Gaming
Euro Parliament backs PEGI rating system
Published Saturday, Jan 24 2009, 06:34 GMT | By Liam Martin
A report by a member of the European Parliament has backed the self-regulatory Pan European Game Information (PEGI) age rating system that is used by the video game industry in Europe.
Dutch politician Toine Manders, who also sits on the European Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, compiled the report with recent trends towards online gaming in mind.
As well as acknowledging the fact that video games are largely non-violent and can be valuable educational tools, Manders also suggested that parents need to be better educated about video game content.
The report goes on to state the importance of an age-verification system that pays particular attention to online games and downloadable content, claiming that European member states should all back the PEGI system.
Michael Rawlinson of ELSPA (the Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association) said: "Toine Manders has taken a very close look at the needs of a rating system for games that works well across the EU and concluded that PEGI is the right way forward both on and offline."
Rawlinson agreed that the protection of children is paramount and expressed his delight with the backing for the PEGI system.
Dutch politician Toine Manders, who also sits on the European Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, compiled the report with recent trends towards online gaming in mind.
As well as acknowledging the fact that video games are largely non-violent and can be valuable educational tools, Manders also suggested that parents need to be better educated about video game content.
The report goes on to state the importance of an age-verification system that pays particular attention to online games and downloadable content, claiming that European member states should all back the PEGI system.
Michael Rawlinson of ELSPA (the Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association) said: "Toine Manders has taken a very close look at the needs of a rating system for games that works well across the EU and concluded that PEGI is the right way forward both on and offline."
Rawlinson agreed that the protection of children is paramount and expressed his delight with the backing for the PEGI system.
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