BBFC is Inferior to PEGI for Rating Games, Claims Microsoft
By Chris on Thursday, February 28th, 2008 at 4:00 PM PST In Game Companies, Gamer Life, Games Industry, Microsoft
You’ll remember the BBFC (the British Board of Film Classification) as the group that has been fighting to keep Manhunt 2 out of the UK – I can’t even begin to remember the number of times we covered the back-and-forth between the BBFC and Rockstar.
Speaking to a Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee this week, Microsoft’s head of corporate affairs in the UK, Matt Lambert, explained that he believes that the rating system of Pan European Game Information – PEGI – is superior to the BBFC’s.
“If there’s going to be one ratings system, it should be PEGI,” he said. “With PEGI, they think very carefully about age appropriacy…but the BBFC is set up to rate films, and it takes that approach for games when a different approach is required.
“PEGI breaks it down to a different level. If there’s bad language it will give you a specific symbol, if there’s gambling there’s another symbol, and some games will have a whole raft of symbols on the back. It’s a different depth, it’s more sensible, and it also has a European aspect to it.”
Responding to this, the chairman said that the BBFC would argue the opposite, and that PEGI’s method is inferior to their own. To which, Lambert said, “I’m not saying that’s wrong, and I apologise if I gave the impression that that’s not what they do - though they would say that they are the best.
“But I do believe that the BBFC’s thinking clearly comes from the world of film [and not games], that’s definitely true.”
According to GamesIndustry.biz, the CMS Select Committee was meeting to look at the impact of violence in videogames and on the Internet. Lambert was one of several industry experts called to speak with the committee.
Not being from the UK, or Europe for that matter, I’m not overly familiar with either rating system. If your geographical location is more appropriate, share your thoughts in the comments.
For those interested, the rating for games is…
U (and PG) - Usually not even put down on the box. Games that don’t have any symbols are fun for all the family.
12 - Contains mild ‘fantasy’ violence. Occassional swear word. Maybe a smutty sequence. Not usually seen, but does crop up every so often unsuspenctingly.
The most common is 15, with 18s making odd appearances,
15 - Violence. Maybe a bit of sex. Swearing is fun. For reference, Mass Effect is a 15, so to Resident Evil 4 and Halo 3.
18 - Reserved for games that like to be violent Die Hard style and swear…well, Die Hard style. Also has games which have strong sexual elements in places. GTA3 upwards have been 18s, along with Bioshock. Manhunt 1 was an 18.
Most games also have PEGI ratings on them, although they aren’t followed and seen more as guide lines in most retail shops. The odd shop may pick you up on it, eg. an 8 year old buying the PEGI 16 Devil May Cry 4 may be pulled up, but it’s unlikely.
I think the system over here is perfectly fine. There are no issues and a responsible stance is taken to it. I personally think the PEGI system is inferior because there’s so much with it. Splitting up the high-end ones on what seems like string-fine thoughts which could differ a huge rating depending on who is on the chair that day seems a bit odd to me.
I have complete faith in the system and severely doubt that this comment will even budge BBFC. Maybe a poke, but more one of those annoying ones you just walk away from and forget about 3 seconds later.
PEGI is more informative (with PICCIES!) but isnt enforced, while the BBFC one is more age based and is enforced. Looking at the box of Guild Wars for example shows me that its rated 12 + on Pegi and contains violence and alcohol references, and that COD 4 has swearing and violence.
IMO the BBFC system is far better than PEGI. The PEGI system just seems to show you what to expect while the BBFC ratings stop people getting what they shouldnt (hopefully).
@ Hutch - I think that’s a good idea, such as showing exactly why it has the rating it does, but I think PEGI is simply far too complicated.
@ Norbit - Not just saying, but I have been stopped getting games before, both under and over ages, fortunately for the over, I had Id that said I was good to go. Considering that the overwhelming majority of games in the UK receive either 15 or nothing, with the others on a side, it’s either a sweet spot for working or you’ll be denied, like me. Long story short, it works, especially with the kind of finds in place…
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Something I missed in the article was when they said it was based on films. I don’t see what’s entirely wrong with that, to be honest. Yes, games and films are fundamentally different, but content differs to small degress. The fundamental difference is presentation and if the BBFC recognise this, surely this is the better route to take if we’re to bring gaming from the niche corner to mainstream? The whole argument at the moment is that gaming isn’t treated equally…surely BBFC go against that statement?
*finds = fines.
They need a universal system that is followed in all countries that the DEVELOPERS of the games control.
ANd dont fucking argue with me, you nerd ass fucking faggots.
To Jarome:
As long as that universal system isn’t based off Germany’s system I’d be willing to give that a try.
And by the way, your use of the word “faggot” is pretty sickening.