I'm in the process starting an alternative game rating system too.
I'm glad to see more people bucking the ESRB monopoly.
However...
Quote: "Independent Game Rating Company to rate your games. - $5.00 USD per title"
That is a bit unrealistic.
Some members of Congress are trying to pass laws (if they haven't already) that require the ESRB to play the entire game before a game receives its rating. The idea of charging only $5 to rate a game will in no way get you any credibility. Most people will refuse to believe that you would take the time to rate a game for $5. Most game ratings cost between $2,000 and $4,000 US Dollars to have it rated by the ESRB. $5 isn't enough to process the order. I can understand an intention to create a volume of customers with the low cost, but for this kind of thing that could backfire. Few will take it seriously at that price. I'm not knocking your thing you got going, I'm trying to help.
Quote: "I have searched high and low ad can't find anything that says that they have a special license or funding from the federal government to do what they do. In fact there doesn't seem to be any legal or financial relationship between them and the US Federal Government at all. "
As their web site states they are "self regulatory", so the Government does not regulate them, however those things are about to change here in the states.
I am currently developing a system that will revolutionize the game rating industry. (I'll be proposing the new system to law makers)
I can't give you the details until I go public, but if all things go to plan then the ESRB's monopoly will be a thing of the past.
Quote: "The ESRB or any other game rating service has no special sanction to rate games. As I said before, they are a stand alone company that people assume has the power to be the only people that can do what they do. "
They have something better... an agreement with companies like GameStop, Wal-Mart, and Best-Buy, etc. to only sell games that have their rating.
That is where they crossed the line and venture into being guilty of trying to create a monopoly.
There are laws against such activity, ask MicroSoft.
Quote: "The ESRB and other ratings companies have the right that is guaranteed in the Constitution of The United States Of America to start and run such a company. That's the only sanction anyone needs to rate games.
I feel it is important to say again that government approval or licensing is not needed to rate games."
Right, it is important to protect the freedom of the rating systems, but it is also important to have laws in affect that protect the consumer.
That is the tricky part, and I think there does need to be laws in place that hold the rater responsible for said rating.
Otherwise xxx stuff will be rated G if the rater can profit from it. Not good for kids!
Censorship is everywhere, even here in the forums we have the MODs watching closely, which is a good thing for children.
