| Pan European Game Information | |
|---|---|
PEGI logo |
|
| Abbreviation | PEGI |
| Formation | April 2003 |
| Purpose/focus | Video game classification |
| Parent organization | Interactive Software Federation of Europe |
| Website | http://www.pegi.info |
Pan European Game Information (PEGI) is a European video game content rating system established to help European consumers make informed decisions on buying computer games with logos on games boxes. It was developed by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE) and came into use in April 2003; it replaced many national age rating systems with a single European system. The PEGI system is now used in more than thirty countries and is based on a code of conduct, a set of rules to which every publisher using the PEGI system is contractually committed. PEGI self-regulation is composed by five age categories and eight content descriptors that advise the suitability and content of a game for a certain age range based on the games content.[1] The age rating does not indicate the difficulty of the game or the skill required to play it.[2]
As of August 2010, PEGI has rated more than 15,000 games.[3] 50% of the games were rated 3, 10% were rated 7, 24% were rated 12, 12% were rated 16 and only 4% were 18.[4] On 16 June 2009, it was announced by the UK's Department of Culture, Media and Sport that PEGI would become the sole classification system for videogames and software in the United Kingdom (currently, a portion of the games that would get a PEGI 16 or 18 rating is rated by the BBFC).[5] PEGI ratings are also found on some French language-video games outside Europe, specifically Canada.
Contents |
PEGI has five age categories.
The current design was introduced at the end of 2009. Black and white icons were used until June 2009, when the colour-coded PEGI icons were announced, with green for 3 and 7, yellow for 12 and 16 and red for 18. Plus signs were removed from the icons, and the background text changed from 'ISFE' from the old, black-and-white icons to 'PEGI' from the new, colour-coded PEGI icons.[6]
| Legend | 3+ | 7+ | 12+ | 16+ | 18+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before 2009 | |||||
| After 2009 |
In Portugal, two of the PEGI categories were aligned with the age ratings of the film classification system to avoid confusion; 3 was changed to 4 and 7 was changed to 6. Finland also used to use a modified scale, where 12 became 11 and 16 became 15. Finland fully adopted PEGI on 1 January 2007, and the standard ratings were adopted as well.
| Legend | 3+ | 7+ |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | ||
| Portugal |
The eight content descriptors are:
The 'Gambling' content descriptor was first used on 29 September 2006 with the title 42 All-Time Classics. The 'Online' descriptor was introduced in September 2009.
The study "Video gamers in Europe – 2008" made by Nielsen Games, demonstrates that PEGI age ratings labels are recognized by 93%. 62% are aware of a European game rating system, 50% recognize the content descriptors and 49% of parents find the age rating label system useful when buying a videogame.[8]
PEGI is an example of a European harmonization. The European Commission supports the PEGI self-regulation: "PEGI appears to have achieved good results and PEGI On-line is also a promising initiative, making of PEGI a good example of self regulation in line with the better regulation agenda."[9] Moreover, the European Parliament in its last report on protection of consumers "takes the view that the PEGI system for rating games is an important tool which has improved transparency for consumers, especially parents, when buying games by enabling them to make a considered choice as to whether a game is suitable for children."[10]
To obtain the ratings for any piece of software, the applicant submits the game with other supporting materials and completes a content declaration[11], all of which is evaluated by an independent administrator called the Netherlands Institute for the Classification of Audiovisual Media (NICAM). It is based on the Dutch Kijkwijzer system as well.[12] Following the evaluation the applicant will receive a license to use the rating logos. If the applicant disagrees with the rating, they can ask for an explanation or make a complaint to the complaints board. Consumers may also make complaints to this board.
Although PEGI was established by an industry body (ISFE) the ratings are given by a body independent of the industry and the whole system is overseen by a number of different Boards and Committees. There is the PEGI Council, composed mainly by national representatives for PEGI, that recommends adjustments to the code in light of social, legal and technological developments. Members of the PEGI Council are recruited for their skill and experience from among parent/consumer body representatives, child psychologists, media specialists, civil servants, academics and legal advisers versed in the protection of minors in Europe.[13]
There is also a Complaints Board with experts from various European countries. They deal with complaints related to breaches of requirements of the code of conduct or to age rating recommendations. Should a complaint be received from a consumer or publisher regarding a rating given to a game and no satisfactory settlement can be reached by the PEGI administrator through discussion, explanation or negotiation the complainant may formally request the Complaints Board to mediate. Three board members will then convene, hear the complaint and decide on a ruling. Publishers using the PEGI system are bound by the decision of the Complaints Board. Consequently, they are obliged to carry out any corrective actions required and, in cases of non-compliance, are subject to sanctions as laid out by the code.
There are three committees; a criteria committee, a legal committee and an enforcement committee.
This division of PEGI was formed in 2007. It’s an addition to the PEGI system for online games and aims to give young people in Europe improved protection against unsuitable online gaming content and to educate parents on how to ensure safe online play.[14] This project is supported directly by the European Commission. "PEGI On-line, which was launched in June 2007 and co-funded by the Safer Internet Programme, is the logical development of the PEGI system, designed to better protect young people against unsuitable gaming content and to help parents to understand the risks and potential for harm within this environment"[15]
PEGI Online is based on four principles:[16]
The licence to display the PEGI Online Logo is granted by the PEGI Online Administrator to any online gameplay service provider that meets the requirements set out in the PEGI Online Safety Code (POSC).
PEGI is used in 31 European countries, Canada and Israel. The ratings system is partially recognised in other countries such as the United Arab Emirates[17], South Africa and South Asia since they are considered official PAL regions, although they may import games from regions outside of PEGI's jurisdictions. PAL games officially released in Australia are usually rated by the ACB. Legally enforceable means the ratings are not simply "voluntary" or "advisory" but are enforced by some kind of local regulation or law. ESRB is the primary rating system in Canada, while some French-language products, mainly in Quebec, carry a PEGI label.
| Country | Legally enforced? | Notes | Additional rating system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Yes | PEGI is legally adopted and enforceable in the Vienna region,[18] but until 2013 there is a transitional arrangement which allows USK as well. | |
| Belgium | No | Officially supports PEGI, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
| Bulgaria | Yes | ||
| Canada | No | Rates some (but not all) French-language games in the province of Québec, primarily those that are imported from France. | ESRB |
| Cyprus | No | Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
| Czech Republic | No | ||
| Colombia | No | ||
| Denmark | No | Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
| Estonia | No | Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
| Finland | No | Finland adopts PEGI which is exempt from mandatory classification with national age symbols. Both classifications are enforced by the penal code. | VET/SFB |
| France | Yes | France has adapted legislation to make classification of video games with age labels mandatory. | |
| Greece | No | ||
| Germany | No | USK system is adopted and enforced.[19] PEGI is not formally recognised, although PEGI labelling can be found on games along with the USK rating. | USK |
| Hungary | No | ||
| Iceland | Yes | PEGI is officially supported and age classifications are mandatory for video games by law. | |
| Ireland | No | PEGI ratings are excluded from mandatory classification by IFCO, which adopts PEGI but is still legally empowered to ban certain video game content from the market. | |
| Israel | Yes | PEGI has been adopted by law as the mandatory classification system for video games in Israel. | |
| Italy | No | Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
| Latvia | No | ||
| Lithuania | Yes | Lithuanian legislation adopts PEGI which is exempt from mandatory classification with national age symbols. Both classifications are enforced by the penal code as of Nov 2010. | |
| Luxembourg | No | Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
| Malta | No | ||
| Netherlands | Yes | PEGI is officially adopted and legislation is in place to enforce the age classification in shops where video games are sold. | |
| Norway | No | Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
| Poland | No | PEGI ratings are not yet enforced in Poland but has intentions to support PEGI as a self regulatory system. | |
| Portugal | No | PEGI has officially been adopted by the Portuguese Classification Board IGAC. | IGAC |
| Romania | No | ||
| Russia | No | PEGI just as recommendation (No strict laws about game labelling). | |
| Slovakia | No | Slovak media law obliges distributors to mark games with national age labels. | |
| Slovenia | Yes | Officially supported. No further need for additional restrictions due to extremely low game-related incident history. | |
| Spain | No | ||
| Sweden | No | Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
| Switzerland | No | Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
| United Kingdom | No | Currently both PEGI and BBFC are used with the latter being legally enforceable. There has been plans to make all responsibility go to PEGI with all ratings 12+ and above becoming legally enforceable, but there's been no confirmation when it will take place.[20] | BBFC |
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