Rating and Censorship/Rating Organisations/British Board of Film Classification
International Game Developers Association
The contents of Rating and Censorship/Rating Organisations/British Board of Film Classification are in-development. Please be patient while changes are formulated. Thank you!| British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) |
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| Homepage |
| Wikipedia page |
| Start Date: 1912 |
Region(s):  United Kingdom
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| Game Ratings and Censorship |
Contents |
Rating Organisation Background
The BBFC was established in 1912 as the British Board of Film Censors by the film industry to have self-regulation of ratings and censorship, rather then let local authorities do it. In 1984 the organisation was renamed to the current name, and the new Video Recordings Act 1984 made it the organisation to rate home media, including video games which included human sexual activity, human genital organs or gross acts of violence.
The BBFC itself is an independent, non-governmental organisation. Its business affairs are controlled by a council of management selected from leading figures in the manufacturing and servicing sectors of the film industry.
Cultural Notes
See the United Kingdom page for information on culture in the BBFC's jurisdiction.
Rating Organisation Rating Process
Under the Video Recordings Act, most video games are exempt from BBFC classification. However, they may lose this exemption - and therefore require a formal BBFC classification - if they depict, to any significant extent, gross violence against humans or animals, human sexual activity, human urinary or excretory functions or genital organs, or techniques likely to be useful in the commission of offences. In the early days of video games, the quality of graphics was so low that, even when 'human' or 'animal' characters were depicted, they were unlikely to be realistic enough to be covered by the Act. However, the increasing sophistication of computer graphics means that nowadays a number of games require classification, usually because they contain violence against realistic human figures. In some cases, games may also need to be submitted to the BBFC because they contain non-interactive video elements (eg trailers or film clips) that do not enjoy the same exemption as interactive games.
Games that retain their exemption - for example because they do not feature violence or sex involving realistic human figures - are classified under the PEGI system, a voluntary pan-European rating system. In the UK, the system is administered by the Video Standards Council, who also advise publishers on whether or not their game requires a formal BBFC classification.
Above from the BBFC FAQ
The Guidelines and policy of the BBFC are available to read through for what they rate content on. (Download page)
Certification Process
An overview on the BBFC's website about the certification process is available online here in detail, with the Fee information too. Briefly is the major details below.
The following is required for each video game submission;-
- A completed Video Games Submission Form
- A content complete build of the game on physical media (CD, DVD, memory card, etc.)
- An indication of the most contentious elements in the game and where in the game they occur
- Access to all cutscenes
- Access to any DVD style extras or unlockable content
- Supporting material that enables easy access to all parts of the game (cheats, save games, etc.)
The content is submitted, and a certification is awarded - if the request was for a certain certificate, then the board supplies a list of possible cuts that can get it the required certificate (if any are needed) or the certificate that will be awarded if no cuts are made.
Once a final certificate is awarded, the game can be sold in the UK, with the appropriate box markings.
Rating Category List
All the ratings here are available for games, however only those that would be rated in the region of 15 or 18 are required to be rated, and a few games actually get themselves rated by the BBFC despite not being required to.
| Symbol | Name | Definition |
|---|---|---|
 | Universal Children | Suitable for all, but especially suitable for young children to watch on their own. (Has not been applied to a game) |
 | Universal | Suitable for all |
 | Parental Guidance | All ages, but parents are advised that certain scenes may be unsuitable for children |
 | 12 | Suitable for those aged 12 and over. Nobody under 12 may buy or rent a 12 game. |
 | 15 | Suitable for those aged 15 and over. Nobody younger than 15 may rent or buy a 15 rated game. |
 | 18 | Suitable for those aged 18 and over. Nobody younger than 18 may rent or buy an 18 rated game. |
 | Restricted 18 | Suitable for those aged 18 and over. May only be sold at sex shops, and only to people aged 18 or over. |
 | Refused Certification | Games that have been Refused Certification cannot be legally sold in the UK. |
Example ratings
The BBFC rates some video games. Normally these are exempt from classification, unless they depict human sexual activity, human genital organs or gross acts of violence, in which case the publishers should submit the game for classification.
For a list of recent ratings on the BBFC's website, see here.
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Censorship
Games can be cut to get a lower rating, being resubmitted to get a new rating, during the rating process.
There have been 2 cases of the BBFC refusing certification for a game (making it illegal to sell in the UK, see Video Recordings Act 1984), Carmageddon in 1997, although this was appealed and re-rated at 18, and Manhunt 2 in 2007.
One additional thing to note is consumers can legally import unrated or classification refused content for personal use only, as long as they do not breach obscenity laws.
On the film side, there are many more refused classification films, a list here. See also, the BBFC's policy on refusing/rejecting classification.
All ratings done by the organisation can be appealed within the BBFC organisation, via. the Video Appeals Committee (V.A.C.).
Rating Legislation
Under the Video Recordings Act 1984, all non-exempt recordings must be classified by an authority chosen by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. This classification is then legally binding, in that supply of material contrary to its certificate (selling recordings which have been refused a certificate, or supplying to someone younger than the certified age) is a criminal offence. However, possession is not an offence in itself, other than in the case of "possession with intent to supply". Since the introduction of the Act, the BBFC has been the chosen authority. In theory this authority could be revoked, but in practice such a revocation has never been suggested.
The BBFC rates some video games. Normally these are exempt from classification, unless they depict human sexual activity, human genital organs or gross acts of violence, in which case the publishers should submit the game for classification. A publisher may opt to submit a game for classication even if they are not obliged to. The first computer game to receive a 15 certificate from the BBFC was an illustrated text adventure called Dracula, based on the Bram Stoker novel, published in 1986 by CRL. The first computer game to receive an 18 certificate was another illustrated text adventure called Jack The Ripper, also by CRL, which was published in 1987 and dealt with the infamous real life murders in Victorian London. The horror in both games came through largely in their detailed prose. Had the game publishers reprinted the games' text in book form, it would not have carried a certificate, as the BBFC has no oversight over print media. Both games had numerous certificate stickers all over their covers to emphasise to parents and retailers that they were not intended for children, as computer games carrying BBFC certificates were previously unheard of. The first game to be refused classification by the BBFC was Carmageddon in 1997, however a modified version of the game was later awarded an 18 certificate. In June 2007, Manhunt 2 was refused classification in both its PlayStation 2 and Wii versions, effectively banning the game.
Rating Organisation History
Timeline
- 1912 - Started as the British Board of Film Censorship with two ratings, Universal and Adult.
- 1932 - Additional Horror category added meaning you had to be 16 or older.
- 1951 - Horror renamed to X with the same age rating
- 1970 - The A certificate now allowed those aged five and over to be admitted, but warned parents that they may not wish children under 14 to watch the film. AA allowed only those aged 14 or over to be admitted. As there was now a mandatory certificate at 14, the X certificate was modified to raise its age from 16 to 18.
- 1982 - First appearance of age-named categories, U, PG, 15, 18, R18
- 1984 - Renamed to the current British Board of Film Classification, the Video Recordings Act 1984 introduced.
- 1985 - Uc introduced, and all ratings now apply to home videos/games.
- 1986 - First video game rated, Dracula, with a 15 certificate.
- 1989 - 12 certificate introduced for cinema only.
- 1994 - 12 certificate introduced for videos/games.
- 1997 - Carmageddon refused classification, until appeal overturned decision.
- 2002 - 12A introduced for films only.
- 2007 - Manhunt 2 refused classification.
