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DIGITAL BRITAIN: New PEGI symbols unveiled

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DIGITAL BRITAIN: New PEGI symbols unveiled

Traffic light colour scheme adopted but warning symbols go unchanged

PEGI has lifted the lid on its new rating symbols that will come into effect following the government’s recent ruling outlined in the Digital Britain report.

The new labels are largely the same as those currently seen on game boxes, though the old grey colouring has been replaced with a traffic light colour scheme with red used for the most violent games.

PEGI’s other warning symbols, used to explain a title’s in-game content, remain unchanged.

Here’s PEGi’s description of what each of the new symbols means:

PEGI 3
The content of games given this rating is considered suitable for all age groups. Some violence in a comical context (typically Bugs Bunny or Tom & Jerry cartoon-like forms of violence) is acceptable. The child should not be able to associate the character on the screen with real life characters, they should be totally fantasy. The game should not contain any sounds or pictures that are likely to scare or frighten young children. No bad language should be heard and there should be no scenes containing nudity nor any referring to sexual activity.

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PEGI 7
Any game that would normally be rated at 3+ but contains some possibly frightening scenes or sounds may be considered suitable in this category. Some scenes of partial nudity may be permitted but never in a sexual context.

PEGI 12
Videogames that show violence of a slightly more graphic nature towards fantasy character and/or non graphic violence towards human-looking characters or recognisable animals, as well as videogames that show nudity of a slightly more graphic nature would fall in this age category. Any bad language in this category must be mild and fall short of sexual expletives.

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. More extreme bad language, the concept of the use of tobacco and drugs and the depiction of criminal activities can be content of games that are rated 16+.

PEGI 18
The adult classification is applied when the level of violence reaches a stage where it becomes depictions of gross violence and/or includes elements of specific types of violence. Gross violence is the most difficult to define since in a lot of cases it can be very subjective, but in general terms it can be classed as the depictions of violence that would make the viewer feel a sense of revulsion.

PEGI Colours

posted by Farrmark Jun 17, 2009 at 8:59 pm
1
Farrmark

Have to say I like the new colours, seems the most logical compromise between PEGI and BBFC

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Pegi

posted by Paul Jun 18, 2009 at 8:38 am
2
Paul

So are these to replace the BBFC Rating on games, are these to have the same power as BBFC rating?

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Discrimination

posted by Alan Jun 19, 2009 at 12:45 pm
3
Alan

I've always had an issue with the discrimination logo being 2 big white characters againist 1 small black character

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Colours?

posted by Andrew Jun 22, 2009 at 1:23 pm
4
Andrew

What's the point of the colours? Surely the numbers are enough? Isn't it just confusing things further...they make sense when you see them all together, but bearing in mind there is only going to be one on each box, the whole traffic light thing seems largely pointless.

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Educate the Customer

posted by Adam Jun 24, 2009 at 2:09 pm
5
Adam

This is all fine and well, but after working in retail selling games, parent still buy 18+ games for the kids as that's what they want.
Even the "FILM" standardised BBFC cert that "everybody" knows goes unnoticed, half the time because it is out of sight.

@Paul - PEGI is the unofficial non-law binding rating aka. a recommendation
the BBFC as what is on films (same style), are enforced by law.

Eg. You can sell an PEGI 18 to a 12 yr old, and just get an ear full from the parents or your boss for being unprofessional.

BUT IF you sell an BBFC 18 to an 12yr old YOU will be fined, and criminal action taken against YOU. and your company will get a bad name so your will probably loose your job in the process.

Note:- above is example to clarify, they are often very similarly rated.

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