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Re: [kidsgames] Rating systems and a KidsGames logo.




On 09-Sep-2000 Steve Baker wrote:
(snip)

> 
> I wasn't proposing that we make up anything - just use the ESRB ratings
> system
> that just about every commercial game in existance uses.  People with a great
> deal more knowledge about this stuff than we have spent a lot of time
> thinking
> it up - and (I think) most parents understand it...at least parents who pay
> any attention to ratings will.  (Quake is 'M' rated - have you seen teenagers
> playing it?)
> 

I was just noting that I beleive products targetted at kids use numeric age
ranges. It makes the most sense to use the same rating scale that other
products (like commercial kids games) are using, since the parents will be more
acclimated to interpreting those. Plus the numeric system provides more
information on what the target audience is, I think for the first dozen-ish
years there are a lot of different 'levels' you could map out denoting
capability and interest. I really can just theorize since I don't have any
kids yet, but I'm sure that 6 yr olds, 10 yr olds, and 14 yr olds have
radically different interests and capabilities :) probably every year could be
addressed as an individual set of capabilities and interests, so if we target
software at X age, then we state the range is something like X-2 to X+2 years
of age, to allow for uniqueness. For some reason, I keep thinking "ages 1-3"
and "ages 4-6". possibly those were stuffed into my subconscious when I was
working at a dept store with a toy section. I'm sure someone here will be in a
toy section fairly soon (surely within the next 4 months), possibly they could
report on the current way that's handled with real toys? I don't beleive there
is any good reason to treat software targetted at children much differently
than other products targetted at children as far as ratings or describing
target audiences... :)


(snip)

        -Erik <erik@smluc.org> [http://math.smsu.edu/~br0ke]

The opinions expressed by me are not necessarily opinions. In all
probability, they are random rambling, and to be ignored. Failure to ignore
may result in severe boredom or confusion. Shake well before opening. Keep
Refrigerated.
        
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