Upon further examination on the ESRB rating system, it isn't perfect but is working to the best of its ability. Games that are rated the way they are generally fit towards that specific audience. For instance, when a game is rated M, it is intended for Mature Audiences meaning a group of 17 and up much like the Rated R movies that can sometimes be shown in theaters. What causes these controversies using this, as a scapegoat has to do with irresponsible parents not teaching their children right from wrong in the first place? The media however takes those people and they talk about their kids are playing these violent video games using that as a reason for the behavior in the first place. Probably a misconception is that playing video games is just a child's activity but it's not. To understand this would be best to give a simple look at what each rating represents along with what the intended audience is.
Rated E: Games like these generally are not a problem at all as it is geared towards everyone. Mostly it can consist of party games and generally speaking not the type of games you have to worry about at all if you think closely about it. Comparing it to the movie market, it would be like it being rated G for a general audience. There shouldn't be anything that should be offensive. Generally games that fit with Mario, Zelda, and of course arcade classics like Space Invaders, Asteroids, Pac Man, and others fit the bill in that particular region. Games like those are for anyone and everyone.
Rated T: To be honest, there really isn't a lot to say on that matter. It is like PG-13 as the content is a bit more for teens but maybe pre-teens to an extent based upon the matter itself. Games that would include mild violence and language would be considered for that rating.
Rated M: These are pretty much the symbol of an R rated movie that exists. It is designated for the age group of 17 and up. These are the type of games that get talked about in terms of video game violence. Perhaps the biggest one in the world to talk about that would be none other than the Grand Theft Auto series. There was a mod somewhere that did the hot coffee', which is very adult. Granted, you would have to be one of those types of people that spend all their time searching for it and not care about anything else.
Rated AO: This however is perhaps very rare considering that is hardly ever seen in stores. That is generally going to be sold most likely in an adult store meaning that it is not for children and would never be marketed towards that genre. Very few examples on this can be given mainly because of not seeing too many from personal view to give a good example.
Before Grand Theft Auto as mentioned before in the early 90s, there was Mortal Kombat. That game was notorious for blood and had its share of controversy given the style and the fatalities. The Super Nintendo version removed all of that to avoid getting hit with controversy as at the time had been known more as a family friendly type of system. The Genesis version kept them in tact and so did the DOS Version of the game. There was also Doom and Wolfenstein, which had their own share of controversy with blood and with Wolfenstein exclusively with the Nazis and the setting being at World War 2 being mainly banned in Germany.
This is a personal but it isn't so much that the system isn't working; it is really parents that are not teaching their kids right from wrong. If they are not taught that, how do you expect them to do so on their own? What about those that are not involved with their kids' activities instead of not even bothering in the first place? The ESRB ratings are no means perfect but it does what it is designed to perform its task: inform the gamer what they are getting their hands into before buying. It's sad that it is used as a scapegoat for problems.
Final conclusion, there are violent video games but if you, as a parent, teach your kids right from wrong, they should not be affected at all.