In response to the 10th Annual Video Game Report Card issued by the National Institute for Media and Family (NIMF), the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has issued its own report card, providing failing grades to NIMF for "full disclosure of pertinent facts", "research and analysis", "documentation and presentation of evidence" and "working well with others". The ESRB also gave extra demerits to NIMF for neglecting parents' and childrens' best interests.

Attached to the ESRB's report card is a Fact Sheet (PDF) which challenges the claims of the NIMF report with actual facts. For example, the NIMF report card gave the ESRB an "F" for "Ratings Accuracy", when the fact is the ESRB and NIMF agree on ratings 80% of the time (the ESRB even includes a chart of those grades), and an independent study by Peter D. Hart Research Associates found parents agree with the ESRB ratings 82% of the time (while another 5% of parents find the system "too strict").

The ESRB fact sheet also includes a statement by the National PTA which says NIMF deceived the organization, and, despite NIMF's claims, the PTA will not be working with NIMF to "overhaul ESRB ratings". Instead, they will maintain their support and partnership with the ESRB to, "better assist parents and children in understanding the ratings and in making smart choices in purchase and gameplay".

For more outrageous inaccuracies and statements made by NIMF about the ESRB, please check out the ESRB's Fact Sheet.

Per usual, those of us at Lunabean.com applaud the ESRB and give the organization an A+ for its efforts in fighting what was truly a poor production by the NIMF, which happens to be the organization our politicians turn to when looking to use video games as a political tool.