41
Complaint
PCB Conclusion
The violence depicted in Diablo III matches the description given under Q11 of the PEGI Assessment Form more closely than that under Q1.
Rating awarded: PEGI 16 based on Q11. Motivation: sadism and torture as intended by Q1 of the PEGI Assessment Form are not present. One could argue that the game shows dismemberment or horrific depictions of death or injury, but such violence clearly takes place in a fantasy context, and is certainly not of an intensity that would make it gross violence.
The first Inazuma Eleven game has very similar graphics and gameplay but was only rated 7. The game has a child-oriented, fictional storyline about aliens playing football. The tone is light and fun, and there is a strong atmosphere of heroism and teamwork through sport.
Rating awarded: PEGI 12. Motivation: the atmosphere in some scenes can provoke anxiety and is more threatening than it is bright, cheerful and funny. The violence is not humoristic, the sounds express fear and pain, and you can see injuries in cutscenes and when buildings collapse. This makes the game not child-friendly for the youngest. We agree it is important to have consistency when rating game series, but the stretch between 7 and 12 means it is difficult to compare games. We do not see a problem with the current age rating of this game. Question 32 will not come into consideration.
NHL 13 should get a PEGI 12 rating, based on Q24 and Q36, because the violence in the game is depicted within the sports activity.
Rating awarded: PEGI 12 based on Q24 of the PEGI Assessment Form. Motivation: Q11 seems applicable: ‘Depictions of realistic looking violence towards human-like or animallike characters’. wBut Q11 also says: ‘This does not include sporting action if it is depicted within the rules of the game’. We find the ice-hockey fights happen within the rules of the ice hockey game: a player is penalized by the referee if it happens. Additionally, these fights are covered by the rules of real ice hockey, fights cannot considered to be a criminal action. Therefore Q24, ‘depictions of arcade-style or sporting action showing violence’ is applicable.
PEGI 16 rating based on Q11, instead of PEGI 18 based on Q3.
The game is a psychological game, and the cruelty of the bad guy seems to be central to the story. He exerts psychological pressure on the hero and seems very satisfied about his actions. In this context we find that the scenes are covered by the last part of Q3: ‘No character will be considered vulnerable or defenceless if they are not intended to be part of the game play. However, any violence in this context should be considered on its merits.’
The rating for the online game Battlefield Heroes should be lowered to PEGI 12.
Rating awarded: PEGI 16 based on Q11 and Q12 of the PEGI Assessment Form. Motivation: the action level and game content is best described in questions 11 and 12. Although the game has a somewhat cartoonish style, the intense gameplay with the goal to kill soldiers is not appropriate for the 12-year-olds. Q11 describes’ depictions of realisticlooking violence towards human-like or animal-like characters’. This means that characters react to violence as they would in real life. It is not necessary for there to be any blood or gore. The characters do not have look exactly like humans or animals. Q12 describes ‘sustained depictions of death or injury to humanlike or animal-like characters’, which means that all or the majority of the gameplay relates to violence.
The complainant argues that the PEGI 16 rating for Draw Slasher, based on Q13, should be lowered to PEGI 12 based on Q21 and Q22.
Rating awarded: PEGI 16, based on Q13. Motivation: The content conforms to Q13: depictions of arcade style or sporting action showing violence containing blood or gore. When a game of this type contains blood or gore, it is irrelevant whether the characters are human-like or fantasy.
The complainant argues that the PEGI 16 rating for Way of the Dogg based on Q11 should be lowered to PEGI 12 based on Q23, Q24 and Q26.
Rating awarded: 16+ based on question nr. 11. Motivation: The content is as described in Q11: depictions of realistic-looking violence towards human-like or animal-like characters. The violence is too severe to apply a PEGI 12 rating, it would have to be of a different nature, very minor like a slap or smack where the victim does not show any apparent harm or injury.
The complainant argues that the PEGI 16 rating for SpellForce 2 – Demons of the Past, based on Q11 and Q12, should be lowered to PEGI 12 based on Q22 and Q26.
Rating awarded: PEGI 12, based on Q22. Motivation: The key point is if the violence in this game is realistic or non-realistic. The game is set in a medieval fantasy worl, with cartoon elements, which creates a distance to realism. The violence in attacks is repetitive, reproducing the same mechanical effects irrespective of the power that is applied, and without any visible injuries to the characters. As a result, these effects cannot associated with human-like behavior and the violence cannot be considered realistic. Moreover, when characters are killed, they are lying on the ground without detailed depictions of injury or death.