BYRON REVIEW: New ratings wont arrive for two years

The changes s

uggested by Dr. Tanya Byron

in her Review of digital entertainment today – and backed by

leading Ministers

– won’t actually have any practical effect until 2010.

That’s according to the report itself, which sets out a timetable for when Byron’s recommendations will be implemented. It reads:

By Autumn 2008:

– Consultation on changes to classification system underpinned by clear plans for potential legislative change

– Industry commits to develop minimum standards for parental controls

– Campaign to raise awareness of age ratings and parental controls underway

– Retailers make improvements to in-store information

– UK Council for Child Internet Safety establishes sub-group on online gaming
Industry and classification bodies commit to develop single set of standards for managing safety in online games

By Spring 2009:

– BBFC and PEGI agree and publish standards for managing safety in online games

– Research into role of video game advertising on underage game play completed

– Industry guidelines on advertising of video games produced

By Summer 2010:

– Changes to classification system in place

– Ongoing monitoring and enforcement of sales of age-rated video games.

– Government identifies ways for game based learning to be evaluated in different educational environments

About MCV Staff

Check Also

PEGI 20: Ian Rice on 20 years of PEGI ratings and why they remain relevant in an an increasingly digital marketplace

In the midst of celebrating 20 years of the PEGI ratings system at WASD x IGN, Ian Rice, director general of the Games Rating Authority, took some time out to answer our questions