UK's Byron Review proposes film-style ratings for video games

The United Kingdom thus far lacks an official ratings body like the ESRB for its video games industry, instead exercising Pan European Game Information (PEGI) ratings used in 30 European countries when developers themselves so choose to use them.  In the UK, games without a PEGI rating could instead be reviewed by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) for mandatory classification depending on game content. This situation could soon change now that an independent review commissioned by the British Government itself in September 2007 has delivered its final recommendations. The study, titled "Safer Children in a Digital World", is headed by British psychologist and "docu-soap" personality Dr. Tanya Byron and examines the risks which "potentially harmful or inappropriate material" on the internet and video games can have on minors.

Foremost of the review's recommendations for the video games industry is the call for a new classification system for video games which will be designed to match that of the UK film industry ratings. One example of this is the proposal for a new ages 12+ rating for games, essentially lowering the age requirement for mandatory ratings. The full list of (gaming-related) recommendations is as follows:

• Reforming the classification system for rating video games with one set of symbols on the front of all boxes which are the same as those for film.
• Lowering the statutory requirement to classify video games to 12+, so that it is the same as film classification and easier for parents to understand.
• Clear and consistent guidance for industry on how games should be advertised.
• Challenging industry to provide sustained and high profile efforts to increase parents understanding of age ratings and improved parental controls.

Perhaps more worryisome is that these new ratings are to be legally enforced, so for UK retailers found afoul of selling games with adult content to minors will be punished by law. This could range from heavy fines to possible jail time.

The "Byron Review" is also making headlines for its recommendations on online safety for children. For example, the review calls for the creation of the "UK Council for Child Internet Safety". As expected, the British Government is already well pleased with the proposals put forward by the review; both the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are hoping to put some priority into realizing Dr. Byron's recommendations for "managing" risks which children can face in the "digital world".