Abstract
Given the growing popularity of games and game apps among children in Europe, game rating information provides valuable help for parents. This study examines how the game rating system in Europe provides such information, focusing on the structure and transformation of the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) system. The main findings of this study are as follows: (1) while an increasing number of countries are adopting the PEGI system, PEGI’s legal status varies by country; this study roughly distinguishes three different categories of legal statuses: self-applied, self-regulation, and co-regulation; (2) the order of questions in the PEGI questionnaire changed from the age category to the game content category. A new question related to “In-Game Purchases”, as well as a respective content descriptor was added in 2018; (3) since 2010, the PEGI S.A. has been providing “additional consumer information,” such as game content summaries, through the Video Standards Council (VSC) website and the PEGI app; and (4) the PEGI S.A. has been promoting awareness of game ratings by providing a dedicated website, the PEGI app, and online learning materials for its member countries.
