TEHRAN -- Iran joined the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) in a ceremony held at the Andisheh Hall of the Art Bureau on Saturday, December 27.

ESRB ratings are designed to provide concise and impartial information about the content of computer and video games so consumers, especially parents, can make an informed purchase decision.
The ceremony opened with the speech delivered by Iranian Deputy Culture Minister for Cinematic Affairs, Mohammadreza Jafari-Jelveh, saying computer games must serve and help promote art, culture and identity of Iran.
“If we think a bit, we will find out that the major goal of computer games is to create heroes. And we can revive the culture of Persian championship with all its Iranian and Islamic elements through national computer games.
The managing director of the National Foundation for Computer Games Behruz Minaii also gave a brief speech on the process of formation of the project.
The stage actor and director Mehdi Farajpur and his troupe gave a performance with the ESRB symbols.
Afterwards, Director of Tehran’s Art Bureau Hassan Bonyanian, Iran National Library and Archive (INLA) director Ali-Akbar Ash’ari honored several figures and scholars in charge of the project.
ESRB ratings have two equal parts. The rating symbols suggest age appropriateness for the game, and the content descriptions indicate elements in a game that may have triggered a particular rating and/or may be of interest or concern.