Interview with a games examiner...

What are games examiners like?
We're just like normal people! We come from a range of backgrounds, such as TV, law, journalism and the games industry, but the main thing we have in common is that we love playing games.

Do you play games all day?
All of the games examiners classify videos and films as well, so most of our days are taken up with that. When we get a game to classify then we spend most of a day on it before we reach a decision.

What are your favorite sorts of games?
I like driving games best, especially the BURNOUT series. I also love LEGO STAR WARS, which I'm currently playing with my four year old son.

How do you get to the end of games?
With our immense game playing skills, of course. And with quite a lot of help from the games companies, who send us walkthroughs, cheat codes and saved games. Without these, it would be hard for us to see enough of each game to be sure our decision is correct.

Why do some games have different ratings?
In the UK, the law says that some games have to be classified, just like the vast majority of videos. Games that contain strong violence or sex, for example, are classified by the BBFC and these ratings are legally enforceable. That means you can't go out and buy an ‘18’ rated game if you're under 18. The games that don't have to be classified by law still have ratings on them, but usually not BBFC ratings. These are classified by a voluntary European system called PEGI. At the moment, the government is asking people whether they think all games should be classified by either PEGI or the BBFC, or if it should be a mixture of the two.

How are games classified?
Two examiners spend about a day on each game and, with the help of cheat codes and walkthroughs, try to play as much of the game as possible, checking out every level and all the things the game asks the player to do or allows the player to do. We then compare what we've seen with the BBFC's Guidelines, which are based on what the public have told us they think is OK at different categories. We also try to think about games we've classified in the past, so that our decisions are consistent. We discuss the decision between us, and when we have decided what category the game should be we write a report explaining why we think that's the right one.

What issues come up in kids’ games?
Mild ones, generally. A lot of games aimed at kids don't really have any issues at all, but some have mild violence, like LEGO STAR WARS or SHREK THE THIRD, or mild language like BRATZ - THE MOVIE (which is a game, not a movie...). Another thing we look at carefully is any behaviour which might be dangerous if it was copied. CURIOUS GEORGE, for example, featured a monkey who did some potentially dangerous things like climbing on scaffolding on a deserted building site. For this reason the game got a ‘PG’ rather than a ‘U’.

Are 18 games harder to play than U games?
They can be, but some U rated games are pretty hard too. I found RATATOUILLE so hard I barely made it through the tutorial level! Also, not all U rated games are aimed at kids - all ‘U’ means is that there isn't anything in there which would be unsuitable for kids to see or hear. BURNOUT REVENGE is a U game, for example, and while it's OK for kids to play it's really aimed at anyone who likes driving games - and it took me ages to finish.

How do you know what games are coming out?
Well, when a company wants to release a game they send it to PEGI or to the BBFC to be classified, so we get to play many of them before they come out. Sometimes we get a game months before its due in the shops, but more often it's just a few weeks before.

How can I get to do your job?
Work hard and play hard. Games examiners have to know about film as well as games, and also have some experience in teaching, law, regulation or some other relevant area. Knowledge of foreign languages helps a bit, too. When you're at least 18, keep a look out for job adverts in the national press or on the BBFC website.

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