UPDATE 2:
PEGI has kindly responded (at August the 30th, 12:34 CEST) to the very first email regarding the NBA 2K20 controversy. Being uncertain how legal it is to publish their email response, here is a TD;LR of the response:
- They've seen the announcement trailer of NBA 2K20 and know of the controversy
- They've clarified the gambling descriptor in more detail.
- They say that even if the controversial imagery (of gambling) has a central role in the trailer, doesn't mean that the actual game will. AKA: They know the minigames got a central role in the trailer, but they look at whether it is so in the actual game. PEGI can only comment on the trailer that's publicly shown.
- They are aware that the imagery is generally known to be in casinos (specifically mentioning the slot machines and wheel of fortune), but that using this sort of mechanic to select an item, character or action by chance is not the same as teaching how to gamble for money in a casino. These differences does not trigger the gambling descriptor.
- They're looking at the situation themselves, to see how the rating system should be in general. They are very aware what the public thinks of the gambling mechanics in video games.
Update 1: As of August 30th 10:45AM CEST, 2K UK privated the video most likely because of its backlash. Disappointing to see the company trying to hide said infringing trailer from the public (unless they are suddenly rerating it to PEGI 12, of course). Here is a third party upload (starts a bit later in the rant video) which is a subjective video but it shows the trailer
along with the PEGI 3 rating. Other uploads from Xbox and GameSpot for example got the ESRB logo on it. Later today I'll email PEGI with the third party upload link to verify my claim of guidelines violation (along with a more official ESRB-labeled source to verify it is from 2K themselves a bit more).
https://youtu.be/flV5twgpdes The actual trailer starts from 1:08 in this subjective video.
Take Two Interactive's NBA 2K20 may be violating the age rating guidelines set out by PEGI because of its gambling mechanics being shown.
According to said guidelines, games which do have gambling mechanics usually being present in casinos require a PEGI 12+ classification at minimum. The recent
My Team trailer shows several gambling mechanics, yet the game has been classified (according to Take Two Interactive) as a PEGI 3+ rating, which does violate the set guidelines.
Ever since 2009, European versions of games which contain gambling mechanics have been given (re)classifications to at least PEGI 12+. Very recognisable examples are the Pokémon games from Platinum onwards. Considering the change in European legislation, the PAL versions of the Pokémon games have their Game Corners being removed. Actual rerating games with gambling mechanics before has happened with Virtual Console rereleases of
Super Mario 64 DS and
the original Pokémon Game Boy games (Red, Blue, Yellow).
Because of this, either Take Two Interactive has been withholding information regarding the gambling mechanics to PEGI or PEGI has (mistakenly) misrated the game as PEGI 3+. Both possible scenarios are irresponsible.
After doing my bit of research, I've contacted PEGI through their email form. The very email I sent is visible to read to all underneath, with the greeting redacted because of personal information. I will update everyone on the situation.
I urge people not to massflood PEGI with emails regarding this issue as it would just make them dismiss it all together. Do not mind spreading the words to others to raise attention for this age rating issue, though.
Some clarification though: I contacted them three times about this topic. The second time and third time were because of an automatic email I got after the 'Your message has been sent and will get responded to soon' email, which states that PEGI can't answer technical questions about games and are only able to respond to questions regarding the age rating. I mistook said automatic emails as auto-dismissals and responses to my question. I realised this misake after sending them an email categorised as 'other', complaining about said 'auto-dismissals' and asking for a response to my previous emails, to which I also got said automatic email. So I conclude that the emails were not dismissed, but rather get an auto-email stating they can't answer technical questions, no matter what is being sent. The second time I sent them the complaint is edited with the word 'mechanismen/mechanics' replaced by 'spellen/minigames'.
[The email:]
(English version below)
Beste PEGI,
Sinds vandaag heb ik het nieuws gehoord over Take Two Interactive's NBA 2K20 videospel, waarbij in een recente trailer verschillende gokspellen werd laten zien. Dit spel komt volgende week uit op 8 september, dus het zien dat het bedrijf Take Two Interactive claimt een PEGI 3+ leeftijdclassificatie te hebben gekregen voor dit spel is heel erg opmerkelijk.
In het verleden heeft PEGI (sinds 2009) spellen met gokspellen zoals 'slot machines' een leeftijdclassificatie van minimaal 12+ gegeven. De trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oyBnjNaS2E) laat verschillende gokspellen zien, zoals (momenten in de trailer aangeduid):
- Pachinko (een Japans gokspel wat in casino's worden gehouden), te zien op 0:43 tot 0:53
- 'Slot machines'/speelautomaten (in de stijl van de machines die in casino's beschikbaar zijn), te zien op 0:56 tot 0:59. (En mogelijk ook:
- Het Rad van Fortuin, te zien op 1:04 tot 1:15)
Om te zien dat NBA 2K20 volgens T2 Interactive een PEGI 3+ classificatie heeft gekregen, is schrikwekkend en onverantwoord van Take Two of PEGI. In het verleden zijn spellen met gokspellen (vanaf 2009) classificaties (opnieuw) gegeven met PEGI 12+ als een minimum (zoals Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue en Pokémon Yellow voor de Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console en Super Mario 64 DS voor de Nintendo Wii U Virtual Console). In de voorheen genoemde Pokémon spellen zit ook een 'slot machine' casino er in, waarvoor de PEGI 12+ leeftijdclassificatie is gegeven.
Hierover heb ik dus een vraag:
Waarom claimt Take Two Interactive dat NBA 2K20 een PEGI 3+ label heeft, terwijl volgens PEGI's regels omtrent spellen met gokspellen het spel PEGI 12+ geclassificeerd moeten zijn? Persoonlijk, is dit spel erger dan de voorheen genoemde 12+ spellen omdat die spellen geen optie hebben om met echt geld in-game valuta te kunnen kopen om te spenderen aan de gokspellen, terwijl bij NBA 2K20 wel het geval is.
Graag zou ik willen zien dat de organisatie (PEGI) dit probleem zal aanpakken door het spel een PEGI 12+ label (inclusief het aangeven dat gokspellen in het spel zitten) te geven of door Take Two Interactive te melden dat de gokspellen verwijderd uit Europese versies moeten worden om aan de regels te voldoen.
Met vriendelijke groet,
Dear PEGI,
Since today I have heard the news about Take Two Interactive’s NBA 2K20 video game, in which a recent trailer has shown several gambling minigames. This game is going to be released on September 8th. To see Take Two Interactive claim the game has received a PEGI 3+ age rating classification, is really noteworthy.
In the past, PEGI has (ever since 2009) rated games with gambling minigames like slot machines with a PEGI 12+ rating at minimum. The trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oyBnjNaS2E) shows several gambling minigames, such as (timestamps included):
- Pachinko (a Japanese gambling/arcade game which is present in casinos), visible at 0:43 to 0:53
- Slot machines (in the style of the machines available in casinos), visible at 0:56 to 0:59. (And possibly also:
- The Wheel of Fortune, visible at 1:04 to 1:15)
To see that NBA 2K20 (according to T2 Interactive) received a PEGI 3+ classification, is shocking and irresponsible by Take Two or PEGI. In the past, games with gambling minigames (from 2009 onwards) have been (re)classified with PEGI 12+ at a minimum (such as: Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue and Pokémon Yellow for the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console and Super Mario 64 DS for the Nintendo Wii U Virtual Console). In the previously mentioned Pokémon games, there is a slot machine filled casino present, for which it has been given the PEGI 12+ age rating classification. I do have a question about this:
Why does Take Two Interactive claim that NBA 2K20 has a PEGI 3+ label, while according to PEGI’s guidelines regarding games with gambling minigames the game should be classified as PEGI 12+? Personally, this game is worse than the previously mentioned 12+ games because these games have no option to spend real life currency on in-game currency to use with the gambling minigames, while that is the case in NBA 2K20. I would like to see that the organisation (PEGI) take action by giving the game a PEGI 12+ label (with the disclosure of gambling minigames being included) or by stating that the gambling minigames need to be removed from the European versions to Take Two Interactive to comply with the guidelines.
Best regards,
Tijdens het spelen bij SMS casino kun je speltegoed kopen via telefoon of SMS, telefonisch betalen is erg handig en is ook een populaire betaalmethode bij veel online casino SMS payment spelers. Je kunt de meeste games bellen om gametegoed te kopen, waarna je gametegoed kunt kopen, afhankelijk van hoe lang je het nummer belt. SMS casino spellen. Bent u op zoek naar spannende online tafelspelen zoals roulette, blackjack en caribbean stud poker? Ons aanbod aan tafelspelen is beperkt tot deze drie spellen maar het voordeel van deze sms casino spellen is dat u speeltegoed kunt kopen met uw mobiele telefoon of vast toestel. Wil je graag spelen in een online casino? Kijk dan eerst op CasinoJager.nl voor eerlijke online casino reviews, vele honderden gokkast reviews en strategie- en speltips om je winstkansen in het casino online te vergroten. Game Mania, de winkel met de grootste keuze aan games, spelconsoles, accessoires & merchandise in de Benelux. Bezoek één van onze winkels of koop veilig online via de webshop. Op zoek naar een Casino/kansspel Spel? Spellen koop je eenvoudig online bij bol.com Gratis retourneren 30 dagen bedenktijd Snel in huis Op deze pagina kun je gratis gokken op gokkasten, slots, videopoker en andere (casino) spellen. Internet-Gokken.be biedt slechts de links naar deze spellen en kan niet aansprakelijk worden gesteld bij eventuele schade in welke vorm dan ook veroorzaakt door het spelen van deze spellen. Identity Games Escape Room Casino uitbreidingsset De laatste jaren reisde je met jouw team van casino naar casino, van Las Vegas naar Monaco en van Atlantic City naar Singapore. Er is geen vuiltje aan de lucht, tot je in jouw groezelige hotelkamer een verontrustend telefoontje krijgt. Play Free Online Slot Machine Games. Free Slots No Download needed & 100,000 Free Coins. Play For Free And Join The Best Casino Slots Community In The World. Een CD key voor Casino Blackjack kopen? Al vanaf € 1.42 De beste prijzen op KeysforGames.nl. Extra korting met kortingscodes! Casino Roulette. Casino Roulette * Speel thuis roulette. * Met 120 fiches. * Afmeting mat: 80x30cm. * Diameter roulette: 30cm. * 2 Metalen...
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. This is my first video of a coin pusher arcade machine, also a really fun arcade game to play. I go over the basics of the coin pusher, how the owner makes m... GTA Online Casino Update - All 150+ Items from the MYSTERY REWARD on the Lucky WheelShark Card Giveawayhttps://twitter.com/Dat_Saintsfan/status/1154849377111... GTA 5 Online Casino DLC Update - NEW FEATURES! Exclusive Shopping, Valet Parking, Lucky Wheel & MORE! Cheap GTA 5 Shark Cards & More Games: https://www.g2a.c... ♠♦♣♥ Play Live Blackjack https://croupier.com/online-blackjack-vip-dealer-vs-1000-mr-green-online-casino/ 18+ Ple... Er is een nieuwe heist toegevoegd aan GTA V Online genaamd: 'The Diamond Casino Heist' en vandaag starten wij met het eerste deel hiervan! Vond je de video l... Kijk hier de vorige GTA 5 aflevering http://bit.do/gta5gunrun1 Kijk hier meer GTA 5 video's http://bit.do/GTAVplaylist GTA 5 heeft vandaag een nieuwe ... Anyone want to join WE PLAY FOR YOUPlease DM instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/p/B1NnQQxAVa2/?igshid=bgflgs4qxpxp#coinpusher#coinjackpot#cointower New GTA 5 Casino DLC update spending spree gameplay live stream with Typical Gamer! SUBSCRIBE http://bit.ly/SubToTG NEW MERCH https://typical.storeDona... PC gaming has been dominating. 2019 will have no shortage of games to play on your PC, from laptop to super-rig. Here's what we're looking forward to.Subscri...
