The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is no doubt pleased with the findings of an undercover study conducted by the Federal Trade Commission, which today concluded that the North American video game industry was the most effective at enforcing age-based ratings.

The FTC's survey highlighted that 87 percent of video game retailers refused sales of age-restricted software to minors who were in fact working incognito for the purpose of the study; only 13 underage shoppers managed to get away with purchasing software rated "M" (for consumers aged 17+ or older) by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB).

These results for the gaming industry are unchanged from the previous year's findings, but they're still enough to convince the FTC that it enjoys the "highest level of compliance" when it comes to entertainment ratings enforcement compared to industries including music and movies/home video.

Naturally the ESA was quick to laud the FTC's findings as vindication that the ESRB ratings system is the "gold standard in entertainment ratings", and they'll certainly provide some welcome proof that the ratings are an indeed effective system the next time the gaming industry comes under fire for peddling sex, drugs and violence to youth.