Last week the PEGI age ratings system came under fire following videos being uploaded to Youtube of children receiving copies of September’s hit release Grand Theft Auto V. Mainstream media around the UK, including the BBC, suggested that UKIE and PEGI weren’t doing enough to make parents aware of the content being purchased for their children. PEGI’s Dirk Bosmans responded to these allegations with the following statement given to MCV.
“The industry organises campaigns on a regular basis to inform as many consumers as possible, every single bit of marketing should carry a PEGI label. So each time the game is marketed on the side of a bus, on TV, or in magazines, you will see the PEGI label.”
“Parents who take a sincere interest in what their kids are playing will have found out about PEGI ratings. We cannot force them to do that. Ironically, the only ones not inclined to share information about PEGI, are the tabloids. Lots of sensationalist stories and pointing fingers, but hardly a paragraph on age ratings and the responsibility that parents carry as well.”
UKIE CEO Jo Twist added the following, “The games industry takes the health and wellbeing of players very seriously. We’re always looking at new ways to raise awareness of PEGI, for example we have an askaboutgames stand at this year’s Eurogamer Expo.”
What are your thoughts on the allegations made against PEGI? Do parents need to take more responsibility for the games they buy their children? Let us know your opinions on the matter in the comments.