PEGI Ratings Standard By 2010?

The consultation period for the findings of the Byron Review closed yesterday with ELSPA outlining key issues in a detailed document to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) pushing for PEGI ratings rather than the current BBFC ratings which videogames already carry.

Speaking to MCV, ELSPA MD MIichael Rawlinson said “the correct solution is for the Government to accept the PEGI system is the best way for games to be rated and classified.”

By empowering the PEGI with “legal status in the UK” games will fall under stricter ratings and some may even be banned.

“We’ve had a strong dialogue with the Government and it understands that the games industry wants to sell its products in a sensible and appropriate manner,” added Rawlinson.

The BBFC is convinced that the report highlighted issues that needed to be addressed and they are confident they’ll “see greater collaborative working by all” in order to reach the right decision.

“The issues have been fully aired over the last 18 months. The BBFC is confident that the Government fully understands them, and is able to distinguish good from bad arguments,” said BBFC director David Cooke to MCV.

"We have closed the public consultation and we will have an announcement in due course to our findings, but at the moment we are unable to discuss this further," a DCMS spokesperson told IncGamers.

The government will give a formal response early next year.