UK government gets tough on video game age ratings

[Happenstance]

The system for giving video games age ratings in the UK has been revamped, with the government promising that non-compliance will be more thoroughly policed.

 

As reported by the BBC, games will now be rated by the Video Standards Council in line with Europe-wide standards, rather than the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).

 

The VSC will rate games to PEGI specifications and then ensure retailers are abiding by them. For the first time, any retailer selling a game to a child under the advertised age restriction can face time in prison.

 

However, the new ratings only apply to games bought on the high street - online purchases are exempt.

 

"It will give parents greater confidence that their children can only get suitable games while we are creating a simpler system for the industry having their games age-rated," explained Creative Industries Minister Ed Vaizey

 

The move was met with enthusiasm by the various industry bodies.

 

UKIE stated that the new system offers customers "much needed clarity".

 

"We are also in the planning stages of a major awareness campaign to help the public understand the system and other aspects of responsible gaming as soon as PEGI becomes law in the UK," said CEO Jo Twist.

 

TIGA exec Richard Wilson said that the new system is a necessary evolutionary step for the industry.

 

"The fact there are criminal sanctions in place will mean that retailers will want to train and support their staff," he added.

 

The new system is expected to be in place by July this year.

 

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-05-10-uk-game-age-ratings-revamped

 

 

This is good to see. Too often you'll get parents complaining about seeing their children playing violent games despite the fact that they probably bought them themselves anyway. I think we've needed a system closer to movie ratings and stores that will actually enforce those ratings.

[Mokong]

I wish the Irish government would enact some laws to make game age ratings more relevent.

 

I remember one day in my local I heard a staff member refuse to sell an 18 rated DVD to some 16 years old.... then a few days later I heard the same staff member talking to a parent of what I'm guessing was a 10year old (who just bought some new PS3 game) and asking if her son played any of the previous Call of Duty games, cause they were now taking pre-orders on Modern Warfare 3

 

[The Peeps]

I bet most of the time when younger kids are playing 18 rated games it's the parents that bought it in the first place, so it might not change much in the way of parents blaming violent videogames for their shitty children. Hopefully there will be some kind of marketing campaign as well.

 

It's about time the age ratings were properly enforced really. I actually don't think age ratings are that fair because a 15 year old could easily watch an 18 rated film and not be scarred for life or anything... but it should at least stop videogames from getting such a bad reputation if more parents understand that games have age restrictions.

[Magnus]

This is good to see. Too often you'll get parents complaining about seeing their children playing violent games despite the fact that they probably bought them themselves anyway.

I'm not sure how this is going to stop parents from buying violent games for their kids?

[Coolness Bears]

This will change nothing.

 

If a kid wants to play a game, it will find a way to play the game. I KNOW.

 

I was kid once.

[Cube]

I was kid once.

 

You still are.

[EEVILMURRAY]

I'm not sure how this is going to stop parents from buying violent games for their kids?

I agree, the parents aren't that stupid. They see an age rating on a game and simply don't care.

[MoogleViper]

I think the main point is to remove blame from the industry/retailers, and stop the whole "GTA turned my 10 year old son into a serial killer and rapist!"

[Yvonne]

I think it's unnecessary to pander to this though, because games don't turn people into serial killers. Brb gonna plan a bombing on source engine map editor or something

[MoogleViper]

I think it's unnecessary to pander to this though, because games don't turn people into serial killers. Brb gonna plan a bombing on source engine map editor or something

 

You're saying they have no effect at all? I wouldn't let my 8 year old kid watch porn or Saw or Texas Chainsaw Massacre etc. So why would I let him sleep with hookers and then beat them to death?

 

No, games don't turn people into serial killers, but exposing young children to graphic images, no matter what the medium, will undoubtedly have repercussions.

[Happenstance]

Im just amazed that shops selling to whatever age has gone on as long as it has. The games industry gets so much bad press over violent games etc but rarely do you see someone ask the parents why these kids own the games in the first place, whether its the parents themselves that bought it or a store selling a game. If the monitoring of this is tightened up then you would hope things would get better. Moogle's comparison to the movie industry is exactly right.

[EEVILMURRAY]

I think the main point is to remove blame from the industry/retailers, and stop the whole "GTA turned my 10 year old son into a serial killer and rapist!"

Perhaps, but even in those cases it could still have been the parent who bought the game. This is just stores saying that "if it happens again it's more than likely going to be the parents than us, since we said we'd be cracking down."

[MoogleViper]

Perhaps, but even in those cases it could still have been the parent who bought the game. This is just stores saying that "if it happens again it's more than likely going to be the parents than us, since we said we'd be cracking down."

 

Yes it probably was, but if it was enforced then the industry could wash their hands of all blame (online retail is possibly another matter), and therefore say "the only reason your child is playing these games is because you bought it for them".

 

Similar to the think 21/25 rules. In most cases it probably won't stop underage drinking. But Tesco et al are no longer being blamed.

[heroicjanitor]

You're saying they have no effect at all? I wouldn't let my 8 year old kid watch porn or Saw or Texas Chainsaw Massacre etc. So why would I let him sleep with hookers and then beat them to death?

 

No, games don't turn people into serial killers, but exposing young children to graphic images, no matter what the medium, will undoubtedly have repercussions.

 

Prove it :p I prefer when statements given as fact have some evidence behind them. I don't think kids know enough to realise what they are doing in games. Unless it's very up close and violent like Saw or Manhunt or something, it is like cartoon violence. "Sleep with hookers and beat them to death" is technically what it is doing but it is not real, so it is cartoon. Put an age rating on Tom and Jerry? "Jerry smashes his hand with a hammer and sets him on fire". The fact that you would take an interest in what your kid does is what would keep them from being serial killers.

[Ashley]

I'd love it if the rating box on the next GTA said "contains comical mischief".

[flameboy]

This move is totally missing the point.

 

Parents need educating on how to make responsible decisions as parents about what they should be subjecting their children to in all forms of media not just videogames. When I worked in retail the number of times I had parents with kids buying games for kids who weren't old enough. It happened more so when I worked in Sheffield (no idea why) and I know technically I could have refused sale to parents but to be honest I didn't fancy spending the majority of my day arguing and on a number of occasions I was undermined by management when the staff complained so meh. Moving from the BBFC to another rating doesn't stop this mentality.

 

I do feel there is a case of hey let's blame the ills of society on videogames how can we been seen to taking measures against it? Hell there are plenty of bigger problems this country is facing than our children playing violent games (of which there is still no iron cast proof have any lasting effects on children, I'm not counting those impressionable enough that anything will stimulate violent/other tendencies)