Star Wars: The Old Republic Receives an ESRB Rating

Details on the Entertainment Software Rating Board rating for Star Wars: The Old Republic hit the web a few days ago and offers a bit of information on what players can expect when they finally get their hands on the game. In short, Star Wars: The Old Republic received a teen rating. Some of the points the ESRB raises are rather hilarious, others could be considered possible spoilers. In response, we put the rating and the information about it after the jump.

Hit the jump for the rating details in full.
ESRB Rating Release


Star Wars: The Old Republic

Platform: Windows PC

Rating: Teen

Content descriptors: Blood and Gore, Mild Language, Sexual Themes, Violence

Rating summary: In this massively multiplayer online (MMO) role-playing game, based on the Star Wars universe, players engage in a fictional conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire. Players can choose from classic Star Wars roles (e.g., Jedi Knight, Bounty Hunter, Trooper) and complete quests to determine their path down the light or dark side of the Force. Players use light sabers, laser blasters, and telekinetic powers to battle a variety of human-like enemies and fantastical creatures (e.g., aliens, cyborgs); battles frequently depict characters getting shot with lasers, slashed with light sabers, or shocked with lightning bolts. During the course of the game, players are presented with interactive cutscenes in which their choices play a vital role in the outcome of their story (e.g., using electrical attacks on restrained characters to collect information; killing someone instead of letting him go). Some sequences depict brief instances of blood and gore: to complete one quest, players must dip a skull in a pool of blood; in another mission, players deliver a severed head to a specific location and place it on a pike. Players can freely explore many areas in the game, including clubs that depict scantily clad female dancers with exposed cleavage; some sequences include dialogue with sexual innuendo (e.g., "An hour. I think I'm insulted. We'll need the whole night," "I'll be sure to make conjugal visits," and "Come, dear, let's forgo the nuptials and proceed to the honeymoon."). The words "damn" and "hell" can be heard in dialogue throughout the game.

Online Notice:
Includes online features that may expose players to unrated user-generated content (Windows PC)

http://www.esrb.org/ratings/synopsis.jsp?Certificate=31564

Comments

  • grezgorz's avatar
    Nerf Herder
    • Posts: 14
    #44 grezgorz Posted 11/22/2011 6:41:11 PM

    ^

  • Altyrell's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 86
    #40 Altyrell Posted 9/21/2011 8:41:19 PM
    "clubs that depict scantily clad female dancers with exposed cleavage" So, basically it would be like watching an episode of Jersey Shore
  • Odin_Kira's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 88
    #38 Odin_Kira Posted 9/21/2011 12:57:46 PM
    EBRS is a self regulating body. Otherwise Al Gore's Wife would have had the FCC banned all creative content in the 1990's.
  • salmonleap's avatar
    Gamorrean Thug
    • Posts: 42
    #41 salmonleap Posted 9/21/2011 8:46:13 PM
    Sad, but true. I well remember Tipper's asinine campaign to "regulate" all art. Anytime someone says, " Think of the children!" They are scheming to rule the world.
  • AgentCelric's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 191
    #29 AgentCelric Posted 9/21/2011 1:00:02 AM
    I know it's not in the spirit of SW, but I for one know real life is gory and messy at times. Expecially when grenades and high powered weapons are cutting people down left and right. That being said, I kinda wish it had a little more gore 'n' blood. Nothing too much, I'm not talking Gears of War here, or Diablo 3, but say you get a killing blow with a lightsaber, there's BOUND to be limbs flying off. Or hit with a frag grenade or a triple-lutze of missiles? Chunky peaces!

    But, BW wants to keep it to the SW nature of semi-bloodless and clean. And EA wants a Teen rating so they can sell more product. Damn Corporations. FML.
  • Doorofnight's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 149
    #30 Doorofnight Posted 9/21/2011 2:16:48 AM
    I'm going to disagree with you a bit here, watch the original Star Wars trilogy again, those blaster bolts look like they do A LOT of damage and generally leave a rather large smoking hole in anything they hit, including Stormtroopers they hit. Its not exactly blood and guts flying around but it isn't pretty if you really think about it.

    In fact I think one of the bigger, but less talked about, failings of the prequel trilogy is that the blaster bolts don't seem to actually do any damage, people just sort of slump over when hit.
  • Zarmac's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #33 Zarmac Posted 9/21/2011 5:50:50 AM
    Well the idea and physics behind the blaster bolts and lightsabers, is that their energy sterilizes the wounds and stops the bleeding. Kinda like when you put a red-glowing metal piece on a wound.

    Med-Operative stream: http://www.twitch.tv/denday04

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/denDAY04

  • AgentCelric's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 191
    #42 AgentCelric Posted 9/23/2011 5:08:04 AM
    Hah, go stick a hot poker In the side of a fresh deer kill or some hobo. Just because its hot, doesn't mean it wont bleed like mad. Hell, in the first movie when Ben chops off that dudes arm, there's blood everywhere.

    And the word you were looking for was cauterize, not sterilize. Two completely different things.
  • rogue23's avatar
    Nerf Herder
    • Posts: 9
    #23 rogue23 Posted 9/20/2011 9:53:40 PM
    we've kind of known about the ESRB rating since one of the last SWTOR videos. still nice to see a more detailed description of why it got the rating, though.
  • Jaramukhti's avatar
    Dark Councilor
    • Posts: 795
    #22 Jaramukhti Posted 9/20/2011 9:34:33 PM
    "An hour. I think I'm insulted. We'll need the whole night,"

    Smuggler. That has to be a Smuggler.
  • Baelor's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 194
    #36 Baelor Posted 9/21/2011 11:38:52 AM
    It could be Imperial Agent. I could see James Bond saying that.

    I am the light that brings the dawn.

  • Jaramukhti's avatar
    Dark Councilor
    • Posts: 795
    #39 Jaramukhti Posted 9/21/2011 4:12:10 PM
    "An hour. I think I'm insulted, Moneypenny. We'll need the whole night,"

    ...

    I could see that.
  • stoffi's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 192
    #15 stoffi Posted 9/20/2011 7:25:49 PM
    Forgive my ignorance, but what is their definition of mild language?
  • Muskaan's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 161
    #17 Muskaan Posted 9/20/2011 7:34:38 PM
    repeated use of "damn" and "hell"
  • grezgorz's avatar
    Nerf Herder
    • Posts: 14
    #43 grezgorz Posted 11/22/2011 6:38:45 PM

    Hi Stoffi, that is a very nice internet connection you have :) 

    I'm curious how much you pay per month?

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