Electronic Arts: ratings system unworkable

Tag : Computer System Components

EA, which makes about one in five of the games sold in the UK,wants legal enforcement of the PEGI system. Keith Ramsdale, whoruns EA's business in the UK, said: “What we need is a singlesystem. "There are some games that are already rated at 18 on thecurrent system but would be at 15 on the new cinema model. What wedo need is legal enforcement of the PEGI standard, because now if achild of 12 wants to buy a 16-plus game, the retailer has to sellit to them.”
His comments came as ministers begin consultations on how best toimplement Dr Byron's proposals. She said that she sympathised withindustry concerns about the cost of compliance but did not acceptEA's complaints. “Parents don't understand PEGI, and whileadults don't buy Texas Chainsaw Massacre for their children, theymight still buy a [violent] game like Grand Theft Auto,” shesaid. Dr Byron said that legal enforcement of the PEGI regulationswould be “a good compromise” between a statutory schemeand self-regulation. She added that her wish to have the BBFC rateall games “may be changed slightly as a result of theconsultation”.
EA argues that the BBFC proposal is also unworkable because gamesincreasingly include extra levels or components downloaded from theinternet. Mr Ramsdale said that the BBFC would need “abuilding with the size of Milton Keynes” to house all thecensors needed to handle the thousands of game components andelements that companies like his hope to sell. The games industryhas said that the proposed system could collapse because the BBFCcould not cope.
Concerns about the need to regulate online games were overstated,Dr Byron said. “The majority of people buy games in the shops- that's where the market is today,” she said.
EA asserted that the UK release of games would be delayed by“weeks, not days”, while games released globally weremade to comply with British ratings. The pan-European PEGI systemcould be undermined if the UK, the biggest single games market inEurope, walked away from it. Germany is the only other big countryin Europe to have its own ratings system. Last year Britons bought£1.7 billion of video games.