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Pan European Game Information (PEGI) is a Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

an video game content rating system

Video game content rating system

A video game content rating system is a system used for the classification of video games into suitability-related groups. Most of these systems are associated with and/or sponsored by a government, and are sometimes part of the local motion picture rating system...

established to help European parents make informed decisions on buying computer games with logos on games boxes. It was developed by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe

Interactive Software Federation of Europe

The Interactive Software Federation of Europe is an independent federation, representing the interests of the interactive software sector in Europe to the main stakeholders: EU institutions, international organisations, academics, or the general public...

(ISFE) and came into use in April 2003; it replaced many national age rating systems with a single European system. The PEGI system is now used in more than thirty countries and is based on a code of conduct, a set of rules to which every publisher using the PEGI system is contractually committed. PEGI self-regulation is composed by five age categories and eight content descriptors that advise the suitability and content of a game for a certain age range based on the games content. The age rating does not indicate the difficulty of the game or the skill required to play it.

As of August 2010, PEGI has rated more than 15,000 games. 50% of the games were rated 3, 10% were rated 7, 24% were rated 12, 12% were rated 16 and only 4% were 18. On 16 June 2009, it was announced by the UK's Department of Culture, Media and Sport that PEGI would become the sole classification system for videogames and software in the United Kingdom (currently, a portion of the games that would get a PEGI 16 or 18 rating is rated by the BBFC

British Board of Film Classification

The British Board of Film Classification , originally British Board of Film Censors, is a non-governmental organisation, funded by the film industry and responsible for the national classification of films within the United Kingdom...

). PEGI ratings are also found on some French language

French language

French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...

-video games outside Europe, specifically Canada.

Age ratings

PEGI has five age categories.

3: Suitable for all ages. May contain mild violence in an appropriate context for younger children, but no bad language is allowed. Similar to BBFC
British Board of Film Classification
The British Board of Film Classification , originally British Board of Film Censors, is a non-governmental organisation, funded by the film industry and responsible for the national classification of films within the United Kingdom...

's U rating and ESRB
Entertainment Software Rating Board
The Entertainment Software Rating Board is a self-regulatory organization that assigns age and content ratings, enforces industry-adopted advertising guidelines, and ensures responsible online privacy principles for computer and video games as well as entertainment software in Canada, Mexico and...

's Early Childhood and the Everyone (low end) ratings.

7: Suitable for ages 7 and older. May contain mild, cartoon-style violence and elements that can be frightening to younger children. Similar to BBFC's PG rating and ESRB's Everyone (high end) and Everyone 10+ rating (low end) ratings.

12: Suitable for ages 12 and older. May contain violence in a fantasy setting, bad language, sexual innuendo or gambling (but never for real money). Similar to BBFC's 12 rating and ESRB's Teen (low end) and Everyone 10+ (high end) ratings.

16: Suitable for ages 16 and older. May contain explicit violence, strong sex references, bad language, gambling or drug use (encouragement). Similar to BBFC's 15 rating and to the Teen (high end) and the Mature (low end) ratings from the ESRB.

18: Suitable for ages 18 and older. May contain graphic violence, strong sexual content, bad language, gambling, drug use (glamorisation) or discrimation. Similar to BBFC's 18 rating and the ESRB's Adults Only and Mature (high end) ratings.

The current design was introduced at the end of 2009. Black and white icons were used until June 2009, when the colour-coded PEGI icons were announced, with green for 3 and 7, yellow for 12 and 16 and red for 18. Plus signs were removed from the icons, and the background text changed from 'ISFE' from the old, black-and-white icons to 'PEGI' from the new, colour-coded PEGI icons.

Legend	3+	7+	12+	16+	18+
Before 2009
After 2009

In Portugal, two of the PEGI categories were aligned with the age ratings of the film classification system to avoid confusion; 3 was changed to 4 and 7 was changed to 6. Finland also used to use a modified scale, where 12 became 11 and 16 became 15. Finland fully adopted PEGI on 1 January 2007, and the standard ratings were adopted as well.

Legend	3+	7+
Normal
Portugal

Content descriptions

The eight content descriptors are:

Content descriptor	Explanation	Examples
Violence Violence Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...	May contain scenes of people getting injured or dying, often by use of weapons. Also may contain gore and blood-letting and blood particles.	Street Fighter series Street Fighter , commonly abbreviated as SF, is a series of Fighting Games developed in Japan in which the players pit the video games' competitive fighters from around the world, each with his or her own unique fighting style, against one another... , Half-Life series Half-Life (series) The Half-Life series of video games share a science fiction alternate history. Nearly all of the games are first-person shooters on the GoldSource or Source engines, and most are linear, narrative, single-player titles.... , Grand Theft Auto series Grand Theft Auto (series) Grand Theft Auto is a multi-award-winning British video game series created in the United Kingdom by Dave Jones, then later by brothers Dan Houser and Sam Houser, and game designer Zachary Clarke. It is primarily developed by Edinburgh based Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games... , Hitman series Hitman (series) Hitman is a stealth game series developed by the Danish company IO Interactive. The series is available on PC as well as several video game consoles, including the Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Xbox 360. The game series has since expanded into a novel, Hitman: Enemy Within written by... , Fallout 2 Fallout 2 Fallout 2 is a computer role-playing game developed by Black Isle Studios and published by Interplay in 1998. The game's story takes place in 2241, 80 years after the events of Fallout... , Doom, Resistance: Fall of Man Resistance: Fall of Man Resistance: Fall of Man is a first-person shooter video game for the PlayStation 3. It was developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game is set in an alternate history 1951, and follows Sgt... , Super Smash Bros., The Legend of Spyro, Max Payne 2 Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne is a third-person shooter video game developed by Remedy Entertainment for Microsoft Windows and Rockstar Vienna for the Xbox & PlayStation 2 and published by Rockstar Games. The game is a direct sequel to Max Payne and is followed by Max Payne 3... , Mortal Kombat Mortal Kombat (video game) Mortal Kombat is a 1992 fighting-game developed and published by Midway for arcades. In 1993, home versions were released by Acclaim Entertainment. Released in the Fall of 1994, the Microsoft Windows 3.1x version was released by Activision Interactive. It is the first title in the Mortal Kombat... , God of War God of War (video game) God of War is an action adventure video game for the PlayStation 2 first released by Sony Computer Entertainment's Santa Monica division in March 2005... , The Simpsons Game The Simpsons Game The Simpsons Game is an action/platformer video game based on the animated television series The Simpsons, made for the Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, and PlayStation Portable. The game was developed, published, and distributed by Electronic Arts. It was released in North... , Call of Duty Call of Duty Call of Duty is a first-person shooter video game developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision in 2003. It is the first game in a series with the same name. The game simulates the infantry and combined arms warfare of World War II. The game is based on the Quake III: Team Arena engine... , Tekken series Tekken is an arcade fighting game franchise created and developed by Namco. Beginning with the original Tekken arcade game released in 1994, the series has received several sequels, as well as various home conversions and spin-off titles released for consoles... , Dead or Alive series, Final Fantasy X Final Fantasy X is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square as the tenth title in the Final Fantasy series. It was released in 2001 for Sony's PlayStation 2, and will be re-released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in 2012... , LittleBigPlanet 2 LittleBigPlanet 2 LittleBigPlanet 2 is a puzzle platformer video game, centred around user-generated content. The game is developed by Media Molecule, published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe for PlayStation 3 and was originally scheduled for release in November 2010 but was delayed until January 2011... , Wii Sports Resort Wii Sports Resort Wii Sports Resort has received generally favorable reviews, with an average score on Metacritic of 80%. IGN gave it a 7.7 out of 10, citing the impressive fidelity of the controls and how the graphics, as compared to the majority of Wii games, were superb. GameTrailers gave an 8.6 out of 10.... , The Legend of Zelda series The Legend of Zelda The Legend of Zelda, originally released as in Japan, is a video game developed and published by Nintendo, and designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. Set in the fantasy land of Hyrule, the plot centers on a boy named Link, the playable protagonist, who aims to collect the eight fragments... , Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing is a racing game in the Sega Superstars series produced for Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS and Microsoft Windows, featuring characters from many Sega franchises. It is being published by Sega and developed by Sumo Digital... , Lego Universe Lego Universe Lego Universe is a massively multiplayer online game developed by NetDevil. The game was released on October 26, 2010, with an early opening for LEGO "Founders", which consisted of users who pre-ordered the game. It is globally distributed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment... , Crash Tag Team Racing Crash Tag Team Racing Crash Tag Team Racing is a racing video game published by Sierra Entertainment and developed by Vancouver-based Radical Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox and PlayStation Portable. A Nintendo DS version, which was to be developed by Sensory Sweep Studios rather than... , Crash of the Titans Crash of the Titans Crash of the Titans is an platform video game published by Sierra Entertainment and developed by Vancouver-based Radical Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable , Wii and Xbox 360. The Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS versions of the game were developed by Amaze Entertainment... , Crash: Mind over Mutant Crash: Mind over Mutant Crash: Mind over Mutant is a platform video game published by Sierra Entertainment and developed by Vancouver-based Radical Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable , Wii and Xbox 360. The Nintendo DS version of the game was developed by TOSE...
Bad Language Profanity Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...	May contain profanity, sexual innuendo, threats, and all manner of slurs and epithets.	Grand Theft Auto series Grand Theft Auto (series) Grand Theft Auto is a multi-award-winning British video game series created in the United Kingdom by Dave Jones, then later by brothers Dan Houser and Sam Houser, and game designer Zachary Clarke. It is primarily developed by Edinburgh based Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games... , Fallout 3 Fallout 3 Fallout 3 is an action role-playing game released by Bethesda Game Studios, and the third major installment in the Fallout series. The game was released in North America, Europe and Australia in October 2008, and in Japan in December 2008 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360... , Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven Mafia is a third-person shooter video game initially made for Microsoft Windows in . It was developed by Czech company Illusion Softworks and published by Gathering of Developers... , Kingpin: Life of Crime Kingpin: Life of Crime Kingpin: Life of Crime is a first-person shooter developed by Xatrix Entertainment and published by Interplay Entertainment in June 1999. The game begins with the player character wounded and beaten up by the Kingpin's henchmen, and the story follows his thirst for revenge... , Midnight Club: Los Angeles Midnight Club: Los Angeles Midnight Club: Los Angeles is the fourth video game in the Midnight Club series of racing video games, not including Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix. It was officially announced for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on January 11, 2008 by Rockstar Games. The game was developed by Rockstar San Diego... , Driver series Driver (series) Driver is a series of mission-based driving video games developed by Reflections Interactive , and originally published by GT Interactive and later by Atari. The gameplay consists of a mixture of action, driving, and third-person shooting in open world environments... , Shadow the Hedgehog Shadow the Hedgehog (video game) Shadow the Hedgehog is a 2005 video game developed by Sega Studio USA, the former United States division of Sega's Sonic Team. Featuring the titular fictional character Shadow the Hedgehog from Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series, the game was revealed at the March 2005 Walk of Game inauguration of... , Scarface Scarface: The World is Yours Scarface: The World Is Yours is a video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Universal Games. The game is based on and is a quasi-sequel to the 1983 motion picture Scarface starring Al Pacino reprising his role as Tony Montana, with André Sogliuzzo providing Montana's... , The Simpsons Game The Simpsons Game The Simpsons Game is an action/platformer video game based on the animated television series The Simpsons, made for the Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, and PlayStation Portable. The game was developed, published, and distributed by Electronic Arts. It was released in North... , Call of Duty: Black Ops Call of Duty: Black Ops Call of Duty: Black Ops is a first-person shooter video game developed by Treyarch, published by Activision and released worldwide on November 9, for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii consoles, with a separate version for Nintendo DS developed by n-Space. Announced on April 30, 2010,... , The House of the Dead: Overkill The House of the Dead: Overkill The House of the Dead: Overkill is a first-person rail shooter video game developed by Headstrong Games and published by Sega. It is the fifth game developed in the The House of the Dead series, a prequel to the original House of the Dead chronologically and the first in the series to be released... (Wii Wii The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others... version), God Hand God Hand God Hand is a 2006 PlayStation 2 gameGod hand may also refer to:-Video games:* Ken "Godhand" Mishima, a character from the PlayStation game, Ehrgeiz* Godhand, the demonic version of Lenny from Shadow Hearts: Covenant... , Tomb Raider: Legend
Fear Fear Fear is a distressing negative sensation induced by a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger...	May contain scenes that are considered too disturbing or frightening to younger or more emotionally vulnerable players.	Coraline Coraline (video game) Coraline, also known as Coraline: The Game and Coraline: An Adventure Too Weird for Words, is a video game based on the film of the same name. It was released on January 27, 2009, in close proximity to the film's theatrical release. It was released on the PlayStation 2, Wii and Nintendo DS... (Nintendo DS version), Bionicle Heroes Bionicle Heroes Bionicle Heroes is a 3D video game of the third-person shooter genre, based on Lego popular Bionicle franchise. It was released in November 2006 by TT Games on PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Nintendo GameCube, Microsoft Windows and It was released in November 2006 by Amaze Entertainment on Game Boy... , NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams Nights: Journey of Dreams Nights: Journey of Dreams is a video game for the Wii console developed by Sonic Team and Sega. It is the sequel to the 1996 Sega Saturn title Nights into Dreams...... , Silent Debuggers Silent Debuggers Silent Debuggers is a video game developed by Data East, and may be considered an early form of first-person shooter. The game was originally released in 1991 for the TurboGrafx-16 console... , Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a video game that is based on the fifth instalment of the popular Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling and the film of the same name, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PSP, Nintendo DS, Wii, Game Boy Advance and Mac OS X... , Rayman Raving Rabbids Rayman Raving Rabbids Rayman Raving Rabbids, known in French as , is a spinoff in the Rayman series released by the French company Ubisoft as a Wii launch title. The game consists of over 70 minigames... , LittleBigPlanet 2 LittleBigPlanet 2 LittleBigPlanet 2 is a puzzle platformer video game, centred around user-generated content. The game is developed by Media Molecule, published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe for PlayStation 3 and was originally scheduled for release in November 2010 but was delayed until January 2011... , Kingdom Hearts Kingdom Hearts is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square in 2002 for the PlayStation 2 video game console. The first game in the Kingdom Hearts series, it is the result of a collaboration between Square Enix and The Walt Disney Company. The game combines characters and settings from Disney... , Lego Universe Lego Universe Lego Universe is a massively multiplayer online game developed by NetDevil. The game was released on October 26, 2010, with an early opening for LEGO "Founders", which consisted of users who pre-ordered the game. It is globally distributed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment... , Sega Superstars Tennis Sega Superstars Tennis Sega Superstars Tennis is a tennis video game developed by Sumo Digital and published by Sega. The game was released on March 17, 2008 in Europe, on March 18, 2008 in North America, and on March 27, 2008 in Australia. The game includes 16 playable characters and 10 courts from Sega franchises... , Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One is a four-player cooperative video game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment exclusively for the PlayStation 3 which was released on October 18, 2011 in North America and October 20–October 21 in Europe and Australia. It is the tenth... , Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4
Sex Sexual intercourse Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...	May contain references to sexual attraction or sexual intercourse. Also may contain nudity and characters dressed in suggestive clothing.	Singles: Flirt Up Your Life Singles: Flirt Up Your Life Singles: Flirt Up Your Life is a video game developed by Rotobee and published by German company Deep Silver in 2004.It is very similar to The Sims in that the player is responsible for characters who have to be taken care of, such as by ordering them to eat, sleep, go to work, etc.The game is... , Leisure Suit Larry Leisure Suit Larry Leisure Suit Larry is a series of adventure games written by Al Lowe and published by Sierra from 1987 to 2009. The main character, whose full name is Larry Laffer, is a balding, dorky, double entendre-speaking, leisure suit-wearing "loser" in his 40s... , Fallout 2 Fallout 2 Fallout 2 is a computer role-playing game developed by Black Isle Studios and published by Interplay in 1998. The game's story takes place in 2241, 80 years after the events of Fallout... , Playboy: The Mansion Playboy: The Mansion Playboy: The Mansion is a business simulation video game for the PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows and Xbox consoles, developed by Cyberlore Studios, published by Groove Games and ARUSH Entertainment and licensed by Playboy Enterprises.... , BMX XXX BMX XXX BMX XXX is a video game published by Acclaim Entertainment for the Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, and PlayStation 2 and developed by Z-Axis. While primarily a BMX-based action sports title, it earned most of its notoriety for containing nudity, foul language and adult humor... , God of War God of War (video game) God of War is an action adventure video game for the PlayStation 2 first released by Sony Computer Entertainment's Santa Monica division in March 2005... , The Sopranos: Road to Respect The Sopranos: Road to Respect The Sopranos: Road to Respect is a 2006 video game based on the HBO series The Sopranos, which aired from January 10, 1999 to June 10, 2007... , The Sims series The Sims (series) The Sims is a video game series developed by Maxis and later by The Sims Studio, and published by Electronic Arts. It is one of the most successful video games series of all time... , Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall... , Agarest: Generations of War Record of Agarest War , known in Europe as Agarest: Generations of War, is a strategy role-playing game for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles. The game is a collaboration between Idea Factory, Red Entertainment and Compile Heart. An updated port of the game was released in Japan for the Xbox 360 on... , The Simpsons Game The Simpsons Game The Simpsons Game is an action/platformer video game based on the animated television series The Simpsons, made for the Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, and PlayStation Portable. The game was developed, published, and distributed by Electronic Arts. It was released in North... , We Dare We Dare We Dare is an adult-oriented party video game by Ubisoft, for the Wii and PlayStation 3 gaming systems. It is marketed as a "sexy, quirky, party game" and involves kissing, striptease and spanking...
Drug Drug A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a... s	May contain references to illegal drugs or a fictional substance that has parallels to real-life illegal drugs (in use, possession, or sale).	Driver series Driver (series) Driver is a series of mission-based driving video games developed by Reflections Interactive , and originally published by GT Interactive and later by Atari. The gameplay consists of a mixture of action, driving, and third-person shooting in open world environments... , Grand Theft Auto series Grand Theft Auto (series) Grand Theft Auto is a multi-award-winning British video game series created in the United Kingdom by Dave Jones, then later by brothers Dan Houser and Sam Houser, and game designer Zachary Clarke. It is primarily developed by Edinburgh based Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games... , Fallout 2 Fallout 2 Fallout 2 is a computer role-playing game developed by Black Isle Studios and published by Interplay in 1998. The game's story takes place in 2241, 80 years after the events of Fallout... , Deus Ex: Invisible War Deus Ex: Invisible War Deus Ex: Invisible War is an action role-playing game developed by Ion Storm Inc. and published by Eidos Interactive. Released simultaneously for Microsoft Windows and the Xbox video game console on December 2, 2003, the game is a sequel to the critically acclaimed Deus Ex... , The Warriors The Warriors (video game) The Warriors is a beat 'em up video game published by Rockstar Games. It was released on October 17, 2005 for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, and February 12, 2007 for PlayStation Portable. The game is based on the 1979 film, The Warriors... , NARC NARC (video game) NARC is originally a 1988 arcade game designed by Eugene Jarvis for Williams Electronics and programmed by George Petro. It was one of the first ultra-violent video games and a frequent target of parental criticism of the arcade game industry. The object is to arrest and kill drug offenders,... , Scarface Scarface: The World is Yours Scarface: The World Is Yours is a video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Universal Games. The game is based on and is a quasi-sequel to the 1983 motion picture Scarface starring Al Pacino reprising his role as Tony Montana, with André Sogliuzzo providing Montana's...
Gambling Gambling Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...	May contain games of chance (but never for real money).	42 All-Time Classics Clubhouse Games Clubhouse Games, known in Europe as 42 All-Time Classics and in Japan as , is a compilation video game consisting of card, board, and parlor games developed by Agenda and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console... , Fallout 2 Fallout 2 Fallout 2 is a computer role-playing game developed by Black Isle Studios and published by Interplay in 1998. The game's story takes place in 2241, 80 years after the events of Fallout... , Driver: Vegas, God Hand God Hand God Hand is a 2006 PlayStation 2 gameGod hand may also refer to:-Video games:* Ken "Godhand" Mishima, a character from the PlayStation game, Ehrgeiz* Godhand, the demonic version of Lenny from Shadow Hearts: Covenant... , Street Hoops Street Hoops Street Hoops is a streetball video game released in 2002. The game has real life streetballers such as 1/2 Man 1/2 Amazing, Hot Sauce, and Headache, and is a less dramatic, more realistic game than NBA Street, as the characters cannot jump completely over the hoop. Like NBA Street, it is possible... , Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall... , Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights is a racing video game for various platforms. The PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS versions were released on September 17, 2007. The PlayStation Portable version was released on October 8, 2007. The PlayStation 3 version was released on October 22, 2007. The... , BioShock Bioshock BioShock is a first-person shooter video game developed by 2K Boston and designed by Ken Levine. It was released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 on August 21, 2007 in North America, and three days later in Europe and Australia. It became available on Steam on August 21, 2007... , Scarface Scarface: The World is Yours Scarface: The World Is Yours is a video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Universal Games. The game is based on and is a quasi-sequel to the 1983 motion picture Scarface starring Al Pacino reprising his role as Tony Montana, with André Sogliuzzo providing Montana's... , Poker Night at the Inventory Poker Night at the Inventory Poker Night at the Inventory is a poker video game developed by Telltale Games. It features four crossover characters: Tycho from the Penny Arcade webcomic, Max from the Sam & Max franchise, the Heavy-class from Team Fortress 2, and Strong Bad from the Homestar Runner web series... , Fallout: New Vegas Fallout: New Vegas Fallout: New Vegas is a first person action role-playing video game in the Fallout series developed by Obsidian Entertainment, and published by Bethesda Softworks. The game is based in a post-apocalyptic environment in and around Las Vegas, Nevada...
Discrimination Discrimination Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...	May contain cruelty or harassment based on race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual preferences.	Original War Original War Original War is a real-time strategy computer game developed by Altar and released by Virgin Interactive on June 15, 2001. It was re-released in the UK under the budget Sold Out label in 2004.-Plot:... , Postal 2: Apocalypse Weekend Postal 2 Postal 2 is a first-person shooter video game by Running with Scissors, and it is the sequel to the 1997 game Postal. Both are intentionally highly controversial due to high levels of violence and stereotyping. Unlike its predecessor, Postal 2 is played completely in first-person based on the... , Postal 2: Share the Pain, SWAT: Target Liberty SWAT: Target Liberty SWAT: Target Liberty is a third person, tactical shooter video game developed by 3G Studios, Inc. exclusively for the PSP. It was released on October 16, 2007 for North America and October 26, 2007 for Europe.-Story:...
Online Online game An online game is a game played over some form of computer network. This almost always means the Internet or equivalent technology, but games have always used whatever technology was current: modems before the Internet, and hard wired terminals before modems...	Contains an online game mode.	Eve Online EVE Online Eve Online is a video game by CCP Games. It is a player-driven, persistent-world MMORPG set in a science fiction space setting. Characters pilot customizable ships through a galaxy of over 7,500 star systems. Most star systems are connected to one or more other star systems by means of stargates... , Metal Gear Online Metal Gear Online Metal Gear Online, abbreviated MGO, is a PlayStation 3 exclusive online multiplayer spin-off of the Metal Gear video game series. Τhe Starter Pack of MGO is available worldwide bundled with regional versions of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, with a standalone release only for Japan... , Knight Online Knight Online Knight Online is an MMORPG developed by MGame Corporation.The original game is hosted by MGame in Korea, and requires players to enter their Korean resident registration numbers to register. There are two other official versions: is hosted in Japan, while is hosted in the United States. Some... , Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on Games Workshop's Warhammer Fantasy setting. It was developed by Mythic Entertainment and simultaneously released in North and South Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand on September 18, 2008... , Left 4 Dead Left 4 Dead Left 4 Dead is a cooperative first-person shooter video game. It was developed by Turtle Rock Studios, which was purchased by Valve Corporation during development. The game uses Valve's proprietary Source engine, and is available for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 and Mac OS X... , FIFA series, Mario Kart Wii Mario Kart Wii is a racing video game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. It is the sixth installment in the Mario Kart series and the second Mario Kart title to use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The game was released worldwide... , Mario Kart DS Mario Kart DS is a racing game developed and published by Nintendo. It was released for the Nintendo DS handheld game console in North America, Australia, and Europe on November 14, 2005, and in Japan on December 8, 2005. The game is the fifth installment in the Mario Kart series of video games, and the first to... , Mortal Kombat Mortal Kombat (video game) Mortal Kombat is a 1992 fighting-game developed and published by Midway for arcades. In 1993, home versions were released by Acclaim Entertainment. Released in the Fall of 1994, the Microsoft Windows 3.1x version was released by Activision Interactive. It is the first title in the Mortal Kombat... , Call of Duty series Call of Duty Call of Duty is a first-person shooter video game developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision in 2003. It is the first game in a series with the same name. The game simulates the infantry and combined arms warfare of World War II. The game is based on the Quake III: Team Arena engine... , The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is the fourteenth game in Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series. It was released after The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for the Wii and before The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks for the Nintendo DS... , Super Smash Bros. Brawl Super Smash Bros. Brawl Super Smash Bros. Brawl, known in Japan as , often abbreviated as SSBB or simply as Brawl, is the third installment in the Super Smash Bros. series of crossover fighting games, developed by an ad hoc development team consisting of Sora, Game Arts and staff from other developers, and published by... , 42 All-Time Classics Clubhouse Games Clubhouse Games, known in Europe as 42 All-Time Classics and in Japan as , is a compilation video game consisting of card, board, and parlor games developed by Agenda and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console... , Angry Birds Angry Birds Angry Birds is a puzzle video game developed by Finnish computer game developer Rovio Mobile. Inspired primarily by a sketch of stylized wingless birds, the game was first released for Apple's iOS in December 2009... , Lego Universe Lego Universe Lego Universe is a massively multiplayer online game developed by NetDevil. The game was released on October 26, 2010, with an early opening for LEGO "Founders", which consisted of users who pre-ordered the game. It is globally distributed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment...

The 'Gambling' content descriptor was first used on 29 September 2006 with the title 42 All-Time Classics
Clubhouse Games
Clubhouse Games, known in Europe as 42 All-Time Classics and in Japan as , is a compilation video game consisting of card, board, and parlor games developed by Agenda and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console...

.
The 'Online' descriptor was introduced in September 2009.

PEGI and the European Union

The study "Video gamers in Europe – 2008" made by Nielsen Games, demonstrates that PEGI age ratings labels are recognized by 93%. 62% are aware of a European game rating system, 50% recognize the content descriptors and 49% of parents find the age rating label system useful when buying a videogame.

PEGI is an example of a European harmonization. The European Commission supports the PEGI self-regulation: "PEGI appears to have achieved good results and PEGI On-line is also a promising initiative, making of PEGI a good example of self regulation in line with the better regulation agenda."
Moreover, the European Parliament in its last report on protection of consumers "takes the view that the PEGI system for rating games is an important tool which has improved transparency for consumers, especially parents, when buying games by enabling them to make a considered choice as to whether a game is suitable for children."

Rating Process and Boards

To obtain the ratings for any piece of software, the applicant submits the game with other supporting materials and completes a content declaration, all of which is evaluated by an independent administrator called the Netherlands Institute for the Classification of Audiovisual Media

Netherlands Institute for the Classification of Audiovisual Media

Netherlands Institute for the Classification of Audiovisual Media is the institute responsible for the content given for review for the Dutch motion picture rating system, Kijkwijzer, and the software given for review for the European video game content rating system PEGI.-History:The first call...

(NICAM). It is based on the Dutch

Netherlands

The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

Kijkwijzer system as well.
Following the evaluation the applicant will receive a license to use the rating logos. If the applicant disagrees with the rating, they can ask for an explanation or make a complaint to the complaints board. Consumers may also make complaints to this board.

Although PEGI was established by an industry body (ISFE) the ratings are given by a body independent of the industry and the whole system is overseen by a number of different Boards and Committees. There is the PEGI Council, composed mainly by national representatives for PEGI, that recommends adjustments to the code in light of social, legal and technological developments. Members of the PEGI Council are recruited for their skill and experience from among parent/consumer body representatives, child psychologists, media specialists, civil servants, academics and legal advisers versed in the protection of minors in Europe.

There is also a Complaints Board with experts from various European countries. They deal with complaints related to breaches of requirements of the code of conduct or to age rating recommendations. Should a complaint be received from a consumer or publisher regarding a rating given to a game and no satisfactory settlement can be reached by the PEGI administrator through discussion, explanation or negotiation the complainant may formally request the Complaints Board to mediate. Three board members will then convene, hear the complaint and decide on a ruling. Publishers using the PEGI system are bound by the decision of the Complaints Board. Consequently, they are obliged to carry out any corrective actions required and, in cases of non-compliance, are subject to sanctions as laid out by the code.

PEGI Committees

There are three committees; a criteria committee, a legal committee and an enforcement committee.

Criteria Committee: The Criteria Committee is made up of representatives from ISFE, NICAM, VSC and the industry. It works on adapting and modifying the PEGI questionnaire and the underlying criteria to take account of technological and content developments and recommendations made by the Advisory Board or circumstances brought to light by the complaints procedure.

Legal Committee: Since PEGI is a voluntary system it runs in conjunction with, and is subordinate to, existing national laws, whether they prohibit certain content or establish mandatory rating systems. The Legal Committee’s role is to advise ISFE of any changes to national legislation within participating countries that could have an impact on the voluntary age rating system.

Enforcement Committee: The Enforcement Committee is charged with implementing the recommendations of the Advisory Board and, more generally, of ensuring the enforcement of the provisions of the PEGI Code of Conduct, including conclusion of the Complaints Board. The Enforcement Committee is made up of ten members, five of which are publishers, and five of which are chosen from the PEGI Council.

PEGI Online

This division of PEGI was formed in 2007. It’s an addition to the PEGI system for online games and aims to give young people in Europe improved protection against unsuitable online gaming content and to educate parents on how to ensure safe online play. This project is supported directly by the European Commission. "PEGI On-line, which was launched in June 2007 and co-funded by the Safer Internet Programme, is the logical development of the PEGI system, designed to better protect young people against unsuitable gaming content and to help parents to understand the risks and potential for harm within this environment"

PEGI Online is based on four principles:

the PEGI Online Safety Code and Framework Contract which is signed by all participants
the PEGI Online Logo which will be displayed by holders of a licence
the website for applicants and for the general public
an independent administration, advice and dispute settlement process.

The licence to display the PEGI Online Logo is granted by the PEGI Online Administrator to any online gameplay service provider that meets the requirements set out in the PEGI Online Safety Code (POSC).

Where PEGI is used

PEGI is used in 31 European countries, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

and Israel

Israel

The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

. The ratings system is partially recognised in other countries such as the United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...

, South Africa and South Asia

South Asia

South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...

since they are considered official PAL region

PAL region

The PAL region is a television publication territory which covers most of Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and most of Western Europe...

s, although they may import games from regions outside of PEGI's jurisdictions. PAL games officially released in Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

are usually rated by the ACB

Australian Classification Board

The Australian Classification Board is a statutory classification body formed by the Australian Government which classifies films, video games and publications for exhibition, sale or hire in Australia since its establishment in 1970. The Australian Classification Board was originally incorporated...

. Legally enforceable means the ratings are not simply "voluntary" or "advisory" but are enforced by some kind of local regulation or law. ESRB is the primary rating system in Canada, while some French-language products, mainly in Quebec, carry a PEGI label.

Country	Legally enforced?	Notes	Additional rating system
Austria	> PEGI is legally adopted and enforceable in the Vienna region, but until 2013 there is a transitional arrangement which allows USK as well. \|
Belgium	> Officially supports PEGI, but there is no specific legislative basis. \|
Kingdom of Bulgaria	> \|
Canada	> Rates some (but not all) French-language games in the province of Québec Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level.... , primarily those that are imported from France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... . \| ESRB Entertainment Software Rating Board The Entertainment Software Rating Board is a self-regulatory organization that assigns age and content ratings, enforces industry-adopted advertising guidelines, and ensures responsible online privacy principles for computer and video games as well as entertainment software in Canada, Mexico and...
Cyprus	> Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. \|
Czech Republic	> \|
Colombia	> \|
Denmark	> Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. \|
Estonia	> Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. \|
Finland	> Finland adopts PEGI which is exempt from mandatory classification with national age symbols. Both classifications are enforced by the penal code. \| VET/SFB
Early Modern France	> France has adapted legislation to make classification of video games with age labels mandatory. \|
Greece	> \|
Germany	> USK system is adopted and enforced. PEGI is not formally recognised, although PEGI labelling can be found on games along with the USK rating. \| USK Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle is the organization responsible for computer game ratings in Germany.- Ratings :...
Hungary	> \|
Iceland	> PEGI is officially supported and age classifications are mandatory for video games by law. \|
Republic of Ireland	> PEGI ratings are excluded from mandatory classification by IFCO, which adopts PEGI but is still legally empowered to ban certain video game content from the market. \|
Israel	> PEGI has been adopted by law as the mandatory classification system for video games in Israel. \|
Italy	> Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. \|
Latvia	> \|
Lithuania	> Lithuanian legislation adopts PEGI which is exempt from mandatory classification with national age symbols. Both classifications are enforced by the penal code as of Nov 2010. \|
Luxembourg	> Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. \|
Malta	> \|
Netherlands	> PEGI is officially adopted and legislation is in place to enforce the age classification in shops where video games are sold. \|
Norway	> Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. \|
Poland	> PEGI ratings are not yet enforced in Poland but has intentions to support PEGI as a self regulatory system. \|
Portugal	> PEGI has officially been adopted by the Portuguese Classification Board IGAC. \| IGAC Inspecção Geral das Actividades Culturais IGAC, Inspecção Geral das Actividades Culturais , is an organization, part of the Portuguese Ministry of Culture....
Kingdom of Romania	> \|
Russia	> PEGI just as recommendation (No strict laws about game labelling). \|
Slovakia	> Slovak media law obliges distributors to mark games with national age labels. \|
Slovenia	> Officially supported. No further need for additional restrictions due to extremely low game-related incident history. \|
Spain	> \|
Sweden	> Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. \|
Switzerland	> Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. \|
United Kingdom		Currently both PEGI and BBFC are used with the latter being legally enforceable. There has been plans to make all responsibility go to PEGI with all ratings 12+ and above becoming legally enforceable, but there's been no confirmation when it will take place.	BBFC British Board of Film Classification The British Board of Film Classification , originally British Board of Film Censors, is a non-governmental organisation, funded by the film industry and responsible for the national classification of films within the United Kingdom...