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New Traffic Light Rating System for Games

October 28, 2008 in Industry News comments 43

A new rating system will be used for games, with lights and numbers instead of letters. If the game has a green light, it is suitable for anyone to play. If it is orange, then it is more suited for teenagers, and if it has a red light, it should be played by people ages 16+. Refer to the picture attached for a better understanding.

The games industry is close to launching a traffic light system for the ratings on games. If you don't know what we're talking about, look at the coloured charts on back of that pork pie packet you've just thrown in the bin.

Basically, the new system will offer parents 'at a glance' indicators of a game's appropriateness for their child.

A green label on a game's packaging will mean said title's likely to be fine for kids of all ages, an orange one will mean parental guidance is needed, and a red label will mean a game's definitely not fit for your toddler (see image below).

It's just like the coloured label system you find on food wrappers warning you that too many fish fingers will give you a heart attack, or that too much booze will see you sleep in a park.
Twisted via computerandvideogames.com »
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  • 0
    Sayyed Oct 28, 08
    Is this for EU or NA? Personally looks stupid.
  • 0
    kik36 Oct 28, 08
    Which region is this in? I couldn't really figure that out.
  • 0
    Akira_EX Oct 28, 08
    Considering the source and reading the source, it looks like it's Europe, as a replacement for the current BBFC/PEGI system.
  • 0
    Final Blade Oct 28, 08
    Can anyone please tell me, if you're from Europe, if this really better then the old one?
    • 0
      Slumpy monkey Oct 28, 08
      Yes, For uneducated parents is a good idea.


      Some parents STILL buy there kids 18 games and then complain afterwards about it being violent.

      Something as simple as this would be a good addition in my book as it puts MORE responsibility to the parents which is always good in an industry constantly being blamed by stupid parents who cant read.

      Although I've noticed they have replaced the 15 rating with a 16 rating, Not to worry anyway, Means more "Teen" games can be a bit more less restrictive now.
      • 0
        Final Blade Oct 28, 08
        Oh ok, thanks slumpy. Curious if this would be better off as a universal rating worldwide.

        But for some reason I can still picture parents screwing up with this as well. But I suppose its to be expected.
      • 0
        chautemoc Oct 29, 08
        quote
        Yes, For uneducated parents is a good idea.


        Some parents STILL buy there kids 18 games and then complain afterwards about it being violent.
        If they do that, I dont think its a good idea to accomodate idiocy.

        If they've made such a push that a new system will be implemented, then surely they can raise their own godamn kids without the state interfering to such an extent.
        • 0
          Slumpy monkey Oct 29, 08
          Well what can they do? The government is on their side and this was basically forced upon the industry.
    • 0
      Kim Jong Il Oct 28, 08
      Tbh it's only marginally better than the current system:

      • 0
        BANDITO ATTACK Oct 29, 08
        i'm trying to figure out what the hell the symbol above the 4+ means.
        • 1
          Kim Jong Il Oct 29, 08
          Discrimination. .
        • 0
          Smiffers Oct 29, 08
          I think it means Discrimination, but I cant remember.
        • 0
          HisServant77 Oct 29, 08
          Really? Lol, I thought it was silhouettes of teens Never would have figured that one.
        • 0
          Ronal10 Oct 29, 08
          Contain small parts maybe?
        • 0
          Deathsythe Oct 29, 08
          Seriously now? You have a special rating for "discrimination"?

          That is ridiculous.

        • 0
          Big A2 Oct 29, 08
          Yes, aparantly they also have a specific rating for spiders and board games.
        • 0
          Miss Razz Oct 30, 08
          Those symbols are dreadful.
          It'd take me a few minutes just to figure out what they mean.
      • 0
        Kim Jong Il Oct 29, 08


        No, the ratings are the ages and the reason for the rating are the images above (like dice for gambling or the syringe for drug-use).
        • 0
          kik36 Oct 29, 08
          Do games exist with discrimination in them? Jesus I think people take shit way too serious.

          Cussing is 3+......LMFAO Jesus WTF they teach cussing first as the national language?!
        • 0
          Deathsythe Oct 29, 08
          I don't think that the chart aligns properly with its respective age rating kik36, but I could be wrong.

        • 0
          Kim Jong Il Oct 29, 08
          Correct.

          For example, this game was given a rating of 7+, the reason for this rating is that it may be scary for young children (as denoted by the spider).
        • 0
          kik36 Oct 29, 08
          Ohhhhhh ok yeah I got it now.....still those symbols are pretty damn funny.
  • 1
    Kim Jong Il Oct 28, 08
    If it stops idiotic parents buying their kid a game and then complaining about how inappropriate it is, this can only be a good thing.
  • 2
    Play ISDF Oct 29, 08
    It's pitiful that this is needed. Especially since the current system looks cooler in my opinion. Seriously, this is just going to feed the stupidity of people. It's practically saying that "we know your stupid, so we'll put traffic lights on here, green is good, red is bad!". I understand why, a lot of uneducated parents don't have a clue, but honestly, if they can't read 18+, what makes you think they'll understand a red light?
    • 2
      chautemoc Oct 29, 08
      100% agreed. They're stupid enough as is..this is only going to make them stupider.
      • 1
        Gutter_Tech Oct 29, 08
        lol stupider... face palm...... anyways ever see the movie idiocracy? its starting.
        • 0
          Play ISDF Oct 29, 08
          Great movie that, too bad it's becoming true for the majority of the world. Still, lol, stupider, that was just funny considering what we're talking about .
        • 0
          chautemoc Oct 29, 08
          I thought it wasnt a word, too, but it is.
  • 0
    TurMoiL911 Oct 29, 08
    All these game ratings and stupid. Most parents aren't going to understand what each of these mean.

    I say we just apply the MPAA movie ratings for video games:

    E: G
    E+: PG
    T: PG-13
    M: R
    • 0
      Slumpy monkey Oct 29, 08
      This is for Europe. I don't know what the hell any of those mean apart from PG.

      and why is there 2 PG's? that system looks stupid.
      • 0
        Gamesta100 Oct 29, 08
        It's probably like here in Aus.There is M15+ which means people under 15 really shouldn't watch/play it, or maybe it's under 15's should watch/play with an adult present.MA15+ means it's restricted to people 15 and older.
      • 0
        HisServant77 Oct 29, 08
        Well, PG stands for Parental Guidance. There's two of them, because one is regular "Parental Guidance" and another is "Parental Guidance for all under 13" . . . If that makes any sense?

        Haha, that does sound a bit confusing I suppose. Maybe they should just simplify things by having the lowest recommended age for the game "0+" would mean everyone is good to play, "13+" would be teens, "18+" would be adults, and "21+" would be the extreme things like our "AO" rating.
        • 0
          Gamesta100 Oct 29, 08
          PG means 15 here, not 13.Which is pretty stupid.I mean why the hell do we need 3 15 ratings?
        • 0
          HisServant77 Oct 29, 08
          Haha, yeah I guess on your side they have ratings not just for age, but also listing what type of content it might contain?
        • 0
          Big A2 Oct 30, 08
          They changed Australia's rating system about 2 years ago.

          Now we have

          G
          PG (formerly PG 15+)
          M (formerly M 15+)
          MA 15+
          R 17+
  • 0
    Gutter_Tech Oct 29, 08
    thats why they use colors.......be carefull that games terror level is intense orange-red.
  • 0
    Miss Razz Oct 29, 08
    Meh. Tbh, I think the color system is better than the non-color system. Australia has had this in place for a few years now and, while ugly, the great big red ratings symbol is definitely eye-catching and will make parents think twice about buying it for their kids.
  • 1
    Onvacation Oct 29, 08
    quote
    If you don't know what we're talking about, look at the coloured charts on back of that pork pie packet you've just thrown in the bin.
    That scared me because i was eating a pork pie when i read that, Nearly choked on the jelly
  • 0
    Bale Fire Oct 29, 08
    I think it should be the same as movies, making it universal would make it less confusing. I think that's what they do over here.
    • 1
      Gamesta100 Oct 29, 08
      Yep they made game ratings exactly the same as movies.PG games used to be G8+.
  • 2
    Deathsythe Oct 29, 08
    I still think this was probably one of the best new ratings system proposals that was put forth in a very long time.


  • 0
    JacqueseVonRIP Oct 29, 08
    I prefer the current one This doesnt look as helpful Now you cant tell why its unsuitable
  • 0
    DusktoDawn Oct 29, 08
    I don't really care. My parents let me play any games
    (besides ADULT)

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