How to shift through Violent Video Games and pick the right one rated for whomever

From techwriting

= First check out the entertainment software rating board (ESRB). They assign all games by a ratings system.

= There's a squarish black and white box on the game (usually the back) to help you decide what game is ok for your tike, tween or teen.

= Early childhood (EC) is intended for kids of 3 years or older, it's devoid inappropriate content.

= Everyone (E) is for children 6 years and up. It might include mild language, fantasy violence or minimal suggestive themes.

= Everyone 10+ (E10+) more violence, suggestive themes and language than (E)

= Teen (T) intended for 13 and older. Can contain: minimal blood, suggestive themes, violence, crude humor and simulated gambling.

= Mature (M) 17 and older. games receive high rating for: sexual content, blood/gore, strong language and intense violence.

= Adults only (AO) 18+. Contains prolonged intense violence, nudity and graphic sexual content.

= Sampling, get a feel for the game. Sometimes just giving the package a once over, you can gauge the temperament of the game or by reading the story on the back or looking at the highlighted pictures. If that's not enough you can try renting the game at a video store for a "test drive."

= Watch out for that pesky "T"/teen rating, just because your kid is over the suggested limit doesn't mean you necessarily want them exposed to blood, strong language, violence or suggestive themes.

= What's your parenting style/religious belief/personal preference? What's right for one kid and his family, may not fit someone else"s (i.e. my parents didn't let me play any games or watch "R" movies before I was 18).

= Finally, consider your children's friends. Just because you refuse to buy them "Blood Splatter" or "Grand Theft Auto", doesn't mean they can't go over to a friend's house and be exposed to something inappropriate.

I used the esrb site for rating descriptions: http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.jsp