The 1992 interactive movie video game Night Trap was so disturbing that it warranted the creation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). Developed by Digital Pictures and originally released by Sega, the gameplayer is tasked with playing as a special detective as he watches over teenage girls. Throughout the game, an unknown danger is present. The job of the player is to switch between cameras and release traps if a threat is suspected.
The story line follows the concern over the disappearance of five teenage girls who were last seen at the Martin family’s winery estate. The girls were reportedly invited to stay the night by one of the family members. They were not heard from after their stay but the Martins insist that the girls safely left the property. Therefore, they refused to allow police to search the property. The Special Control Attack Team investigated and discovered a series of tapes.
As five more teenage girls enter the home, one of which is an undercover agent, the player is tasked with ensuring they leave the premises unharmed. As the game’s story line continues, it is revealed that the Martin family is in the process of turning into vampires. The ending of the game depends entirely on who the player chooses to save. The summary of the game sounds relatively harmless, so why did a software rating commission need to be made because of it?
How Night Trap Created The ESRB
The game had elements of B-movies and included warped humor, some of which was considered horrific. Night Trap was one of the two games scrutinized during the 1993 congressional hearings on violent video games; the other was Mortal Kombat (1992). Public concern grew surrounding the video game after claims were made that it included an extreme amount of violence and promoted sexual assault against women. As a result, Night Trap was pulled from the shelves of major video game retailers.
The senate hearings that revolved around Night Trap’s apparent violence resulted in the creation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board that determined the age of appropriateness for video games. The rating system is still used to this day. While the claims against the video game were unfounded and false, it did not stop the mass concern of violent video games. In summation, the video game's inclusion of vampires, potential murder, and the false claims against Night Trap resulted in the creation of ESRB during a moment in history when games depicting violence were massively controversial.
Ultimately, Night Trap was given a “Mature” rating from the ESRB. Since the initial 90s rating, the video game has undergone multiple re-releases and its rating has remained a large part of violent video game debates. In April 2017, for Night Trap’s 25th anniversary, Limited Run Games re-released the game with a “Teen” rating from the ESRB.