If you have a look at your computer game boxes, you will see either one of two age ratings on the front; PEGI (Pan-European Game Information) and BBFC (British Board of Film Classification).
BBFC tended to be used for more violent games, whereas games suitable for younger audiences used PEGI.
From now on, expect to find only PEGI rating systems on game boxes.
The change is to make it more clear for parents what games are suitable for their children to play, and what games simply are not.
The minimum age on the cover isn’t just a guideline either as it is illegal for a retailer to sell a game to a younger person than stated.
The decision was made after Ukie (The Association of UK Interactive Entertainment) revealed the poll results filled in by 1000 parents with children under 18 years of age.
Nearly 92% of parents believed that video games can have a beneficial effect on a child, with 58% saying they offer educational benefits, 53% saying they make them more creative, and 77% saying they provide entertainment.
The shock comes when 34% of parents admitted to buying a game unsuitable for their child.
86% of parents however said that the new PEGI system is certainly required with almost a third saying it will make them more aware of what games they buy in the future.
Professor Tanya Byron, consultant clinical psychologist, independent government advisor on children, young people and digital media, as well as mother of two, said of the findings: “It’s great to see that parents recognise that playing video games can form a positive part of their children’s activities. Video games can be a great educational resource that can also fuel children’s creativity. It would be great to see parents taking an interest in their children’s video game playing. This can involve taking direct control of what games their children play at home, how they play them and for how long through taking note of the PEGI ratings, as well as using parental controls which are in-built on all modern video games consoles. What’s more, it would be great to see more parents joining in the fun of playing video games together as a family.”
Ukie has launched the Control.Collaborate.Create. campaign to mark the new change in legislation, re-launching the www.askaboutgames.com website. It provides parents and the industry further information on the ratings, and offers real family stories and suggestions on how video games can be both a creative and collaborative experience for families.
“We very much believe that the sole adoption of PEGI will provide clear and consistent direction on age ratings for parents and will be a vital tool in helping them to understand the types of games that their children should be playing.”
Jo Whiley says: “My family and I love playing video games together, but as a parent I know it can sometimes be hard to know the best games to choose. That’s why I’m pleased to be supporting the Control.Collaborate.Create. campaign. This campaign, and the implementation of PEGI as the single age rating system for video games in the UK, will make it easier than ever for parents to make the best video games choices for their whole family.”
She has also released a video as part of the campaign to help make parents aware of what their children play, and for how long. She also goes into how to lock down game consoles for more parental control.
The Games Ratings Authority (GRA), the operating name of The Video Standards Council will be responsible for the new PEGI specifications.
Laurie Hall, Director-General of the VSC says: “Although the VSC has been rating games using the PEGI system since 2003, our role as the UK statutory video games regulator provides a new and challenging dimension to our work which, as always, places child-protection and parental information at the forefront of what we do. We look forward to our new role with relish using a proven games ratings information system.”
Retailers welcomed this new change, saying:
“GAME and gamestation apply rigorous training and audit standards to make sure that PEGI is understood by colleagues and customers alike. The framework is very clear and ensures that we guide customers correctly and responsibly. We’re hugely supportive of PEGI in this new era.” said Anna-Marie Mason, Marketing Director at GAME Retail Ltd
Kim Bayley, Director General of the Entertainment Retailers Association, said: “Entertainment retailers are well used to administering ratings schemes, having worked for many years with the Video Standards Council on age rated video and games products. We are delighted that the new PEGI games ratings regime has come into effect today.
“Retailers have worked hard with their suppliers to ensure a successful introduction of the new system, which we believe will provide greater clarity for consumers and in particular reassurance to parents that the games their children play are appropriate to their age.”
For more information, visit these links:
www.askaboutgames.com, www.pegi.info and www.videostandards.org.uk/GRA
