The ESRB video game ratings are a two-part system. Rating symbols on the front of most game packages provide an age recommendation, such as EC (Early Childhood 3+), E (Everyone 6+), E10+ (Everyone 10 and up), T (Teen 13+) and M (Mature 17+). On the back of each game’s package, next to the rating, are content descriptors that tell what’s in the game that may have triggered the rating, or may be of interest or concern to parents.

Parents can check out game ratings from home at . The rating board has also launched a new fast loading website, m.esrb.org, for use on mobile phones. This will allow parents to search for rating information on their cell phones, right from the store, when trying to make a decision about which game to buy. The bottom line: Children aren’t allowed into theaters to watch X-rated movies and they shouldn’t be playing M-rated video games at home.

There are some nice new games out there for kids. A refreshed version of Weblings, is now freely available to all players. Weblings brings a host of fun new characters to collect and train for battles against nasty “bugs” lurking on sites across the Web. Weblings is played via the Wurl Bar for Firefox and Internet Explorer, a download that instantly turns any computer and the Web into a social online game experience. Sign up to play through .

Mario has just returned exclusively for the Nintento Wii. Super Mario Galaxy 2 () lets players take control of Mario as he travels on an outer space adventure, collecting Power Stars and striving to rescue Princess Peach from the wicked Bowser. For the first time in this series, players can hop on the back of Mario’s pal Yoshi, who aids him on his quest. Also, players now can choose to play as Mario or later in the game in select stages as his brother, Luigi.

PlayStation gamers will be happy to know that Toy Story 3 just released last week and it has exclusive content for the PlayStation 3. The villain, Emperor Zurg, will be a playable character only on the PS3 — although the game itself is available on all major gaming platforms. Additionally, Toy Story 3 is one of the first games to feature PlayStationMove’s motion controller compatible gameplay. PS3 players will be able to download mini-games that will be playable with the PlayStation Move when the new motion controller is available this fall.