Pan European Game Information (PEGI)

PEGI (Pan-European Game Information) was launched in 2003  as a self-regulatory age rating system for video games. PEGI is the European Game rating system for video games. PEGI has replaced many national systems or games rating. So far, PEGI is used in 26 European nations.

You should note that PEGI ratings are not used in Germany, which instead uses the USK system.

Why are PEGI ratings important?

We all know with the rising technology video game is also getting high-tech day by day. Previously, video games were confined to geometrical shapes mostly but now it has included many animations, violent scenes, and graphics.

And in a result of the increasing concern about the possible negative impacts of violent video games, national rating systems came into existence, and in 2003 most of them in Europe merged into the “Pan E, European Game Information” (PEGI). The main motive of PEGI is to aid European parents to make thoughtful decisions while buying video games for their children.

People also ask Why are age ratings important in games?

The answer is very basic, this system’s rating guide consumers and parents, to help them decide whether or not the content is favorable for a child. If the publisher fails to plan for Age Rating certification not only the audiences will be affected but also sales and revenue generated from the game would be affected badly.

As age logos and content descriptors are used to clarify the type of content games include. On the front side of the game box, an aged logo can be found which means that a game is only suitable for that age. The various age logos arediffer7+, 12+, 16+, and 18+ & on the back side of the game box content descriptor is found: these pictograms show whether there might be some offensive content in it. The various content descriptors are the following: bad language, discrimination, drugs, fear, gambling, sex, and violence. These content descriptors are the major reason why a specific age label is given to a game.

How age rating is given to a certain game?

We have learned much about PEGI, now let us discuss how it is done.

The introductory step of the realization of the rating is the completion of an online form by the publisher of the game.  The publisher is asked to reveal facets of the content of the game on that form and the publisher has to reveal the possible presence of objectionable content. And then based on that information, a provisional age rating is given to the game, together with the content descriptors. The descriptors clarify why that age rating is given to the game. The second step in the process is reevaluating the provisional rating, which is done by the Netherlands Institute for Classification of Audiovisual Media (NICAM, for games rated 3+ and 7+) or the Video Standards Council (VSC, for games rated 12+, 16+, and 18+). After granting the game a final rating, the publisher is allowed to use the age-rating logo and the content descriptors for the game.

Conclusion

Now we are educated enough to bind up this topic in a few words. PEGI has played a vital role in the industries of video games. It has beneficially come into effect for both consumers as well as for the publisher. It protects against many inappropriate reactions to society. Yes, PEGI is important and should prevail.