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Organisation of self-regulation

Name:

Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle

Based in:

Berlin, Germany

Type of organisation:

Association

Geographical scope:

Germany

Content-related scope:

interactive software

Related areas:

youth protection

USK is the German abbreviation for the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body, established by the computer games industry to act as the organisation responsible for the classification of computer games in Germany.
Software can receive one of the following ratings:

• Without age restrictions: There are no restrictions on the basis of the Jugendschutzgesetz on the sale of those game. The suitability for children, however, only relates to violent or sexual content - the difficulty or complexity of the game may still be unsuited to younger children.
• Restricted for those below the age of 6: Games with this rating may be of an abstract or comical nature, may have a darker theme or may be too involving for children under the age of 6.
• Restricted for those below the age of 12: Games with this rating may place a focus on wars or fighting of some description, or contain mild lyrics and suggestive themes. The fighting should be in a historical or science fiction context and the violence should be kept to a minimum.
• Restricted for those below the age of 16: Games featuring frequent one-on-one gunfights and moderate violence (no visible blood) will receive this rating. The game may cover adult themes.
• Restricted for those below the age of 18: These games may contain scenes of brutal, moderately bloody violence, and they may glorify war or violation of human rights.