PEGI/ESRB and Amateur game ratings

[Steel Drummer]

It isn't to rate the site, it's for those that choose to do so, to inform anyone that may download or play their game the content within...

I start with 3 categories Textual, Cartoonish, and Realistic which tells them the graphical type of the game. You then add the subcategories such as Violence, Blood and Gore, Sex, Language, whatever. So anyone thinking of downloading or playing your game will know when they see R:VBL that this game will have realistic violence blood and language.

I'm not even going to attach an age to any of these ratings. If anything they are for informational puposes only, because I know that people will download what they want, since there isn't a real way to regulate it.

Oh and I actually had the idea for S for scary, younger children may be frightened by content.

So in the end, it really is just an informational rating system.

So what would C:L look like?

[Helm]

Do you mind?

No.

Helm - are you this vehemently opposed to the ratings here at AGS?

No because an abstract 1-10 scale doesn't make moral judgements nor does it fragment 'potentially offensive' sequence from meaning. It's just an average of how the general public felt the game stood up to their expectations of play. Therefore,  useful on that level.

And the rest of us can avoid wasting time on boring games without sex, violence and drugs...

See, is it about this? Is it just a bit of harmless fun just to see what we can rate in our games? If you're going to make a statement, make it properly, you don't need anyone else to condone a whole semi-formal rating system for you to do it. Are you only hardcore if there's a sticker on the game making you hardcore?

Just because we're not professionals doesn't mean our games have to of a lower standard. It just means that we have to work a little harder on it.

Where did you get lower standard from what I said? We are not professionals, we are something else. Aping what the professionals do might not be the best idea if we're to take advantage of the unique apportunities available only to us.

You mean we should be making games people want to play? - Last time I checked that was excactly what 'the big boys' try to do.

First of all, you're mistaken. There's a whole lotta difference between designing something that'll be very playable, and designing something that will sell well. If for example, you put a busty 20 year old female as a protagonist, you've immediately made your game more sellable, but not more playable. This is very basic, I don't want to make a big deal out of this, as it's off-topic, but you're wrong. Sure, being very playable will probably make you sell a few pieces more, but then again, a huge PR campaign and careful target-marketing will do you much better. Guess what the big boys are doing?

And no, I don't mean make games that people want to play. I mean make games that fit our individual visions without compromise. Just make what YOU'D like to play, and there'll be people to like them.

but I happen to be proud of the fact that I don't make art.

keep on rocking with your bad self.

I'm not making art no. I'm better than that...people actually like what I do.

Who are you and why are you telling me this as if I care?

and I feel personally affected by that negativeness.

Sorry, let me slap this WARNING: MAY EXTRUDE NEGATIVE AURA sticker on me. It's ok! I drew it myself!

I would like you to humor me

More talking to me as if we're engaged in some sort of personal discussion me and you. I don't know you, did I perhaps by accident talk about something you said in this thread previously? Seriously, do we know each other? I am partaking in this discussion to exchange views on the subject, not to convince you personally of anything.

[Dan_N]

Hello. I was just - eek! evil twin personality taking over... must attack... eek!

..

Ok, helm.
I'm going to slag you now and hose you down with no content restraints (maybe just cencorship) so i hope i don't get my ass kicked out of here...
What the f*ck is your problem?
You may be Mittens, whatever the f*ck that is, but i don't give a damn!
Just what the hell do you think art is?!
What the f*ck do you understand art IS?
If it's drawing then go suck a pencil!
If it's music, good for you, but go suck a microphone!
If it's writing, better for you, but you can still go suck a keyboard!
Game making is supposed to ENTERTAIN, dammit!
That's what the romans did!
That's why games were invented!
To freakin' entertain the masses, dammit!
I ask you this, would you take your kid to the roman games? Hell, if games are art, then the freakin' gladiators cutting themselves up are the manifesting of the freakin' human f*cking condition!
Games are ENTERTAINMENT and through ART they are PORTRAIED.
And you probably would take little ol' Junior to show him how the nice blood patterns on the floor resemble the joining of the human personalities!
Dammit! I'm going back...
Sh*t!
Smacktar-

Oh, hell-o. Much better.
What apparently my evil twin was trying to say was that games entertain and people should know what kind of entertainment they're getting. This might sound awkward now, given my previous statement, but i fully support the ideea and commend alynn on working hard to make this ideea be feasible.

Thank you.
(P.S.: you're a smacktard, oh, damn, evil twin!)

[Helm]

WARNING: INTERNET BATTLE

[Ghormak]

Games are supposed to entertain. Yes.

You should know what kind of entertainment you're getting. Y... es. I guess. If you want.

But you know what, that's what reviews, word of mouth or even a synopsis on the game's box/website is for! Not stickers that say WARNING: SEX!

[HillBilly]

Not stickers that say WARNING: SEX!

But it looks cool! 

[deadsuperhero]

You know, I can understand if we rate our own games. We can do that any way we want to. Or we could just say the game is not for kids right on the downloads page.
Now, if this was being sold at a store, I'd understand the need, but this is the internet. No greasy faced vest wearing man will tell you "No, you can't play this." on here.
I see both sides of this arguement, but all I have to say about it now is this:
Do whatever the hell you want with your own games.

[Dan_N]

Bring it on, helm, you freakin smacktard pus- blerghh...
Oh, poo, there he goes again.
That damn evil twin personality.
What?
...

EVIL TWIN: Hey f*ck you, man i wanna get this son of a-
GOOD TWIN: Hey cut it out with all the swearing, will ya?
EVIL TWIN: But he gets me so angry (foam at mouth) ...
GOOD TWIN: But that's no reason to start harrasing the man and then slagging him.
EVIL TWIN: Oh yeah?
GOOD TWIN: Yeah - Hey, what're doing? Why are you opening a new window? Why are you trying to find his adress? Why are you loading the shotgun and making plane flight arrangements? Hey, stop that!!
(fight with self)
EVIL TWIN: (more foam at mouth) Damn you, good twin!!! .... blerghh ...
GOOD TWIN: Phew.
(wiping foam from mouth)

Anyway, mr. helm, i do not wish to do battle with you, although i'll kick your ass you sma- hey, shut up Evil!

So, i was just wanting to prove my point in an intelligent an civil way to provide you the chance to respond in an equal fashion, but obviously my evil twin fucked it up, so sorry.
(besides the whole warning thing is getting annoying and makes you look like a smacktard; first it was cute and witty and now it just makes me wanna use the damn plane ticket. On that we both agree.)

[deadsuperhero]

(off topic)
Dan, I like what you're doing with the Good twin/Evil Twin

Back on topic:
At this point, it doesn't really matter with this rating system. Developers can just say "screw that" and get on with their lives.

[Mordalles]

but what if people tell you you can't play your own game. 

[deadsuperhero]

Why, what kind of people would say such a thing?

[Mordalles]

the scary ratings people.  :'(

[deadsuperhero]

the scary ratings people.  :'(

Well they can go f*ck themselves. Ratings don't make or break a game (unless it's Rockstar Games, they know how to push the limits there)

[Dan_N]

Begin off-topic
Thank you, alliance, i try to be funn-
(foam at mouth)
Yeah, you find that funny mister hardy-har, and now i suppose you'll be copping it and using it to make other people laugh at your pathetic smacktardy jokes! You little f*ck! Why I'll sue your little dicky off you- blergh... f*ck!...
(wipe foam)
Oh, sorry. I actually hope no-one is really offended.
It's supposed to be innocent humour and fun, but then again it may not be that innocent.

(p.s.: you're a smacktard- damn you Evil!)

End off-topic;

Begin on-topic

What do you mean you couldn't play your own games?
You have on your harddrive, you freakin' made it!
Unless you were some kind of smacktard that deleted the crap right after downloading. Well that would be very shitty now wouldn't it be?

(p.s.: you're all smacktards and i hate the world)

End off-topic

I have a task for you: guess whether Good or Evil wrote this last on-topic segment.

[Helm]

WARNING: BAD CODE

[Erenan]

Um... Seriously guys, calm down. The fate of the universe does not depend upon this conversation.

Helm, if I may be serious again... One thing I'm wondering that I suppose is relevant to this discussion... I'm curious about your opinion concerning ethics. You've described robbing art of its bite as being a wrong thing to do. But this makes it seem as though you're viewing the purpose of art as a ubiquitous objective standard, because otherwise it would seem that you'd simply disregard what other people want to do with their own artwork. And if there is such an absolute purpose for the creation of artwork, from where is this derived in a deterministic worldview?

I'm sorry if I misunderstand what you mean by wrong, or if I misunderstand your beliefs concerning the nonexistence of free will.

[Adamski]

Hi Dan. Can you calm down a bit please? We don't want to put you in the naughty corner with all the other bored kids on their summer break.

[Helm]

Primate vessage coming your way soon, Eneran

[Dan_N]

Yeah, what he said.

But seriously, you can do whatever you want with YOUR OWN games, but don't tell other people what to do (unless you criticize artwork and then offer improvement because that's healthy) with their games.
But I see that you have your head so stuck up your ass that you don't see what alynn is really trying to do here: inform, dammit and help.
Fine, don't use the system, express your "art" by showing dicks, tits, asses, and by saying fuck every two words, but please go to the "oh, look my head is up my ass and i excuse it with philosophy about art" thread and leave those who give a damn alone. Thank you.

And we both agree on that and you can quote us on that, smacktard!

EDIT: i found that remark before helm condescending. Please refrain from other such comments. Thank you.

LAST EDIT:Besides, age doesn't matter (much) and i am more mature than all you sm- erm, people might think. Well, I gues i should head off and dwell on it while my unconscious self lies on my bed. But I will be back and my evil twin will be here. (he is now sleeping so my good twin is about to do the same)
Tune in tomorrow for an exciting new episode of pointless discussions that i get worked up about. Thank and good night. Love and Peace.

[earlwood]

Let me pull something from behind my monitor.

A world of crime, sin and greed.  Delve into the mind of Agent 47 and encounter his greatest adversaries, completing the work that made him so brutally efficient and shaped him as an assassin.  Eliminate your targets by any means necessary.  There are no rules...  only the contract, signed in blood.

Following still? Ok, now on the front is an "M" in a white box.

Take you pick.  I mean, if you just mean to inform the general public.

A rating system is just not needed.