THE CLASSIFICATION OF VIDEO GAMES

Why does the BBFC classify video games?

Most video games are exempt from BBFC classification and will obtain an age rating under the voluntary system run by PEGI (Pan-European Game Information). However, under the terms of the Video Recordings Act 1984, a game will lose that exemption if it contains video footage or if it depicts:

• Human sexual activity
• Acts of gross violence towards humans and animals
• Criminal activity
• Drug use

In the event of a game losing its exemption, it will require a BBFC classification, which is a legal classification, before it can be offered for sale or rental in the United Kingdom. An increasing number of companies are voluntarily submitting their games for BBFC classification even though such games meet the exemption criteria.

How does the classification of video games differ from the classification of films and DVD works?

The same categories (‘U’, ‘PG’, ‘12’, ‘15’, ‘18’) used by the BBFC in classifying DVD works apply to games classified by the Board. A particular category will be awarded to a game according to its treatment of issues such as bad language, sex references, violence or horror using much the same criteria as set out in the BBFC Guidelines for films and DVD works.

The BBFC does recognize, however, that the active experience of playing video games is different from that of watching films or DVD works, and this ‘interactive’ feature is taken into account when classifying games. But, broadly speaking, the factors that will determine a particular age category remain the same across films/DVD works and video games.

What might I find in video games at the various age categories?

In general, the storylines in video games do not deal with themes in the same way as films or DVD works, although the strength of various issues (eg violence or horror) will establish a tone for a work that may contribute towards the classification decision.

At ‘U’, violence will be mild and usually of a nature familiar from children’s cartoons. There may be a distinct fantasy setting with unrealistic weapons being used and there will be no portrayal of realistic injuries. Language will be very mild (eg ‘damn’ or ‘hell’) and there will be no focus on sexual behaviour beyond activities such as kissing or hugging. There will be no portrayal of dangerous activities that young children are likely to copy as a result of trying them out within the game.  There will be a significant element of problem-solving (eg puzzles) that will balance the ‘action’ in the game. Examples include Ice Age 2: The Meltdown (2006) for the Wii console and Ski Racing 2006 for PCs.

At ‘PG’, violence may have a slightly greater impact but there will be no detail in the manner in which injury is inflicted and the setting should be distanced from the real world by strong fantasy elements. Language will be mild and mild references to sex will be acceptable providing they lack detail. As at ‘U’, there will be no portrayal of dangerous activities which might be copied after being tried out in the game. There will be no focus on realistic weapons, such as knives. Examples include Shrek the Third (2007) and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), both for the PlayStation 2 console.

‘12’ rated games are only suitable for children over the age of 12 and it is against the law to sell or rent them to children under the age of 12.  At ‘12’, moderate violence, but without an emphasis on realistic injury detail, is likely and, again, fantasy settings that distance the action from the real world will be a strong mitigating factor. Strong language (eg uses of 'f***') is unlikely to be acceptable because the nature of a video game allows for endless repetition of such language. There may be references to sex that will be familiar to most adolescents and discreet portrayals of sexual activity. Examples include Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007) for the PlayStation 2 console and Eragon (2006) for PCs.

What about video games at the higher categories?

It is illegal to supply a BBFC age rated game (‘12’, 15’, ‘18’) to anyone below the age displayed on the packaging.  Sales staff can be heavily fined and even sent to prison if they are caught supplying BBFC age rated games to anyone younger than that age.  Confusion can result from the fact that PEGI age ratings are not legally binding.  Parents should be aware of this.  So a child of any age can buy, say, a PEGI 16+ game and no law has been broken.  But it is against the law to sell or rent a game with a BBFC age rating on it to anyone younger.

The BBFC is most concerned about the appeal of video games to children leading to them accessing material that is inappropriate for their age. This is usually because some higher rated games gain ‘notoriety’ and become ‘the thing to play’. Video games classified at ‘15’ and ‘18’ will contain a focus on strong violence with realistic injury detail, strong horror, language, sex references and depictions of sexual activity. The BBFC gives these games such age-restrictive categories for the same reasons that films and DVD works that contain such issues are classified at ‘15’ and ‘18’ – they are inappropriate for children and young teenagers. The categories given to video games, from ‘U’ through to ‘18’ are an indication of the suitability of the material they contain and not a measure of the game-playing difficulty of a work, and this is something that the BBFC encourages parents to bear in mind when obtaining video games for their children.

Examples of 15 and 18-rated video games include Resident Evil 4 ('15', 2007) for the Wii console and The Darkness ('18', 2007) for the X Box 360 console.