{"id":11647,"date":"2016-03-23T09:00:14","date_gmt":"2016-03-23T13:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/?p=11647"},"modified":"2022-10-21T07:49:03","modified_gmt":"2022-10-21T11:49:03","slug":"gaming-age-ratings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/gaming-age-ratings\/11647\/","title":{"rendered":"How are age-based gaming ratings set?"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve all seen age-based rating labels displayed prominently before the TV shows or featured on website headings, print media title pages, or theater posters. Did you know that these labels are also displayed on the packaging for video games?<\/p>\n

What do they stand there for?<\/h2>\n

For starters, they serve as a warning that the contents of the game may be unsuitable to children in some way. In many countries a person must present a form of identification to purchase games with certain ratings, if they cannot provide, the retailer cannot sell the game.<\/p>\n

In this blogpost we will review different rating systems used to label console and PC games.<\/p>\n

Different classification systems<\/h2>\n

Age-base rating systems in different countries differ. Whereas the classification systems in Russia, Europe and Germany are based purely on age, the rating systems in the USA and Australia might be interpreted with consideration of factors other than age. For example, in Australia there are two different 18+ ratings applied to either adult content or pornographic materials.<\/p>\n

Age-based classification of games and entertainment software in the US is regulated by a state organization called ESRB<\/a> (Entertainment Software Rating Board). The ESRB rating system is not restrictive rather advisory, however, ESRB supports retailers\u2019 voluntary policies to restrict selling of M and AO rated games to underage consumers (children under 17-18 years old).<\/p>\n

\"How<\/a><\/p>\n

In the European Union, the general advisory age-based rating system for games and software is called PEGI<\/a>. Curiously, this system is applied beyond EU countries \u2014 in Russia (should the domestic classification is absent for any reason) and Ukraine. However, some countries in EU prefer their own age-based rating systems: for instance, in Germany age-based classification of games is handled by USK<\/a> (Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle).<\/p>\n

In Russia, the general age-based rating system RARS (Russian Age Rating System) is applied to all informational materials and are regulated by the government. The legislative basis for age ratings in games is the Federal Law \u201cOn protection of children against information prone to damage their health and development.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Australia the age-based certification is the responsibility of the Classification Board<\/a>, which supervises the classification of games, entertainment software and movies. Should any piece of production be denied classification, it is prohibited to distribute and sell in the country. At the same time, this decision is not final: South Australia has another Classification Committee, which has the power to revoke the decision of National Classification Board on its territory.<\/p>\n

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Tips for #parents<\/a>: Six things you need to STOP doing on social media #cybersecuritymonth<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/t0kI8kUtKg<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/4uNxcWghyL<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kaspersky (@kaspersky) October 6, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n