ok hypothetical here;
say you run a video game company. and it is years ago when there are no rules yet, and people are hating on your industry for being violent and suggestive. this hurts your income, or in the future can do so.
so you create a side company that scores games based on content, and gives them a simple rating for those angry parents to understand.
then you gather up other major publishers and all agree to play along.
then you take this fake ass company, you go up to walmart and target and gamestop CEOs, and you threaten them that parents will refuse to buy from retailers like them, because they dont support this family friendly rating system.
so they fall in line. but not at a loss. now these stores can claim they care about familys as well. and care about your children enough to help you monitor game sales.
and they do so without government involvement at all.
both retailers and publishers use this fake loving company to exploit you, the consumer.
lets call this company ESRB.
