EA Criticises Byron Ratings Scheme News
Gwynne Dixon
26/06/2008
EA has suggested that proposed changes to British game ratings will cause delays in getting games to the UK...
Keith Ramsdale, the Vice-President and General Manager of EA in the UK, has stated that changes to the game ratings scheme in the UK (proposed in the Byron report) will delay the release of hit games coming to the UK market.
Speaking to GI.biz, Ramsdale commented that, "The Government's proposed changes to the existing age rating systems will create further delays in getting hit games to the UK. An extra and unnecessary layer of administration beyond a single system slows the process, and that delay will get passed on to the players themselves."
As the proposed ratings system would require an extra layer of bureaucracy for the BBFC (with the addition of a 12 rating currently used for film releases), Ramsdale argues that this will require developers to re-think content for UK games.
"Every time you add a new standard, game developers have to guess what the censors are looking for. If there's more than one standard in the UK, and across Europe, that can only equal delays in getting games to market and into the hands of British players."
Ramsdale advocates asking the British public and gaming community what they want, rather than leaving the decision in the hands of the British government.
"With all the discussion about the Byron Review, we know what the government thinks, but someone needs to speak up for British consumers. Has anyone asked British consumers what they think?"
According to recent ELSPA research, 67% of British adults preferred the idea of having a single, Europe wide ratings system. This strongly points to the current PEGI rating system, which will be cutback under Dr. Tanya Byron's proposals to games suitable for children under 12.