Move over BBFC, because as of today the organisation no longer certifies video games and instead the Pan European Game Information takes its place, becoming legally enforceable for the first time.

For several years, the BBFC and PEGI ran in tandem, both apportioning out certificates for games but had its pitfalls. Each system has its own criteria and as such led to some huge discrepancies, partly due to the fact BBFC classifications had their roots in film and don’t necessarily factor in the interactive element. For example the first Mass Effect game was rated 12 by BBFC and 18+ by PEGI, such huge differences meant suggest a significant inconsistency. As the Byron Review of 2007 stated, “having a dual classification system and two sets of symbols often made things confusing for the consumer”. Worse still was that whilst BBFC classifications were legally enforceable, PEGI weren’t not and even when PEGI ratings were often treated as such, they were still merely advisory.

Five years on and PEGI ratings are not only the sole ratings system for video games in the UK, they’re also legally enforceable for the first time. For selling a game to a child under the age of either the 12, 16 or 18 rated PEGI certificates, retailers could be faced with up to 6 years imprisonment and a fine of £5,000. This may be seen as taking a hard line with retailers, and rightly so in some cases, age restricted products should face universal sanctions, but the problems with video game classification grow far deeper.

Back in 2008, an Interactive Software Federation of Europe Nielsen report found that only 49% of parents surveyed found PEGI ratings ‘useful’ when purchasing a game and only 62% were even aware of the European game rating system, suggesting that vast swathes of European parents are either unaware, or simply disregard the ratings.

What could the reasons for this be? A parent wouldn’t often be found actively purchasing an 18-rated film for their children, so why are games seemingly exempt from what seems to many as ‘common sense’?

Games are a relatively young medium, having been around for a comparatively short amount of time compared to other forms, with even less time having mainstream acceptance. Is it possible that this, combined with a view that retail video games are still a pursuit for the juvenile, and as such an 18-rated game is still seen as being suitable for a 12 year-old? Or even something as simple as pier pressure?

Hopefully with the new enforcement of PEGI’s ratings will pave the way for new levels of consumer understanding. Each game now not only comes with an age rating from a single organisation, but PEGI ratings also include content descriptors, a collection of eight icons which aim to universally indicate the content and suitability of the game.

A change in attitudes towards game certification certainly isn’t going to happen over night and even now it seems quite a largely seismic shift in views has to occur following the full implementation of PEGI; an increasing number of ‘parents’ are gamers and have an increased level of understanding about the content of games, but what about those who do not?

The UK Interactive Entertainment organisation has recently launched the Control.Collaborate.Create campaign, which aims to promote the PEGI system, aiding parents in making informed decisions about which games are suitable. ‘Control’ is designed to give parents the know-how to control game content, like parental settings on games consoles, or a thorough understanding of the ratings system. ‘Collaborate’ seeks to encourage parents to directly engage in the games their children and playing and ‘Create’ promotes games as the fantastic, creative medium it is.

Similar is the website askaboutgames, which has involved famous faces like Jo Whiley, as well as competitions and blogs to help inform and educate, connecting players with games which they will get the most out of.

The implementation of a single certification system is certainly a start, and the robust of thorough nature of PEGI will hopefully stand it in good stead for the future. One problem is addressing the overall understanding of video games ratings and whilst a simplified, standardised system is certainly a start, we are far from the end.

Previously video games were rated through either the BBFC or PEGI, the latter having not been legally enforceable until today.

A sole ratings system was originally proposed back in 2009 by The Byron Review, the crux of the reporting being that “having a dual classification system and two sets of symbols often made things confusing for the consumer”.

Under the PEGI system, retailers who fail to adhere to the strict 12, 16 or 18 rated certificates could face up to a maximum 6 years imprisonment and a fine of £5,000. As well as the ratings system, non-numerical symbols are employed to indicative the specific kinds of content to be found in the game, as well as wether it features any online connectivity.

Currently the system ratings system in the UK is shared between Pan European Game Information and the BBFC, but come the 30th, it’ll be just down to PEGI.

In addition, for the first time PEGI ratings will be legally enforceable in the same manner BBFC ratings are, meaning retailers face prosecution if age restrictions aren’t closely observed.

However, the new ratings system is still technically subject to Parliamentary scrutiny and therefore a possibility of a small delay remains.

Jo Twist, CEO of Association for UK Interactive Entertainment stated: “We welcome the news from government that July 30th is now looking the likely date for the implementation of PEGI as the single age rating system for video games in the UK.

“To prepare for the transition to the new system, we’ve already held PEGI briefing sessions to make sure that the industry is clear about what these changes will mean for them.

“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.”

It’ll be no surprise that Resident Evil 6 will carry an 18 certification upon launch, but the game’s cutscenes will run to a whopping 4 hrs and 15 minutes, a run-time that would give Hideo Kojima a run for his money.

Well, actually that’s still under half the total length of non-playable sections in Metal Gear Solid 4.

Allegedly the Resident Evil 6, will be a little less jarring, with seamless interlude between game and spectacle, but in truth that remains to be seen.

Resident Evil 6 hits PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 on 2 October, with PC date yet to be confirmed.

Source: BBFC. 

The BBFC has rated Batman: Arkham City, due for release in October, and has given it a rating of 15+, citing strong violence.

The game features 165 minutes of cutscenes, that is 2 hours 45 minutes of cutscenes in a 40 hour long game. The game looks pretty good, and we can’t wait for its release.

Arkham City is due for release in October for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. A Wii U release in 2012 is also planned.

A BBFC listing outed that a Game of the Year Edition of the highly acclaimed 2010 title, Red Dead Redemption will be released soon.

The GotY Edition, containing the main game and the Undead Nightmare DLC (no other DLC pack was mentioned) will be released in the UK on September 16.

[Eurogamer]

The BBFC has revealed that Resistance 3 will be released with 3 playable demos inside the disc- inFamous 2, Killzone 3 and MotorStorm: Apocalypse, all three playable in 3D and 2D.

They have also revealed that the game includes 90 minutes of cutscenes, and no cuts have been made to the original content. The game has been given an 18+ rating.

Resistance 3 will release later this year on the PS3, and will be the first PS3 title to use Sony’s PSN Pass.

Killzone 3 has been given a rating of 18 by BBFC due to “strong bloody violence and strong language” to be found in the game’s 70 odd minutes worth of cutscenes.

They also informed that the game’s to contain atleast 1.10 hrs worth of cinematics.

Thankfully, the game got the green light without needing any cuts.

In US, the ESRB had rated the game M for “Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language” while Europe’s PEGI is yet to pass its judgement.

Killzone 3 releases on Feb 22 in US with no date in sight for EU as yet. It’s exclusive to PS3.