ESRB Turns 20, Former US Senator Praises the Group

The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) issued its first ratings certificates on September 16, 1994, meaning the North American organization today celebrates its 20th birthday. The group heralded the milestone on Tuesday by releasing a number of statistics and historical data.

First, a history lesson. The ESRB launched in 1994 with five major ratings categories: EC (Early Childhood), K-A (Kids to Adults), T (Teen), M (Mature), and AO (Adults Only). The ESRB evolved these ratings in 1998, when K-A was changed to E (Everyone), and then again in 2005 when E10+ (Everyone 10+) was established.

The first ESRB ratings were issued on September 16, 1994, and some of the first rated games included Doom for Sega 32X (M), Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure for Super NES (T), and Sonic Triple Trouble for Sega Game Gear (K-A).

The ESRB also released a handful of statistics about the age ratings it assigns, some of which might surprise you. Of all the games rated by the ESRB to date, 94 percent have received an E, E10+, or T rating. Overall, E remains the most popular category, making up almost 70 percent of all games rated to date. In addition, the ESRB says that over the past two decades, the ESRB has rated games and apps submitted by more than 9,500 different companies for more than 40 different platforms.

The group also mentions that awareness of ESRB ratings "remains consistently high," as 85 percent of parents in the US say they are aware of the organization's ratings model.

"I'm proud that today the ESRB ratings are so widely accepted and reaffirm the belief that industry self-regulation is not only possible, but can be highly effective" -- Joseph Lieberman

Also as part of the ESRB's 20-year anniversary announcement today, the group said it is proud to have the support of politicians, developers, and retailers. Former United States Senator Joseph Lieberman, who headed up the hearings about violent video games in the 1990s that led to the formation of the ESRB, offered a statement of his own.

"Twenty years ago, I listened as the video game industry said they could put a system in place that parents would trust, retailers would use, and game developers would adhere to," he said.

"I'm proud that today the ESRB ratings are so widely accepted and reaffirm the belief that industry self-regulation is not only possible, but can be highly effective."

For his part, Insomniac Games (Ratchet & Clank, Sunset Overdrive) CEO Ted Price said the ESRB has been "essential" in protecting developers freedom to express themselves. "A lot of people don't realize it, but games have been under threat of governmental regulation for years," he said.

"However, thanks in large part to the transparent, voluntary ESRB ratings system, we as an industry have been able to successfully protect our constitutional rights. The bottom line for me is that without the ESRB's rating system, the industry would not be where it is today."

For more on the ESRB's 20th anniversary, check out the video above.

Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch