U.K. Govt. to Tighten Game Ratings, Favors BBFC over PEGI
U.K. Govt. to Tighten Game Ratings, Favors BBFC over PEGI
July 30, 2008
In the ongoing debate over which content rating scheme to use, British government officials appear to be coming down on the side of the BBFC rather than the PEGI system favored by the video game industry.
As reported by the Telegraph, on Thursday government ministers will issue proposals to tighten rules concerning ratings and expand the role of the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) in rating games:
All computer games will have to carry cinema-style age classifications under new Government plans to protect children from scenes of explicit sex and disturbing violence.
Online computer games where players interact with strangers via the internet also face new classification rules for the first time.
The official action is being taken in response to recommendations made by Dr. Tanya Byron (left). The TV psychologist undertook a government-funded study in 2007 to examine the effects of video games and the Internet on children.
The Telegraph predicts a "fierce backlash" from UK game publishers:
Many games makers have strongly opposed moves to expand the BBFC's role in classifying games. The [game industry] group will today host a meeting in London of software chief executives to discuss how best to resist the expansion of the BBFC's role in rating games.
Games makers are mounting a lobbying campaign to discredit the BBFC, arguing that it lacks the expertise for the task. Games makers argue that parental education about games is more important than new classification rules.
While the industry may think the BBFC too restrictive, at the other end of the spectrum, Conservative Parliamentarian Julian Brazier believes the organization isn't tough enough:
The guidelines are too weak on the part of the BBFC. I don't believe it is an adequate guarantor of standards. Only the [video game] industry can appeal the BBFC's decisions, so in practice, classifications can only be reduced. We should have a system like that in Australia, where any member of the general public can ask for an age classification to be reviewed.
The BBFC is best known in the gaming community for its controversial 2007 decision to ban Manhunt 2. That ruling was later overturned on appeal.
The Telegraph is also running an FAQ on the government plan which mentions the government timetable:
Ministers will on Thursday open a four-month consultation on their proposals, trying to win agreement from the games industry for tighter classification. The final rules will be drawn up after that and are likely to be implemented next year.
A PUBLICATION OF THE ECA
SUBSCRIBE
LOGINGamePolitics ShoutBox
Posted 11/20/08 at 12:08pm
KN: back to miscarriages
KN: back to miscarriages
Posted 11/20/08 at 12:08pm
KN: they're both horrible and contribute nothing to society sooo
KN: they're both horrible and contribute nothing to society sooo
Posted 11/20/08 at 12:06pm
KN: PETA likes using the phrase "ANIMAL HOLOCAUST" and the JDL is a group of batfuck insane jews who would sperg out over this
KN: PETA likes using the phrase "ANIMAL HOLOCAUST" and the JDL is a group of batfuck insane jews who would sperg out over this
Posted 11/20/08 at 12:05pm
KN: I really wish I didn't have to buckleybox jokes but here we go
KN: I really wish I didn't have to buckleybox jokes but here we go
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:59am
Baruch_S: They should make a kosher Cooking Mama for the Jewish gamers.
Baruch_S: They should make a kosher Cooking Mama for the Jewish gamers.
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:55am
KN: cage match
KN: cage match
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:55am
KN: Jewish Defense League VS PETA
KN: Jewish Defense League VS PETA
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:54am
PHX Corp: see update at the bottom for what's going to happen to those Teens over killing the cat
PHX Corp: see update at the bottom for what's going to happen to those Teens over killing the cat
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:53am
Baruch_S: @NovaBlack: Nice find. I hate to tell PETA this, but I'm still have turkey for Thanksgiving.
Baruch_S: @NovaBlack: Nice find. I hate to tell PETA this, but I'm still have turkey for Thanksgiving.
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:49am
NovaBlack: got a link to that thread? i cant find it :S
NovaBlack: got a link to that thread? i cant find it :S
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:48am
NovaBlack: lol PETA responds to majesco... http://kotaku.com/5094386/peta-beats-a-dead-horse-asks-for-veggie-cooking-mama
NovaBlack: lol PETA responds to majesco... http://kotaku.com/5094386/peta-beats-a-dead-horse-asks-for-veggie-cooking-mama
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:47am
KN: coo'
KN: coo'
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:45am
JDKJ: @KN: The Thread in the ECA Forum.
JDKJ: @KN: The Thread in the ECA Forum.
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:40am
KN: what thread
KN: what thread
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:39am
nightwng2000: For interested parties, head over to The Thread for, very possibly, the FINAL update. 2 Minutes to post time. :)
nightwng2000: For interested parties, head over to The Thread for, very possibly, the FINAL update. 2 Minutes to post time. :)
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:38am
KN: ok frontpage tell me about frontpage kid. Gimme some gold
KN: ok frontpage tell me about frontpage kid. Gimme some gold
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:35am
Shadow D. Darkman: *sigh* FAIL.
Shadow D. Darkman: *sigh* FAIL.
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:34am
KN: it's frontpage kid!
KN: it's frontpage kid!
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:33am
Shadow D. Darkman: *facepalm*
Shadow D. Darkman: *facepalm*
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:31am
KN: sup frontpage
KN: sup frontpage
Copyright © 2007 ECA. All rights reserved.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
Is it just me or has the British become more and more paranoid lately?
Welcome to Jack Thompson world, aka:THE UK!
(No offense to you brits, I know quite a few of you guys)
Fuck off you patronising cunt.
Troll much?
-Loudspeaker
"Volume helps to get a point across but sharp teeth are better."
To be fair, it was quite patronising to us from the UK.
he's referring to uk the government, not uk the people
It's still rubbish.
Like calling America Jack Thompson land because a number of politicians spread across the country want to bring in stupid bans etc.
I know this is going to sound ocmpletely unrelated to the conversation at hand but I'm wondering what Brian May's position on this is.......he is a chancelor at a university in the UK and rock musicians do tend to be saner so I wonder what he would think of all this debacle over the ratings of video games...
I'm really not sure that the UK gaming industry has made a compelling case that the BBFC is not up to the job. They rate plenty of films, why do they believe they can't ramp up their operation to rate games?
Having said that, there is probably some merit in having a pan europe rating system. If only because it means that each country does not have to have their own version of the BBFC, and thereby pushing up the cost of rating games.
I would also agree that there needs to be a better explination on the boxes of games about the potential online environment. This is particularly important now that the experience wildly varies between titles now. A simple demonstration of this is the different between the online components of games on the Wii and those of the 360 and PS3, one is pretty safe for small children, the others will more than likely contain unwanted material if the parental controls are not configured correctly.
Here's the compelling case...
Manhunt 2. Despite worse films being released, BBFC pretty much stamped their foot on the ground and screamed like a child because a game they wanted banned was getting released. And then they fought and fought and fought it. Ultimately proving the BBFC is not only sore losers (confirming MANY complaints from directors), but also quite keen on censorship itself. When you have a rating body that is interested in telling adults what they can and cannot have access to, there is the danger.
Plus, as an added bonus, PEGI rates games. They know the media itself and undeerstand the dangers therein. BBFC, simply put, doesn't. And their eyes ON that prize is simply for the money it will bring in.
You're not English, are you?
Well the key point with the unacceptable banning argument is that the de-facto Manhunt ban was overturned. More than this in the history of the BBFC they have only ever banned two games, in each of these cases they were overturned. Given that they have only actually attempted to ban two games, it would be more than a little incorrect to characterise them as some mad games banning organisation.
On the note about PEGI understanding games better, I'm not really sure if just because they only rate games means that they understand them better. My understanding of the way in which the two organisations rate games is as follows:
PEGI - A self assement questionaire, or in other words a box ticking exercise.
BBFC - They have a team of reviewers that actually play the games through (as best is possible), in combination with watching material submitted to them by the publisher.
If this is correct (please tell me if it is not), then I would say the BBFC rating system does appear to be more comprehensive. Unless there is something more specific that they are falling down at during the rating process, on the surface level it seems sound.
"They rate plenty of films, why do they believe they can't ramp up their operation to rate games?"
Here is what I find funny, Pegi has been around since 2003, The BBFC has been rating games since at least the mid 80's. The attitude that the BBFC has no or little experience to rating games is absurd, they have been doing it longer than PEGI and the ESRB combined
Even then, they have been rating the minority of games. If you're going to compare experience of rating games, PEGI has the greater experience having rated a larger number of games.
Besides, why are the BBFC better than PEGI just because theyre older? By that reckoning, my employer should fire me and replace me with my father, despite him having no training, skills or interest in my field- after all, he's been going for longer, so he must be better at my job, right?
/b
I suppose its easy to rate a large volume of games when your ratings process is a tick boxing exercise.
Your analogy is flawed, The BBFC have been rating games longer than PEGI has been rating games. That is totally unlike your father applying for a job of which he has no experience with. Its more like you and your father applying for the same job for the same money except he has 10 years more experience than you and your prior experience involved reading questionares.
My analogy is not flawed, the argument did not call for any discussion of the methodology of PEGI versus the methodology of the BBFC, merely the time it has been running for- just taking the "length of time" argument alone is useless for the reason that it is relevant neither as a measure of the organisation's competency in isolation or in comparison to another, on both sides of the debate.
Put it this way: how can my/my father's prospective employer be absolutely sure that what I say/do will definately be inferior to what my Father says/does, without knowing how I'm coming to my conclusions?
/b
Methodology aside, the point I was making was that in your analogy was ill fit simply because it implyed the BBFC had "no training, skills or interest" in the field of video game classification.
In terms of methodology its common knowledge the techniques both organisations use. The BBFC involves a showcase reel of key aspects of the game including cinematics/cut scenes and an extensive play thru which is used by the BBFC to form a classification decision. PEGI requires the developer to fill in an online questionare which generates a rating instantly.
I implied that because if you go on length of time alone, which is what the argument was, you don't know if the BBFC have the training, skills or interest- just saying "X" time or "Y" time- if you're going to pull the "time" issue, then why not just hand ratings over to the Christian church, who predate the BBFC by entire millennia, despite not being a ratings board of any description?
Yes, we do know that the BBFC are a ratings board the same way PEGI is- but in my analogy, my employer does not know what I or my father does, just as in the "experience" arguement, it is not taken into account.
EDIT: It also doesn't take into account the end result, which is really what matters, but that's yet another, even longer argument.
/b
Barring suprious analogies over your parenthoods' I think the agrument is interesting. The BBFC have had the power to rate games since 1984, it wasn't until the CD era that games had the visual capability to even interest the BBFC. I believe 'Night Trap' might have been the first (also one of the games that lead to the creation of the ESRB).
The BBFC have far more experience of rating visual media than most current 'regulators'. It was created in 1912, whereas the MPAA didn't going until 1922. But as you say history only means that you can ensure they have a track record.
In the BBFC's case it is generally a good one. They have no history of over reaction to particular media, and they operate within a very secure sytem of control and overwatch backed up by law. Its methodology and criteria are well publicised and have been operating in the jurisdiction, with general public support, for a long time.
Compare and contrast with the much younger regulatory body, PEGI. It has a much less robust methodology. It has no oversight and legally backed appeal nechanism. There is no public accountablity for its criteria. It also, because of its youth, has no general public support.
The problem with selling PEGI to the UK public is pretty clear.
Didn't the Byron Report support Pegi as a unified classification system? Are we seeing yet another incidence of the british government twisting the findings of the Byron report?
Read the fucking article.
Can't we get rid of the anonymus posting? Or at least set it so their IPs are public so idiots like this can't troll here so easily.
I;d be trolling if ythis info a) wasn't available in the Telegraph's article and b) if the British Govt had ever tried twisting the words of the Byron Report at least ionce so far.
What I am is sick of annoying North American posters who prefer to bend the facts to suit their world view than try and see things from a UK perspective. And believe you me, I've been coming here loing enough to highlight that trend with utter certainity.
"What I am is sick of annoying North American posters who prefer to bend the facts to suit their world view than try and see things from a UK perspective. And believe you me, I've been coming here loing enough to highlight that trend with utter certainity."
Hey mate, I'm with you 100% on that. I've been reading this site for a good while now (LiveJournal days) and get involved in just about every UK and BBFC related thread and I can agree that your are perfectly spot on with your assesment.
What assessment? All he really did was respond to me by saying "STFU you stupid arrogant yankee bastard, you ignorant twat." No arguement was lobbied, just an insult. A blind one at that.
Read the fucking article indeed, I did. In fact, I even read related articles. This article states this decision is being made by the suggestion of the Byron report. However, if you READ the Byron report instead of jumping on the "Americans are Twats" rant train, you'd read that she basically said both programs have their merit and she would like to see a mixture of the two but a unified system rather than a decisive one or the other. Whatever decision would be reached, however, would be highly beneficial to standardize across Europe and should be acted upon and settled in haste. That was what the Byron report stated. It didn't choose sides but instead preferred a compromise between both systems.
As for twisting the Byron report, didn't some bastard in parlament, the day the report was released, say it confirmed the link of violence to gaming and she had to come out and serve up some STFU? I'm sorry, I'm seeing them state Byron Report as a basis for the actions despite the Byron report saying no such thing. I am reading the article.
But I forgot... I'm a ghastly American. A drooling primitive chimp who lacks the ability to string together enough coherant thoughts to fully enjoy a comedy as cerebral as Absolutely Fabulous. Clearly I have no ability to speak on this. Moo moo moo, I voodoo curse you... twats.
Some bastard in parliament != UK Govt.
Byron favoured the BBFC for rating mature games; PEGI for children and online.
Not opinion; facts. End of.
"But I forgot... I'm a ghastly American. A drooling primitive chimp who lacks the ability to string together enough coherant thoughts to fully enjoy a comedy as cerebral as Absolutely Fabulous. Clearly I have no ability to speak on this. Moo moo moo, I voodoo curse you... twats."
Nor you have the ability to understand how quoting works but I dont think thats an American trait per se. I believe you'll find I was agreeing to the posters characterisation of the tendincy of some North American posters to fail to see a UK perspective and their tendincy to twist facts. But yeah, Ab Fab was pish.
At last! Sanity prevails! Thank heavens for that, I was worried we'd be lumped with PEGI.
Also, Julian Brazier is a right nob.
I apologize for my comments, I meant to say the United Kingdom government. I hope I didn't offend anyone by my comments, nor did I mean for it to come out like a troll. :(
As a person that actually lives in The UK, I must admit I have certain distaste for the media sources you constantly quote from. Both The Telegraph and The Daily Mail are right wing, sensationalist minded reactionary rags that are constantly accused of twisting, distorting or lying about whatever source they are quoting from.
I wouldn’t mind if it didn’t leave the rest of the audience with the idea that British people are paranoid, Jack Thompson clones. Would it be that hard for Gamepolitics to actually get a British opinion on the articles, rather then just quoting from rags that are read by thirty something middle Englanders?
"I wouldn’t mind if it didn’t leave the rest of the audience with the idea that British people are paranoid, Jack Thompson clones. Would it be that hard for Gamepolitics to actually get a British opinion on the articles, rather then just quoting from rags that are read by thirty something middle Englanders?"
Unfortunately those papers are the only ones who mentioned it at all. There was nothing in the Guardian, Times, Independent, Scotsman, Herald or FT about the decisions. I presume the rest of the broadsheets will follow suit and make mention tomorrow, or when some further definitive announcement is made. Frankly I don't know who you think ought to be commenting on the piece, I'm from the UK and I don't think it was wholly reactionary at all, it's not the best article but at least it's informative.
In the mean time, I think it's a worthy spot to quote the classic piece from Yes, Minister about the UK press:
Hacker: Don't tell me about the press. I know exactly who reads the papers: The Daily Mirror is read by people who think they run the country; The Guardian is read by people who think they ought to run the country; The Times is read by people who actually do run the country; the Daily Mail is read by the wives of the people who run the country; the Financial Times is read by people who own the country; The Morning Star is read by people who think the country ought to be run by another country; and The Daily Telegraph is read by people who think it is.
Sir Humphrey: Prime Minister, what about the people who read The Sun?
Bernard: Sun readers don't care who runs the country, as long as she's got big tits.
If its not those rags then its MCV :(
/b
As a parent and a gamer in the uk i have absoultly no problem with bbfc rating games, it is the rating system that everyone is familiar with, it is simple to understand and is enforced by law. Again i have no problem with the rating system as it is not illegal to own a copy of say an aged 18 game rather it is illegal for a retailer to sell said game to anyone under the age of 18.
The only downside i can see is the extra level of work that will be pushed onto the bbfc might mean a delay in some games actually getting to the shelves.
All computer games will have to carry cinema-style age classifications under new Government plans to protect children from scenes of explicit sex and disturbing violence.
err... correct me if im wrong but i dont know any retail computer games that contain scenes of even mildy risky, let alone 'explicit' sex.
Online computer games where players interact with strangers via the internet also face new classification rules for the first time.
I understand the logic behind this, but isnt it slightly flawed? i mean lets face it a kid can 'interact with strangers' in real life. Now which is more dangerous. A physically present stranger, or one on the internet? We dont issue classification rules on leaving the house. ooh going out to the park.. thats 18 rated im afraid. supermarket? sorry 18. i mean its daft!
Hmm do agree with the posters above though, there seem to be alot of stories from the UK , from the 'telegraph' and 'daily mail'. As a uk citizen, i gotta agree these papers are well known for their garbage reporting skills. 1 part fact 999 parts scare story lies and distortion. We really arent all like this!
err... correct me if im wrong but i dont know any retail computer games that contain scenes of even mildy risky, let alone 'explicit' sex.
Mildly risky that would be mass effect and the side boobs again then,
I understand the logic behind this, but isnt it slightly flawed? i mean lets face it a kid can 'interact with strangers' in real life. Now which is more dangerous. A physically present stranger, or one on the internet?
It is the annonimity of the internet that is the danger, i.e. the 40 year old men pretending to be 10 year old girls, but yes this is a knee jerk reaction to something that was blown out of proportion and will continue to be so until more net savvy people are actually in charge and online entertainment is better regulated (mainly speaking about MMO etc. where funnily enough im sure someone was trying to "groom" me or xbl/psn etc. where basically any drivel can be spoken without fear of reprisal).
i gotta agree these papers are well known for their garbage reporting skills. 1 part fact 999 parts scare story lies and distortion. We really arent all like this!
yup they are total garbage, i always take news with a healthy dose of skeptism
Just a hypothetical for the North American posters, would you prefer the ERSB was replaced by PEGI in the US?
Umm... The ESRB is a voluntary rating system for one. Two, it was designed SPECIFICALLY for games. On top of that it's not enforced by law so there isn't any worry from us that the government may meddle with it.
I'll admit, I don't understand the BBFC and government connection but it would be a frightening prospect for me, as an American citizen, if our government could legally enforce a rating system. Our government tends to screw up a lot as it is so I can understand why a lot of Americans would be leery of a government -- any government -- being able to control something such as this. I don't know how competent the UK government is but I certainly wouldn't be comfortable with the US government having this kind of power.
I didn't mean the BBFC, I'm talking PEGI, the pan European system created in 2003 for rating games. Would Americans be happy to replace the ERSB with PEGI, both of which are voluntary?
Given that was something designed particularly for European gamers I can't say. Honestly, I think the ESRB should be implemented in place of PEGI since it's much more specific in its ratings. I just don't like the idea of anything that is enforceable or under the control of the government. Besides, the film rating system we have in America, the MPAA, would be wholly inappropriate for rating games. Could it be used? Yes. Would it be ideal? No.
We have two different organizations for rating films and games. Both do rate their respective mediums well. Film and games are two very different animals. I guess, to me at least, it would make more sense to let the BBFC rate films and let PEGI rate games. I will agree, however, that the PEGI system isn't as ideal as it could be.
The PEGI system, in my opinion, is inferior to the ESRB... But then again I'm biased, so take that how you will.
So your saying this
http://www.msxbox-world.com/PEGI-Ratings.php
is less specific than this
http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.jsp
Yes. Yes I am saying that.
Like I said in my post though, I'm biased, so take it as you will. I understand the ESRB ratings a lot better with their letter designations -- because they denote an audience of people, not necessarily an age group. Though in my saying this it becomes quite clear why people in the UK prefer the BBFC. I don't contend your reasons for preferring the BBFC... My only gripe is the government enforceability of their ratings. I find it disturbing that if the BBFC has as much power as it does, but that's the only issue I take with it.
Interesting, thanks Jeff.
/b
ROFL.
Two words: Gay. Marriage.
What a bizarre and ill-informed comment.
We're talking a rating system here not removing freedom of speech.
Not to mention that the BBFC system can be by-passed by imports anyway. Banned videos and DVDs have been being imported into Britain for years.
Oh good lord, we're not back to talking about this fabled and paranoid idea that the BBFC is some secret branch of the UK government. I don't know where that frankly imbecilic idea came from but all the US posters seem to constantly harp back to it whenever any mention of the BBFC comes up.
It's an independent appointed body tasked with rating media to within a legally enforced set of age ratings. That's all the government doesn't tell them what to do, and they don't make money from rating things as someone seemed to imply earlier.
The BBFC are appointed by the government under the Video Recordings Act. The government give them the powers they have and the government can take them away.
(If that wasn't the case, then we wouldn't be having this discussion, which is attached to an article about the government deciding who gets to rate games)
As well as that, the government enforce the BBFC's decisions, and the government disallows any work to be sold in the UK that hasn't gone past the BBFC first.
It is worth pointing out that technically PEGI would be government appointed if said government choose them.
Compare this to the ESRB, whom the US government have no official control over at this time.
/b
Hey Beemoh! We didn't land on the moon... discuss.
PEGI - doesn't ban games
BBFC - can ban games
Game industry prefers PEGI.
Gov't prefers BBFC.
Can't say I'm surprised.
Andrew Eisen
If PEGI got the job as the games classifier in the UK they could ban games too.
That being the case the UK is better of sticking with something it's familiar with.
I suppose it could but as the organization exists now, that's rather unlikely. PEGI does not refuse classification and its highest rating does not carry a de facto ban like America's AO rating does.
Andrew Eisen
Bearing in mind that the classification decsions they make will be required to make will fall within the purview of the video recordings act. They will be required to refuse classication if media they are rating is in breach of that act.
Which would turn it into the BBFC making the entire thing pointless.
Andrew Eisen
I agree, which means that the PEGI/BBFC debate really comes down to what methodology is used for rating and which set of little pictures are better. The well known BBFC logos with their text based summary on the back of the box or PEGI symbols with content glyphs.
And the answer to that is obvious; BBFC wins out as everyone in the country is already familiar with both the DVD/Games logos and the Cinema ratings system that is identical.
Also a big plus mark to BBFC for actually playing the games rather than handing out tick sheets.
Thinking about it, there is another option that may come into effect if PEGI were adopted, a changing the video ratings act.
BBFC - Based in the UK, and therefore taxable
Government prefers BBFC.
Can't say I'm surprised.
/b
Now your grasping at straws. What pray tell is the government taxing?
The point is that we can all play the "ulterior motive" game if we think hard enough.
Either way, in getting a rating from the BBFC and from PEGI, the publisher has to pay a fee to the board in question.
When the publisher pays the BBFC for a rating, they pay for it within the UK, and therefore must pay VAT (sales tax to non-Brits). This is outlined within the BBFC's own terms: http://www.bbfc.co.uk/customer/cust_terms.php
When the publisher pays for the PEGI rating, they pay for it in the country PEGI is based in, and must pay any taxes that nation levies.
/b
Customers pay VAT on everything (except food, book, children's clothes and a few other things) anyway whether it's rated by PEGI or the BBFC. You are muddying the issue with irrelevent boilerplate.
Incidentally, VAT under various names is common in every single European country (barring a few principalities) and I believe in a number of US states.
The point is that we can all play the 'ulterior motive' game if we think hard enough.
Anyway, if you read the BBFC's terms page, that the system won't let my link because it thinks it's spam, you can see that sales tax (VAT) has to be paid on BBFC fees.
The same will be true of PEGI, but you would be paying that tax to the government of PEGI's country, and not the British government.
/b
I doubt thats the reason at all tbh. The amount of money generated is quite frankly a drop in the bucket.
But there may be a level of truth to the other part of your post, it could be down to Europe. Europe comprises of a lot of countries each with different cultural and sociopolitical values. To the best of my knowledge PEGI doesn't really factor this in. Go on, just try and tell the Germans what to do :)
The government makes more money in VAT on a game like Manhunt 2 than it would through BBFC fees being taxed so your conspiracy theory falls flat I'm afraid.
Hey Chuma,
Your kind of late to this party, you usually jump into these debates like a rocket :)
With people like Beemoh around, I figured I was wasting my breath...
At least he can argue properly, something you can't say for Zippy.
If you go to this place:
http://www.pegi.info/en/index/id/176/
and scroll down a bit you will see something called
'english assesment form'.
his form is pretty descriptive of what each ratings means. To take an eaxmple, Mass Effect only has the violence icon (the clench fist) on the back of the box; there is no mention of sexual themes or partial nudity, quite simply because it is a) optional b) considered nudity that it is in the game. A breast or bottom is not considered nudity by PEGI standards - nor would almost anyone in Europe care about young adolescent (and children perhaps?) seeing these things in videogames. [Now, real sex just for the sake of sex people in South Europe seems to care about while people in North Europe are more worried about the violence... so PEGI has to do a lot balancing out the scales here].
I don't understand why everyone seems so against the UK government is deciding that the BBFC still should rate games. In most of Europe, we have system where the people elect the parliament, who then elects the government. The government then sets up something like the BBFC or the Danish Media Council to deal with things like these. These institutions are completely (or so it is ideally) independent from the government and the government can't decide what they should mean about something, not even how they should rate a movie or a game. In the US, you have a Presidential system where the President appoints almost everyone; the President would also then appoint the members of a ratings boards which could mean that the President could exercise pressure on this board. Not so, ideally, in the BBFC's or in Danish Media Council's case.
Let us not forget that the BBFC did rate Mass Effect OK for 12 years and up...
Umm... The President appoints what?
Our ratings boards ARE independent of government in that they are COMPLETELY voluntary. The government has no say whatsoever over whether a movie or video game that ISN'T rated by the MPAA or ESRB (respectively) can or cannot be released. Because of this the government isn't regulating speech, but neither are these voluntary ratings organizations. Their purpose is ONLY to inform with their ratings -- not dictate the sale of a game. They don't get to tell the movie or game industry, "Such and such doesn't pass our testing, therefore it cannot be sold." Publishers and developers can simply choose not to go through the ESRB and leave their game unrated but in a society where all of our woes are blamed on gaming it would only hurt them to not inform people of the content in their games.
I honestly believe that no rating board should ever have the power to dictate whether or not a game can be sold or not. That's just censorship and it stifles productivity.
Thank CHRIST the decision is not up to certain commenters on this website, that;s all I can say.
Also, for people who supposedly love freedom, some commenters Stateside seem awfully eager to tell other people what's best for them.