Almost 50% of minors buying M rated games

A survey has found that almost 50 per cent of minors in the US have been able to buy games rated M for Mature from retailers.

The study found that of over 60 stores, 46 per cent sold M rated games to consumers under the age of 18, reports the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The survey was carried out by the East County Youth Coalition and the National Institute on Media and Family.

The findings back-up a report from the NIMF last year, which also found that half of retailers willingly sold adult games to a young audience.

This week, US senators began to put pressure on ESRB ratings, calling for a review of the system.

UPDATE: It should be noted that this survey was only performed in a single county in the state of California, where 28 of 60 retailers sold M-rated games to minors.

It should also be noted that current ESRB ratings suggest that M-rated games be sold to ages 17 and up. Retailers who sold M-rated games to consumers under the age of 18, according to this survey, would not be running afoul of the ratings system if those consumers were in fact 17 years of age.