Videogame Rating Council

The Videogame Rating Council (VRC) was introduced by Sega of America in 1993 to rate all videogames that were released for sale in the United States on the Sega Genesis, Sega Game Gear, and Sega CD and rarely, some computer games. The rating had to clearly appear on the front of the box and on all the advertisement]s for the videogame. The three different ratings were as follows:


 * GA &mdash; General Audiences: Appropriate for all audiences. No blood or graphic violence. No profanity, no mature sexual themes and no usage of drugs or alcohol. Examples of games receiving this rating were: Disney's Aladdin, Ecco the Dolphin, Earthworm Jim. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and most sports and puzzle games.


 * MA-13 &mdash; Mature Audiences: Parental Discretion Advised. The game was suitable for audiences thirteen years of age or older. Game could have some blood in it and more graphic violence than a "GA" game. Examples of games receiving this rating were Bram Stoker's Dracula, Flashback: The Quest for Identity, Super Street Fighter II. Lunar: The Silver Star, Wing Commander and Beavis and Butt-head.


 * MA-17 &mdash; Mature Audiences: Not appropriate for minors. The game was suitable for audiences seventeen years of age or older. Games could have lots of blood, graphic violence, mature sexual themes, profanity, drug or alcohol usage. Examples of games receiving this rating were: Leisure Suit Larry 6: Shape Up or Slip Out!, Lethal Enforcers, Mortal Kombat II, Rise of the Dragon and the Sega CD version of Mortal Kombat.