The BBFC would be better - the public as a whole realise what the ratings mean, etc. Plus they give lower ratings to stuff like Crackdown because they realise it's cartoony and satirical, not malicious.
The BBFC rated very few games. Only games with certain content had to go through the BBFC in the UK (I forget exactly what the criteria were but it included some 15+ games and most 18+ games). I recall reading several years ago on the ELSPA website that about 5% of games went through the BBFC.
The big difference to retailers and consumers was that BBFC ratings are legally binding, stores can receive large fines for supplying media to a person below the rated age. Hopefully GAME (who are the only big games retailer left) and HMV can be persuaded to enforce the PEGI ratings as a store policy rather than a legal one.
@Azquelt: Fortunately I am intimately familiar with ratings boards.
All games in UK are (were) rated by PEGI unless:
1. They showed excessive sex/violence etc. (i.e. PEGI 18 rated games).
or
2. They contained video content other than that directly related to the game's plot. (i.e. Adverts for other games/making of documentaries).
GAME currently are very good at checking ID for games (at least they are in my local game stores) I couldn't comment on HMV but given that they deal largely in DVD's they probably have fairly robust guidelines for age checking.
@Blore07: I'm not British, but I don't think they'll have too much of a hard time learning all those cryptic, indecipherable symbols: 3, 7, 12, 16, 18.
It's up to retailers and parents to take the PEGI ratings seriously. It's no different from the changes the BBFC itself went through over the years.
If the British could adapt to the metric system, getting onboard with PEGI ratings shouldn't be the end of civilisation.
...Unless, of course, people can't wrap their head around such a simple system just because *gasp* they're not used to it. In that case, then yes, civilisation is well and truly fucked.
@Skyline7284: The system itself might be better than the ESRB who knows. But the problem with PEGI is that it still is at the hands of the government. The government can censor content. No one in the US can censor. However to be fair no console maker will allow a non-rated or AO rated game on their system. PC's will though. I'm fine with this simply because it's the industry who has decided this instead of the government.
@Cartman86: "But the problem with PEGI is that it still is at the hands of the government."
Wrong, wrong, wrong 1000 times wrong. PEGI is independant from the government and all signatories to the system have joined of their own volition.
Just because we don't have "No censorship" written on a dusty bit of paper doesn't make us a bunch of right wing facists. Our government is quite capable of remembering not to censor free speech without the need to refer to a crib sheet.
"I'm fine with this simply because it's the industry who has decided this instead of the government."
The industry wanted this system precisely because it is self regulating and not tied to the government as the BBFC is. They didn't just pick it because they prefer square logos to round ones.
Good, I rest well knowing that our corporate overlords are resting well. What really counts is "The Man's" pocket book. We all know times have been rough and especially Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft are having such a hard time in this recession. Hopefully, this scourge will cry himself to sleep knowing he prevented Kaz, Blamer, Gates, and Iwata from purchasing an extra brick of gold or a damn fine hooker. Seriously, what lower-middle class trash, him and his pirating family deserve it.
@tim333: With too many pirates running amok, the Northern European Ninja thrives due to an overabundance of food sources and targets for Ninja Vendettas.
Occasionally, this can lead to collateral damage, or, in some cases, innocent bystanders who favor bandannas being beheaded/filled with shuriken without a moments notice.
@cyrax08: It pains me to see people like yourself scrutinizing and philosophizing everything when normally, a good thing, in the context of real world crime... a book on the law that any layman can understand, get's violated.
End of story. He will most likely get a fair trial, but with overwhelming evidence, it will be a short one. He was breaking the law and whether or not you do it from home doesn't change the rules on the books.
I'm greatly saddened in our world with backbones made of twinkies and "awe, it's ok..."
I hope they just stick with BFC: less messing around involved. There's no point flouting the fact that PEGI helps ban games (BBFC has banned very few, and even its legal role to do so can be undermined via higher authorities. The same would apply to PEGI, amking banning a useless act).
BAsucally, stciking with BBFC will conform to what Byrin said: the PEGI system is already one too many, and is an alien system compared to the familiar BBFC system. Why doesn't ELSPA throw some money into their system to help spped the process, instead of pouring cash into PR and lobbying government to swtich to a new age rating logo?
06/16/09
06/16/09
06/16/09
From my knowledge BBFC always rates games 12, 15 or 18.
I thought PEGI took care of the rest?
06/16/09
The BBFC rated very few games. Only games with certain content had to go through the BBFC in the UK (I forget exactly what the criteria were but it included some 15+ games and most 18+ games). I recall reading several years ago on the ELSPA website that about 5% of games went through the BBFC.
The big difference to retailers and consumers was that BBFC ratings are legally binding, stores can receive large fines for supplying media to a person below the rated age. Hopefully GAME (who are the only big games retailer left) and HMV can be persuaded to enforce the PEGI ratings as a store policy rather than a legal one.
06/17/09
All games in UK are (were) rated by PEGI unless:
1. They showed excessive sex/violence etc. (i.e. PEGI 18 rated games).
or
2. They contained video content other than that directly related to the game's plot. (i.e. Adverts for other games/making of documentaries).
GAME currently are very good at checking ID for games (at least they are in my local game stores) I couldn't comment on HMV but given that they deal largely in DVD's they probably have fairly robust guidelines for age checking.
06/16/09
06/16/09
06/16/09
06/16/09
In england no one takes the PEGI ratings seriously at all, whereas the BBFC is quite commonly followed.
I'm fed up of seeing little shit chavs walking into Gamestation and buying a GTA or a 50 Cent game.
Like it or not there is a reason things have ratings people.
06/16/09
Don't get yourself into a tizzle. I'll go pop the kettle on for a nice spot of earl grey.
06/16/09
06/16/09
It's up to retailers and parents to take the PEGI ratings seriously. It's no different from the changes the BBFC itself went through over the years.
If the British could adapt to the metric system, getting onboard with PEGI ratings shouldn't be the end of civilisation.
...Unless, of course, people can't wrap their head around such a simple system just because *gasp* they're not used to it. In that case, then yes, civilisation is well and truly fucked.
06/16/09
06/16/09
06/16/09
06/16/09
No.
06/16/09
I will not allow some foreign classification system to hold sway over policies in my country.
06/16/09
06/16/09
06/16/09
06/17/09
Wrong, wrong, wrong 1000 times wrong. PEGI is independant from the government and all signatories to the system have joined of their own volition.
Just because we don't have "No censorship" written on a dusty bit of paper doesn't make us a bunch of right wing facists. Our government is quite capable of remembering not to censor free speech without the need to refer to a crib sheet.
"I'm fine with this simply because it's the industry who has decided this instead of the government."
The industry wanted this system precisely because it is self regulating and not tied to the government as the BBFC is. They didn't just pick it because they prefer square logos to round ones.
01/09/09
01/09/09
01/09/09
01/09/09
Occasionally, this can lead to collateral damage, or, in some cases, innocent bystanders who favor bandannas being beheaded/filled with shuriken without a moments notice.
01/09/09
01/09/09
01/09/09
I guess having proper morals must be a terrible fate, as well.
01/09/09
01/09/09
01/09/09
So receiving a gift is theft to you?
01/09/09
End of story. He will most likely get a fair trial, but with overwhelming evidence, it will be a short one. He was breaking the law and whether or not you do it from home doesn't change the rules on the books.
I'm greatly saddened in our world with backbones made of twinkies and "awe, it's ok..."
01/09/09
11/28/08
11/28/08
11/21/08
BAsucally, stciking with BBFC will conform to what Byrin said: the PEGI system is already one too many, and is an alien system compared to the familiar BBFC system. Why doesn't ELSPA throw some money into their system to help spped the process, instead of pouring cash into PR and lobbying government to swtich to a new age rating logo?
11/21/08
7 and up: smiley-face box
12 and up: gun-shaped box
16 and up: penis-shaped box (DildopakĀ®)
18 and up: Duck-Hunt-motherfuckin'-dog-shaped box
11/21/08
18
15
12/PG
11/21/08