Britain is working on a new game-ratings system to replace its old, unworkable one, The Guardian reports. “A legally enforceable cinema-style classification system is to be introduced for videogames in an effort to keep children from playing damaging games unsuitable for their age.” The system will make it illegal to sell a game to a child below that game’s recommended age (maybe not to a parent unaware of the game’s rating?). Under the current system, videogames aren’t affected by the UK’s Video Recordings Act unless they depict “‘gross’ violence to humans or animals” or sex. Those require age limits, leaving “up to 90% of games on the market” rating-free. Some games are also classified voluntarily by a European system. “Policing such regimes is difficult as it is possible to buy games over the net and simply tick the box stating the purchaser is over 18.”
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