PEGI Ratings PEGI age rating labels appear on front and back of the packaging at one of the following age levels - 3+, 7+, 12+, 16+ and 18+. They provide an indication of the suitability of the game content in terms of protection of minors. The age rating does not take into account the difficulty level or skills required to play a game. === PEGI3 The content of games given this rating is considered suitable for all age groups. Some violence in a comical context (typically Bugs Bunny or Tom & Jerry cartoon- like forms of violence) is acceptable. The child should not be able to associate the character on the screen with real life characters, they should be totally fantasy. The game should not contain any sounds or pictures that are likely to scare or frighten young children. No bad language should be heard and there should be no scenes containing nudity nor any referring to sexual activity. o PEGI7 Any game that would normally be rated at 3+ but contains some possibly frightening scenes or sounds may be considered suitable in this category. Some scenes of partial nudity may be permitted but never in a sexual context. i PEGI 12 Video games that show violence of a slightly more graphic nature towards fantasy character and/or non graphic violence towards human-looking characters or recognisable animals, as well as video games that show nudity of a slightly more graphic nature would fall in this age category. Any bad language in this category must be mild and fall short of sexual expletives. 16] =a PEGI 16 This rating is applied once the depiction of violence (or sexual activity) reaches a stage that looks the same as would be expected in real life. More extreme bad language, the concept of the use of tobacco and drugs and the depiction of criminal activities can be content of games that are rated 16+.18} ==e= PEGI18 The adult classification is applied when the level of violence reaches a stage where it becomes depictions of gross violence and/or includes elements of specific types of violence. Gross violence is the most difficult to define since in a lot of cases it can be very subjective, but in general terms it can be classed as the depictions of violence that would make the viewer feel a sense of revulsionPan PEGI Rating —_http://www,pegi,info/en/index/ European Come Pan European Game Information (PEGI) is a European video game content sag. tating system established to help European parents make informed decisions Infornaion 388 5 ip European ‘on buying computer games with logos on games boxes. It was developed by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE) and came into use in April 2003; It replaced many national age rating systems with a single European system. The PEGI system is now used in more than thirty countries and is. based on a code of conduct, a set of rules to which every publisher using the PEGI system is contractually committed. PEGI self-regulation is composed by five age categories and eight content descriptors that advise the suitability and content of a game for a certain age range based on the games content. The age rating does not indicate the difficulty of the game or the skill required to play it. Ratings: 3, 7, 12, 16, 18 ‘As of August 2010, PEGI has rated more than 15,000 games. 50% of the games were rated 3, 10% were rated 7, 24% were rated 12, 12% were rated 16 and only 4% were 18. On 16 June 2009, it was declared by the UK's Department of Culture, Media and Sport that PEGI would become the sole classification system for videogames and software in the United Kingdom. This became law in July 2012, “Selling video games with 2 "12" rating to underage children will now be a criminal offence punishable with a hefty fine or even a prison sentence.” (htto: cculture.gov.uk/news/news.stories/9249.as0x) “The maximum punishment for selling a non-exempt video game to someone who does not meet the age classification is up to six months in prison and a fine of up to £5,000, Supplying a non-exempt game without an age- rating will be punishable by up to two years in prison and an unlimited fine.” ( Content descriptors: Violence Bad Language Fear Drugs Gambling Discrimination Online (for more ia ndg tery earn ed ja.ore/wik rs ion) PEGI ratings used to be advisory so it was not illegal to sell the game to anyone under the indicated age. Despite ‘his many UK reales cd enforce the PEG retings. From uty2012, PEGI replaced BBFC asthe legal enforceable The Video Standards Council has been given the power to enforce PEGI standards. PEGI will rate the games, but the VSC will make sure the ratings are followed. Not only that, but they will have the ability to ban games and punish companies. The VSC has now announced the formation of an Expert Advisory Panel that will be putting together a set of criteria ‘that will be used to evaluate the possibility of banning a videogame from sale. The newly announced panel of advisers is made up of: Tanya Byron, who conducted a review for the British government related to videogames, Guy Cumberbatch, an expert on videogame violence, Geoffrey Robertson, who specializes on the legal side of media, Mary MacLeod, a former Family and Parenting Institute director, Tony Lake, ‘the former Lincolnshire Police chief constable, and Chris Atkinson, who heads the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. They will be consulted every time the VSC is considering banning any videogame from sales in the United Kingdom.