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New PEGI gambling criteria means old Pokémon games would now be rated 18+, all future releases will be impacted

pegi-18.original.jpg


PEGI, which serves as the video game content rating system across Europe, has updated its criteria regarding gambling in games. The change means that any games which "encourage or teach gambling" will now be instantly classified as PEGI 18.

You'll no doubt have spotted PEGI content descriptors on your favourite games – Bad Language, Discrimination, Drugs, Fear, Gambling, Sex, Violence, and more recently, In-Game Purchases can all be noted on a game's box or store page, along with an age rating between 3 and 18 to match the content included.

Over time, these descriptors are reviewed, and while a game containing gambling could previously get away with being a PEGI 12 or PEGI 16, it will now always automatically be a PEGI 18. The VSC Game Rating Board explains the change:

"In 2020, the PEGI criteria were changed so that, in future, any games featuring moving images that “teach and/or glamorise the use of games of chance that are played/carried out as a traditional means of gambling” will be rated PEGI 18.

This refers to types of betting or gambling for money that is normally played or carried out in casinos, gambling halls, or racetracks. It does not cover games where betting or gambling is simply part of the general storyline. The game must actually teach the player how to gamble or bet and/or glamorise gambling. For example, this will include games that teach the player how to play card games that are usually played for money or how to play the odds in horse racing."


As noted by AskAboutGames, one Switch title affected by the rule change is Overboard!, a murder mystery text adventure that includes 'Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes and Use of Alcohol' – content that would usually give the game a PEGI 12 rating. However, thanks to a scene where the player can enjoy a game of blackjack, the rating is upped to PEGI 18, with the lower-age indicators being removed in favour of the higher-level 'Simulated Gambling' warning.

overboard-switch-eshop.original.jpg


Interestingly, the rule change means that were Nintendo – or any publisher, for that matter – to release some of its older titles again in today's climate, they'd almost certainly see a significant age rating bump.

Take Pokémon Red and Blue, as an example, which feature the Game Corner – a building packed with slot machines that allow the player to bet their in-game cash to earn more money and claim prizes. These were originally released as being suitable for everyone, but were updated to a PEGI 12 rating when they were re-released on the 3DS eShop in 2016 thanks to their gambling content. If Nintendo were to release the games again on Switch, they'd be classed as PEGI 18.

Countless other games would also be impacted in a similar way, such as Super Mario 64 DS. Thanks to a gambling minigame, its original PEGI 3 rating rose to PEGI 12 when it was re-released on Wii U, and would now be PEGI 18.

If Game Boy and Game Boy Color games really do come to Nintendo Switch soon, expect one or two age rating surprises.

 
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I cant wait for all the meltdowns and tantrums little timmys have because they cant buy an 18 rated pokemon game at walmart.
 
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MudoSkills

Volcano High Alumnus (Cum Laude)
All the ridiculous games that would get caught up in this. How many RPGs have a casino minigame? Ni No Kuni - 18+
 

Three

Member
I don't understand this. If a game monitises games of chance I get that that is considered gambling. I've alway said that games selling loot boxes should be considered gambling but I don't get that with the old pokemon games. Were they monetised? Is any game of chance considered gambling? Does this mean games like monopoly are considered gambling?
 
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MrFunSocks

Banned
Ridiculous. It's a good thing that ratings mean nothing and are never actually enforced.
 
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Portugeezer

Member
I don't understand this. If a game monitises games of chance I get that that is considered gambling. I've alway said that games selling loot boxes should be considered gambling but I don't get that with the old pokemon games. Were they monetised? Is any game of chance considered gambling? Does this mean games like monopoly are considered gambling?
They're not saying Pokemon is real gambling.

With loot boxes you always get something (yes even crap items are still something), with gambling you can just lose and get nothing.

PEGI could broaden the definition for loot boxes to count... but that would be a conflict of interest for them.
 

Three

Member
They're not saying Pokemon is real gambling.

With loot boxes you always get something (yes even crap items are still something), with gambling you can just lose and get nothing.

PEGI could broaden the definition for loot boxes to count... but that would be a conflict of interest for them.
I know they're not saying it's real gambling but has elements that teach or encourage virtual gambling. In that sense so does Monopoly.

The definition where you get something just isn't something I consider a deterrence for gambling otherwise they can give the same low worth item in any actual gambling game. You go to a high stakes table get a bubblegum with every bet and it's not gambling. There was a thread I was arguing this case on a long time ago (years ago) just before some EU countries deemed it as gambling.
 
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how the fuck is pokemon red/blue being rated 18+?

is it cause there's those little slot machines in one of the towns? if i remember right it was celadon where the hidden team rocket base is?

edit: holy shit it is hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
 

justiceiro

Marlboro: Other M
Yeah, playing card is the problem, not spending real money. Gotta love when a board full of people that never played a game make decisions about what is appropriate and what is not.
 
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JimboJones

Member
They did remove the gambling aspect from Pokémon Let's go Pikachu/Eevee probably to avoid the gambling icon on the back cover.
Getting an 18 rating seems a little extreme, should be only be for when real money is involved.
 

jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
That Dragon Quest III HD remake is gonna have to cut out it's monster fighting arenas, or get faced with having a 18+ rating in Europe then
 
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