As you know, most Halo games are rated M for mature. Mainly due to violence and blood, with some bad language.
Now, I see Halo: CE being M because it was also part horror game, which might scare the little ones (The mangled Elite and that scene of dead Keyes were also good reasons)
Other than that, Halo isn’t that inappropriate. I would give all of them (besides 1) T for teen.
Halo Wars was teen because most of the violence was far away. As for Halo 5, it toned down the violence by removing betrayals and made your enemies become ragdolls when dying, instead of slowly falling to the ground.
What do you think Halo Infinite’s will be?
There’s nothing 343 can do about the rating. That’s an ESRB issue. As for your question, it’s really anyone’s guess. I’d love to provide a better answer for you, but I’d be talking out of my -yoink- lol.
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> There’s nothing 343 can do about the rating. That’s an ESRB issue. As for your question, it’s really anyone’s guess. I’d love to provide a better answer for you, but I’d be talking out of my -yoink- lol.
Actually, I would think that’s a developer/funder issue really. I mean, otherwise, all games would be rated the same, wouldn’t they?
I have little understanding about big game business decisions, but my best guess would be that if a funder (Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo/etc) doesn’t give a development company signed on with them specific guidelines, then the developers throw some ideas of what they want to create at the funders. Then perhaps the funders agree or disagree with it and then perhaps things either get changed to be more ‘acceptable’ to the funders or other ideas are pitched.
I mean, sure, the ESRB does rate these games, but they don’t fuel or encourage the way they are made. At least, as far as I understand. So while 343i may have some say in how the game is made, they might not have complete say in it. I honestly don’t really believe that 343i’s style is just more ‘friendly’ because Halo 4 was also rated M, perhaps that might have had to do more with a decision from Microsoft, who really knows at this point.
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> Actually, I would think that’s a developer/funder issue really. I mean, otherwise, all games would be rated the same, wouldn’t they?
ESRB rates games the following way:
- Game dev sends ESRB a ~1-hr video and a questionnaire detailing the type of content they have in their game. The game dev does not submit a suggested/desired rating. - ESRB selects raters to review the video and questionnaire and assign a rating.So, it really is up to the ESRB. They look at the info submitted to them, decide how explicit the content is, and assign a rating. All the game dev does is send in a summary of the content in their game. ESRB doesn’t even play the actual game in order to determine a rating; they just watch/read a summary of the content. The idea that 343 or MS want Halo to be rated T to sell more doesn’t hold much weight when some of the top selling games of all time are rated M (GTA V, Diablo, PUBG, Skyrim). All 343 did was submit a summary of content to the ESRB, and that’s what they’ll do again with Halo Infinite.
And when you look at other ratings boards from other parts of the world, you really see how arbitrary a rating is. The European ratings board, PEGI, gave Halo 5 the same 16+ rating that they gave every other Halo. Australia’s rating board gave Halo 5 the same M rating as Halo 4 and Halo 3. So it really is quite meaningless, and it’s not like 343 specifically designed H5 to get a more tame rating (if so, they did a poor job as far as other countries are concerned).
Halo 5 got a Teen mostly due to removal of blood, they didn’t remove betrayals at all unless there’s some niche campaign betrayal thing that isn’t in the game anymore. Maybe the lack of the Flood also helped bump the rating down, but Reach & 4 don’t feature the Flood and still managed to have M ratings, so I definitely chalk it up more to the blood and gore content moreso than any horror sensibilities the original trilogy had via Flood levels.
It was probably a conscious decision from 343i and Microsoft, and considering it didn’t really change much of the content or feel of the game, I don’t care if its T or M.
Side note, I know in the movie industry a lot of producers and publishers will give the filmmakers a set rating they have to shoot for when making the film, and I wouldn’t he shocked if AAA games had their rating pitched during the beginnings of the process. I’m sure 343i and Microsoft already know what rating they’re gonna shoot for with Infinite, just like they probably knew what rating they wanted to shoot for with Halo 5.
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> > 2533274879757912;3:
> > Actually, I would think that’s a developer/funder issue really. I mean, otherwise, all games would be rated the same, wouldn’t they?
>
> ESRB rates games the following way:
> - Game dev sends ESRB a ~1-hr video and a questionnaire detailing the type of content they have in their game. The game dev does not submit a suggested/desired rating. - ESRB selects raters to review the video and questionnaire and assign a rating.So, it really is up to the ESRB. They look at the info submitted to them, decide how explicit the content is, and assign a rating. All the game dev does is send in a summary of the content in their game. ESRB doesn’t even play the actual game in order to determine a rating; they just watch/read a summary of the content. The idea that 343 or MS want Halo to be rated T to sell more doesn’t hold much weight when some of the top selling games of all time are rated M (GTA V, Diablo, PUBG, Skyrim). All 343 did was submit a summary of content to the ESRB, and that’s what they’ll do again with Halo Infinite.
>
> And when you look at other ratings boards from other parts of the world, you really see how arbitrary a rating is. The European ratings board, PEGI, gave Halo 5 the same 16+ rating that they gave every other Halo. Australia’s rating board gave Halo 5 the same M rating as Halo 4 and Halo 3. So it really is quite meaningless, and it’s not like 343 specifically designed H5 to get a more tame rating (if so, they did a poor job as far as other countries are concerned).
My overall reply was more directed to the fact that the ESRB only rates the game, but that was all. I was under the impression the person I responded to was suggesting that the ESRB (or any rating team for that matter) had any influence on the way the game was produced.
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> > 2533274817408735;4:
> > > 2533274879757912;3:
> > > Actually, I would think that’s a developer/funder issue really. I mean, otherwise, all games would be rated the same, wouldn’t they?
> >
> > ESRB rates games the following way:
> > - Game dev sends ESRB a ~1-hr video and a questionnaire detailing the type of content they have in their game. The game dev does not submit a suggested/desired rating. - ESRB selects raters to review the video and questionnaire and assign a rating.So, it really is up to the ESRB. They look at the info submitted to them, decide how explicit the content is, and assign a rating. All the game dev does is send in a summary of the content in their game. ESRB doesn’t even play the actual game in order to determine a rating; they just watch/read a summary of the content. The idea that 343 or MS want Halo to be rated T to sell more doesn’t hold much weight when some of the top selling games of all time are rated M (GTA V, Diablo, PUBG, Skyrim). All 343 did was submit a summary of content to the ESRB, and that’s what they’ll do again with Halo Infinite.
> >
> > And when you look at other ratings boards from other parts of the world, you really see how arbitrary a rating is. The European ratings board, PEGI, gave Halo 5 the same 16+ rating that they gave every other Halo. Australia’s rating board gave Halo 5 the same M rating as Halo 4 and Halo 3. So it really is quite meaningless, and it’s not like 343 specifically designed H5 to get a more tame rating (if so, they did a poor job as far as other countries are concerned).
>
> My overall reply was more directed to the fact that the ESRB only rates the game, but that was all. I was under the impression the person I responded to was suggesting that the ESRB (or any rating team for that matter) had any influence on the way the game was produced.
That’s not what I suggested. I just pointed out that the ESRB is solely responsible for rating a game (PEGI is the authority in Europe). Sure the developer can keep past rating trends in mind while creating their own game in the hopes of shooting for a particular rating, but they don’t have any say over what rating their game will ultimately receive.
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> > 2533274879757912;6:
> > > 2533274817408735;4:
> > > > 2533274879757912;3:
> > > > Actually, I would think that’s a developer/funder issue really. I mean, otherwise, all games would be rated the same, wouldn’t they?
> > >
> > > ESRB rates games the following way:
> > > - Game dev sends ESRB a ~1-hr video and a questionnaire detailing the type of content they have in their game. The game dev does not submit a suggested/desired rating. - ESRB selects raters to review the video and questionnaire and assign a rating.So, it really is up to the ESRB. They look at the info submitted to them, decide how explicit the content is, and assign a rating. All the game dev does is send in a summary of the content in their game. ESRB doesn’t even play the actual game in order to determine a rating; they just watch/read a summary of the content. The idea that 343 or MS want Halo to be rated T to sell more doesn’t hold much weight when some of the top selling games of all time are rated M (GTA V, Diablo, PUBG, Skyrim). All 343 did was submit a summary of content to the ESRB, and that’s what they’ll do again with Halo Infinite.
> > >
> > > And when you look at other ratings boards from other parts of the world, you really see how arbitrary a rating is. The European ratings board, PEGI, gave Halo 5 the same 16+ rating that they gave every other Halo. Australia’s rating board gave Halo 5 the same M rating as Halo 4 and Halo 3. So it really is quite meaningless, and it’s not like 343 specifically designed H5 to get a more tame rating (if so, they did a poor job as far as other countries are concerned).
> >
> > My overall reply was more directed to the fact that the ESRB only rates the game, but that was all. I was under the impression the person I responded to was suggesting that the ESRB (or any rating team for that matter) had any influence on the way the game was produced.
>
> That’s not what I suggested. I just pointed out that the ESRB is solely responsible for rating a game (PEGI is the authority in Europe). Sure the developer can keep past rating trends in mind while creating their own game in the hopes of shooting for a particular rating, but they don’t have any say over what rating their game will ultimately receive.
Which is my mistake and I apologize for misinterpreting what you meant.
I’m hoping its m and returns to its roots
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> > 2535435902217648;7:
> > > 2533274879757912;6:
> > > > 2533274817408735;4:
> > > > > 2533274879757912;3:
> > > > > Actually, I would think that’s a developer/funder issue really. I mean, otherwise, all games would be rated the same, wouldn’t they?
> > > >
> > > > ESRB rates games the following way:
> > > > - Game dev sends ESRB a ~1-hr video and a questionnaire detailing the type of content they have in their game. The game dev does not submit a suggested/desired rating. - ESRB selects raters to review the video and questionnaire and assign a rating.So, it really is up to the ESRB. They look at the info submitted to them, decide how explicit the content is, and assign a rating. All the game dev does is send in a summary of the content in their game. ESRB doesn’t even play the actual game in order to determine a rating; they just watch/read a summary of the content. The idea that 343 or MS want Halo to be rated T to sell more doesn’t hold much weight when some of the top selling games of all time are rated M (GTA V, Diablo, PUBG, Skyrim). All 343 did was submit a summary of content to the ESRB, and that’s what they’ll do again with Halo Infinite.
> > > >
> > > > And when you look at other ratings boards from other parts of the world, you really see how arbitrary a rating is. The European ratings board, PEGI, gave Halo 5 the same 16+ rating that they gave every other Halo. Australia’s rating board gave Halo 5 the same M rating as Halo 4 and Halo 3. So it really is quite meaningless, and it’s not like 343 specifically designed H5 to get a more tame rating (if so, they did a poor job as far as other countries are concerned).
> > >
> > > My overall reply was more directed to the fact that the ESRB only rates the game, but that was all. I was under the impression the person I responded to was suggesting that the ESRB (or any rating team for that matter) had any influence on the way the game was produced.
> >
> > That’s not what I suggested. I just pointed out that the ESRB is solely responsible for rating a game (PEGI is the authority in Europe). Sure the developer can keep past rating trends in mind while creating their own game in the hopes of shooting for a particular rating, but they don’t have any say over what rating their game will ultimately receive.
>
> Which is my mistake and I apologize for misinterpreting what you meant.
No problem at all! I do agree with you that a developer can do a lot to try to shoot for a certain rating before submitting their game for review. I just hope that 343 isn’t wasting time trying to please a review board, and is instead trying to impress their fans. From what I’ve seen so far, I’m leaning toward the latter fortunately.
This is such a non-issue.
Halo 1-3 were only M because of the flood, Reach is by far the darkest halo to date it it made since that it was rated M and 4 had the composer scene that made it M overall most of the halos were only ever barely mature enough for an M rating. If Infinite has the flood it will be M if not it might have a either a T or M rating. Either way it doesnt really matter me the ESRB rates wont make a bad game good or a good game bad.
It’ll be rated E for everyone because the esrb has proven to be incompetent, lazy, or corrupt in these last couple of years. I would be more concern on the gameplay and the quality of the gameplay.
Well I see your point, 343 does need to bring back gore blood for it to coukd be rated M but its ERSB to decided whatever its rated T or M but still 343 will need to bring gore blood back.
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> Well I see your point, 343 does need to bring back gore blood for it to coukd be rated M but its ERSB to decided whatever its rated T or M but still 343 will need to bring gore blood back.
Halo Infinite with blood and gore is preferable imo. I would go full DOOM with chunks, limbs, torso and heads flying everywhere, but that’s a personal preference. Truth is the rating is mostly irrelevant, if they make a great Halo game it will sell regardless of rating.
Okay, I think it’s patently disingenuous, uninformed, or ridiculous to suggest that 343i can’t aim their development at a certain desired rating. They don’t rate the game, but the criteria for what has made the ESRB rate most of the Halo series as M and then Guardians as T is pretty clear. It doesn’t mean they’ll be consistent in the future, but I think it’s more than reasonable to suggest that 343i and MS have an ideal rating in mind already for Infinite, and are steering the ship in the direction of it.
I think that rating is T. It means a wider and younger audience (Halo needs both of these things whether many of us on the forums like it or not). Sure, plenty of kids are allowed to play whatever M rated games they want anymore. An M rating doesn’t serve as the same barrier to entry as it did way back when, or even ten years ago. But it’s still a barrier, and the way that MS and 343i probably look at it is that Halo doesn’t need to be altered too much- and not in important, integral ways- to get a T rating instead of an M. That means it makes sense to aim at the T rating from the ESRB, especially when there is myriad evidence that MS wants this brand to be more clean and family friendly (Mattel toy license. Need I cite more?).
That’s all okay by me. A T rated game can have just as much of an impactful story and gripping gameplay as an M game. I don’t understand why so many people seem to think that Halo’s lost its identity because it doesn’t have as much gore or cussing as it did once. I’ve never met someone in real life who valued those aspects of this series over the quality of storytelling and the addictive gameplay- again, neither of which are threatened by a T rating.
I’m ten years out of the Jr. High School “forbidden fruit” complex that a game is intrinsically cooler or more worthwhile because it’s rated M. I think Halo 1-3 would probably require almost zero in the way of alteration -(minor reduction in endless gore in CE and some IWHBYD dialogue in H3 are what comes to mind) to receive T ratings in today’s market, anyways.
<mark>This post has been edited by a moderator. Please do not post comments that are discriminatory in nature.</mark>
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> 2535435902217648;2:
> There’s nothing 343 can do about the rating. That’s an ESRB issue. As for your question, it’s really anyone’s guess. I’d love to provide a better answer for you, but I’d be talking out of my -yoink- lol.
As i know the Dev can do something to fool ESRB because those retards just watch an Video of the game dont even Playtest the game (compare that to developed countrys with game ratings like Germany) and slap some weird Rating on it. I mean i dont respekt those ratings anyway but the ESRB one is the biggest joke i ever heard of 
It doesnt really matter how they rate it as long as it wont get censored or whatever… just german problems censored(or banned) games xD
As a Parent you shouldnt listen to them imo especialy not ESRB.
> 2533274861158694;16:
> Okay, I think it’s patently disingenuous, uninformed, or ridiculous to suggest that 343i can’t aim their development at a certain desired rating. They don’t rate the game, but the criteria for what has made the ESRB rate most of the Halo series as M and then Guardians as T is pretty clear. It doesn’t mean they’ll be consistent in the future, but I think it’s more than reasonable to suggest that 343i and MS have an ideal rating in mind already for Infinite, and are steering the ship in the direction of it.
I don’t think anyone here has said that 343 can’t aim their development at a certain desired rating. Just pointing out that the ESRB is the sole official organization responsible for affixing a rating to a game. They do the rate-y thing. The developer does the develop-y thing.
And with how inconsistent the ESRB has been in the past, I really hope 343 and Microsoft aren’t putting too much effort behind that.
Ppl subconsciously assume that a M rating will mean that the game will be a block buster action packed game deserving of your money rather than a casual game designed for children that a t rating is associated with.
There’s an existing and more active topic about this available, feel free to continue there