But Gini Steele, the mother of two teenage boys, isn't impressed with the games' content.

"I think it's a dangerous field for children to explore. And I think it's the parents' responsibility to make sure their kids are safe," she says.

So Mrs. Steele puts limits on what games her children are allowed to play.

Fourteen-year-old Steven knows exactly what is acceptable: "Any game that doesn't have a whole lot of violence or adult themes or cursing."

And big brother Ander, 16, says he respects his mother's wishes.

"Yes, I agree with her. I think [her guidelines] are reasonable, and I can understand where she's coming from. But it's really not a problem for me because I tend to stay away from those games anyway," he says.

While some parents may carefully supervise their children, many have no idea what kinds of games their teens are buying or playing. A 2000 study from the Federal Trade Commission found that unsupervised 13- to 16-year-olds were able to purchase mature games approximately 78% of the time.

Most experts agree that when it comes to video games, parents must be vigilant.

Elaine Mateo, an Atlanta-based psychiatrist, suggests that parents preview games before they purchase them for their children. If parents choose to restrict certain types of games, they should share their concerns with the parents of their children's friends.

When in doubt, parents can also rely on ratings to guide them toward appropriate video game choices for their children.

"[But] if the kids have been exposed to something after the fact, then talk about it, talk about what they saw, what it means, why you don't agree with the game or what took place in the game," Mateo says.

Experts say that with constant communication, children will learn their parents' values and ultimately how to censor themselves.

"I hope that I will have engrained in them a sense of responsibility so that when they are able to make the choices themselves, then they'll make good choices," Mrs. Steele says.

By Pam Frazier
CWK Network, Inc.

The video-game industry has undergone a dramatic change since the birth of Super Mario, the happy acrobat who once thrilled children for hours as they played with their Nintendo systems. Today, dark and adult-themed games like Grand Theft Auto and Mortal Kombat are outselling kids' games. Even Nintendo has switched gears by offering games with edgier subjects like the zombies featured in Resident Evil.

Why has the landscape of the video-game industry undergone such drastic change? According to the Interactive Digital Software Association, players 18 and older now make up more than 50% of the market. And although more games with fast cars and gun-toting villains are being created for a mature audience, these same games also appeal to younger teens. In fact, a 2000 study conducted by the Federal Trade Commission found that out of 118 electronic games with a mature rating for violence, 70% of them actually targeted children under 17. In addition, the marketing plans for 51% of these games expressly included children under 17 in the target audience.

In its annual report at the end of 2002, the consumer watchdog organization the National Institute on Media and the Family (NIMF) gave the video-game industry a failing grade, due primarily to increased violence against women in several video games. Currently, Congress is trying to introduce legislation to make it a federal crime to sell or rent sexually explicit or violent video games to minors. However, strong lobbying efforts and lawsuits by the industry have successfully blocked previously proposed legislation in states across the nation, so it is essentially up to parents to keep violent video games out of the hands of their children.

As a parent, how can you prevent your child from becoming exposed to violent or sexually explicit media? You can start by familiarizing yourself with the video game rating system. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates every video and computer game for age appropriateness (located on the front of the packaging) and, when appropriate, labels games with content descriptions. The ESRB's current rating standard is as follows:

• E: Everyone
• T: Teens (13 and older)
• M: Mature audiences (17 and older)
• AO: Adults only

Children Now, a research and action organization, offers these additional tips for helping you to choose the right video games for your child:

• Know your child. Different children handle situations differently. Regardless of age, if your child becomes aggressive or unsettled after playing violent video games, don't buy games with violence in them. Likewise, if your child likes playing games with characters that look like her or him, purchase games with characters that fit the bill.
• Read more than the ratings. While the ESRB ratings can be helpful, they do not tell the whole story. Some features that you may consider violent or sexual may not be labeled as such by the ESRB. In addition, the ESRB does not rate games for the positive inclusion of females or characters of color. The language on the packaging may give you a better idea of the amount and significance of violence and sexuality and the presence of gender and racial diversity or stereotypes in the game.
• Go online. The ESRB website provides game ratings as well as definitions of the rating system. In addition, you can visit game maker and distributor websites to learn more about the contents of a game. Some have reviews that will provide even more information about the game.
• Rent before you buy. Many video rental stores also rent video games and consoles. Take a trial run before you purchase a game.
• Talk to other parents. Find out which games other parents like and dislike as well as which games they let your child play when he or she visits their house. This is a good way to learn about the games that your child enjoys and those that other parents approve of, and to let other parents know which games you do not want your child playing.
• Play the games with your child. Know what your child is being exposed to and how he or she reacts to different features in the games.
• Talk about what you see. If your child discovers material that he or she finds disturbing or that you find inappropriate, talk about it. This is a great opportunity to let your child know what your values are as well as to help him or her deal with images that may be troubling.
• Set limits. If you are worried that your child spends too much time playing video games, limit the amount of time or specify the times of day that video games can be played.
• Put the games in a public space. Just as with the Internet, keep your game consoles and computers in public family space so that you can be aware of the material your child is viewing.
• Contact the game makers. If you find material that you think is offensive or inappropriate, let the people who make and sell the games know about it. Likewise, let game makers know if you think that a game provides healthy messages or images. They do care what you think!

To make your search easier, the NIMF cites the following video games that are either positive for children or contain negative images for children to avoid:

Positive games for your child:

• Animal Crossing (E)
• Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus (E)
• Super Mario World Super Mario Advance 2 (E)
• Harry Potter and the Chanber of Secrets (E)
• Rollercoaster Tycoon (E)
• Mario Party 4 (E)
• I Spy Challenger (E)
• Ty the Tasmanian Tiger (E)
• Yushi's Island (E)
• Blinx: The Time Sweeper (E)

Games that are inappropriate for your child:

• BMX XXX (M)
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (M)
• Dead to Rights (M)
• BloodRayne (M)
• Run Like Hell (M)
• Hunter the Reckoning (M)
• Hitman 2 (M)
• Resident Evil 0 (M)
• Time Splinters (T)
• Wacked! (T)

Children Now
Entertainment Software Rating Board
Federal Trade Commission
Interactive Digital Software Association
National Institute on Media and the Family