What is PEGI? Clearly explained

With games and trailers you come across the term PEGI again and again. In this practical tip, we clarify what that actually is and what the individual PEGI symbols mean.

The PEGI system - that's the reason

PEGI has been around since 2003 and is the abbreviation for "Pan-European Game Information". It is a system with age recommendations for computer games that applies across Europe and is intended to help parents in particular to assess the games.

• The PEGI system is divided into two parts: On game packaging you will find a symbol for the age recommendation as well as several black and white symbols that describe the exact content of the game. You can find detailed information in the third paragraph.
• PEGI was planned as a uniform European standard for computer games. A total of 30 European countries have also adopted the system - including Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, England, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
• However, the PEGI system does not apply in Germany. In this country, you rely on the USK. Nevertheless, you will also find PEGI symbols on many German games, since the developers also produce the game for the Austrian and Swiss markets.

The procedure: This is how PEGI checks

As already mentioned, the PEGI system consists of an age recommendation and a content assessment. The procedure for this is pretty precisely regulated:

• A game is rated by the game industry using a rating sheet. To do this, the individual game developers must join the PEGI system and sign a code of conduct. As a result, they are obliged to only provide buyers and parents with truthful and objective information about the age of the games.
• A preliminary PEGI evaluation is then given based on the information provided by the programmer. This suggested age recommendation is then checked and reviewed by NICAM (the Dutch institute for the classification of audiovisual media). If the institute agrees with the recommendations, it issues a license to use the PEGI logos.

The PEGI symbols - that is what the logos mean

There are five main logos in the PEGI system that represent an age recommendation. Games are - depending on the content - released for players from 3 years, 7 years, 12 years, 16 years or 18 years:

• Game from 3+: The content of these games is suitable for all ages. There are few depictions of violence that (if at all) only occur in a funny context. In addition, the characters of children should not be able to be associated with real beings, but should be fantasy characters. The games should also not use pictures or sounds that could scare young children. Of course, vulgar language is not allowed.
• Game from 7+: This category includes all games that are normally classified as 3+, but are not suitable for younger children due to possibly fearful scenes or noises.
• Game from 12+: In this game there is a more pronounced representation of violence against fantasy creatures or indicated violence against human-looking beings or animals. Video games with smaller nude pictures also fall into this category. Slight vulgar language is possible.
• Game from 16+: This classification includes games in which violence or sexual acts are depicted in a realistic setting. In addition, stronger vulgar language, the representation of tobacco and drug use and criminal acts are possible.
• Game 18+: Games in this category are only recommended for adults. Here the violence shown acts cruel or certain types of violence are depicted. This is generally the case if the violence portrayed causes disgust to the viewer.

There are also eight symbols that describe the content of the game in more detail. You can usually find them on the back of the game packaging:

• Speech bubble symbol: The logo with the speech bubble and the special characters means that vulgar language is used in the game.
• Person symbol: The logo with two white and one black person shows that the game promotes discrimination.
• Syringe Icon: Games with this icon show drug use.
• Spider symbol: These games scare young children or are particularly creepy.
• Dice symbol: The logo with the two dice means that the game prompts you to gamble or provides instructions.
• Sex symbol: The logo with the male and female symbols can be found on games in which nudity and / or sexual acts are shown or which allude to sexual acts.
• Fist symbol: The game contains representations of violence or glorifies and plays down violence.
• Online symbol: The logo with the globe indicates that the game can be played online.

There is also an age recommendation for films and series. In another practical tip, we will tell you what the so-called FSK includes.