Research suggests that disputed ratings system is clear and helpful for consumers
Whilst the BBFC-PEGI debate continues to rumble in the wake of the notorious Byron Report, a new report entitled Video Gamers in Europe 2008 from ISFE-Nielsen suggests that European gamers back the current PEGI system.
Across the 15 countries surveyed, 93 per cent of respondents to Nielsen’s survey recognised the PEGI system, and nearly half of all parents questioned found it either ‘extremely useful’ or ‘very useful’.
“With about 70 per cent of the top selling games within the major European regions being rated 3+, there is a great variety of games that are suitable not only for the so called ‘hard core gamer’, but actually for the entire family,” ISFE secretary general Patrice Chazerand stated.
“Parents have a great choice today when it comes to choosing a game for their kids, it is great to see that PEGI ratings and descriptors are proving to be recognized as a helpful tool by parents.”
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Comments
consumer awareness
My experience in retail has taught me that the problem has never been that parents didn't understand the system, the problem is that in terms of whats more important to them its what the kid wants first and the age rating second.
Obviously this doesn't apply to everyone but a lot of parents go in search of a game they've been asked to get without knowledge of its rating, all they armed with is a slip of paper with the name scribbled on it.
The system is clear and concise but it takes the parent to actively look for it before purchasing the game for it to have the intended effect.
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