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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2008) |
Pan European Game Information (PEGI) is a European video game content rating system. It was developed by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE) and came into use in April 2003. The PEGI system is used in 30 countries. It is not associated with the European Union.
Participation is voluntary, at the discretion of the game developer. To obtain the ratings for any piece of software, the developer completes a questionnaire, which is then evaluated by the Netherlands Institute for the Classification of Audiovisual Media (NICAM) and ratings are given. It's based on the Dutch Kijkwijzer system as well.
There are two parts to the classification for any piece of software — the difficulty level.
Contents |
Age ratings
PEGI has five age categories. In Portugal, local legislation conflicts with some of the ratings and they are changed accordingly. Finland changed its legislation to fully adopt PEGI beginning 1 January 2007.
| Country | 3+ | 7+ | 12+ | 16+ | 18+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Portugal |  |
 |
|
|
|
PEGI is a voluntary system. In the United Kingdom, if publishers of a game choose not to use the PEGI system it will be given a rating by the BBFC or in certain cases given no rating at all. However, it is not illegal for persons under the age to play the game, as it is a system of helping parents of children make informed decisions on buying the game. It is entirely the parent's choice whether to purchase a game for a minor.
Content descriptions
The seven content descriptors are:
The 'Gambling' content descriptor was first used on September 29, 2006 with the title 42 All-Time Classics.
Where PEGI is used
PEGI is used in 32 European nations, Israel, and South Africa[citation needed].
| Country | Legally enforceable |
Local rating system |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 Austria |
Partial | Austria uses the PEGI system since April 2003 [1] | |
.svg){kind=small} Belgium |
No | ||
 Bulgaria |
No | ||
 Cyprus |
No | ||
 Czech Republic |
No | ||
 Denmark |
No | ||
 Estonia |
No | ||
 Finland |
Yes | VET/SFB | VET/SFB is used if PEGI rating is missing. |
 France |
No | ||
 Greece |
No | ||
 Germany |
No | USK | USK rating is legally enforceable. PEGI labelling can be found on some games along with the USK rating.[2] |
 Hungary |
No | ||
 Iceland |
No | ||
 Italy |
No | ||
 Israel |
No | ||
 Ireland |
No | ||
 Latvia |
No | ||
 Lithuania |
No | ||
 Luxembourg |
No | ||
 Malta |
No | ||
 Netherlands |
No | ||
 Norway |
No | ||
 Poland |
No | ||
 Portugal |
No | IGAC | |
 Romania |
No | ||
 Russia |
No | Used only for console games, or for PC games if the game published by foreign publisher | |
 Slovakia |
No | ||
 Slovenia |
No | ||
 Spain |
No | ||
 Sweden |
No | ||
 Switzerland |
No | ||
 United Kingdom |
Yes | BBFC | BBFC rating is frequently used on games rated '18+' elsewhere, such as Grand Theft Auto IV. |
See also
- CERO, the Japanese computer and video game rating system
- ESRB, the North American computer and video game rating system
- ELSPA, the former British computer and video game rating system, replaced by the PEGI ratings.
- USK, the German computer and video game rating system
- OFLC (Australia), the Australian media rating system
- OFLC (New Zealand), the New Zealand media rating system.
References
- ^ Wien: Games nur noch mit Altersnachweis - futurezone.ORF.at
- ^ "Halo 2: Best of Classics". EB Games.de (2006). Retrieved on 2006-09-25.
External links
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