SPOnG recently spoke with UK video game trade body, ELSPA's, general manager Michael Rawlison about the key question of its support for the European rating agency PEGI over the UK-specific British Board of Film Classification. Rawlinson spoke at length about the whys and wherefores, even speaking out strongly about his view of the BBFC's rating criteria in comparison to PEGI.
"The PEGI people are available to go and talk to developers through the development process and look at things in pre-production", says Rawlinson. He compared this to the BBFC "you can only get a ruling on a BBFC rating once you've finished the product", he told us. He then went on to question the BBFC's attitude to content.
"If we listen to what the BBFC said in print around Dark Knight - “We analysed this film and we felt that it was borderline around 12 and 15 but in the end we decided to give it a 12”, now whether they gave it a 12 of their own free will and volition or whether it was through heavy arm-twisting and pressure, who knows? I certainly have no evidence one way or the other. However, clearly there is no way to pre-determine what the rating of that is going to be until you send them the product."
We'll have the full - and frank - interview up for you to spend time with tomorrow.