quick, intuitive representation of a software tool, function or a data file accessible on the system. It functions as an...

 was located on the home page of the website. If only a section of the website is rated, the icon will appear on the first page of the rated web page section. If only an online game or interactive arena is rated, the rating will appear where the interactive arena or online game is accessed. The disclaimer

Disclaimer

A disclaimer is generally any statement intended to specify or delimit the scope of rights and obligations that may be exercised and enforced by parties in a legally recognized relationship...

, "The content of this site/page/game may change due to interactive exchange" must accompany any usage of the ESRBi icon.

Process

Ratings are generated by raters, randomly selected from a demographically

Demographics

Demographics are the most recent statistical characteristics of a population. These types of data are used widely in sociology , public policy, and marketing. Commonly examined demographics include gender, race, age, disabilities, mobility, home ownership, employment status, and even location...

 diverse pool, who independently review the submitted materials and the site and generate a consensus rating based on ESRBi rating criteria. ESRBi raters are trained intensively in evaluating interactive entertainment content and are totally independent of the industry.

ESRB/ESRBi Issues Ratings in Two Areas on the Internet:

Contained Areas receive the traditional ESRB ratings. These areas, known as Finite Space Arenas, are websites that allow no interaction between website and user. These would also include sites where users can leave messages, comments or E-mails, but there is no exchange of content or other information that could influence suitability of use. In addition, such sites do not allow users to advance to a more controversial or sophisticated level.

Interactive Sites receive the ESRBi interactive rating icon. These areas, known as Free Space Arenas, provide opportunities for users to engage in an interactive experience. These may take the form of an entertainment site (i.e., game) with another interactive option (i.e.- bulletin boards, chat rooms, additional participants). Sites where users can influence or create content are classified as interactive and represent a "Free Space Zone" where there is less control. The "i" added to the ESRB label denotes websites that may contain chat rooms, bulletin boards

Bulletin board system

A Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to connect and log in to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, a user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging...

 or any space that can provide open forums, interactive exchanges, or access of information for users which result in an ever-changing environment on the net. Any person who is about to participate in this kind of site is cautioned by the new symbol ("i") to be aware that the user can exchange information with other users who may have differing or controversial opinions, or who may influence game play.

Ratings

Early Childhood Interactive - Websites and online games rated "Early Childhood Interactive (eCi)" have content that may be suitable for children 3 and older. Contains no material that elders would find inappropriate.

Everyone Interactive - Websites/webpages and online games rated "Everyone Interactive (Ei)" have content that may be suitable for all people. These sites will appeal to people of many ages and tastes. They may contain minimal violence, some comic mischief (for example, slapstick

Slapstick

Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...

 comedy), or some crude language.

Everyone 10+ Interactive - Websites and online games rated "Everyone 10+ Interactive (E10+i)" have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. They may contain more cartoon fantasy or mild violence, minimal suggestive themes and mild language.

Teen Interactive - Websites/webpages and online games rated "Teen Interactive (Ti)" have content that may be suitable for persons ages 13 and older. Sites in this category may contain violent content, mild or strong language, or suggestive themes.

Mature Interactive - Websites/webpages and online games rated "Mature Interactive (Mi)" have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. In addition, these sites may include hate speech

Hate speech

Hate speech is, outside the law, any communication that disparages a person or a group on the basis of some characteristic such as race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, or other characteristic....

, more intense violence and language and more mature sexual themes, than products in the Teen category. Mature sites may not be intended to be viewed by people under the age of 17.

Adults Only Interactive - Websites and online games rated "Adults Only Interactive (Aoi)" have content suitable only for adults. These sites may include graphic depictions of sex or violence. Adults Only sites are not intended to be viewed by persons under the age of 18.

Rating Pending Interactive - Websites and online games rated "Rating Pending Interactive (RPi) do not exist.

Content Descriptors

• Comic Mischief - Scenes depicting slapstick or gross vulgar humor.
• Mild Violence - Mild scenes depicting characters in unsafe or violent situations.
• Violence - Scenes involving aggressive conflict.
• Graphic Violence - Explicit images or content that depict extremely violent acts. May contain blood or gore.
• Nudity - Visuals which depict the human form:
  • Technical Nudity - Of a medical or health related nature.
  • Artistic Nudity - Museum pieces, sketches of the human form.
  • Nudity - Erotic or sexually explicit images.
• Suggestive Themes - Mild provocative references or materials.
• Mature Sexual Themes - Provocative material, possibly including partial nudity.
• Strong Sexual Content - Sexually explicit images or content.
• Mild Language - Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol, or drug use.
• Mild Lyrics - Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol, or drug use in music.
• Strong Language - Profanity and explicit references to sexuality, violence, alcohol, or drug use.
• Hate Speech - Discussions involving stereotypes, racial epithets, bigotry.
• Strong Hate Speech - Extreme discussions involving stereotypes, racial epithets, bigotry. May include physical violence.
• E-Mail - Non-verifiable info only. Site requests E-mail address.
• Personal Information - Site requests personal information (i.e., Name, Address, Age).
• Survey Information - Site asks census type questions (i.e., How many people live in your home).
• Financial Information - Site requests bank or credit check information.
• Advertising - Site contains advertisements.
• Transactions and Purchases - Purchases can be made. Credit cards accepted.
• Direct Expenditure - Expenditure from a pre-agreed fixed ceiling account, bank account, credit card.
• Potential Sensitive Areas:
  • Weapon Making - Instructions related to the making or development of bombs or weapons.
  • Suicide - Discussions involving suicide, cults, etc.
  • Intolerance - Maligns one group or advocates discriminatory treatment of its members (no physical violence).
  • Gambling - Discussions or depictions of games of chance for money or some other stake.
  • Alcohol - Discussions or prominent images of alcoholic beverages depicted.
  • Drugs - Discussions or prominent images of pharmaceutical, hallucinogenic or illegal drugs depicted.
  • Smoking - Discussions or prominent images of tobacco related products depicted.
• Informational - Content provides data, facts, resource info, reference materials or instructional text.
• Edutainment - Content provides user with specific skills, development or reinforcement learning.