The market will react on that, so if users frequentyl have problems to start small free
(and of course existing old XP) games, they will either turn off these functions, or someone will offer an alternative
Game Explorer

I got some things mixed up by the way, I didn't apply for a rating, I've applied for getting a username and password, something they either forgot or never send me nor accepted me.

One more question about this though, usually Publishers would take care of letting a product be rated, right? I don't think many developers will actually have to shell out that $3000 or am I wrong in my assumption?

Edit: Mmmm, yes selfpublishing developers would have problems then. I myself was thinking about both using a 3rd party publisher ánd publishing through the internet in the form of downloadable games. I think there's going to be a big 'turn off ESRB rated games only in Vista' banner warning on my site then though,

Cheers

Nah guess publishers are way more interested in the ESRB ratings than developers are, after all the publishers actually sell the thing

Publishers are interested in the ESRB rating because a lot of retail stores (e.g. WalMart) will not stock unrated games.

If you have a good publisher, you probably will not have to worry about getting rated (other than the fact they will probably subtract a "rating fee" from you royalty check) but, when I think about indie developers, I also include self-published developers (I'm sure a couple of you fall into this category).

Not every developer is working on a game that will attract a publisher, so it is important to keep self-published games a possibility.

Everyone that I know young and old, that love gaming, could care less about the ESRB. I think it is a shame that it cost money to get a rating though...it's like when people started buying bottled water, just never felt right, now we're all doing it.....makes you wonder if we're all just getting old.

p.s. MS is the evil empire and we all know it, no plans to upgrade to vista........untill I'm buying ziplock bags full of o2.

already upgraded to vista

It doesn't matter if you upgrade to Vista, when you buy your next PC you'll get Vista (or OSX if you buy Apple hardware). End of story.

Unless you like to be the bleeding edge, I would recommend waiting until you buy a new PC. The current hardware isn't fast enough for this "OS" and Vista really doesn't offer you enough to upgrade for (spotlight, widgets, DRM?).

Hopefully Microsoft will give me lots of gifts at this years GDC to change my mind but, so far, there isn't a reason to upgrade.

Maybe I'm too dumb posting this,but
I think I can find just one good use of rated games in the game explorer.
.It will be like a "parental lock" for unrated games,unless Vista allows
even a kid to turn that off