PEGI Online Rating: Not a Rating but a 'Protection'
Watch as the meaning of rating changes... for your own good.
Wrath of the Lich King... oh you betcha!
PEGI Online, the voluntary, European Union backed rating system for online-only games such as World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King (due in 2008) which was launched in June this year, is bigging itself up as old year turns to new.
Bear in mind that no government-funded body in the UK has the power to rate online-only games. The BBFC told SPOnG earlier this year that, "We don't have any legal powers to do so, but some publishers want us to."
This makes PEGI (Pan European Game Information) Online the nearest parents have to an official line of guidance.
Well, with the BBFC busy in court with Manhunt 2, someone's obviously steamed into the PEGI press department Christmas party and told it to get a press release out showing how well it's doing.
Therefore, Patrice Chazerand, Secretary General of the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE), is quoted as saying, "All ISFE members involved in online gaming are now holding a PEGI Online license. The ISFE membership has again taken the lead in addressing an area of concern for European consumers. Prospects for establishing a harmonized safety standard throughout Europe for online video games look very promising."
We're also told that PEGI Online is not messing around with objective guidance. Oh, no, it's brazenly about the bad stuff.
Gone is any pretence of ratings being put in place to give provide assistance on game content. As we can see, it's about 'protection'. Yes, we need protection from images and games in the same way that we need protection against terror attacks!
The big news, by the way, is not that a system of advice has now turned into that of protection, it is that PEGI Online now has 15 members (listed at the bottom of this story) - not quite the 230 claimed for PEGI itself.
These members signed up to a six point PEGI Online Safety Code (POSC). This 'safety code', "to which all PEGI Online license holders commit" is said to embrace "issues such as age-rated game content, appropriate reporting mechanisms, removal of inappropriate content, a coherent privacy policy, community standards for online subscribers and a responsible advertisement policy."
According to Jens Uwe Intat, ISFE Chairman, "PEGI Online equips parents to help their children navigate this technology safely."
What are your thoughts on a ratings system being turned to a protective device? Tell us in the Forum.
List of PEGI Online members
Burda:ic GmbH
CCP
City Interactive S.A.
Eidos Interactive Limited
Electronic Arts
Funcom A/S
Koch Media GmbH
Microsoft Corporation
NCsoft Europe Ltd.
Nintendo of Europe GmbH
Sony (SCEE)
The Walt Disney Company Limited
THQ (UK) LTD
UBISOFT
Vivendi Games Europe
Bear in mind that no government-funded body in the UK has the power to rate online-only games. The BBFC told SPOnG earlier this year that, "We don't have any legal powers to do so, but some publishers want us to."
This makes PEGI (Pan European Game Information) Online the nearest parents have to an official line of guidance.
Well, with the BBFC busy in court with Manhunt 2, someone's obviously steamed into the PEGI press department Christmas party and told it to get a press release out showing how well it's doing.
Therefore, Patrice Chazerand, Secretary General of the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE), is quoted as saying, "All ISFE members involved in online gaming are now holding a PEGI Online license. The ISFE membership has again taken the lead in addressing an area of concern for European consumers. Prospects for establishing a harmonized safety standard throughout Europe for online video games look very promising."
We're also told that PEGI Online is not messing around with objective guidance. Oh, no, it's brazenly about the bad stuff.
"PEGI Online is designed to offer youngsters across Europe enhanced protection from unsuitable gaming content as well as help parents understand the risks and potential for harm within the online environment."
Gone is any pretence of ratings being put in place to give provide assistance on game content. As we can see, it's about 'protection'. Yes, we need protection from images and games in the same way that we need protection against terror attacks!
The big news, by the way, is not that a system of advice has now turned into that of protection, it is that PEGI Online now has 15 members (listed at the bottom of this story) - not quite the 230 claimed for PEGI itself.
These members signed up to a six point PEGI Online Safety Code (POSC). This 'safety code', "to which all PEGI Online license holders commit" is said to embrace "issues such as age-rated game content, appropriate reporting mechanisms, removal of inappropriate content, a coherent privacy policy, community standards for online subscribers and a responsible advertisement policy."
According to Jens Uwe Intat, ISFE Chairman, "PEGI Online equips parents to help their children navigate this technology safely."
What are your thoughts on a ratings system being turned to a protective device? Tell us in the Forum.
List of PEGI Online members
Burda:ic GmbH
CCP
City Interactive S.A.
Eidos Interactive Limited
Electronic Arts
Funcom A/S
Koch Media GmbH
Microsoft Corporation
NCsoft Europe Ltd.
Nintendo of Europe GmbH
Sony (SCEE)
The Walt Disney Company Limited
THQ (UK) LTD
UBISOFT
Vivendi Games Europe
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Comments
Earl 17 Dec 2007 16:28
1/4
Well...
AS most Online game require a subscription let alone an internet connection, there has to be an adult paying for the service...
Question is then..
Is this adult responsably allowing usage?...
its always down to Good parenting.
Tip for Parents..
Read up on things and make the right choice for your family. its not that hard to do.
AS most Online game require a subscription let alone an internet connection, there has to be an adult paying for the service...
Question is then..
Is this adult responsably allowing usage?...
its always down to Good parenting.
Tip for Parents..
Read up on things and make the right choice for your family. its not that hard to do.
deleted 17 Dec 2007 16:55
2/4
Yes there is always the opportunity for parents to review and monitor a childs game usage, its just a shame not many parents take the needed interest in gaming for their child.
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DoctorDee 17 Dec 2007 17:29
3/4
to offer youngsters across Europe enhanced protection from unsuitable gaming content
Of course. Because "youngsters" (that was an outdated and patronising term when I was young) have always wanted "protecting" from unsuitable content. Just like they want protecting from alcohol, sex, drugs and cigarettes. When are adults going to realise that a kid who spends all his or her time on-line gaming isn't outside knifing other kids, or stealing to finance their drug habit.
TimSpong 17 Dec 2007 18:14
4/4
haritori wrote:
Yes there is always the opportunity for parents to review and monitor a childs game usage, its just a shame not many parents take the needed interest in gaming for their child.
The point for me is less to do with parenting et al and more to do with the change of emphasis in PEGI and other ratings bodies between 'advisory' and 'protective'.
The BBFC is drawing lines in the sand; PEGI is protecting us from 'out there'... this is a change in emphasis and role, and is a reversion to Victorian notions that some content should not be seen by some strata of humanity (usually the women and the working classes).
Tim