Electronic Arts’ Keith Ramsdale: PEGI is still best choice for game classification
There has been a lot of discussion regarding the recently released Byron Report. Video game publisher and developer Electronic Arts has made clear that it does not believe the conclusions of this study are valid and that the PEGI system should still be used in rating games classified as 12+. To find out more, head on over to the full article.
The Byron Report has caught the attention of quite a number of individuals with a stake in the video game industry.
While others have agreed with the conclusions made in the report, some have questioned the recommendation that the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) be given the responsibility of rating all games classified as 12+ by PEGI.
Electronic Arts‘ UK vice president and general manager Keith Ramsdale recently spoke about the Byron Report saying that while they welcome Dr. Byron’s review, the video game industry as a whole has been unanimously clear that the system they want to use is PEGI. Here’s why:
PEGI is an efficient system to help people make appropriate content choices for players of all ages. A Nielsen study showed PEGI has 94% awareness with the UK game-playing public and it follows a tougher regime than the BBFC. In 2007 PEGI gave 47 titles an 18 rating but BBFC downgraded 21 of those to 15 or less.
He further explained that the adaptation of a system specifically for the UK will bring about certain difficulties such as “added complexity for developers, publishers and crucially retailers.” An interesting point considering that PEGI will still be used by other countries. In effect, all games will have to be rated by two separate organizations.
Ramsdale continued by saying that EA believes that PEGI is the most suitable system for rating games at the moment. In addition, they will “engage with the appropriate Government departments to ensure the right decisions are made in the best interest of the British public.”
About The Author
