US SOFTWARE PUBLISHERS CREATE
                INDUSTRY-WIDE GAME RATINGS STANDARDS

June 1994                                          For Further Information:
                                                             Karen Crowther
                                                               707/937-3320

   Mendocino, CA - Four major software trade groups have announced that
they have joined the Software Publishers Association (SPA) to work together
in order to finalize a comprehensive computer game ratings system. The
groups, representing over 3,000 U.S. software developers and publishers,
have endorsed product labeling designed to inform parents and retailers at
a glance about the contents of games, making it easy to determine which are
suitable for children.

   Although only a minority of games for PC's contain objectionable
material, industry spokesperson Karen Crowther stated that most already
label violent or sexual content.  The new ratings system will standardize
this labeling. "We are committed to providing consumers with the facts they
need to make an informed decision," she said.
 
   Under the plan, software packages would be clearly labeled with
easy-to-understand symbols indicating the type and degree of potentially
objectionable material. Highlights of the system include provisions for
electronically tagging games with their ratings, and permitting a "lockout"
procedure for parents. The rating system will be made available to all
software publishers.
 
   Standing apart from this industry-wide effort is the Interactive Digital
Software Association (IDSA), formed earlier this year by about a dozen
videogame manufacturers. IDSA seeks to establish a separate commission to
review and rate games prior to commercial release. According to Rosemary
West of the Educational Software Cooperative (ESC), preliminary reports
indicate IDSA's proprietary plan, developed for cartridge videogames, would
be unworkable and economically untenable for the majority of educational
and recreational personal computer software publishers.
 
   IDSA Executive Director Arthur Pober declined to reveal the estimated
costs and has stated that his system will not yield consistent ratings when
used by anyone other than his staff.
 
   IDSA maintains a professional lobbyist in Washington DC, and has close
ties with Congressman Tom Lantos (D-Calif), who earlier this year
introduced legislation which would mandate software ratings and eliminate
antitrust protections for small businesses. At a public hearing last month,
Lantos reaffirmed his support for IDSA and stated he did not care if small
companies were destroyed. Ironically, IDSA members Nintendo and Sega
publish the videogame "Mortal Kombat" which Lantos has described as "filthy
and disgusting".
 
   Crowther said she hopes that IDSA members will accept a standing
invitation to join the software industry in implementing the new labeling
standards, which are scheduled to be in place in time for the holiday
season.

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