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. Read more »

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. Read more »