ELSPA to parents: check PEGI age ratings for Christmas purchases

Posted Dec 4, 2008 at 12:42PM EST by Glenn M.

Listed in: News Tags: ELSPA, ESRB, Michael Rawlinson, PEGI

As with the ESRB, the ELSPA is just as vigilant in making an effort to keep kids away from unsuitable content. The trade body is calling out to all parents to check PEGI ratings on games before they take them out of the shelves this Christmas.

From the ELSPA, these are the PEGI ratings that parents must look out for, according to the press release they sent out:

PEGI 3+ - The game content is considered suitable for all age groups.
PEGI 7+ - The game may contain some violence of a non-realistic nature in relation to fantasy characters, which might be frightening to very children but is considered suitable for those aged 7 and over.
PEGI 12+ - The game may include instances of violence of a non-realistic nature, but only towards fantasy characters. There is no violence towards human-looking characters or recognizable animals. Suitable for players aged 12 and over.
PEGI 16+ - Adult behavior and violence can start to look life-like. Suitable for players 16 and over.
PEGI 18+ - The adult classification is applied to games that are suitable only for an adult audience. Subject matter and graphical details can mirror levels of detail in the storytelling found in adult television programs and movies. Suitable for those 18 years old and over.

For these ratings, PEGI checks on the usual indicators: Bad Language, Discrimination, Drugs, Fear, Sexual Content, Violence. For "Fear," the ELSPA is mindful of the elements of a game that may possibly cause great fear to young gamers, like spiders to arachnophobes.

Michael Rawlinson, Managing Director of ELSPA, has this to say:

With a little over three weeks until Christmas, parents are under increased pressure from children looking to play their favourite games. But not all games are suitable for younger children so the games industry, which always has child safety at the forefront of its mind, knows that it is of paramount importance that parents carefully check the PEGI ratings and descriptors to ensure the gameÂ’s suitability for the intended player.

As far as ratings go, these are mainly for concerned parents who simply want to know what their kids are playing. Consenting adult gamers who buy games for themselves need not pay so much attention to them, unless they themselves prefer not to indulge in sex and violence. Well at least they're not flagging gay content like certain Christian investment firms do.

Newest Downloads

05/22/2012 - 05/27/2012

RGLoader 0v290 Beta	05/27/2012
WiiMod 3.2	05/27/2012
WiiMC v1.2.7	05/25/2012
True Blue Firmeware v2.7	05/24/2012
3DS Video Converter v2.3	05/24/2012
Mobile Assault 1.8.2	05/24/2012
PSP Tools Alpha 0.1	05/22/2012
Newton War	05/22/2012
DaedalusX64 r766	05/22/2012
PSPMarble	05/22/2012
The Undead 4 - Nazi Zombies	05/21/2012
3DSExplorer v1.2.1	05/21/2012
J-Runner v0.2 Beta 275	05/19/2012
Priiloader 0.8 Beta 3	05/19/2012
Quake Rev PAK release 4	05/19/2012

Most Comments this Month
Sound Off: On Game Expirat..	(57)
Pokemon Liquid Crystal! K..	(12)
neur0n Knocks Out An Updat..	(4)
Homebrew - PSP/PS3 PKG Dec..	(3)
Hellcat Working On Recover..	(3)
PSP homebrew - Lamecraft o..	(2)
Japanese gamers fire back..	(2)
PSP homebrew - Lamecraft o..	(2)
PSP Homebrew: 6.xx PRO Onl..	(2)
GTA: LCS Cheat Device v0.3	(1)
Square Enix announces Fina..	(1)
LUA Little Fighter 2 v1.60..	(1)
PSP homebrew - LameCraft	(1)
VSHPong Gamma now with On/..	(1)
CSPortable 0.74 - added ne..	(1)
Modern Warfare 3 visits Ji..	(1)
FreePlay: eLoader for the..	(1)
PSP homebrew - CFW 6.20, 6..	(1)
PSP homebrew - GoTube v1.2	(1)
Custom Firmware PRO-B9 for..	(1)
PSP homebrew - Prometheus..	(1)
Bust Out Your PSP For This..	(1)
PSP homebrew - PSP Install..	(1)
GTA:LCS Cheat Trainer for..	(1)
Custom Firmware 6.35 PRO-B..	(1)

Top Jumps this Month
neur0n Knocks Out An..	(95)
Bust Out Your PSP Fo..	(84)
Pokemon Liquid Cryst..	(80)
PSP homebrew - LameC..	(61)
PSP Comics Reader v2..	(49)
PSP Homebrew: 6.xx P..	(41)
Hellcat Working On R..	(39)
PSP Homebrew - PSPDi..	(38)
PSP homebrew - DSonP..	(38)
neur0n Gives You Mor..	(36)
PSP GBA v1.2: Gamebo..	(31)
Sound Off: On Game E..	(30)
Another CFW Goodie F..	(27)
Sound Off: Should Ap..	(25)
Soywiz Releases PSP..	(25)
GTA: Liberty City St..	(22)
Homebrew - PSP/PS3 P..	(22)
PSP homebrew - Mario..	(20)
PSP Google Chrome po..	(19)
EA Shuts Down More S..	(19)
PSP homebrew - Audio..	(18)
PSP homebrew - PSP L..	(17)
PSP homebrew - PSP..	(17)
PSP CFW: 6.60 ME & L..	(16)
PSX2PSP v0.7: a new..	(16)

Quick Jump Daily Digest

ELSPA to parents: check PEGI age ratings for Christmas purchases

Related Stories:

Comments