The Age Gate Confuses Me

I don't understand the way we determine an Age Gate is needed. I understand the need to have one, but I don't get why some videos have them and others don't. For example: Army of Two: The 40th Day has an Age Gate even though there is no visible blood, bad language, nudity, etc. but the Quick Look of X-Men Origins: Wolverine doesn't have an age verification even though it is very graphic and violent.

Is there a point to having one if we don't even use it right?

I know nothing about this sort of thing, but since the army of two is a promotional video provided by the publishers, perhaps they demand that it has an age gate to cover their asses? And since the Quick look of xmen is recorded by the staff, so they don't have restrictions imposed by the publishers? That's my guess.

I've never understood the usefulness of such things online. Well, I can understand covering their asses for legal purposes but I mean in practical use. People can simply enter whatever age or birthdate they please. So, how is it really stopping anyone?

"I know nothing about this sort of thing, but since the army of two is a promotional video provided by the publishers, perhaps they demand that it has an age gate to cover their asses? And since the Quick look of xmen is recorded by the staff, so they don't have restrictions imposed by the publishers? That's my guess."

I have always assumed it's done according to ratings. if a game has yet to be rated, it's sometimes given a age gate as a precautionary measure.

"I have always assumed it's done according to ratings. if a game has yet to be rated, it's sometimes given a age gate as a precautionary measure. "

1982.  That's always the correct answer.

"jakob187 said:

"1982.  That's always the correct answer.

Consider your confusion unconfused!

"

Damn.

I thought it was 1984.

"

As I understand it, Age Gates are formed not at the behest of the companies themselves, but rather are issues by the ESRB. The Ratings Board decides if a product needs to be age gated.
But I've also heard that the ESRB requires that websites with a large majority of it's audience under the age of 17 (The M Rating) has to age gate mature rated products.....
Oh man....It just sounds like a huge nightmare. It's all designed to keep any of the companies(game dev, publisher, ESRB or website) from being culpable in case something in the media does come up.
What a mess.

"jakob187 said:

"1982.  That's always the correct answer.

Consider your confusion unconfused!

"

Damn.

I thought it was 1984.

"