Chronology of ESRB Events
1994 – ESRB founded by the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA was renamed Entertainment Software Association in 2004)
1994 – New ESRB rating system announced, with
5 rating categories and 17 content descriptors
1995 – Advertising Code of Conduct created and
adopted by the IDSA
1997 – ESRBi rating system established for
the Internet, with 5 rating categories and 22 content descriptors
1997 - Online Rating Notice established to warn consumers
of user-generated content in online-enabled games and on websites
1997 – “Instructional” and “Edutainment”
content descriptors added to ESRB rating system
1998 – K-A (Kids to Adults) rating category changed
to E (Everyone)
1999 – Series of ESRB Public Service Announcements
launched featuring Tiger Woods, Derek Jeter and Regis Philbin
1999 – ESRB Privacy Online certification service
launched
1999 – Non-pixilated versions of rating symbols
introduced
2000 – Advertising Review Council established
as division of ESRB to monitor compliance with industry-adopted marketing
and advertising guidelines
2000 – ESRB Enforcement System established to
impose sanctions, including points, fines and correction actions, on
companies who do not comply with ESRB rules and guidelines
2000 – “Mild Lyrics,” and “Strong
Lyrics” content descriptors introduced
2001 – New target marketing guidelines for Mature-rated
games introduced
2002- “Partial Nudity,” “Nudity,”
“Reference to Drugs,” “Reference to Alcohol,”
“Reference to Tobacco,” and “Mature Humor” content
descriptors introduced
2002 – Arthur Pober departs as ESRB’s founding
President; Patricia Vance joins ESRB as its new President
2002 – ESRBi rating system for the Internet discontinued
2003 – “Cartoon Violence,” “Fantasy
Violence,” “Intense Violence,” “Sexual Violence,”
and “Crude Humor” content descriptors introduced; new enhanced
Content Descriptor box introduced
2003 – “OK to Play?” PSA and retail
partnership campaign launched
2004 – “Mature Sexual Themes” content
descriptor changed to “Sexual Themes;” “Simulated
Gambling” and “Real Gambling” added as content descriptors
2005 – E10+ rating category introduced for games
that may be suitable for ages 10 and older
2005 – Canadian
Advisory Committee established
2006 – ESRB increases fine up to $1 million for non-disclosure of pertinent content
2006 – ESRB Retail Council (ERC) launched by ESRB and leading computer and video
game retailers; “ERC Commitment to Parents” is adopted by all ERC retail members
2006 – ESRB forges ratings education partnership with PTA
2006 – National radio and TV PSA campaign promoting ratings awareness launched with U.S. Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Joseph Lieberman
2007 – ESRB launches ratings education partnership with GoodHousekeeping.com
2007 – Ingram Entertainment, the leading wholesale distributor of home entertainment products, distributes ESRB ratings education signage to 10,000 independent and small chain video game retailers nationwide
