IFSE's system will be voluntary and will replace the current age
rating system in the UK which was introduced in 1994 by the
European Leisure Software Publishers Association. The current
system, also voluntary, is used in over 95% of games products,
according to Indie Magazine.
The categories, which are similar to the ELSPA's system will be:
ages 3-6; 7-11; 12-15; 16-17 and 18 plus. A set of six symbols will
also be used to indicate the nature of the content. The ELSPA
system, devised by the Video Standards Council, uses four bands:
3-10 years, 11-14, 15-17 and 18 plus.
Germany is the only country in Europe intending not to
participate in the new scheme. It already operates its own
mandatory scheme.
