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.

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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.

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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.

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Don't get yourself into a tizzle. I'll go pop the kettle on for a nice spot of earl grey.

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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.

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No.

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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.

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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.

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I guess having proper morals must be a terrible fate, as well.

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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..."

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