Apple and Google Bypassing New Mobile Gaming Rating System
November 29, 2011
By Oliver VanDervoort, Contributing Writer
While Apple (News - Alert) and Google are bitter rivals when it comes to Android and the iOS, there are times when the companies are able to see eye-to-eye. When the two companies are working together to topple some of the biggest video game companies in the mobile gaming department, then Apple and Google (News - Alert) are both winners. Of course, at other times the companies are fighting tooth and nail for business like when Google launched their own music service for Android devices.
While the two companies are not exactly teaming up, they do appear to agree when it comes to forgoing a new rating system for mobile games. A new policy that is set to be released today by CTIA (News - Alert) - the Wireless Association would give different ratings for mobile games that have violence and sexual content.
The new scale would be based on age appropriateness on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being “everyone” and 5 being “adult.” The Entertainment Software Rating Board, the same administration that has been handling the rating system for video and computer games since the early nineties, will administer the rating system.
The system, which is geared towards allowing parents to monitor the kind of games their kids are playing a little easier, might have a little trouble getting off the ground. Both Google and Apple have said that they don’t believe they will join into the rating system, with both companies feeling as though their own rating systems do just fine. Google spokesman Christopher Katsaros wrote an email explaining why his company would not be using this new system.
“We’ve put a lot of effort into Android (News - Alert) Market’s rating system, which now works well globally,” Katsaros said, “while we support other systems, we think it’s best for Android users and developers to stick with Android’s existing ratings.”
While Apple did not comment, it is widely believed that they are taking the same line as to why they won’t be participating. Among the companies who will be participating are Microsoft (News - Alert), Sprint, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. A CTIA spokesman said they are not worried about Apple and Google deciding not to participate.
Edited by Jennifer Russell