Where Politics And Video Games Collide

Any system of categorization becomes detrimental when it is used as a crutch instead of a tool. A scientist can use biological classification (domain, kingdom…genus, species) to tell me how to recognize a squirrel by its physiology, but that system of categorization cannot tell me about the exact size, shape, or eating habits of the particular squirrel that lives in the silver maple tree in my backyard.

Categorization can't define with any specificity; it can only organize by similarities and differences. The story-telling element of any game -- that is, the content which is rated by the ESRB -- is unique to that game. By definition, no set of standardized descriptors or categories, no matter how complex, could ever account for the particular narrative contexts of each game.

Furthermore, interpretation is also unique, and different players will understand the narrative of same game in their own individual ways. There is no "universal narrative interpretation" and it would be misguided (if not pretentious) to try to categorize such a thing.

It is not the job of the ESRB to tell us how we should feel about a story. It can't be. I'm not sure the article completely realizes this point, but I believe there will be a lot less "shouting" about standardization and descriptor display once all interested parties realize that the very content we're all worried about is exactly what gives each game its unique creative expression and defies definition by categorization.