An example of different Rating Systems on Video game discs which is common practice with PAL/European versions. From top left to down right: the Russian video game rating system, the European PEGI System, the German USK System sharing all the same age classification on this game.

A video game content rating system is a system used for the classification of video games into suitability-related groups. Most of these systems are associated with and/or sponsored by a government, and are sometimes part of the local motion picture rating system. The utility of such ratings has been called into question by studies that publish findings such as 90% of teenagers claim that their parents "never" check the ratings before allowing them to rent or buy video games,^[1] and as such calls have been made to "fix" the existing rating systems.^[2][3] Video game content rating systems can be used as the basis for laws that cover the sales of video games to minors, such as in Australia. Rating checking and approval is part of the game localization when they are being prepared for their distribution in other countries or locales. These rating systems have also been used to voluntarily restrict sales of certain video games by stores, such as the German retailer Galeria Kaufhof's removal of all video games rated 18+ by the USK following the Winnenden school shooting.^[4]

Comparison table

A comparison of current video game rating systems, showing age on the horizontal axis. Note however that the specific criteria used in assigning a classification can vary widely from one country to another. Thus a color code or age range cannot be directly compared from one country to another.

Key:

•  White  - No restrictions: Suitable for all ages / Aimed at young audiences / Exempt / Not rated / No applicable rating.
•  Yellow  - No restrictions: Parental guidance is suggested for designated age range.
•  Purple  - No restrictions: Not recommended for a younger audience but not restricted.
•  Red  - Restricted: Parental accompaniment required for younger audiences.
•  Black  - Prohibitive: Exclusively for older audience / Purchase age-restricted / Banned.

Country/System	0/1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	Other	Notes
App Store (iOS)	4+ (aged 5 and under)					4+ (ages 6-8)			9+			12+					17+					No Rating	Ratings are required for applications to be released or sold on the App Store. The 4+ rating is divided into three sub-categories: aged 5 and under, 6-8 and 9-11.
									4+ (ages 9-11)
Argentina	ATP												+13					+18				N/A	Adopted on 15 October 2005. No games distributed in Argentina have used this rating yet, as the majority of the games available for sale are imported.
Australia	G														M			R18+				RC	The restricted categories are MA15+ and R18+, the latter was introduced at the start of 2013.
	PG														MA15+							CTC
Brazil	L									10		12		14		16		18				N/A	The same rating system is used for television and motion pictures in Brazil.
ESRB  Canada  Mexico  USA	E									E10+			T				M	AO				RP	This was adopted in 1994 in the United States, most of Canada, and Mexico. The E10+ rating was first used in early 2005. Games rated RP (Rating Pending) do not yet have a rating.
	EC
Germany	0					6				12		12				16		18				BPjM restricted
																		No labelling
Google Play	3						7					12				16		18				N/A	Uses generic IARC ratings in most countries that aren't represented by a participating rating authority.[5][]
Indonesia	SU		3+				7+						13+					18+				N/A
Iran	+3						+7					+12			+15			+18				N/A	Some games are forbidden. Games with intense violence, strong sexual content or nudity are prohibited.
Japan	A											B			C		D	Z				?	These ratings have been used since March 1, 2006. The Z rating is the only rating that is legally restricted.
New Zealand	G												R13		R15	M		R18				Objectionable	Games with an unrestricted label in Australia can carry Australian classification labels, but New Zealand labels are required if the game is restricted (MA15+) in Australia or is classified RC.
	PG															R16
PEGI  Europe  India  Israel  Pakistan  South Africa	3						7					12				16		18				N/A	Legally enforced in some countries (but not all).
							7					12				16		18
Portugal	4					6						12				16		18				N/A	Portugal uses a modified version of PEGI.
Russia	0+					6+						12+				16+		18+				N/A	These ratings have been used since 1 September 2012. The same rating system is used for television, motion pictures, and publications in Russia.
Saudi Arabia	N/A		3				7					12				16		18				N/A	Adopted on 2016.[6]
Singapore	General															Age Advisory		M18				N/A	Adopted on 28 April 2008.
South Korea	ALL											12			15			18				N/A	Before 2006, video games released in South Korea were rated by KMRB.
Taiwan	(G)					(P)						?12 (PG 12)			?15 (PG 15)			(R)				N/A	3DS video games released in Taiwan carry a mandatory age restriction of 6 years or more.
United Arab Emirates	N/A		3				7					12				16		18			21	N/A	Introduced in November 2017, and was established commercially as of February 2018.
Defunct classifications
BBFC	U							PG				12			15			18				R18	Video game ratings in the United Kingdom are now handled by PEGI.
Videogame Rating Council	GA												MA-13				MA-17					NYR	Introduced in 1993 for use on games published by Sega. Discontinued when the ESRB was adopted in September 1994.

In the above table, Italics indicate an international organization rather than a single country.

Initial controversy

Similar to other forms of media, video games have been the subject of argument between leading professionals and restriction and prohibition. Often these bouts of criticism come from use of debated topics such as video game graphic violence, virtual sex, violent and gory scenes, partial or full nudity, drug use, portrayal of criminal behavior or other provocative and objectionable material. Video games have also been studied for links to addiction and aggression. There have been a multitude of studies linking violent video game play with increased aggression. A meta analysis of studies from both eastern and western countries yielded evidence that "...strongly suggests that exposure to violent video games is a causal risk factor for increased aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, and aggressive affect and for decreased empathy and prosocial behavior."^[7]

There are also groups that have argued to the contrary, that few if any scientifically proven studies exist to back up these claims, and that the video game industry has become an easy target for the media to blame for many modern day problems.^[8][9][10] As is evidenced by meta analyses such as the one cited above, there have been a multitude of studies proving a link between violent game play and short term aggressive behavior; other studies find no concrete link between long term aggression, bullying or criminal behavior . Researchers have also proposed potential positive effects of video games on aspects of social and cognitive development and psychological well-being.^[11] It has been shown that action video game players have better hand-eye coordination and visuo-motor skills, such as their resistance to distraction, their sensitivity to information in the peripheral vision and their ability to count briefly presented objects, than non-players.^[12]

Rating systems

Argentina

The law 26.043 (passed in 2005) states that the National Council of Children, Youth and Family ('Consejo Nacional de la Niñez, Adolescencia y la Familia') in coordination with the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts will be the government agencies that assigns age ratings.^[13][14][15] The Argentine Game Developer Association (Asociación de Desarrolladores de Videojuegos Argentina) was critical of the law.^[16][17][18] There are three ratings: "Suitable for all public", "Suitable for those over 13 years of age" and "Suitable for those over 18 years of age".^[19]

Australia

The Australian Classification Board (ACB) is a statutory classification body formed by the Australian Government which classifies films, video games and publications for exhibition, sale or hire in Australia since its establishment in 1970. The Classification Board was originally incorporated in the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) which was dissolved in 2006. Originally apart the Attorney-General's Department and overseen by the Minister for Justice, the ACB is now a branch of the Department of Communications and the Arts which provides administrative support to the Board and is overseen by the Minister for Communications & the Arts. Decisions made by the Board may be reviewed by the Australian Classification Review Board.

Brazil

The advisory rating (ClassInd) (Classificação Indicativa in Portuguese) rates films, games and television shows in Brazil. It is controlled by the Ministry of Justice (Ministério da Justiça).

Europe

Pan European Game Information (PEGI) is a European video game content rating system established to help European parents make informed decisions on buying computer games with logos on games boxes. It was developed by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE) and came into use in April 2003; it replaced many national age rating systems with a single European system. The PEGI system is now used in more than thirty-one countries and is based on a code of conduct, a set of rules to which every publisher using the PEGI system is contractually committed. PEGI self-regulation is composed by five age categories and seven content descriptors that advise the suitability and content of a game for a certain age range based on the games content.^[20] The age rating does not indicate the difficulty of the game or the skill required to play it.^[21]

Finland

Finnish Centre for Media Education and Audiovisual Media (in Finnish Mediakasvatus- ja kuvaohjelmakeskus, in Swedish Centralen för mediefostran och bildprogram (both: MEKU)) is an official institution of the Finnish Ministry of Education. It is responsible for the age-ratings of films, television programs and interactive games. Only material intended to be accessible to minors (those under 18 years of age) is subject to classification before being released to the public; sex films do not need to be classified (but they have to be marked clearly with the age limit 18). Films and television programmes are classified by authorized classifiers, trained by the Centre. The classifiers usually work within the media industry.

In January 2014, Finnish Centre for Media Education and Audiovisual Media was merged with National Audiovisual Archive to form National Audiovisual Institute.^[22]

Germany

Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK) (Entertainment Software Self-control), is Germany's software rating organization founded in 1994.

• USK 0 - Playable for all ages
• USK 6 - Ages 6 and over
• USK 12 - Ages 12 and over
• USK 16 - Ages 16 and over
• USK 18 - Ages 18 and over

Indonesia

The Kijkwijzer ratings used in the Netherlands

Indonesian Game Rating System (IGRS) is an official video game content rating system founded and set by the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Informatics in 2016.^[23] IGRS rates games that are developed and/or published in Indonesia. There are 5 classifications of ratings based on the game content, which includes the use of alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, violence, blood, language, sexual content, etc. These are the following classifications:

• SU ("Semua Umur", All Ages in English)  – Playable for all ages.
• 3+  – Age 3 and over. No restricted content is shown including adult content, use of drugs, gambling simulation, and online interactions.
• 7+  – Age 7 and over. No restricted content is shown including adult content, use of drugs, gambling simulation, and online interactions.
• 13+  – Age 13 and over. Restricted contents are partially shown, including light use of drugs and alcohol by figures/background characters, cartoon violence, mild language, gambling simulation, horror theme, and online interactions.
• 18+  – Age 18 and over. Restricted contents are mostly shown, if not all, including use of drugs and alcohol by main characters, realistic violence (blood, gore, mutilation, etc.), crude humor, gambling simulation, horror theme, and online interactions.

Iran

Entertainment Software Rating Association (Persian: ?‎) (ESRA) is a governmental video game content rating system that is used in Iran. Games that have been exempt from the rating are de facto banned from sale in Iran.

• +3 – Ages 3 and over
• +7 – Ages 7 and over
• +12 – Ages 12 and over
• +15 – Ages 15 and over
• +18 – Ages 18 and over

In practise, the rating applies largely to PC and mobile games, as none of the console games are officially released for the Irani market.

Japan

Computer Entertainment Rating Organization

The Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (, Tokutei Hieiri Katsud? H?jin Konpy?ta Ent?teinmento R?tingu Kik?) (CERO) is an organization that rates video games and PC games (except dating sims, visual novels, and eroge) in Japan with levels of rating that informs the customer of the nature of the product and for what age group it is suitable. It was established in June 2002 as a branch of Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association, and became an officially recognized non-profit organization in December 2003. It currently consists of five age categories and nine content descriptors.

• A – All ages. Formerly "All."
• B – Ages 12 and over. Formerly "12."
• C – Ages 15 and over. Formerly "15."
• D – Ages 17 and over.
• Z – Ages 18 and over only. Formerly "18." It is the only rating that is legally enforced, and it is an offence for retailers to supply material that has a Z rating to anyone under 18.^[]

Contents Soft Association

The Contents Soft Association (?, Kontentsu Sofuto Ky?d? Kumiai) (CSA)^[24] is a cooperative that rates PC games (dating sims, visual novels, and eroge) in Japan.

Ethics Organization of Computer Software

The Ethics Organization of Computer Software (?, Ippan Shadan H?jin Konpy?ta Sofutowea Rinri Kik?) (EOCS, or Sofurin)^[25] is an incorporated association that rates PC games (dating sims, visual novels, and eroge) in Japan.

New Zealand

The Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) is the government agency in New Zealand that is responsible for classification of all films, videos, publications, and some video games in New Zealand. It was created by the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 (FVPC Act), replacing various film classification acts, and is an independent Crown entity^[26] in terms of the Crown Entities Act 2004. The head of the OFLC is called the Chief Censor, maintaining a title that has described the government officer in charge of censorship in New Zealand since 1916.

The current ratings are:^[27]

• G: Anyone can be shown or sold this.
• PG: Films and games with a PG label can be sold, hired, or shown to anyone. The PG label means guidance from a parent or guardian is recommended for younger viewers.
• M: Films and games with an M label can be sold, hired, or shown to anyone. Films with an M label are more suitable for mature audiences 16 years and over.^[28]
• R13: Restricted to persons 13 years and over.
• R15: Restricted to persons 15 years and over.
• R16: Restricted to persons 16 years and over.
• R18: Restricted to persons 18 years and over.

North America

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that assigns age and content ratings, enforces industry-adopted advertising guidelines, and ensures responsible online privacy principles for computer and video games and other entertainment software in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.^[29] PEGI ratings are used on some French-language games sold in Canada, and some Spanish-language games sold in Mexico and Puerto Rico. Despite being self-regulatory, in Canada, games rated by the ESRB are required by law to be rated and/or restricted, though this only varies at a province and territory level. While not regulated by law, other South America countries use this system as video game stores sell ESRB-rated copies of games instead of PEGI ones.

Russia

The Age classification of information products is a new statutory classification set of rules formed by the Russian Government after enacting in September 2012 a Federal Law of Russian Federation no. 436-FZ of 2010-12-23 "On Protecting of Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development" (Russian: ? 29 ? 2010 ?. N 436- «? ?, ? ? »), which classifies films, video games and publications for exhibition, sale or hire in Russia since 1 September 2012. The Ministry of Culture provides administrative support to the classification.

Saudi Arabia

The General Commission for Audiovisual Media (Arabic: ? ‎, translit. Alhy'eh Al'amah lel-E'elam Almar'ey wal-Masmoo') (GCAM) is responsible for the age-ratings of films, television programs and interactive games.^[30][31]

Singapore

Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) is a statutory board of the Singapore Government which regulates films, television programs and video games in Singapore.

South Korea

The Game Rating Board ( Geimmul Deung-Geub-Wiwonhoe) (GRB) is the South Korean video game content rating board. A governmental organization, the GRB rates video and computer games to inform customers of the nature of game contents.

Taiwan

Game Software Rating Regulations (), also translated as Game Software Rating Management Regulations, is the video game content rating system used in Taiwan.^[32]

United Arab Emirates

The National Media Council (Arabic: ?‎, translit. al-Majlis al-Watani li'al-Ealam) (NMC) is a body of the federal U.A.E. government which regulates all aspects of media production, publication, and media trade in the United Arab Emirates. The body was established under Federal Law (1) of 2006. By 2013, the NMC has sustained full authority over the media market in the country.

In 2018, the NMC introduced local age rating systems for various media, including video games available in retail.^[33][34]

United Kingdom

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), originally British Board of Film Censors, is a non-governmental organisation, funded by the film industry and responsible for the national classification of films within the United Kingdom.^[35] It has a statutory requirement to classify videos and DVDs. It no longer has responsibility for rating video games in the UK. This role has been passed to the Video Standards Council now known as the VSC Rating Board).^[36]

In July 2012, the VSC Rating Board became the sole UK statutory video games regulator for the UK. The VSC Rating Board has been a PEGI Administrator since 2003 and subsequently uses the PEGI criteria to classify video games. The UK Interactive Entertainment Association, a UK industry trade group, works with the VSC to help properly label such games and provide informational material to parents. Games featuring strong pornographic content or ancillary mini-games to be included with a DVD feature will still be rated by the BBFC.

International

The IARC adopted its own rating system in countries and territories that are not represented by a participating rating authority.^[37]

Usage

The image below presents outdated usage of various video game content rating systems around the world. Countries filled with gradients are using several rating systems.

See also

• Video game controversy
• Motion picture content rating system
• Mobile software content rating system
• Television content rating system
• International Age Rating Coalition
• Research on the effects of violence in mass media

References

External links

• Video games ratings face overhaul
• http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/tiga-responds-to-byron-review
• http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ELSPA-concerned-by-Byron-proposals
• http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.jsp