Rated Spider for Tangled Web of Rules…UK video games now reported to be exclusively using PEGI ratings from July 2012

Read more VSC and PEGI Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from thegamershub.net

Nearly three years ago, PEGI was selected to be the organisation to rate videogames, and passed into law in 2010 as part of the Digital Economy Bill, but due to issues behind-the-scenes its full implementation has been delayed. Now Dr. Jo Twist UKIE, the UK trade group representing the video game industry, said: Our next major campaign launches this summer to promote PEGI and to demystify video games to parents. This campaign will launch when PEGI is finally implemented. PEGI is indeed progressing and the latest estimated implementation date is this July.

Fear of PEGI…Keith Vaz has a parliamentary knock at PEGI games ratings

Read more UK Parliament Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from parliament.uk

Keith Vaz has been casting doubt on PEGI ratings suggesting that these require further government scrutiny As usual Vaz has voiced his concerns via an Early Day Motion 2761 in Parliament saying: That this House notes that: Tiga, the trade body representing independent UK video games developers, has come out in support of targeted tax relief for the games industry; encourages tax relief for small and medium-sized enterprises for its role in generating and safeguarding jobs, especially in these current difficult times; remains concerned that regulation of the video games industry is lacking in comparison to other industries; is anxious that the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) classification of video games is taken as seriously as the British Board of Film Classification by both retailers and shoppers; wishes the public was more aware of the risks to children and young adults; and calls on the Government to place more scrutiny on the PEGI classification system. The only signature supporting the motion so far is sponsor Mike Hancock.

Playing a Long Game…BBFC to VSC handover of video game ratings now set for early 2012

Read more VSC and PEGI Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from mcvuk.com

The last report of the handover of video game censorship from the BBFC to the VSC suggested that this would occur by Christmas. Now the handover date is being talked about in terms of sometime early 2012. However the video game trade group UKIE has confirmed that plans are still on course for PEGI, which is currently awaiting final EU sign offs before UK Government grants the on-pack marks as the only ratings standard for video games.

Waiting Game…BBFC hand over of games to the VSC said to be delayed, possibly until Christmas

Read more VSC and PEGI Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from gamesindustry.biz

The ghost of Christmas yet to come The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has admitted that complex technical points are behind the ongoing delay to legal implementation of PEGI age-ratings for video games in the UK. Negotiations between the Government, overseen personally by Culture Minister Ed Vaizey, the Video Standards Council, and the BBFC, are understood to be at a delicate stage. But sources familiar with the matter said there was optimism that the system could still be passed into law by Christmas. As revealed by GI.biz in January, a complicated debate over packaging regulations had thrown a spanner in the works, with the BBFC’s role in particular requiring definitive clarification. The main sticking point remains the issue of linear (i.e. trailer) content, which regulations require is rated by the BBFC.

Don’t You Dare Do That Again…PEGI unimpressed by misleading marketing for the We Dare console game

Read more VSC and PEGI Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Based on article from thesixthaxis.com

In a further twist, PEGI has now asked Ubisoft to remove the original We Dare advert from the web. It seems that PEGI were not impressed with being falsely accused of a too low rating. Eurogamer received the following statement: The Committee concludes that the advertisement does NOT accurately reflect the nature and content of the product and it MISLEADS consumers as to its true nature. Consequently, the Committee considers imperative as a first measure that the advertisement for the game which was made available online should be taken down immediately. If this is not done within three working days of this decision this Committee will consider further immediate sanctions against the publisher.

We Dare is Actually Not Very Daring…Investigating the hype for the party game We Dare

Read more VSC and PEGI Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Based on article from cubed3.com

Due to be released on Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3 later this year, We Dare features over 35 mini-games that take a distinctly adult approach, with marketing materials encouraging two players to kiss a Wii Remote simultaneously, spank each other to control on-screen avatars, and striptease to a variety of songs. With its highly suggestive trailer and product description, Cubed3 queried PEGI on the seemingly low 12+ age rating. PEGI stated that they do not look at the surrounding context of a game, only the in-game content. The suggestive naughtiness by the human actors in the YouTube trailer did not figure in the decision for the game rating: PEGI does not take into account the context of a game when rating it, we only look at the contents of the game. [We Dare] has been rated as a PEGI 12 because it contains mild swearing, minor assault on a human-like character and words/activities that amount to obvious sexual innuendo, explicit sexual descriptions or images and sexual posturing. However PEGI: Do demand that these types of artwork [are] on the same level as the game. In the case of We Dare, the cover and trailer are in correspondence with our guidelines. It was considered that We Dare might justify a higher rating due to a specific (sexual) atmosphere, but this proposal was rejected by the Video Standards Council, an independent organisation that verifies PEGI ratings for use in the UK: The game itself is in fact less sexual/offensive than the marketing campaign leads us to believe (for example, you cannot see real spanking in the game. There is a ‘stripping game’ but you don’t have to undress; throwing away keys or anything that reduces your weight is good enough).

Game Rules Too Complicated…Handover of games censorship from BBFC to VSC delayed at least until September

Read more BBFC News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from mcvuk.com

Indecision over whether games featuring video content still need a BBFC certificate has temporarily derailed the implementation of PEGI ratings. The handover from the BBFC to the VSC will not now occur until September at the very earliest. A new government proposal states that interactive entertainment which features linear content (such as trailers) would require a BBFC rating. That means a game that features a video in it will need to have both a PEGI and BBFC label on the box. UKIE representing UK games producers condemned the proposal, saying in a statement: Any dual labelling is contrary to the principles that were established in having PEGI introduced into the Digital Economy Act and if this proposal were implemented we believe it would only cause unnecessary and potentially harmful consumer confusion.

Playing Waiting Games…Handover of games censorship from BBFC to VSC delayed

Read more VSC and PEGI Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from mcvuk.com

The rollout of the new PEGI video games classification system will miss its current April 2010 deadline and will not be introduced until July of this year at the earliest. The Video Standards Council (VSC) will then take over administration of producer assigned games ratings using PEGI symbols and classifications. The Conservative culture minister Ed Vaizey has admitted that: There’s been some technical delays to iron out a few kinks – nothing fundamental, nothing serious. And we’ll crack on with it as fast as we can. mcvuk.com believes that the delay is due to the time it will take to obtain European parliamentary approval.

PEGI App…Mobile database of games ratings and reviews

Read more VSC Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Based on article from ukie.info See also article from itunes.apple.com

UKIE, the trade body for the UK’s video games and interactive entertainment industry welcomes the launch of a new PEGI app that will for the first time allow UK consumers to access age ratings and reviews for games in one place from their handheld devices. The new free app has been created by PEGI S.A., the organisation that manages the pan-European age rating system for video game content, and it is available for iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad immediately, with an Android version launching soon. The app allows consumers to browse the database of all the video games that have received a PEGI rating (16,000+ games) and get detailed information about the game and the type of content. When looking up information about a game, the app not only provides the age rating and detailed advice about why a particular rating was given, but it is also possible to read reviews and see screenshots of the video game, provided by independent video games website Eurogamer.net. The app features specific search filters to allow users to search per platform and/or age rating. The age label clearly indicates the age suitability of a game. Content descriptors and specific consumer advice indicate the main reasons why a particular rating is given to a video game (eg. bad language, fear, violence, etc.).

Digitally Delayed…Video games will continue with BBFC ratings until April 2010

Read more VSC Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Based on article from dunyatoday.com

The Video Standards Council has confirmed the proposed changes to the age ratings system for games in the UK will not be applied until April 1, 2011. Delay in PEGI rating being legally enforceable has been blamed on the Digital Economy Act, which while passed, has not been made effective as of yet. Here’s the official statement from the VSC obtained by MCV: The BBFC have approached the UK Government expressing concern that games rated PEGI 18 will be released in the UK without BBFC certification. The Digital Economy Act has been passed in the UK but has not yet been made effective. This means there is no change in the procedure for releasing games in the UK. If a game is rated PEGI 18 it must be submitted to the BBFC for a legal classification. This is irrespective of whether it contains exempt content as it reflects the voluntary agreement made by the games industry to avoid confusion over 18 rated games. Games must also be submitted to the BBFC if the contain any extraneous video which is not part of the game. This includes trailers. The Government has said the legislative change is likely to be implemented on April 1st 2011. The VSC is involved in the discussions regarding the implementation of the new legislation and will ensure that all coders are made aware of the changes to the procedure in good time to allow submissions to be adjusted. In the mean time please continue with your submissions in the same way that you have always done until the VCS advises differently. It is important to stress that no games must appear for sale in UK shops with a PEGI 18 logo prior to April 1st 2011. Enforcement of PEGI ratings was previously to be in effect by October 2010.