Video Games May Get Nielsen-Type Ratings

Electronic Arts Inc., Activision Inc. and other video game makers may have their games rated for popularity just as television programs are, possibly creating new advertising sales, say analysts who follow the firms.

New versions of game machines from Microsoft Corp. and Sony Corp. will have connections for online game play that will allow monitoring of how many people play a game and for how long, Bobby Kotick, Activision’s chief executive, said at a presentation with Nielsen Entertainment, a division of VNU.