PEGI To Now Become Preferred Ratings System In UK
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport decided to adopt PEGI as the sole age ratings system for games in the U.K. The ELSPA trade organization, which has strongly supported the PEGI system, was elated at the news. IndustryGamers reports. Check it out:
The PEGI with the support of the BBFC has updated the rating labels which are now color coded.
“The Government has made absolutely the right decision for child safety. By choosing PEGI as the single classification system in the U.K., British children will now get the best possible protection when playing videogames either on a console or on the internet. Parents can be assured that they will have access to clear, uniform ratings on games and an accurate understanding of game content," said Mike Rawlinson, Director General of ELSPA. "Today’s decision will ensure that games ratings stay relevant and adapt to the changing nature of videogames for many years to come. Retailers will now have clear, legal backing to help them prevent access to unsuitable content by children. We will work closely with the Government, the Video Standards Council and the BBFC to ensure a smooth and rapid transition to this new ratings system.”
The Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE), which is responsible for running PEGI, gave a similarly positive response.
“This decision by the British government to adopt PEGI as the single ratings system for videogames in the U.K. will give British children the same protection whether they are playing at home or online, as children in 28 countries across Europe," said Simon Little of the ISFE. "PEGI meets the criteria set out by Professor Byron in her review and has also been further updated to take into account developments in new technology as game playing moves increasingly online and becomes increasingly interactive. It is a robust system which protects children online and offline. We will continue to ensure that PEGI remains the most relevant and effective system for helping parents, guardians, teachers and retailers to protect children both now and in the future.”
Various publishers in the video gaming industry were also pleased with the move, with Ubisoft, Nintendo, Sega, Microsoft and Mastertronic all issuing statements in favor of PEGI's adoption. Less pleased with the decision was the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), which was hoping to have its own system approved by the British government instead of PEGI.
“The BBFC has always supported PEGI and wished it well, but it continues to believe that it satisfies these requirements better than PEGI," said BBFC Director David Cooke. "However, it will cooperate fully in the detailed work needed to give effect to the Government’s decision.”
The Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE), which is responsible for running PEGI, gave a similarly positive response.
“This decision by the British government to adopt PEGI as the single ratings system for videogames in the U.K. will give British children the same protection whether they are playing at home or online, as children in 28 countries across Europe," said Simon Little of the ISFE. "PEGI meets the criteria set out by Professor Byron in her review and has also been further updated to take into account developments in new technology as game playing moves increasingly online and becomes increasingly interactive. It is a robust system which protects children online and offline. We will continue to ensure that PEGI remains the most relevant and effective system for helping parents, guardians, teachers and retailers to protect children both now and in the future.”
Various publishers in the video gaming industry were also pleased with the move, with Ubisoft, Nintendo, Sega, Microsoft and Mastertronic all issuing statements in favor of PEGI's adoption. Less pleased with the decision was the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), which was hoping to have its own system approved by the British government instead of PEGI.
“The BBFC has always supported PEGI and wished it well, but it continues to believe that it satisfies these requirements better than PEGI," said BBFC Director David Cooke. "However, it will cooperate fully in the detailed work needed to give effect to the Government’s decision.”
The PEGI with the support of the BBFC has updated the rating labels which are now color coded.
Comment