[Clickme]

You're right on the parents looking into it thing, heres the real loop: in over 90% of sales involving a minor, the parent of guardian was present at the time of sale. Most kids that get M-games get them online, which this law doesn't so much as mention. IT only effects retail sales.

However, the FTC has hailed hte ESRB system above even the MMPA. Movies have a letter rating which stands alone... you already need to know what a PG or an R means before you get there, and if you wanna know WHY something's rated-R you have to look it up online. The ESRB system not only gives you a letter rating for quick reference, it also (in the same area) explains that (IE: M: for MATURE) and shows the general age for that rating (M: Mature; ages 17+), and on the back in easy to find print it lists the specifics such as Alcohol reference, mild language, blood, comic mischief, fantasy violence, blood and gore, suggestive themes, partial nudity, nudity, strong language, etc. I believe their are over 30 individual descriptors that can be used to let parents and buyers know exactly whats in a game.