I for one welcome our new PEGI overlords.
17/06/2009 05:44 am
As detailed in a story on GI.biz (here) the UK government have finally decided that video games sold in the UK will now be rated exclusively by the pan European ratings body PEGI. This finally eliminates the long running dual ratings system in which PEGI (http://www.pegi.info/en/index/) rated games that did not require a UK 18 rating and the BBFC (http://www.bbfc.co.uk/) would rate games that required an 18 rating.
The past
The BBFC was designated as a body able to classify movies (and games) under the Video Recordings Act 1984. However it was not a legal requirement to get a game classified unless it meets the criteria necessary for it to be classified 18 or 18R.
| The BBFC classifies videos, DVDs and some video games under the Video Recordings Act 1984. (The video games covered by the VRA are those whose exemption is forfeited under section 2(2) because they depict human sexual activity, gross violence or other matters of concern.) |
For those games that didn’t meet the requirements for an 18 rating there was a voluntary ratings system in place. It was down to the developer/publisher to ensure they submitted to the right system and if you distributed a film/game without an 18 classification, which was later found to require an 18 rating, you could face a hefty fine and/or imprisonment.
As of now
Following the Byron report and some hard lobbying by various trade bodies the UK government have decided that the BBFC will no longer be involved in rating games. The PEGI system will be adopted for all games, thus eliminating the annoying duel system. This new process will be managed in the UK by The Video Standards Council (VSC/PEGI Article)
As a small independent developer looking to self-publish some of our titles we welcome our new PEGI overlords. Anything that simplifies the age rating process is a good thing for us.
