The document discusses potential age ratings for the author's video game based on an analysis of similar games and audience research. The author considers ratings from both the PEGI (European) and ESRB (American) systems. Based on a game similar to the author's (Crysis 3) receiving an 18 rating for its realistic violence and language, the author thinks an 18 rating may be appropriate. However, a survey of friends found that most would play a game with an 18 rating. The author will need to review the content descriptors and categories of both rating systems to determine the most suitable rating.

2. Potential Audience
My research so far has given me a fair idea of what sort of audience I will aim my game for.
research with video games, and how some are more violent than others but some may still
have the same age rating due to puzzles etc. and refresh into game covers, how they will
always having the game rating on the corner of the cover, either by the American ESRB or
by the European PEGI rating. however I can get a better idea of what age rating I should
chose if I find game that will be most similar to my own. in this case Crysis 3. I have already
analyzed this games and have found that its level system as apposed to open world
gameplay is more like what my own game will be like. due to its first person and very
detailed violence, it is an 18. this is justified due to its strong language and elements of fear,
a world close to destruction which is dependent with the detailed story. since its a first
person shooter an date graphics are
Very realistic this makes it seem more
like a real life situation. it has to be an 18
because it looks like real life, and this
could effect younger audiences.

3. Another way that I could chose an age rating for my audience prefer make a questionnaire. Fortunately
a lot of my friends and people in my semester play video games. I have made 12 questions that help me
narrow down the information for games and peoples opinion on what sort of game they would like to
play and what age that should be.
fantasy
Sci-Fi
Comedy
Puzzle
Action FPS
Action Fantasy
2D Platform Games
Action
RPG
Adventure games
RTS
Puzzle
FPS
Sports Games
Educational games
MMO
First
Third
No they
don't
Yes they
do
1.) what is your favourite genre of games
3.)do you prefer first person or third person
perspective
2.)what game type do you prefer? RPG, RTS....
4.)do graphics matter to you? if my game has
mediocre gaming graphics would you till play it?
would
still play
wouldn'
t still
play

4. 5.) Seeing my first draft for a
storyboard, what sort of age range do
you think my game should be?
7.)What age rating do the games you
play the most have?
6.)My game will have swearing,
violence, fear drug use, would this be
worthy of an 18 rating?
8.)How important is an in-depth
storyline and back-story?
Yes
No
can't decide
3
7
12
15
18
3
7
12
15
18
Very importamt
I don't mind
it doesn’t matter to
me

5. 9.)would you play the game more if it
has sound effect and a soundtrack
that's mesmerising?
11.)are you more likely to playa game if
it has a higher age rating? do you prefer
games for adults?
10.)would you play a game more if it
had side missions and collectables?
12.)would you prefer games that are
specifically for horror, one ones that
have jump scares?
The gorier the better
I don't mind
I prefer jump scare
Yes
No
not
sure
Yes
Not Sure
Doesn't
matter to
me
Not Sure
Very importamt
I don't mind
it doesn’t matter to
me
Yes
No
Maybe
Not Sure

6. My questionnaire has helped me find out not only what age range thy think the game
should be, but also what sort of game they would prefer to play. The people I asked had a
wide age range from twelve years old to eighteen years old. this mean that I could get a fair
result from my questions. One which asked whether they would rather play a game with an
eighteen age rating, and surprisingly the majority said yes. I may make my game an
eighteen, but that wouldn’t necessarily reduce the audience because people below 18
would still play it.
I also learnt that my potential audience prefer sci-fi shooter games, like Halo
or Crysis, but do like fantasy games almost as much. They also said they
prefer first person, though I planned to have third person, perhaps I should
have both.
I know what one audience thought why age my game should be rated (18) and what sort of
audience would play it (if there interested in science fiction or fantasy etc.), but I have
decided to look at the PEGI and ESRB rating systems to see how they would rate my game.

7. PEGI has been established in 1998 to represent the interests of the interactive software sector with regard to the European Union and international institutions.
The “The PEGI Code” is based on their code of conduct. The code deals with the age labelling, promotion and advertising of interactive products in the gaming
industry. PEGI uses five labels and has eight “descriptors” or “elements” to put a game in one age range or another.
PEGI 3
•Games considered suitable for all age groups.
•Some violence in a comical context is acceptable.
•The child should not be able to associate the character on the screen with real life characters, they should be totally fantasy.
•The game should not contain any sounds or pictures that are likely to scare or frighten young children. No bad language should be heard.
•My game will defiantly not fit in this category because it is very realistic in its violence and story.
PEGI 7
•Any game that would normally be rated at 3 but contains some possibly frightening scenes or sounds may be considered suitable in this category.
•Again my game would not be in this category for the same reason, I defiantly would let a seven year old play my game.
PEGI 12
•Videogames that show violence of a slightly more graphic nature towards fantasy character and/or non graphic violence towards human-looking characters
•or recognizable animals
•as well as videogames that show nudity of a slightly more graphic nature would fall in this age category
•Any bad language in this category must be mild and fall short of sexual expletives.
•My game would have to be toned done to fit in this category, but it does contain some of the elements contained in this category.
PEGI 16
•This rating is applied once the depiction of violence (or sexual activity) reaches a stage that looks the same as would be expected in real life.
•More extreme bad language, the concept of the use of tobacco and drugs and the depiction of criminal activities can be content of games that are rated 16.
•This is the other choice for my game, if I were to release it as a 16 I could have some drug use and violence, but it would not be strong nor realistically graphic,
so I may consider an eighteen, since it may actually be a game for adults.
PEGI 18
•The adult classification is applied when the level of violence reaches a stage where it becomes a depiction of gross violence (the viewer feel a sense of revulsion)
and/or includes elements of specific types of violence.
Descriptors shown on the back of the packaging indicate the main reasons why a game has received a particular age rating. The ones my game will include have
been marked out.
There are eight such descriptors:
•Bad Language
Game contains bad
language
•Discrimination
Game contains
depictions of, or
material which may
encourage,
discrimination
•Drugs
Game refers to or
depicts the use of
drugs
•Fear
Game may be
frightening or scary
for young children
•Gambling
Games that
encourage or teach
gambling
•Sex
Game depicts nudity
and/or sexual
behavior or sexual
references
•Violence
Game contains
depictions of
violence
•Online game play
Game can be
played online

8. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings provide guidance about video games and apps so that consumers, especially parents, can
make informed choices about the ones they deem suitable for their family.
The ESRB is used in America, and is quite similar to PEGI, the only difference is the Rating Categories which like PEGI, suggest age appropriateness.
Each rating category has content descriptors
•Content Descriptors are different to PEGI, they have a long list:
Violent References - References to violent acts
These content descriptors fit into the six categories:
•Alcohol Reference - Reference to and/or images of alcoholic beverages
•Animated Blood - Discoloured and/or unrealistic depictions of blood
•Blood - Depictions of blood
•Blood and Gore - Depictions of blood or the mutilation of body parts
•Cartoon Violence - Violent actions involving cartoon-like situations and
characters. May include violence where a character is unharmed after the action
has been inflicted
•Comic Mischief - Depictions or dialogue involving slapstick or suggestive
humour
•Crude Humour - Depictions or dialogue involving vulgar antics, including
"bathroom" humour
•Drug Reference - Reference to and/or images of illegal drugs
•Fantasy Violence - Violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or non-
human characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life
•Intense Violence - Graphic and realistic-looking depictions of physical conflict.
May involve extreme and/or realistic blood, gore, weapons and depictions of
human injury and death
•Language - Mild to moderate use of profanity
•Lyrics - Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol or drug use in
music
•Mature Humour - Depictions or dialogue involving "adult" humour, including
sexual references
•Nudity - Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity
•Partial Nudity - Brief and/or mild depictions of nudity
•Real Gambling - Player can gamble, including betting or wagering real cash or
currency
•Sexual Content - Non-explicit depictions of sexual behaviour, possibly including
partial nudity
•Sexual Themes - References to sex or sexuality
•Sexual Violence - Depictions of rape or other violent sexual acts
•Simulated Gambling - Player can gamble without betting or wagering real cash
or currency
•Strong Language - Explicit and/or frequent use of profanity
•Strong Lyrics - Explicit and/or frequent references to profanity, sex, violence,
alcohol or drug use in music
•Strong Sexual Content - Explicit and/or frequent depictions of sexual
behaviour, possibly including nudity
•Suggestive Themes - Mild provocative references or materials
•Tobacco Reference - Reference to and/or images of tobacco products
•Use of Alcohol - The consumption of alcoholic beverages
•Use of Drugs - The consumption or use of illegal drugs
•Use of Tobacco - The consumption of tobacco products
•Violence - Scenes involving aggressive conflict. May contain bloodless
dismemberment
•EARLY CHILDHOOD
Content is intended for young children.
This will not be my game.
•EVERYONE
Content is generally suitable for all ages.
May contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or
mild violence and/or infrequent use of
mild language. Again my game will not fit
this category.
•EVERYONE 10+
Content is generally suitable for ages 10
and up. May contain more cartoon,
fantasy or mild violence, mild language
and/or minimal suggestive themes. Again
my game will not fit this category.
•TEEN
Content is generally suitable for ages 13
and up. May contain violence, suggestive
themes, crude humor, minimal blood,
simulated gambling and/or infrequent
use of strong language. If I toned down
my game it may fit this category.
•MATURE
Content is generally suitable for ages 17
and up. May contain intense violence,
blood and gore, sexual content and/or
strong language. My game may fit this
category as it is like the PEGI 18, and the
content is similar.
•ADULTS ONLY
Content suitable only for
adults ages 18 and up.
May include prolonged
scenes of intense
violence, graphic sexual
content and/or gambling
with real currency. My game would not
fit this category as it will probably not
have prolonged sexual scenes.