PEGI rating symbols get a splash of color

by JC Fletcher { Jun 17th 2009 at 10:15AM }

Now that the Pan-European Game Information rating system is the official standard for UK game ratings, a new set of icons has been unveiled. The new symbols will go on both the front and back of game boxes, and feature a recommended age for the game, as well as a traffic-light-style color code similar to the one in ELSPA's proposed rating system from last year. An "OK" rating will be used for online casual games, according to Edge.

The eight content descriptor symbols, already in use by PEGI, will be placed on the back of game boxes, to help parents determine the nature of the content responsible for the game's rating. Even if the "fear" symbol is an example of "discrimination" against spiders.

Tags: pegi, rating-system, ratings, uk

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Storm Eagle @ Jun 17th 2009 10:17AM

Well isn't that special?

And what is with that discrimination icon? Are you super cereal with that thing?

dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Jun 17th 2009 10:25AM

Why not throw discrimination under language? 90% of things that would be considered discrimination are racial slurs anyway.

Professor Lario @ Jun 17th 2009 10:36AM

I was going to mention the same thing. Hyper political correctness at its finest. Just wait until games with 'discriminatory' content are banished to the sidelines. This is a bad sign if games are ever to be taken seriously as a form of media/art to compete with movies, books, and music.

The Baron @ Jun 17th 2009 12:28PM

I don't think it's necessarily political correctness gone mad - if there was a scene in some game where somebody's lynched because of their race, then that's not the same thing as swearing.

dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Jun 17th 2009 12:50PM

Good point. "Discrimination" seems so particular, though. Maybe "Suggestive Themes" (ripping from the MPAA) would be more appropriate.

Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 17th 2009 2:25PM

Yeah I thought the Online icon pretty much covered violence, discrimination and bad language.

Warlord @ Jun 18th 2009 2:31AM

i like the picture signs like the violence
but the ESRB 1's are fine as they are to me

Storm Eagle @ Jun 17th 2009 10:28AM

Personally, I thought the sex icon should have been an index finger going through the circle your make with your other index finger and thumb.

Also, I think that sex icon is discriminatory.

ThornedVenom (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jun 17th 2009 12:27PM

If a game had gay sex, would it still have that icon?

ArchiGamer @ Jun 17th 2009 2:51PM

@Thorned

It probably have two crossing swords then.

MLS @ Jun 17th 2009 10:26AM

My colorblindness only senses a difference in 18. The rest all look to be the same exact color.

sam @ Jun 17th 2009 12:24PM

Oh no, better add the discrimination icon too! :)

Seriously this is not a problem because you can (er I assume) see the number; it's an additional clue, not required information.

On another topic - aren't the icons the same ones already in use? I'm sure they look familiar... and incidentally I assuime the text on 'bad language' isn't really bigger than all the others...

joeybeast @ Jun 17th 2009 10:35AM

I'm terrified by dices, this is going to be confusing.

Dirty @ Jun 17th 2009 11:36AM

That's an odd thing to be afraid of. I'm scared of black people.

Sly [PSN SniperChameleon] @ Jun 17th 2009 1:03PM

i'm scared of dirty. EWW

nighttime__ @ Jun 17th 2009 10:37AM

BISEXUAL SEX.

Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Jun 17th 2009 10:52AM

I thought people wanted the video game industry to be taken seriously...this isn't helping.

Jack Tretton @ Jun 17th 2009 10:55AM

DISCRIMINATION
FEAR
COSMETICS

Gossip Girl Year One, this fall from Activision.

Lucky @ Jun 17th 2009 10:56AM

Online is new for me. Does that denote "Playing online exposes you to violent, foul-mouthed discriminatory jerks" or "This game discriminates against single players"?

cknblade @ Jun 17th 2009 11:02AM

I'd say they just added that one so that they could occasionally save boxspace; if the online icon is there, one can assume the rest will be in the game as well.

deanb @ Jun 17th 2009 11:03AM

I think its along the lines of "ESRB does not rate online experience" get out clause, cos PEGI ain't had one of those.

Comtar @ Jun 17th 2009 11:01AM

Wouldn't any multiplayer have discrimination?

Look it's the RED TEAM! Sorry RED TEAM you aren't one of us BLUE people, we are going to have to fucking kill you.

Simon @ Jun 17th 2009 11:33AM

I guess using colour to denote the age rating will help the general consumer base in the transition from BBFC to PEGI as a legal rating. Many people (Parents, and especially Grandparents) have a problem with purchasing software for minors (something that is actually quite illegal).

I work for a UK used entertainment retailer (CeX.co.uk - if you where bothered) and the sheer number of times I've asked older customers (much older, I mean) if the copy of GTA Vice City is for them or the five year old they have with them. If they declare it is for them, I have no legal cover to refuse the sale. A few times I've actually seen the minor beg the grandparent for the game and hand it over, and of course, because PS2 GTA's and Manhunt are old, we sell them for less than a fiver.

The biggest problem facing the games industry is education, many people purchasing software have no clue of the implications of that purchase. Whether thats age or difficulty suitability or even quality identification. Of course, it's these people who see the game THEY bought when passing by, see the content and throw their arms up in the air and come marching into the shop. Once we even brought a customer to see the CCTV footage of the sales assistant asking the customer who the game was for.

All very sad indeed.

sam @ Jun 17th 2009 1:01PM

Isn't it actually perfectly legal for a parent to buy an 18 game for their kid?

It might be illegal for you to sell it to them knowing that it's actually for the kid - but once they've legally bought it, I don't think there's any law they can't give it to the kid, is there?

smooth @ Jun 17th 2009 11:44AM

Online is bad? I'm never playing on LIVE again....

hahahaahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahaha,,, I laughed at my own joke. How sad....

Blaggers @ Jun 17th 2009 12:13PM

Oh no... not... not ONLINE

snarfoogle @ Jun 17th 2009 12:28PM

Oh sure, these rating symbols discriminate against spiders, while the icon for sex is extremely heteronormative.

Simon @ Jun 17th 2009 1:25PM

That was once true but rather shiftily, the rules changed!

Kogen @ Jun 17th 2009 2:09PM

I am sexually attracted to violent spiders, but I discriminate agaisnt the spotted ones.

ArchiGamer @ Jun 17th 2009 2:49PM

I don't think having colorful labels will help with keeping children from games they shouldn't play...

Arashikou @ Jun 17th 2009 3:02PM

Spider Pride >8

G$ @ Jun 17th 2009 3:34PM

Would Dr. Mario get a "drug icon" on its cover?

Indraco @ Jun 17th 2009 3:51PM

I don't really get the need for the pictures, since they kind of fail to be useful without the text.

If I saw a box with just the icons for bad language, fear, sex, and violence. I might instead conclude that the game has cartoon mischief, spiders, groovy seventies action, and Thor.

I also like how their limited color palette means discrimination ends up being two "white" dudes ganging up on one "black" dude.

Not that I've ever cared about ratings, but I think the ESRB does a better job by having more content descriptors, since I think that is the actual informative part of the rating. Plus, adding a new tag like "Strong Racism" is a lot easier when you don't have to pay a graphic artist.

Fabre @ Jun 17th 2009 5:03PM

The descrimination icon is nothing new. It has been around since atleast March 2003 (I checked my Metroid Prime guide and it's there...not as a rating for the game itself).

I can't say I'm too happy about adding the colours...I like the black, white and grey thing they had...I can only stand looking at the 3 and 18.