The M vs AO rating system evaluates game quality, with higher numbers indicating better overall ratings.
The M vs AO rating system evaluates game quality, with higher numbers indicating better overall ratings.
The rating system began in 1994. M stands for R-rated films, while AO corresponds to NC-17 or X ratings. Only 27 titles have been released as AO, most of which involve explicit sexual themes. Games with a strong focus on sexual activity tend to fall into the AO category. Many M-rated games contain nudity. Compared to the MPAA for movies, the ESRB appears to consider context more carefully. That explains why titles like Mortal Kombat can be accepted despite violent content, while games such as Manhunt and Hatred were labeled "murder simulators" and deemed AO.
I think I picked up something interesting today. Still, the need for an AO rating seems odd since M ratings already cover most content. The sex scene is a different matter, but murder simulator? Why aren't Assassin's Creeds in this category either? Also, FarCry and Halo—every game involving violence probably gets an AO rating. I guess if a game involves torture or humiliation, it might be acceptable, but Murder Simulator doesn’t seem to fit well.
I mean, the word 'murder simulator' sounds too broad. I've played many Assassin's Creed games and I actually kill a lot of people. That’s why I think it doesn’t capture the situation well. Sure, Assassin's Creed has a PEGI rating instead of an ESRB one.
Well, Assassin's Creed did teach you how to eliminate your target. Generally, I believe most games that involve killing do so. In a way or another, you're actually committing murder in the game world. Using a gun to kill an enemy on any battlefield game is, in my view, murder—even if it's virtual. Thus, many games with violent elements can be labeled as murder simulation. The topic of sexual content is more contentious, largely depending on personal morals. I personally practice abstinence, so I might be too strict here, but I see it as subjective. In most cases, scenes with sexual elements are usually marked as Adult Only, which makes sense.
Nonsense, PEGI serves as the main ratings system across much of Europe, while the ESRB handles ratings in the United States. Various boards exist based on regional rules. For instance, the first Assassins' Creed title received an M rating in the US (17+), but it carried a PEGI 18 and a CERO Z rating, restricting it to 18+ in most of Europe and Japan. In Germany, it got an FSK 16, which corresponds to 16+ and ACB (formerly OFLC) MA15+ in Australia. Meanwhile, the ESRB has generally been cautious about classification over the years, though Noclip's recent analysis offers a detailed perspective on their rating process.
The subject isn't what counts; it's the material. Envy doesn't belong to the same realm as Assassin's Creed. https://www.polygon.com/2014/10/16/69886...-innocents
Are aliens and monsters included? I haven’t played Dead Space, but I’ve seen the movies, so...