Video game ratings system helps holiday gift givers
By Josh Zelman
CNN Headline News
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Some of the Entertainment Software Rating Board's symbols.
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For more information on video game ratings, head on over to ESRB.com. 
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(CNN) -- Celebrity endorsements, tournaments offering cash prizes and games featuring scantly-clad women are part of the norm in the video gaming industry today. Video games are all grownup, and much like the movies, have a ratings system to ensure little Johnny doesn't catch an eyeful of inappropriate action.
Founded by the Interactive Digital Software Association in 1994, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates more than 1,000 games per year. Dan "Shoe" Hsu, editor in chief of Electronic Gaming monthly, told me the root of the ratings system stretches back to the early '90s. Politicians were concerned with the escalating violence in video games, and they wanted the public to be aware of what they were getting into.
Since that time, the rating system has evolved into six different symbols. However, one of those symbols, the "AO" which is synonymous with an "X" in the land of movies, is rarely, if ever used.
Below is a breakdown of each marking as determined by the ESRB. You may want to keep these definitions in mind when selecting games as stocking stuffers during the holiday season.
• "EC" -- Early Childhood: Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate
• "E" -- Everyone: Ages 6 and older. May contain minimal violence and crude language
• "T" -- Teen: Ages 13 and older. May contain violent content and/or suggestive themes
• "M" -- Mature: Ages 17 and older. May contain mature sexual themes or more intense violence.
• "AO" -- Adults Only: Not for persons under the age of 18
• "RP" -- Rating Pending: Product is awaiting final rating
Shoe told me he's a big fan of the ESRB's system and hopes the older generation, many of whom were raised on a diet of games such as "Donkey Kong" and "Defender," will gradually become more and more aware of what the language means when selecting games for the young ones in their lives.
However if the rating system is too tough to handle, Shoe has one bit of advice. "Don't buy games that include a felony in the title."
So now that the kids are sleeping, who's up for a little "Grand Theft Auto"?
