Tag Archives: David Cooke

Destructoid‘s reporting that BBFC’s David Cooke has said that PEGI ratings are given by “a couple of blokes.”

The quote comes from an interview with The Times newspaper, where Cooke says, “The trouble is that it is not clear who PEGI is. Administration is handled by the Dutch film regulator, who subcontracts to a couple of blokes [the Video Standards Council] in Borehamwood.”

This latest statement in the ratings board wars comes just a week after Cooke asked PEGI to stop slagging off the BBFC.

More mundanity through the Destructoid link.

By Mike Bowden

BBFC boss David Cooke’s responded angrily to recent concerns over the affects of Byron Report proposals that will lend the body responsibility to rate all adult games.

Both EA and Microsoft have hit out at the plans, saying games are likely to become later and more expensive in Britain. Not so, said Cooke.

“The BBFC’s current average turnaround time for games classifications is eight calendar days. In terms of international comparisons, this is notably quick. There is no reason why the increased role for the BBFC envisaged by Dr Byron should lead to delays.”

He added:

“The games industry really does have nothing to fear from a set of proposals which would provide more robust, and fully independent, decisions, and detailed content advice, for the British public, and especially parents. The Byron proposals, far from envisaging the collapse of PEGI, specifically provide for a continuing PEGI presence in UK games classification. They also provide significant opportunities to reduce duplication of effort and costs. And they would make wider use of a system, the BBFC’s, which British parents recognize, trust and have confidence in.”

Press release after the link.

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Speaking to GI, BBFC director David Cooke has moved to assure the games trade that the people now responsible for rating games in the UK are well into them, like. So much so, in fact, that he’s claimed the BBFC’s testers are better gamers than those at European organisation PEGI.

“The point I want to get across about this is I’ve got people in this building, about ten examiners who do games, and these are some of the best gamers I’ve ever come across and these are people who are passionate about games and know a great deal about it,” he said.

“I know the PEGI testers as well, and I think the people here have a greater expertise and knowledge of games.

“The thing that’s getting lost in this argument is that we actually like games and we’re enthusiastic about games and we do buy into the argument that some games are beautiful and aesthetically satisfying. Bioshock and Shadow of the Colossus and so on.”

Well, we’re not convinced, David. We’ll only be happy when you prove the BBFC’s worth in a Halo deathmatch against PEGI. You can pwn them. Send them to school. All that shizzle. Let us know when you’ve set it up, yeah?

David Cooke, director of the BBFC, has said he believes the British body is a better fit for rating games in the wake of this morning’s Byron Report as it has the power to ban products.

“We co-operate closely with the Pan European Games Information Systems (PEGI) and will continue to do so,” he said in a statement.

“Unlike PEGI, the BBFC has the power, in exceptional cases, to reject films, DVDs and games which have the potential to pose real harm risk. We reject an average of two to three works a year (mostly DVDs) and will continue to do so where it is necessary to protect the public. At the adult level, we respect the public expectation that adults should be free to choose except where there are real harm risks. But we do not think it would be right to remove the reserve rejection power and we are pleased that Dr Byron agrees with this.

“The BBFC has been able to handle a major expansion of the DVD market over the last few years, and we are ready and able to take on the extra work envisaged by Dr Byron. We attach great importance to providing a speedy and effective service, primarily to the public, but also to the creative industries who produce films, DVDs and games. We will be talking to the Government, PEGI and the games industry about how to implement Dr Byron’s recommendations.”

Full thing after the link.

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