San Francisco Giants Players Team Up With ESRB For PSA Campaign On Video Game Ratings

New Campaign Featuring Buster Posey and Ryan Vogelsong Encourages Parents to Use ESRB Ratings When Buying Video Games

SAN FRANCISCO, May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At an event at AT&T Park today the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), which assigns the official age and content ratings for computer and video games, announced a new public service announcement (PSA) campaign starring San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey and pitcher Ryan Vogelsong. The PSAs, which feature the players explaining the ESRB rating system and encouraging parents to use it when buying games for their families, will soon begin running on television and radio stations throughout northern California as well as at Giants home games this season.  

(Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120516/DC08847)

"I grew up with video games and I still play today," said Vogelsong. "They're a lot of fun, especially when we're on the road. But these days it's clear that not every game is right for every kid. The ESRB rating on the game box helps a parent decide which games are appropriate for their children. Being a father I'm proud to help reach other parents with this important message."

"As a professional athlete and a parent, I know you have to have the right tools and resources to succeed at both," added Posey. "From detailed ratings information to the easy-to-use mobile app, the ESRB helps parents manage their kids' video game play. I may be a relatively new parent, but thanks to the ESRB I'm definitely going to be better prepared when it comes to choosing video games for my kids."

The new PSAs have been distributed to TV and radio stations and cable systems throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and northern California, and are expected to run throughout the 2012 baseball season. They will also appear on the video display boards in AT&T Park during Giants home games. In addition, Gamestop and other Bay Area retailers are distributing ratings education brochures featuring the players.  A "Behind-the-Scenes" video of the PSA filming is also available for an inside look at the making of the campaign.

"Baseball season is in full swing and summer vacation is just around the corner, which often means kids will have more free time to try out the latest video games," says ESRB president Patricia Vance. "By partnering with an organization like the Giants and enlisting the help of role models like Ryan and Buster, ESRB can educate more parents to help them make informed choices about the games they buy for their family. We're truly grateful for their support."

"The video game industry boasts one of the most effective ratings systems available today," added Michael Gallagher, president and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association, the U.S. video game industry's trade association. "We are thankful for the invaluable support of the San Francisco Giants, especially Buster and Ryan. And above all we are very excited to bring this informative and important ratings education campaign to the Bay Area community."

The ESRB video game ratings consist of two parts. Rating symbols on the front of every game package sold at retail provide an age recommendation. On the back, next to the rating, are content descriptors that provide information about what's in the game that may have triggered the rating or may be of interest or concern to parents.

In 2008 the ESRB began offering rating summaries, a supplementary source of information that gives parents a detailed yet brief and straightforward description of exactly the kind of content they would want to know about when choosing a game for their child, including specific examples. Parents can look up a game's rating summary right from the store using a free mobile app (www.esrb.org/mobile) or mobile website (m.esrb.org), or by searching for games on ESRB's website at www.esrb.org before heading to the store.

Both players spent time at the press event playing MLB® 12: The Show™ for PlayStation®3 (PS3™) with members of Junior Giants, the flagship program of the Giants Community Fund, which provides a free, non-competitive and innovative baseball program for boys and girls ages 5-18 years old. Each youngster received a PlayStation® Vita and copy of MLB 12: The Show for PS Vita courtesy of Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA).

About Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)
The ESRB is a non-profit, self-regulatory body established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). ESRB independently assigns computer and video game content ratings, enforces advertising guidelines, and helps ensure responsible online privacy practices for the interactive entertainment software industry.

SOURCE Entertainment Software Rating Board