US And Europe Video Game Rating System, Are They So Different?

Nowhere is the cultural difference more evident between US and Europe then in the field of entertainment. Typically US shys away from obvious descriptions of sexuality while having a tolerance level for violence in entertainment. While in Europe it is just the opposite, the ban hammer is dropped on violence and sensuality flows freely. This article depicts these differences in the rating system with the US and Europe with the rating given to the Xbox 360 game Mass Effect.

The latest example of this division is seen in two ratings of the forthcoming Xbox 360 role-playing game Mass Effect. In the US, the Entertainment Software Ratings Board or ESRB gave the game a M for Mature rating for "Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, [and] Violence" this means no one under 17 should buy or rent the game without parent approval.

While the British Board of Film Classification BBFC known in the news for its recently banned Manhunt 2 explained that American reason for the M rating comes from a single sequence depicting a risque encounter.

"The single sex scene is brief and un-detailed, although there is breast nudity in one version of the scene,". "The sex scene is triggered by the player making a series of choices about becoming more than friends with a colleague. If playing as a male character the scene can take place between him and a human woman or a humanoid female alien. If playing as a female character the scene can take place between her and a male human or a female humanoid alien."

The mention of extraterrestrial bisexuals raises the eyes of an outer space version of the "Hot Coffee" scandal from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas two years ago which by providing a code in the game you unlock a mini sex game. However, any controversy will likely be waved by the fact that the BBFC gave Mass Effect a "12" rating basically saying it is okay for preteens to be able to play the game unsupervised.

Mass Effect isn't the first BioWare game to involve bisexual characters. The PC and Xbox title Jade Empire had several non-graphic cross-gender love subplots,"including one storyline which leads to an implied three-way liaison between a male hero and two non-player characters, Silk Fox and Dawn Star". Depending on the choice of being a male or female character can also "lead to some same-sex crushes in the Star Wars: Knights of the old Republic games".

The Europe and US rating comparison is interesting to me because Europe easily bans games such as Manhunt 2 for its violence but will slap a soft rating on games with strong sexual content in them such as Mass Effect. You decide is this just?

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Premiership Betting Review - 5 February 2006

Alan Shearer broke Jackie Milburn's all-time Newcastle scoring record with his 201st goal in a vital 2-0 win over relegation strugglers Portsmouth. The Magpies were playing their first match under temporary manager Glenn Roeder and were 4/5 to win before kick off. An opener from Charles NZogbia and a second from Shearer gave Newcastle their first Premiership win in seven attempts.

In another personal goal scoring feat, Thierry Henry netted his 200th goal for Arsenal as the Gunners overcame their away day fragility to win 2-0 at Birmingham City. Arsene Wengers side had not won away since beating Charlton Athletic on Boxing Day and will have had plenty of support at 11/10 against bottom-three Birmingham. A debut goal for Emmanuel Adebayor and Henrys landmark strike was enough to keep Arsenal in fifth place.

Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the Premiership by 15 points after beating liverpool 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. The rather generous 10/11 on offer of a home win will have had punters drooling and goals for William Gallas and Hernan Crespo secured the Blues 21st win in 24 league matches this season.

West Bromwich Albion did their relegation battle the power of good with a convincing 2-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at The Hawthorns. The Baggies have won more home games than any of their rivals in the bottom seven and were an attractive proposition to punters at 19/10. Kevin Campbell marked his 36th birthday with a goal and Jonathan Greening secured the points after 32 minutes.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough slipped closer to the relegation places when they succumbed 4-0 at home to Aston Villa. A Luke Moore hat-trick and one for former England striker Kevin Phillips secured victory at 21/10 and Middlesbrough, with just one win in their last 11 Premiership matches, can be backed at 9/2 for relegation.

West Ham United condemned Sunderland to their fifth defeat in six league matches with a 2-0 win at Upton Park. At 1/2, the Hammers will have been on many punters accumulators but it took until 81 minutes for Dean Ashton to break the deadlock and repay some of the 7.25 million invested in him.

On Sunday, Jermaine Defoe continued Tottenham's claims for a Champions League spot with a brace against former club Charlton Athletic. Despite never beating thr Addicks at home in the Premiership, Spurs were odds on at 4/5 before kick off. Two Defoe goals sandwiched Jermain Jenas strike while Jerome Thomas goal after 70 minutes was a mere consolation for Charlton.

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