Career:
Multimedia Specialist
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In the News
Is It Only a Cartoon?

As a multimedia specialist who helps create video games, you may not have total control over the content of the game. However, the images and animations you create will have to fit into a set of guidelines set by the Entertainment Software Rating Board. So before you stick a cigarette in that animated character's mouth, you'd better think about how it will affect sales if the label on the game reads “Use of Tobacco.”

Video games have been given ratings similar to the way movies are rated. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) decides what rating a game will be given. The ratings are as follows.

  • Early Childhood – for ages 3 and up.
  • Teen – for ages 13 and up.
  • Adults Only – anyone 18 or older.
  • Everyone – ages 6 and older
  • Mature – ages 17 and older.
  • Rating Pending – rating hasn't been decided yet.

These ratings are decided by looking at many different parts of the game including: strong language, violence, sexual content, use of alcohol and tobacco. Some people argue that playing these games does not cause an individual to be violent in real life or to start smoking or drinking, but other people are concerned that they might.

Activity: Influential or Just Fun?

What influence do you believe violence or other harmful actions in video games or movies has on viewers or game players?

Do you believe interactivity makes violence in video games more influential than violence in songs or movies?
Yes No

Since video game characters are not real, does it matter what they do?
Yes No

Explain:

Do you think video games should be rated?
Yes No

Explain:

What effect do you think these ratings will have on someone who designs them for a living?

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