ELSPA: Government close to a decision concering PEGI ratings system

Could it be that we’re finally close to a decision on which ratings system should govern the UK game industry? The Byron Review consultation period ended yesterday if you’ve been following the news. So what’s the early word from the participants? Find out in the full article.

After weeks of heated exchanges between the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) and the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), the Byron Review consultation period ended today (November 20) , with the former submitting a 30 page report detailing their side of the argument.

Besides espousing the merits of the PEGI cassification system, the document claims that an extension of the BBFC’s role into game ratings (as the Byron Report originally suggests) would create “a heavy burden to the industry, including logistical and compliance issues plus more operational costs.”

ELSPA MD Micheal Rawlinson expressed confidence that that government would see things his way, saying, “WeÂ’ve had a strong dialogue with the Government and it understands that the games industry wants to sell its products in a sensible and appropriate manner.”

Of course, director David Cooke of the BBFC is confident too saying, “The issues have been fully aired over the last 18 months. The BBFC is confident that the Government fully understands them, and is able to distinguish good from bad arguments.”

For the Government’s part, they’ll just be working as fast as they can to make up their minds. A formal response is expected by early next year.

If things go the ELSPA’s way, PEGI will be the UK‘s legal standard videogame classification system by 2010.

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Via MCV