PlayStation®Network: About Ratings and Parental Controls

A GUIDE TO VIDEO GAME AGE RATINGS

All of the games available on the PlayStation®Store are labelled with symbols indicating the age for which the game is suitable. Age ratings are not a guide to gaming difficulty.

By checking age ratings, and using the parental controls (see below), parents and carers can help to ensure that children are not exposed to inappropriate content and behaviour online. Parents and carers should also monitor their child's online activity.

An explanation of the specific age rating symbols used in the PlayStation®Store is set out below.

PAN-EUROPEAN GAMES INFORMATION (PEGI) AGE RATING SYSTEM

PEGI is an age rating system for video and computer games which is used throughout the European Union, with the exception of Germany which has its own age rating system. PEGI provides information on the suitability of games for a particular age group to help consumers decide whether or not to buy or play a particular game.

A PEGI age rating will appear next to each game supplied on the PlayStation®Store.

In addition to the PEGI age rating, the PlayStation®Store will also display descriptors indicating the type of content appearing in each game. The descriptors indicate elements in a game which may concern parents or carers. The age rating of the game reflects the intensity of this content. Depending on the game, there may be a number of such descriptors. The descriptors are:

VIOLENCE

BAD LANGUAGE

FEAR

SEXUAL CONTENT

DRUGS

DISCRIMINATIONS

GAMBLING

So a 12+ game has content which is suitable for everyone of 12 years and over, and an 18+ game is suitable for adults only. The rating reflects the existence of content, or the intensity of certain content, such as nudity or graphic sexual content, which may not be suitable for a certain age group. The rating has nothing to do with the difficulty or playability of the game.

Many games are suitable for all ages, but parents, carers and teachers should always check if it is suitable for the child concerned. To understand what to expect from a game, both the age rating and descriptors should be checked.

For further information, visit www.pegi.info.

A further symbol will appear where the game may be played online against other players. This icon may only be used by online gameplay providers who have committed to uphold certain standards aimed at making online gameplay safer for children. These include measures aimed at keeping gameplay free of illegal and offensive content and to protect the privacy of children when playing games online.

For further information and safe playing tips, visit www.pegionline.eu.

BRITISH BOARD OF FILM CLASSIFICATION (BBFC)

In the UK, a few games will be rated by the BBFC rather than under PEGI. Most UK consumers are familiar with BBFC age ratings as these are found on film DVDs and in cinemas. The games rated by the BBFC are normally for older children and adults. So you will sometimes see BBFC ratings for games on the PlayStation®Store instead of PEGI ratings:

For further information about age ratings in the UK, visit www.askaboutgames.com.

PARENTAL CONTROLS

The PLAYSTATION®3 system has a preset Parental Control Level based on its content. You can set the Parental Control Level on the PS3™ to restrict the playback of a product with a Parental Control Level that is higher than the level set on the PS3™ system. For more information, please refer to the PS3™ system Instruction Manual.

As explained above, games available on the PlayStation®Store are classified according to the PEGI rating system (except where, by law, another rating system applies). The relationship between the relevant rating system and the Parental Control Level is as follows:

PARENTAL CONTROL LEVEL 9

PARENTAL CONTROL LEVEL 7

PARENTAL CONTROL LEVEL 5

PARENTAL CONTROL LEVEL 3

PARENTAL CONTROL LEVEL 2

When you set up a sub account for a child on the PlayStation®Network, you will be asked to confirm their date of birth. Sub accounts will not be able to purchase content on the PlayStation®Store which is rated above their registered age. However, once content has been downloaded from the PlayStation®Store to the PS3™, children may be able to access the content if the Parental Control Level on the PS3™ is not set. Please see the PlayStation®Network Terms of Service and User Agreement for more information.