PEGI versus BBFC - the debate continues
ELSPA director says BBFC 'can't cope' with complexity of video games
Since the government-commissioned Byron report recommended back in March the British Board of Film Classification be made responsible for rating all video games from 12+ upwards, a debate has been raging over whether it, or existing ratings board PEGI, is best to serve the role of rating our games, and which offers the clearest system for parents who wouldn't know Tetris from Grand Theft Auto: Ultra Bloodsoaked Edition.
In the latest in the saga, ELSPA's director general Paul Jackson has offered his views at a fringe event at the UK Labour Party conference, saying PEGI is the only system with the power to protect children both online and offline.
"A linear ratings system like the one the BBFC uses is designed for films with a beginning, middle and end where the outcome is always the same," said Jackson. "It just can't cope with the infinite variety and complexity of modern video games, and the interaction between players.
"There is a simple proof of this already available. The film ratings board continually downgrades games classified 18 by PEGI. They go to BBFC 15 or even BBFC 12. History shows us that BBFC ratings - and the UK - would regularly be out of step with our European neighbours."
The BBFC of course has disagreed in a statement which rejects ELSPA's claims. In the statement, the organisation simply points out that both the Byron Review and the CMS Select Committee has so far backed the BBFC in the ongoing debate.
It concludes: "The BBFC's case will be developed in its response to the current government consultation."
We await the next instalment in the on-going saga. With PEGI backed by most of the games industry and BBFC by the Byron review though, it's looking like a score draw at the moment.
