August 15, 2006
The video game industry continues to forge political bonds.Today, Georgia State Attorney General Thurbert Baker (left) announced that his office was partnering with the ESRB on a public service announcement (PSA) campaign designed to help parents make better use of ratings when selecting video games for their kids. The campaign will run on both T.V. and radio.
"As a father, I know about the tough decisions parents face today about the media they allow into their homes," said A.G. Baker. "Parents need and deserve all the help they can get, and the ESRB ratings are an effective and informative resource that allows parents to decide if the video game their child wants is appropriate. I'm proud to be helping educate Georgia's parents about the tools at their disposal."
ESRB president Patricia Vance applauded the Georgia initiative.
"Just like movies and TV shows, video games are created for a diverse audience of all ages," Vance said. "That is why it is so important that parents remember to check the rating when purchasing games for their children. We are very grateful to have the support of Attorney General Baker in reaching out to Georgia's parents and educating them about the ratings."
"While many parents are aware of the ratings," Baker added, "and are making sensible game purchase decisions as a result, more can and should be done. Working with ESRB, we hope that these ads will help arm parents with the information they need to make the right choices for their children and families."
In June, the ESRB announced a similar partnership with Utah's Attorney General, Mark Shurtleff. June also saw the unveiling of the ESRB's Commitment to Parents program, which was launched with the support of U.S. Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA), George Allen (R-VA) and Mark Pryor (D-AR).
