1. UNIT 01 AO6
EXPLAIN LEGAL AND ETHICAL CONSTRAINTS AND THE ROLE OF
REGULATORY BODIES
PEGI & BBFC
Pan-European Game Information, also known as Pegi, is a self regulatory age rating system
for video games. Its responsible for protecting minors from explicit content, and there to give
all users from young to old in the EU a guide of the games contents, based upon bad
language, drugs, fear, gambling, sex, violence, and whether the game can be played online.
The age ratings vary from 3+, 4+, 6+, 7+, 12+ 16+, and 18+ depending on how many
content ratings are present. All the ratings are printed as logos upon the game covers. It was
developed by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE) and came into practice
in 2003. As of December 2011, Pegi rated over 18,000 games, 50% of the games were '3',
10% were '7', 24% were '12', 12% were '16' and only 4% were '18'. Before PEGI, games
were rated by BBFC in the UK, but now PEGI rate games in over 30 countries in the EU.
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is a non-governmental organization which
is funded by the film industry. The role that BBFC had in video games is to classify all games
that feature strong pornographic (R18 level) content. The BBFC will offer a determination
for linear content which does not contribute to the narrative drive of the game, whether this
footage is live action or computer generated; embedded in the game or simply contained on
the game disc. Examples of such linear content include the TV material created for the
GTA series; video rewards for completing certain tasks or levels within the game; or other
video content which does not contribute to the narrative drive of the video game.
Self regulatory means before PEGI
was legally binding the ratings
were made by BBFC and the
ratings weren’t official so when a
game is rated 12, people under 12
could still purchase the game,
PEGI gives an age rating and also
gives additional information such
as violent content and bad
language. The new system means
for the first time that anybody
selling a 12 rated game to a child
under that age could then face jail.

2. An example of game that got banned in the UK is Manhunt 2. This is the first game that
has been banned in a decade. It was described as “unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal
slaying”
All video games are different some contain way too much violence that I think is not suitable
for certain ages, but that is where PEGI steps in, I think PEGI is a good way to protect
consumers and it allows the consumer to think about what is in the game and if parent are
willing to let there child buy a certain game.
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/about/history-of-the-bbfc/