Following the approval of an amendment to the Viennese Youth Protection Act (at the meeting of the Viennese provincial government on 13 November 2007), the Pan European Game Information board, or PEGI, is going to to provide better protection for young people playing video games, in the respective PAL territory.

According to an official report, this amendment was based on recommendations of a task force, consisting of experts in various specialist areas as well as all parties represented on the municipal council. The Austrian Entertainment Software Association (�VUS) was also involved in the cooperation as a representative of the industry, with international support coming from the umbrella association and PEGI developer ISFE (the Interactive Software Federation of Europe).

"We managed to set a positive example which we can all be very proud of and which will certainly set the trend for other topics where the political reflex of banning often results in a negative impact, while the approach of informing and discussing results in a very positive one," said Deputy Mayor Grete Laska.

"From the perspective of the industry, this is a first important step towards actively supporting the issues of youth protection and media competence. The cooperation with the political representatives of all factions was very fruitful and raises hopes of future good cooperation between politics and the industry", confirmed �VUS President Dr. Niki Laber.

"As the international umbrella association, we are proud of the results which the local association has brought about within the first year of its inception. The cooperation between industry and politics in Austria is exemplary", said Katja Mader, ISFE Marketing Manager.

The amendment says that video games can only be sold to young people of a certain age only if the age rating clearly indicates that they are suitable for their age, something that every rating system does. Unfortunately though, not every territory sees good results from using such a system, although they have one. Everywhere in the world teens can walk freely into a store and get an M rated game just like that, especially in The States, without having the clerk pull their ear.

Anyway, according to the same piece, the final resolution will be made initially in the committee of the Youth, Education, Information and Sport business group, and in January in the provincial parliament.