BBFC: New system won't cause delays, price hikes
The BBFC is confident that changes to the UK's rating system can be tackled smoothly.
Currently the BBFC only rates games which the optional pan-European PEGI system scores as being suitable only for those over the age of 15, but recommendations in the Byron report advise that the BBFC should rate all games rated for 12 years and older according to the PEGI system.
Although the PEGI system is optional for publishers, many opt-in to the system in order to satisfy distributors and retailers.
Responding to claims from EA and Microsoft that such a change for the system could cause delays in UK releases and increased prices, the BBFC has stated that it is fully capable of handling the changes without impacting on customers at all and that each game only takes eight days to rate.
Gamespot chatted with BBFC director David Cooke, who pointed out that the BBFC system is also cheaper than the current PEGI system - if anything there should be price cuts!
Assuming the findings of the Byron report are implemented then Cooke says the BBFC's "more robust and fully independent decisions" will not adversely affect the games industry.
How would you design a ratings systems for games? Do children even need to be protected from games? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.
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17 Comments
Discuss in the forums ReplySo, if you wanted to avoid your (most likely) 12+ game being subjected to BBFC rating (which could still cause delays and almost definitely will increase costs to the publisher).. all you have to do is opt-out of PEGI...
Something doesn't seem right to me about this.
Ahh, that's fair enough then.. I suppose.
Some retailers are morons though.. I was refused purchase of Tony Hawks 3 when I was 14 because PEGI (or it might have been a different one back then) gave it a 15+ rating... Not even legally binding, but the guy told me I needed to be 15 to buy it.
... then do what everyone does... tell your parents/older brother/older sister/ older friend to get it for you.
That's what I did do.. but that's besides the point... The point is he refused to sell it to me for no real reason.
"no real reason" ?? If the game was rated 15+ and you were 14 years old, then he should NOT sell it too you and the very real reason was that you were not old enough to buy the game. Whether you disagree with the rating that the game had gotten is a completely different story. The fact that the sales guy actually checked your age is a credit to him and whatever shop he worked in as that very rarely happens.
The point is that, from what Timmy says, that he was refused purchase of a product he could legally buy because of lax and misunderstood ratings systems. If it was ONLY a PEGI rating of 15 then it isn't legally enforced (though it might be store policy) and the store should sell it to him.
This scheme WILL screw over the UK games industry - I wish the idiots campaigning for it would think more Europe wide than just the UK. It'll delay UK releases - depressing UK business, it'll cause problems for UK publishers meaning more reason to leave the country and it'll create a 2 tier situation that will stop games being released in the UK.
It's DUMB.
If a game is for over 15's - only over 15's should be able to play it.
But it's not legally enforced.. And it was Tony Hawk's for christ's sake.. The guy should have used some common sense..
It's supposed to be a reccomendation to parents, no more, same with the US version. Interestingly, if you decide not to give your game a PEGI rating, the BBFC will rate (or not rate if they think the game doesn't need a rating) it anyway.
the fact that he was refused purchase is NOT against the law - if the company has a policy of not selling a 15 game to under 15's then it is their right to do so. u seem to think that u can "force" a shop to sell u something they class you as being too young for? well believe or not the shop has rights and they were just excercising them :)
good on em for standing by the ratings sytem that is available to them
If he'd explained it was due to store policy, I might not have branded him a moron.. But he made it seem as though it was illegal to sell it to me.. and either way.. it was TONY HAWK'S 3! Common sense HAS to come in somewhere down the line.
And who gave Tony Hawks a 15 certificate?
All EA and Microsoft are doing is spreading misinformation because its something they don't want to be bothered with essentially. If your trying to find problems with the market place in the UK you should be pointing your fingers squarely at the publishers.
That's what I do all the time
I just throw the game in my moms cart and tell her I'll pay her back when we get home, works every time ;)