The UK government has today announced that game ratings will switch to the industry-established self-declaration PEGI system already in use across much of Europe.

PEGI ratings contain an age recommendation as well as icons indicating questionable content such as violence, drugs, sex and gambling. The Video Standards Council will have the authority to ban games which attempt to circumvent the self-declared ratings.

Many in the industry have responded favourably to the news, including representatives of Nintendo, EA UK, Sega Europe and Ubisoft UK. "Parents can be assured that they will have access to clear, uniform ratings on games and an accurate understanding of game content," said Mike Rawlinson, president of industry body ELSPA.

The British Board of Film Classification was previously responsible for rating mature games. The BBFC controversially refused to rate Carmaggedon and Manhunt 2 which effectively banned them until its decisions were overturned on appeal--though the former was rated in the interim after turning pedestrians into green-blooded zombies.

More than five years after its original release, Infinity Ward's Call of Duty is leaving the land of PC exclusivity and entering the console realm via PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

It's looking like the game will arrive as a PlayStation Store and Xbox Live Arcade download, based off a PEGI rating discovered by NeoGAF poster Tntnnbltn.

No word yet as to when the port will hit or what enhancements it may contain, but don't be surprised if its release ties in with the marketing for IW's Modern Warfare 2.

A new game based off the adventures of Indiana Jones is headed to Nintendo DS and PSP, according to a listing from European game rating board PEGI.

Listed as Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings, the action game is reported to be published by Activision, with no other details available.

LucasArts, the license holder for Star Wars and Indiana Jones games, is known to have an as-yet-untitled Indiana Jones title in development for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of LucasArts' upcoming action game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed were developed internally, while the PS2, Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP editions were outsourced to external studios.

Given that precedent, it is possible that the Staff of Kings listing is indicative of a similar multi-platform treatment for the upcoming Indiana Jones game, though no evidence is currently available to support or deny that speculation.

In a report commissioned by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, study author and clinical psychologist Tanya Byron has suggested a number of changes to increase the effectiveness of video game violence classifications in Britain, including a more film-like rating system.

"We need to improve on the systems already in place to help parents restrict children's access to games which are not suitable for their age," she wrote.

Chief among Byron's recommendations is that the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) introduce a new 12+ rating for games. Currently, games in the UK are only required to be rated if they contain gross violence. According to Byron, "the threshold for statutory classification [of video games] is quite high and is inconsistent with that for film and DVDs."

While the BBFC would only be required to rate games 12+ or higher, Byron suggested that the Pan European Game Information (PEGI), which voluntarily rates games, focus on titles that would earn a 3+ or 7+ rating, which she claimed is "where the evidence of potential harm is weakest."

To prevent consumer confusion between BBFC and PEGI ratings, Byron recommended that BBFC logos appear on the front of game packages, while PEGI logos... Read more

So many impressions of so many good games, and none of them are out right now. Video game stores have been a barren wasteland this summer. In what little game time I've had, I'm going back to stuff like StarCraft and Guitar Hero, while pretending that I'm playing StarCraft 2 and Rock Band. It doesn't really work, but hey, it's still fun. What are you guys playing lately?

Today's bytes include a new deal between Microsoft and European content labelling company PEGI, notes on GDC Austin's preoccupation with MMOs, Dragon's Lair HD DVD details, and some information on a truly limited release of Growlanser: Heritage of War.... Read more