The UK finally has a single, coherent (and legally enforceable) standard for videogames, as the PEGI rating system becomes law today. It’s now illegal for a videogame retailer to sell a 12-rated game to anyone below that age.
Anyone found breaking the law will face a maximum of six years in prison and a £5,000 fine. It’s also illegal to sell games without the appropriate certificates, the penalty for that a two year jail sentence.
There’ll be a transitional period to ensure long term compliance.
More importantly, perhaps, there’s now a single rating system meaning less confusion and more consistency, as PEGI will cover all certificates going forward, with the Video Standards Council conducting the approval processes.
“The UK has one of the most dynamic and innovative video games industries in the world, and the games they produce not only entertain millions, but can also educate and foster creativity,” said culture minister Ed Vaizey.
“Today’s simplification of the ratings system benefits both industry and consumers and will help ensure that the millions of games sold in the UK each year are being played by the audiences they were intended for.”
BBFC ratings, which at least offered a similar ratings style to the familiar movie releases (and thus featured more widespread recognition) are now superseded.
The Lone Steven
This will do feck all as most parents tend to use gaming as a way of raising their kids and will buy any game for them regardless of age. Why not just use the BBFC as that is more noticeable on the cover of games due to it sticking out regardless of the art work on the cover of games and thus will take it more seriously then PEGI’s colourful ratings.
Origami Killer
Sadly this won’t really change anything :/