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UK changes how video games are age-rated

Written by James Delahunty @ 10 May 2012 2:35 User comments (4)

UK changes how video games are age-rated Government says new system is simpler.
In the UK, video games have been rated by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). Now, the responsibility is being passed on to the Video Standards Council (VSC), which will rate games to the specifications of the Pan European Game Information (Pegi) system. The change is expected to happen in July.

The BBFC will still be called upon at times to judge titles that contain gross violence, or strong sexual material.

The changes now mean that there can be criminal punishment, potentially jail time, for selling a game to a child younger than the title is rated for. The new ratings only apply to in-store purchases, and not to games sold over the Internet.

"It will give parents greater confidence that their children can only get suitable games while we are creating a simpler system for industry having their games age-rated," said Creative Industries Minister Ed Vaizey.

The UK games industry's trade association, Tiga, has backed the switch to the Pegi system. "It simplifies the system," said Tiga's Richard Wilson. "The Pegi system is reasonably easy to understand. The fact there are criminal sanctions in place will mean that retailers will want to train and support their staff."

Tags: UK TIGA
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4 user comments

110.5.2012 16:30

Here's an idea, make the parents be parents, an under age kid will most likely get the money to buy the game from their parents or the parents will just go to the game store and buy it.

It only takes a few minutes to hop on youtube and watch a trailer so you can decide if you want your child playing the game or not.

210.5.2012 21:18

Originally posted by snake2:
Here's an idea, make the parents be parents, an under age kid will most likely get the money to buy the game from their parents or the parents will just go to the game store and buy it.

It only takes a few minutes to hop on youtube and watch a trailer so you can decide if you want your child playing the game or not.
agree

311.5.2012 02:11

Originally posted by snake2:
Here's an idea, make the parents be parents, an under age kid will most likely get the money to buy the game from their parents or the parents will just go to the game store and buy it.

It only takes a few minutes to hop on youtube and watch a trailer so you can decide if you want your child playing the game or not.
or even more importantly sort out the mess the country is in and stop worrying about the trivial matters

411.5.2012 11:34

Next thing we know, if they do catch under age playing rated M games, the parents get jail time too .. If they going to make this an issue, they should make one for rated R movies as well .... jail time for selling under age rated R movies.

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