Industry Insights: The GenCon Reports

Ratings not just kid's stuff for RPG industry

by Matt Snyder
August 9, 2001

In an industry filled with a spectrum of products that appeal to an equally wide spectrum of ages, content for younger readers and players is a concern. Is a ratings system necessary to help keep adult themes, images, and ideas out of the hands of children?

RPG.net talked with several companies at GenCon 2001 to gauge their reaction to a ratings system for role-playing games. The reaction among publishers was largely against a formalized system.

"It only really has negative effects," says John Nephew, Atlas Games. "I don't see much value in it."

He points out that a book-by-book ratings system would not be appropriate for a wider game line with sophisticated content, like Atlas' Unknown Armies. Nephew says his games do have mature ratings notices when appropriate, but those notices are under his control.

Stephan Wieck, president of White Wolf, agrees. "White Wolf as a company, I'd say we'd generally be against it." Several White Wolf products include self-imposed mature content labels as well. But, Wieck says a ratings system would lead to a lot of limitations. "As soon as you have any kind of ratings system you have retailers screening products."

How retailers might react is an important issue to publishers. James Wallis, Hogshead Publishing, says, "If the stores aren't going to pay any attention to that, then the ratings system is meaningless."

Conversely, such a system could prevent product from reaching customers, says game designer Robin Laws. What's more, he thinks that over time the material approved for younger readers will become harsher as publishers find wiggle room in the system.

Currently, he sees no need for potential problems like that. "Traditionally, ratings systems come about from government pressure" and therefore a voluntary system results. "I would argue that's the only reason to do that," he says.

Interestingly, the publishers have a lot of faith in their younger customers.

"Kids are a lot smarter and can handle emotional problems better than we give them credit for," says Hilary Doda, Dream Pod 9. She adds, "The industry has a bad enough reputation. We don't need to make it worse for ourselves."

Still, not all publishers are dead-set against ratings.

"I'm not opposed to them," says Jason Blair, Key20 publishing, which produces Little Fears. He included several warnings within Little Fears because the game's content is specifically about children and difficult subjects like abuse and guns. The game features a general warning in the introduction, and additional warnings within specific sections of the book.

But, having an outside authority rate games is less clear for Blair. "I think the hardest thing is having someone impartial judge the material"

Anthony Pryor, Sword & Sorcery Studios, says he has mixed feelings about a system, especially as the father of a 12-year-old daughter. "I can understand a kind of voluntary system," he says. "I think it's a legitimate concern. I think it's got to give parents guidelines," he says.

On the other hand, he believes, "Kids of the age that are going to be playing it are going to be able to deal with it."
Matt Snyder