EA: Byron regulations may delay games for UK
by Alexander Sliwinski 
on Jun 25th 2008 6:15PM
Electronic Arts' UK general manager, Keith Ramsdale, tells
GI.biz that the proposed game rating alterations asked for in the
Byron Review will delay game releases in the country. Ramsdale believes the changes are an "unnecessary layer of administration" to the process. The main change requested in the Byron Review is that any game above a 12+ certification would need to be reviewed by the BBFC; currently the organization only takes on games flagged to have sex, violence or criminal activity.
Ramsdale asks that the government poll consumers on the matter. Meanwhile, publishers continue to back the continent-covering
PEGI system. As it has stated before, the
BBFC is
financially compensated by publishers for its work, and so doesn't expect to encounter problems when hiring more staff to keep up with a greater influx of games. So, not only will the group hire more people to keep up with the work load, but the new rules would also be a cash boom for the organization.
