In 1994, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) started rating video games in North America.
To celebrate its upcoming 30th anniversary, the ESRB has released a fun new song called E is for Everyone, explaining how game ratings work.
Inspired by the catchy tunes from Schoolhouse Rock, the song features animated characters who might be based on real ESRB employees, though they aren’t named. The lyrics cover how games get their ratings, the four main categories, and how ads must show these ratings properly.
However, the song skips over why the ESRB was needed in the first place. Back in 1993, politicians got people worried about violent games like Mortal Kombat and Night Trap. They claimed these games targeted kids with their mature content. This led to hearings in Congress where the gaming industry faced harsh criticism. To calm things down, companies like Nintendo and Sega agreed to use the ESRB’s rating system.
Fans often wonder if we’ll get new songs every year to mark this occasion.
The ESRB says it has rated over 16 million games and apps in its three decades of work. They thanked the gaming industry for its support and promised to keep improving their tools to ensure kids play age-appropriate games. But it’s doubtful we’ll see annual celebratory songs from them.
