Rating electronic games - Violence is in the eye of the beholder

Commercial ratings assist parents in monitoring their children 's media exp eriences. Exposure to media violence may affect attitudes and behavior; and raring systems should accurately reflect the presence of violent content. Validity indicators for commercial rating systems are examined, including c onsistency with consumer perceptions. Violent electronic games are a contem porary media phenomenon. A comparison of commercial ratings for popular ele ctronic games with consumer perceptions of game content indicates that, for games with obviously nonviolent or very violent content, there is agreemen t between consumers and the commercial system. However there is considerabl e disagreement about notable violent content in games with cartoon-type vio lence. Recommendations include incorporating consumer perceptions into a co mprehensive, content-based, informational raring system for all entertainme nt media.