History Analysis / GettingCrapPastTheRadar

It is very important to note that video game ratings don't reflect user-generated content such as mods, custom skins and maps, character names and usernames, and in-game communication.

* The '''M for Mature''' rating is the highest rating allowed for a video game to sell at retail. (AO for Adults Only is the highest rating of all which retail won't sell, similar to the NC-17 rating for MPA) There can be intense violence overflowing with blood and gore (though it can't be so extremely sadistic, such as on-screen [[{{GroinAttack}} genital]] [[{{CripplingCastration}} mutilation]], in the rarest cases, especially towards the innocent and/or protected minorities, just look at ''VideoGame/{{Hatred}}''), uncensored {{Cluster F Bomb}}ing, explicit references to sex, maybe some sex scenes and nudity (just not too much for the game to be regarded as pornographic), and [[{{ArsonMurderAndJaywalking}} real-money gambling]].

* The '''T for Teen''' rating allows violence, sexual innuendo and partial nudity[[note]]means characters appear naked but have their parts censored[[/note]], little blood[[note]]though exceptions can exist such as VideoGame/StarCraftII[[/note]], infrequent strong language, and depiction of alcohol use. With more leniency than TV-14, this means occasional uses of "shit" can be used.

* The '''T for Teen''' rating allows violence, sexual innuendo and partial nudity[[note]]means characters appear naked but have their parts censored[[/note]], little blood, infrequent strong language, and depiction of alcohol use. With more leniency than TV-14, this means occasional uses of "shit" can be used.

* The '''M for Mature''' rating is the highest rating allowed for a video game to sell at retail. (AO for Adults Only is the highest rating of all which retail won't sell, similar to the NC-17 rating for MPA) There can be intense violence overflowing with blood and gore (though it can't be so extremely sadistic, such as on-screen [[{{GroinAttack genital]] [[{{CripplingCastration}} mutilation]], in the rarest cases, especially towards the innocent and/or protected minorities, just look at ''VideoGame/{{Hatred}}''), uncensored {{Cluster F Bomb}}ing, explicit references to sex, maybe some sex scenes and nudity (just not too much for the game to be regarded as pornographic), and [[{{ArsonMurderAndJaywalking}} real-money gambling]].

* The '''M for Mature''' rating is the highest rating allowed for a video game to sell at retail. (AO for Adults Only is the highest rating of all which retail won't sell, similar to the NC-17 rating for MPA) There can be intense violence overflowing with blood and gore (though it can't be so extremely sadistic, such as on-screen [[{{CripplingCastration}} genital mutilation]], in the rarest cases, especially towards the innocent and/or protected minorities, just look at ''VideoGame/{{Hatred}}''), uncensored {{Cluster F Bomb}}ing, explicit references to sex, maybe some sex scenes and nudity (just not too much for the game to be regarded as pornographic), and [[{{ArsonMurderAndJaywalking}} real-money gambling]].

* The '''M for Mature''' rating is the highest rating allowed for a video game to sell at retail. (AO for Adults Only is the highest rating of all which retail won't sell, similar to the NC-17 rating for MPA) There can be intense violence overflowing with blood and gore (though it can't be so extremely sadistic, such as on-screen [[{{GroinAttack}} genital mutilation]], in the rarest cases, especially towards the innocent and/or protected minorities, just look at ''VideoGame/{{Hatred}}''), uncensored {{Cluster F Bomb}}ing, explicit references to sex, maybe some sex scenes and nudity (just not too much for the game to be regarded as pornographic), and [[{{ArsonMurderAndJaywalking}} real-money gambling]].

* The '''Everyone 10 and up (E10+)''' rating can allow a bit more cartoon violence as well as slight amounts of fantasy violence, slight amounts of suggestive humor, and copious amounts of mild language such as "damn" and "hell". This rating was made in early 2005 to bridge the gap between the E and T ratings, hence why titles such as ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2002'' and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosMelee'' are rated T despite being comparatively tame by today's T rating standards, and even some E-rated games such as the ''Sonic Adventure'' series are relatively intense for E standards. Their respective franchises, as well as several modern ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' games (mostly due to sci-fi and fantasy violence) are good examples of E10+ rated games[[note]]Although ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' was rated T despite being released in 2008[[/note]].

* The '''M for Mature''' rating is the highest rating allowed for a video game to sell at retail. (AO for Adults Only is the highest rating of all which retail won't sell, similar to the NC-17 rating for MPA) There can be intense violence overflowing with blood and gore (though it can't be so extremely sadistic, such as on-screen genital mutilation, in the rarest cases, especially towards the innocent and/or protected minorities, just look at ''VideoGame/{{Hatred}}''), uncensored {{Cluster F Bomb}}ing, explicit references to sex, maybe some sex scenes and nudity (just not too much for the game to be regarded as pornographic), and [[{{ArsonMurderAndJaywalking}} real-money gambling]].

* The '''M for Mature''' rating is the highest rating allowed for a video game to sell at retail. (AO for Adults Only is the highest rating of all which retail won't sell, similar to the NC-17 rating for MPA) There can be intense violence overflowing with blood and gore (though it can't be so extremely sadistic in the rarest cases, just look at ''VideoGame/{{Hatred}}''), uncensored {{Cluster F Bomb}}ing, explicit references to sex, and maybe some sex scenes and nudity (just not too much for the game to be regarded as pornographic).

* The '''T for Teen''' rating allows violence, sexual innuendo and partial nudity, little blood, infrequent strong language, and depiction of alcohol use. This means occasional uses of "shit" can be used.

* The '''Everyone 10 and up (E10+)''' rating can allow a bit more cartoon violence as well as slight amounts of fantasy violence, slight amounts of suggestive humor, and copious amounts of mild language such as "damn" and "hell". This rating was made in early 2005 to bridge the gap between the E and T ratings, hence why titles such as ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2002'' and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosMelee'' are rated T despite being comparatively tame by today's T rating standards, and even some E-rated games such as the ''Sonic Adventure'' series are relatively intense for E standards. Their respective franchises, as well as several modern ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' games (mostly due to sci-fi and fantasy violence) are good examples of E10+ rated games.

As SocietyMarchesOn in many countries, censorship standards change with them, also. The Hays Code used in the United States before the UsefulNotes/MotionPictureAssociationOfAmerica ratings, for example, forbid depictions of couples sleeping in bed together, and ''Series/LeaveItToBeaver'' was a pioneer in showing a toilet on TV. As ideas about minorities and non-heterosexual relationships change, the censors do, too. For example, HomoeroticSubtext in a children's cartoon may have been played as a radar-pushing gag in 2007, but, due to positive portrayals of same-sex couples in children's series in UsefulNotes/TheNewTens and beyond, this gag will be seen as SeinfeldIsUnfunny to a present-day viewer, and may receive backlash for [[QueerPeopleAreFunny portraying queer love as a joke]].

* The '''T for Teen''' rating allows violence, sexual innuendo and partial nudity, little blood, infrequent strong language, and depiction of alcohol. This means occasional uses of "shit" can be used.

* The '''T for Teen''' rating allows violence, sexual innuendo, little blood, infrequent strong language, and depiction of alcohol. This means occasional uses of "shit" can be used.

* The '''T for Teen''' rating allows violence, sexual innuendo, little blood, and infrequent strong language. This means occasional uses of "shit" can be used.

* The '''E for Everyone''' rating is the lowest rating[[note]]besides the deprecated eC for Early Childhood rating, which was mainly used for edutainment titles[[/note]] a video game can get. They can contain mild amounts of cartoon violence and mild language. ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'', ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'', and several ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' games usually have this rating.

* The '''T for Teen'''

* The '''M for Mature''' rating is the highest rating allowed for a video game to sell at retail. (AO for Adults Only is the highest rating of all which retail won't sell, similar to the NC-17 rating for MPA) There can be realistic violence overflowing with blood (though it can't be so extremely sadistic in the rarest cases, just look at ''VideoGame/{{Hatred}}''), uncensored {{Cluster F Bomb}}ing, explicit references to sex, and maybe some sex scenes and nudity (just not too much for the game to be regarded as pornographic).

* The '''M for Mature''' rating is the highest rating allowed for a video game to sell at retail. (AO for Adults Only is the highest rating of all which retail won't sell, similar to the NC-17 rating for MPA) There can be realistic violence overflowing with blood (though it can't be so extremely sadistic in the rarest cases, just look at ''VideoGame/{{Hatred}}'')

* The '''M for Mature''' rating is the highest rating allowed for a video game to sell at retail. (AO for Adults Only is the highest rating of all which retail won't sell, similar to the NC-17 rating for MPA)

Video games are not particularly susceptible to AvoidTheDreadedGRating, so it's more possible to get crap past the radar. However, rating systems, such as North America's UsefulNotes/EntertainmentSoftwareRatingBoard in this case, still apply:

* The '''M for Mature'''

Video games are not particularly susceptible to AvoidTheDreadedGRating, so it's more possible to get crap past the radar. However, rating systems still apply:

* The '''T for Teens'''

* The '''TV-MA''' rating is the highest allowed on network TV. It allows uncensored ClusterFBomb, sex scenes, and realistic violence. Basically this is TV's R rating.

As SocietyMarchesOn in many countries, censorship standards change with them, also. The Hays Code used in the United States before the UsefulNotes/MotionPictureAssociationOfAmerica ratings, for example, forbid depictions of couples sleeping in bed together, and ''Series/LeaveItToBeaver'' was a pioneer in showing a toilet on TV. As ideas about minorities and non-heterosexual relationships change, the censors do, too. For example, HoYay in a children's cartoon may have been played as a radar-pushing gag in 2007, but, due to positive portrayals of same-sex couples in children's series in UsefulNotes/TheNewTens and beyond, this gag will be seen as SeinfeldIsUnfunny to a present-day viewer, and may receive backlash for [[QueerPeopleAreFunny portraying queer love as a joke]].

Simple ValuesDissonance in some countries may also be mistaken for sexual innuendo in others. Take the French ''WesternAnimation/OggyAndTheCockroaches'', for example. In one episode, there is a portrait of a topless sunbathing woman hanging in the background. While is isn't uncommon to see topless female sunbathers in European countries (and even places outside of Europe that receive lots of tourists from there), it is very rare among Americans, and that particular FunnyBackgroundEvent got ''Oggy'' cancelled after a short run on Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}.

As SocietyMarchesOn in many countries, censorship standards change with them, also. The Hays Code used in the United States before the UsefulNotes/MotionPictureAssociationOfAmerica ratings, for example, forbid depictions of couples sleeping in bed together, and ''Series/LeaveItToBeaver'' was a pioneer in showing a toilet on TV. As ideas about minorities and non-heterosexual relationships change, the censors do, too. For example, HoYay in a children's cartoon may have been played as a radar-pushing gag in 2007, but, due to positive portrayals of same-sex couples in children's series in UsefulNotes/TheNewTens and beyond, this gag will be seen as SeinfeldIsUnfunny to a present-day viewer, and may receive backlash for [[QueerPeopleAreFunny portraying queer love as a joke]].

ValuesDissonance plays a huge part in what, exactly, the censors are looking out for (See UsefulNotes/MediaClassifications for further information). For example, European censors are rather lenient on sexual innuendo and violent content that would normally raise the film's rating to a PG-13, to the point where putting mild innuendo in a work meant for children doesn't even count as GettingCrapPastTheRadar, while something that would be Gettin A prime example is when a 2012 episode of the German-produced ''Literature/MayaTheBee'' was taken off Netflix in the United States after a concerned parent noticed a penis drawn in the background. While this would come unnoticed in Europe, the MoralGuardians are more vocal and influential in the United States, where a subtle gag put in by an animator would be enough to get the series banned.