ESRB Announces New Washington Governor PSA

The Entertainment Software Rating Board has announced the launch of a new Washington state public service announcement featuring Washington Governor Chris Gregoire, aimed at explaining video game ratings to parents and encouraging them to check ratings upon each purchase of a video game to ensure that it is appropriate for their children and family. The ads will run in the coming weeks on TV and radio stations throughout the state of Washington, and the ESRB has also made them viewable on its media library page. Governor Gregoire, herself a mother, said she's working with the ESRB to raise ratings awarneness. "ESRB ratings provide guidance parents can refer to when they buy video games, so they can be sure that the ones they are choosing are suitable for their children," she said. ESRB president Patricia Vance added, “Just like movies and TV shows, video games are created for a diverse audience of all ages, and not all of them are appropriate for children. That is why it is so important that parents remember to check the rating when purchasing games for their children, and why we continue to drive the message home to parents that there are tools, like ratings and parental controls, that can help them manage the games that their children play." She continued, "We are very proud to have the support of Governor Gregoire in reaching out to Washington State’s parents about the resources at their disposal.”