PEGI REGULATION HOLLY EMPSON Role and purpose PEGI

PEGI REGULATION HOLLY EMPSON

Role and purpose ■ PEGI (Pan European Game Information) is the age rating system for videogames in Europe. The objective is to inform consumers about the content and age suitability of games prior to purchase, to protect minors from unsuitable content. ■ The game contains depictions of violence. Games rated PEGI 12 can include violence in a fantasy environment or non-realistic violence towards human-like characters, whereas games rated PEGI 16 or 18 have increasingly more realistic-looking violence.

Legal powers ■ Under the new system, all video games will be rated under the PEGI system by the Video Standards Council unless they contain explicit sexual content that warrants a R 18 rating. ■ Video game ratings using the Pegi (Pan-European Game Information) system have become legally enforceable in the UK. Retailers that sell titles with ratings of 12, 16 or 18 years to children below the age limits will be subject to prosecution. ■ The content of games with a PEGI 3 rating is considered suitable for all age groups. The game should not contain any sounds or pictures that are likely to frighten young children. A very mild form of violence (in a comical context or a childlike setting) is acceptable.

Media aspects covered ■ PEGI is the regulator of video games in the UK.

Case studies ■ PEGI 3 - The content of games with a PEGI 3 rating is considered suitable for all age groups. The game should not contain any sounds or pictures that are likely to frighten young children. A very mild form of violence (in a comical context or a childlike setting) is acceptable. No bad language should be heard. ■ PEGI 7 - Game content with scenes or sounds that can possibly frightening to younger children should fall in this category. Very mild forms of violence (implied, non-detailed, or non-realistic violence) are acceptable for a game with a PEGI 7 rating. ■ PEGI 12 - Video games that show violence of a slightly more graphic nature towards fantasy characters or nonrealistic violence towards human-like characters would fall in this age category. Sexual innuendo or sexual posturing can be present, while any bad language in this category must be mild. Gambling as it is normally carried out in real life in casinos or gambling halls can also be present (e. g. card games that in real life would be played for money). ■ 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. The use of bad language in games with a PEGI 16 rating can be more extreme, while games of chance, and the use of tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs can also be present. ■ PEGI 18 - The adult classification is applied when the level of violence reaches a stage where it becomes a depiction of gross violence, apparently motiveless killing, or violence towards defenceless characters. The glamorisation of the use of illegal drugs and explicit sexual activity should also fall into this age category. ■ In the UK, Assassin's Creed Origins is rated by PEGI as only suitable for those 18 and over because of depictions of gross violence towards human characters, motiveless killing of multiple innocent humans characters, violence towards vulnerable human characters, depictions of sexual activity with visible genital organs.

Controversies ■ Yesterday, an email from PEGI addressing a complaint about NBA 2 K 20's age-rating hit reddit. Eurogamer has verified this email is legitimate with PEGI. In the email, PEGI said a video game will only carry the gambling descriptor if it includes mechanics that encourage or teach players how to gamble or bet - and NBA 2 K 20, it insists, does not do this. However, PEGI said it's aware NBA 2 K 20 "may get too close for comfort for some people", and said the trailer sparked an internal discussion going on right now. PEGI responded: "We have seen the announcement trailer of NBA 2 K 20 and noticed the controversy it has caused. We feel it is important to carefully explain when certain content is triggering the gambling descriptor in the PEGI system, but also to show when it does not at this moment. FIFA 20 potential wonderkids: the best youngsters and hidden gems "A video game gets the gambling content descriptor if it contains moving images that encourage and/or teach the use of games of chance that are played/carried out as a traditional means of gambling. "We use a help text to clarify this in more detail: This refers to types of betting or gambling for money that is normally played/carried out in casinos, gambling halls, racetracks. This does not cover games where betting or gambling is simply part of the general storyline. The game must actually teach the player how to gamble or bet and/or encourage the player to want to gamble or bet for money in real life.

How they impact on the production of a media product ■ Many parents are sceptical about letting their children play particular video games which may show heavy violence and sex etc. However unlike a film, video games will have to be played to fully see how graphic they are, whereas films can be watched in an hour or two video games takes several hours and is something a parent isn’t interested in playing. Therefore PEGI allows parents to feel comfortable with what their children are playing as it is rated and they can see what the game will entail and how graphic or inappropriate it may be. So therefore, like the other regulators, Ofcom have a very important job and will have the power to tell the producers to remove certain discriminative language or violence or sex if the film isn’t in the correct age range for their target audience or the PEGI rating they were hoping for.