Prediction: Bioshock Will Be Recalled In The Uk, Here's why Options

[Cyberdude93]

Or maybe just the Collectors Edition.

Remember ages ago when Reservoir Dogs was recalled in the UK because there was no BBFC certificate on the disc? Remember that it's a legal requirement to have it on here.

Well like many people, my brother ordered a copy of the game on Game.co.uk, who ship early so it arrives in time, and quite often it arrives before the release date. Well it did, and there's a biig problem...



My brother's playing and refuses to take the disc out to check if it has a certificate, but the box is required to have a certificate too. Now I know some of you may be thinking "Games only have to have a BBFC or a PEGI certificate", but if a game meets certain criteria then it HAS to be rated by the BBFC, and well, it HAS. So where's the the big fat red "18" circle?

I know whether or not the game has a certificate or not on it matters to few of you, but I'm fairly certain this game is illegal to sell in the UK lacking the 18 rating. Someone's going go get in big trouble

This post has been edited by Cyberdude93: Aug 23 2007, 01:39 PM

[reddragon105]

PEGI is a voluntary system - the game developers use the PEGI guidelines to rate their own game, then use the PEGI logo on the game case to display the PEGI rating. Because of that I always thought it was a recommended rating, rather than a legal one. A BBFC certificate will only be a requirement if the BBFC deem it so. I imagine that in the case of Reservoir Dogs, the game was rated as 18 by the BBFC, which means it would be illegal to sell it to anyone under 18, and so if they didn't put the BBFC logo on the box they'd be breaking the law. Perhaps with Bioshock the BBFC haven't deemed it worthy of an 18 certificate and it's only the developer's recommendation?

As an example, I remember back in the days of the Playstation when the ELSPA system was used - it had tick boxes showing what age groups each game was suitable for. I was surprised to see Command and Conquer had a big 'X' next to all the age groups except '18+'. Yet it wasn't rated as an 18 by the BBFC. When I tried to buy Tenchu, on the other hand, it had the same ELSPA rating (only had a tick next to '18+'), yet it also had an 18 cert from the BBFC, so I was stopped from buying it because I couldn't provide ID.

So is it the same thing with Bioshock? I do see your point though - if it's supposed to have a BBFC cert on the box and they've somehow omitted it, then it would have to be recalled.

[Cyberdude93]

Perhaps with Bioshock the BBFC haven't deemed it worthy of an 18 certificate and it's only the developer's recommendation?

Here's the BBFC's word on it:

Customers who are uncertain about whether a game is exempt can obtain further information through the PEGI UK offices administered by the Video Standards Council (VSC) vsc@videostandards.org . The PEGI questionnaire also details circumstances under which a game may lose its exemption. These include:

* Gross acts of violence towards humans or animals
* Horrific behaviour or incidents
* Human sexual activity
* Criminal behaviour

While I'm pretty certain Bioshock falls 3 out of 4 of those, you're right in thinking a PEGI or ELPSA 18+ doesn't automatically mean a game has have a BBFC rating. I can think of a very good example; "Sega Casino". For some reason gambling gains a PEGI 18+ with that. Certainly doesn't require a BBFC rating.

And on another note, I've noticed that GAME have removed the Bioshock Collectors Edition from their site; it isn't found when you search for it or click "Bioshock" on the front page (it can still be accessed if you use Google; here it is). Unless the collectors edition was pre-order only, I can't help but think that isn't a coincidence

[Cyberdude93]

Just like to add (since we can't edit posts after a certain amount of time?) that it turns out the disc does have a BBFC 18 certificate on it. Probably the collectors edition and regular edition use the same discs.

[shodanjr_gr]

Actually i just recieved my C.E. from Game.co.uk today and the exterior paper case, the tin case AND the game disc have the BFFC 18+ warning logo on them.

Maybe they reprinted or something?

[Cyberdude93]

Oddly enough, I went to GAME and saw the same thing on the day of release (getting an Elite)

Since not a single other Brit on Xbox Scene has spoken up, sounds to me that so few copies got out that no one cares. Unless someone were to contact the BBFC about this and see what happens, I'm sure they'd throw up a stink.

This post has been edited by Cyberdude93: Aug 28 2007, 05:45 PM

[Sick Wit itt]

PEGI is a voluntary system - the game developers use the PEGI guidelines to rate their own game, then use the PEGI logo on the game case to display the PEGI rating. Because of that I always thought it was a recommended rating, rather than a legal one. A BBFC certificate will only be a requirement if the BBFC deem it so. I imagine that in the case of Reservoir Dogs, the game was rated as 18 by the BBFC, which means it would be illegal to sell it to anyone under 18, and so if they didn't put the BBFC logo on the box they'd be breaking the law. Perhaps with Bioshock the BBFC haven't deemed it worthy of an 18 certificate and it's only the developer's recommendation?

As an example, I remember back in the days of the Playstation when the ELSPA system was used - it had tick boxes showing what age groups each game was suitable for. I was surprised to see Command and Conquer had a big 'X' next to all the age groups except '18+'. Yet it wasn't rated as an 18 by the BBFC. When I tried to buy Tenchu, on the other hand, it had the same ELSPA rating (only had a tick next to '18+'), yet it also had an 18 cert from the BBFC, so I was stopped from buying it because I couldn't provide ID.

So is it the same thing with Bioshock? I do see your point though - if it's supposed to have a BBFC cert on the box and they've somehow omitted it, then it would have to be recalled.

i agree 110%