Pan European Game Information

PEGI's logo

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 29 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 — a suggested minimum age and also up to seven descriptions of content, such as the use of strong language, violence, etc. Most recently added was the Gambling icon.

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 from January 1, 2007

	3+	7+	12+	16+	18+
Standard
Portugal

PEGI is a voluntary system, although once in place it is illegal for persons under the age to purchase the game. If publishers of a game choose not to use the PEGI system it will be given a rating by the BBFC or ESRB, 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:

Icon	Content descriptor	Examples
	Bad language	Grand Theft Auto series, The Warriors, Shadow the Hedgehog, Max Payne 2 and Killer 7.
	Discrimination	Original War, Hitman: Blood Money.
	Drugs	Deus Ex: Invisible War, The Warriors, NARC.
	Fear	Survival horror games, such as Condemned: Criminal Origins, and Resident Evil, Silent Hill.
	Sex, nudity, erotica, pornography	Singles: Flirt Up Your Life, Leisure Suit Larry, Playboy: The Mansion, BMX XXX, God of War, The Sopranos: Road to Respect.
	Violence	First person shooters, such as Doom 3 and Halo 2 and other games like Mortal Kombat and God of War.
	Gambling	42 All-Time Classics, God Hand, Street Hoops.

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 29 European nations (albeit with zero legal effect). They are:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland (Has legal effect; also has a local rating system which is given by VET/SFB instead if PEGI rating is missing)
• France
• Greece
• Germany (Only used on some games with the USK rating too. An example of a game that used both the PEGI and USK rating is Halo 2^[1])
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal (Portugal also has its own ratings commission, the IGAC)
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom (if a game contains certain material, BBFC rating is used instead)

Comparison and criticism

The neutrality of this section is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page.

PEGI does not have the same conception of violence as the ESRB:

• Ratchet: Deadlocked is classified 3+ by PEGI, but rated T by ESRB, Jak X has a 12+ rating for PEGI, but the reasons for the T rating are essentially the same.
• Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne is classified 12+ by PEGI and A by Japan's rating system, CERO. But the game was rated M by the ESRB.
• For racing games, such as Need for Speed: Most Wanted, there is a classification 3+ by PEGI, but it has been issued a T rating by the ESRB.
• For the FPS XIII PEGI rated the game 12+, but the ESRB rated the game M. The game was later re-rated a 16+ on re-releases.
• Final Fantasy XII is rated 16+ by PEGI, but is rated T by ESRB, the others were rated 12+ or 11+ by PEGI or ELPSA, but the reasons for the T rating in the US are the same
• Final Fantasy IX was rated 3+ by PEGI (A by CERO), but is rated T in the US
• Most superhero games, like Batman Begins, are classified 3+ by PEGI, but are rated T by ESRB
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is rated M by the ESRB while it is given an adults only 18+ rating by PEGI.
• Super Smash Bros. Melee is rated T by the ESRB whereas the PEGI gave it a 3+.
• The Sims 2 is rated 7+ by PEGI (7+ is equal to the E Rating of the ESRB) and the ESRB rated The Sims 2 T for Teen, which is equivalent to a 12+ rating of the PEGI. All other Sims 2 Expansions are rated 12+ in PEGI and T for teen in the ESRB.

PEGI has also given different ratings than BBFC

• Manhunt 2, while being banned by BBFC, could have been sold uncut with a 18+ rating in certain PEGI countries if not for Take-Two's suspension.
• Family Guy Video Game!, whilst being rated a 18+ by PEGI, the BBFC rated it a 15+, similar to the dvd boxsets.
• Splinter Cell Double Agent was also rated 18+ by PEGI, whilst the BBFC rated it 15.

See also

• CERO, the Japanese computer and video game rating system
• ESRB, the United States and Canadian 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

1. ^ Halo 2: Best of Classics. EB Games.de (2006). Retrieved on 2006-09-25.

External links

• Official website
• Official website focused on online games

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