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Reader Comments (26)

Posted: Sep 8th 2009 2:03PM The Blank Mage Returns said

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Weren't you just over there?
*Points over shoulder to Prey article*

Posted: Sep 8th 2009 2:05PM The Blank Mage Returns said

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Personally, I think 'Online' should count as Fear, Language, Discrimination, AND violence, put together. I mean, I've seen some terrible things in games, but no child should have to visit Xbox Live.

Posted: Sep 8th 2009 2:06PM (Unverified) said

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these ratings have been around for appearing on games for about a month or so, so whats to delay?

Posted: Sep 8th 2009 3:52PM SSUK said

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That's merely a superficial change. What they're talking about here is the actual legality of the ratings themselves.

The BBFC ratings on games were legally enforceable. So if a store sold a game which was rated higher than the age of the person whom it was sold to, that was an offence. PEGI ratings, on the other hand, was (and due to a technicality, still is) completely voluntary by stores. So anyone could be sold a PEGI 16+ game without proof of age and it wouldn't be illegal.

The hold up is basically this: The government thought the current law, the Video Recordings Act, would cover PEGI as it sought legal backing, as it was the same law which the BBFC used to enforce video game ratings. However, it seems that this isn't the case and the act will have to be amended to enable PEGI to take advantage of their new found powers.
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Posted: Sep 8th 2009 2:13PM RobS the 3rd said

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Wait, if there is no legal basis for this ratings, then how can they enforce them?

Posted: Sep 8th 2009 2:18PM NathanDTS said

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They still work as a guideline to parents etc.
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Posted: Sep 8th 2009 2:41PM RobS the 3rd said

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Ah, I see, so while they have no legal power, they can still be a guideline.
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Posted: Sep 8th 2009 2:16PM PR0F3TA said

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LOL WUT?

Posted: Sep 8th 2009 2:17PM PR0F3TA said

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can anybody name a game that deserves a discrimination tag?

maybe Uncharted? lol

Posted: Sep 8th 2009 3:06PM (Unverified) said

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Resident Evil 5.
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Posted: Sep 8th 2009 2:17PM acme64 said

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Bad language, discrimination, drugs, fear, gambling, sex, violence.......online?

Posted: Sep 8th 2009 2:20PM (Unverified) said

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Online is all of those things put together.
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Posted: Sep 8th 2009 3:07PM The Blank Mage Returns said

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Copyright.
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Posted: Sep 8th 2009 2:19PM chromekreeper said

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now, I'm not going to say i know the UK legal system, except from what i see on Law and Order: UK, but couldn't little kids sue because stores aren't selling them games? just saying

Posted: Sep 8th 2009 2:26PM Martin C said

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Either that, or they have to put that Discrimination badge on the store's window-front.
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Posted: Sep 8th 2009 2:45PM (Unverified) said

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Errm no. Store policy. There's no Right to being able to buy stuff.
Also kid's are under-18, so can't sue anyway.
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Posted: Sep 8th 2009 2:21PM chromekreeper said

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probably should stop spamming, motherF00ker

Posted: Sep 8th 2009 2:26PM (Unverified) said

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Anatomic love for An atomic girl, the life of the party, government sent awhirl.

Posted: Sep 8th 2009 2:42PM (Unverified) said

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Of course the Loophole will be closed for PEGI. The fact they only noticed the loophole when they were refreshing the laws to make PEGI the defacto games rating and legally enforceable (only BBFC ratings used to be enforceable)

Posted: Sep 8th 2009 2:52PM bongoes said

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This guy is everywhere. When will he leave?!

Posted: Sep 8th 2009 2:53PM (Unverified) said

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I need a new hat. I need new gloves. I need new shoes. I need new cuffs. New hat, new gloves, new shoes, new cuffs, new face, no trace. Where did I go?

Means I'm done "spamming" endcase you arrrrrre moot understood...

Posted: Sep 8th 2009 3:08PM The Blank Mage Returns said

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I like to imagine you're something like HAL after he gets most of his circuits pulled.
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Posted: Sep 8th 2009 3:18PM (Unverified) said

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At least UK gets an intermediate teen rating. In the US we get 13+ and then 17+ which is a big gap.

Posted: Sep 8th 2009 4:10PM (Unverified) said

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lol, discrimination.

Posted: Sep 8th 2009 4:42PM (Unverified) said

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I'd prefer the BBFC to continue rating games. Their rating system is ubiquitous and well understood by parents over here, plus they're the only board I know to actually play the games they rate, rather than just watch videos like they do in the US. PEGI's a bit of a joke since the publishers rate the games themselves.

And apart from anything else... the BBFC's a British institution. More power to them.

Posted: Sep 8th 2009 5:23PM technoKyle said

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I think it's much better for the industry to regulate itself rather than the government. We wouldnt have had that big Manhunt 2 fiasco if that were the case a few years ago.
Also, parents in general, although they recognise the BBFC ratings, don't seem to take them as seriously when they're on games. I'm not sure if any ratings system is gonna beat the ignorance of a lot of parents.
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