RSAC V: 2

Full Name: Recreational Software Advisory Council
Country: North America
Founded: Circa 1993/3
Discontinued: 1999 - reformed into the Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA)

The Recreational Software Advisory Council was an independent, non-profit organization founded in the U.S. in 1994 by the Software Publishers Association as well as six other industry leaders in response to video game controversy and threats of government regulation. The RSAC ratings were based on the research of Dr. Donald F. Roberts of Stanford University who studied media and its effect on children.

Unlike most rating systems in place today, RSAC used a system that consisted of 3 categories (Violence, Nudity/Sex, Language) and a 'severity level' rating for each category, ranging from All (safe for everyone) to 4 (adult only). Games contained all three categories on the box: RSAC L (language), RSAC N/S (Nudity/Sex) and RSAC V (Violence).