Following the UK government's
recent admission that it is considering tax incentives for the games industry, trade body ELSPA has said the need for the UK to adopt the Pan European PEGI ratings standard for both online and offline games is a much more urgent need.
Currently, the UK specific BBFC ratings agency does not rate all games released in the UK, since some more family-oriented games use the European-wide voluntary PEGI rating instead.
ELSPA director Paul Jackson said in a statement, though, that "of immediate concern is the issue of age ratings where it is crucial that following the public consultation on games age ratings, the UK adopts the Pan European PEGI system for games sold in store and online."
"The facts are that any other conclusion from this process," he continued, "including the proposed
expansion of the remit of the film ratings body, the BBFC, will result in a significant and prohibitive logistical and financial burden on the games industry."
"This will lead to increased costs of bringing games to market," said Jackson, "and could also significantly de-stabilise the UK's influence and position within the European games industry. More importantly, it will have failed in its main objective - protecting children."
He concluded, though, that "we appreciate comments from Government about its support and the work being done for the UK video games industry. We look forward to working closely with them in the near future to make good this commitment."
