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PEGI Unveils New Ratings Symbols

Tom Ivan's picture

By Tom Ivan

June 17, 2009

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PEGI has revealed a new set of age rating and classification symbols that will be applied to European videogames.

Five age rating symbols - 3+, 7+, 12+, 16+ and 18+ - will appear on the front and back of game packaging, shaded from green through yellow to red. A PEGI OK label will also be applied to “small online (casual) games,” meaning the title in question is suitable for players of all ages.

Eight descriptor symbols - Violence, Bad Language, Fear, Drugs, Sexual, Discrimination, Gambling, Online Gameplay – will feature on the back of game packaging, indicating the main reasons why a game has received a particular age rating.

PEGI will also include extended consumer advice further detailing why a game received its classification. For example, the advice will highlight “extreme violence, criminal techniques, glamorisation of crime, strong language, comic violence, nudity, strong language and unrealistic violence,” PEGI says.

Yesterday the Department of Culture, Media and Sport announced plans to adopt PEGI as the sole age ratings system for videogames in the UK.

Agent75's picture
On June 20th Agent75 said:

These ratings (or any other ratings) stop kids from going into stores and buying games, but how many parents buy these games for their kids? I'd say most parents. I bet most kids aged say between 7 and 16 have played GTA games. So all in all, these age ratings don't do much to combat kids from playing games they shouldn't be playing. Same goes for movies. The ratings help to stop the sale of games, they'll never stop kids from playing them. Waste of time and money as usual.....

Alex Walker's picture
On June 17th Alex Walker said:

The ratings will be enforced, as they will be replacing the BBFC ones, which are legally enforceable. GAME already enforce all ratings, a member of staff in a north east store was recently sacked for attempting to sell an 18 rated game to a minor. I can't imagine any other stores being too different.

I agree though that PEGI is the wrong choice. Some people have problem with them over Manhunt 2, but they have been doing it for years, have wide public recognition, and have more staff. PEGI, being Europe wide cannot take account of cultural factors in the same way the BBFC can.

There should be a UK specific body, and if it is felt that the BBFC are not the right body, a new one should be set up. PEGI simply don't fit.

PikaPies's picture
On June 17th PikaPies said:

Personally, I think that the BBFC ratings are better at getting the point across. I work in games retail, and far too many parents think that PEGI are difficulty ratings.
Although, that said, this new "traffic light" system, and the fact that there is only one rating should help that.
Not that any parents are going to pay attention to the new ratings, they never have in the past.

alexkidd's picture
On June 17th alexkidd said:

Much better then the monochrome ratings anyway.

I think I must be the only person who thinks the decision should have gone with the BBFC though...

Wrestlevania's picture
On June 17th Wrestlevania said:

Still no cock and balls monogram, then? David Cage will be disappointed.

ohms's picture
On June 17th ohms said:

Straightforward enough.

Will they be enforced though. Will there be consequences for retailers who sell 18/16 games to minors? otherwise it's just as pointless as the old system. Also, how can online retailers possibly know who's buying the game, or who it's being bought for.

The amount of kids I've seen, or I know, who's parents have bought them GTA games, or other inappropriate games is pretty ridiculous. There's no way or enforcing that. There needs to be an awareness that games have moved on from Dig Dug, visually. But many are still ignorant of the adult content and graphic nature of some games today, or think "it's just a game". Some kind of ad campaign could address this maybe.