Row Over U.K. Games Ratings

By Digital Trends Staff Updated October 25, 2009

A dispute has broken out about the classification of video games in the UK. Currently, that job falls to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), but the games industry, Elspa, is calling on the government to change that jurisdiction to its own voluntary system, Pegi, according to the BBC.

The BBFC ratings are backed by law.

Elspa backs the Pegi system because it’s the “gold standard” and "designed specifically for interactive software."

Several months ago a study concluded that both ratings should be used packages, the BBFC classification on the front, the Pegi rating on the back. The government has urged the two bodies to work together prior to any official consultation, but Peter Johnson, head of policy and business development for the BBFC, said:

"Unfortunately, Elspa have said they don’t want to talk to us about that until after consultation. They have also encouraged some of their members not to talk to us."

Digital Trends Staff

Digital Trends has a simple mission: to help readers easily understand how tech affects the way they live. We are your…

Gaming

Pick up these Nintendo games you can only get on Wii U and 3DS

xenoblade and pokemon picross headline eshop update chronicles x nintendo wii u

The Nintendo Switch has one of the greatest first-party lineups of any Nintendo console. In addition to several outstanding original games, a lot of awesome Wii U games like Super Mario 3D World, Pikmin 3, and Mario Kart 8 finally got all the love they deserved when they were ported to the Switch. Even some 3DS games like Miitopia have made their way to Nintendo Switch. Still, that isn't all-encompassing, so when the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops are discontinued on March 27, we will lose access to some amazing first-party Nintendo games that aren't available elsewhere.
From black sheep in their respective series to new IP that tests out some novel ideas, four Wii U and four 3DS games that are still platform exclusives stuck out the most to us. If you're specifically looking for Nintendo-published games to pick up before the 3DS and Wii U eShops stop allowing the purchase of new games, consider picking up one of these titles.
Xenoblade Chronicles X

Considering the rest of the Xenoblade Chronicles series is on Nintendo Switch, it's very surprising that Xenoblade Chronicles X has not made the jump over yet. This RPG stands as the black sheep of the series, with a more gritty style and tone, mech suits, and a plot about humans who crash land on an alien planet after escaping Earth, which might be why it didn't come over before the trilogy was completed. Xenoblade Chronicles X is a great game in its own right, though, and also makes ample use of the Wii U GamePad for its detailed map and menus. As such, it's a worthwhile Wii U pickup for those who like to play games uniquely tailored to the system and enjoy seeing what the oddball entries in game franchises have to offer.
Star Fox Zero

Gaming

Claim these free 3DS and Wii U games before the eShop closes

free 3ds wii u eshop games nintendo and

The eShops on the 3DS and Wii U will shut down on March 27, so players are splurging on great games that they want to pick up in the final days of each storefront's life span. If you can't drop any cash on games for these systems before then though, you're probably wondering what's available from them for free. For the most part, it's demos, as the 3DS and Wii U weren't really known for their free-to-play offerings. Even then, many of the available free-to-play games -- or "free-to-start" titles as Nintendo called them in that era -- won't have much use after the eShops cease game sales because most of their content is gated by microtransactions.

Some might be a little more time-consuming due to in-game timers and other microtransactions, but are still worth checking out regardless. If you're wondering what full games you can play on 3DS and Wii U for free ahead of the eShop storefronts' discontinuation on March 27, we recommend checking out the following six titles.
Team Kirby Clash Deluxe

Gaming

You need to buy the best Wii U game before the eShop closes down

A Nintendo Wii U gamepad flat on a table.

If you're a Nintendo fan, you should pull out your calendar and put a big red circle around March 27. That's the day that both the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShop will officially shutter their doors. It'll be your last chance to pick up digital copies of all digital games, from Virtual Console classics to first-party exclusives.

There is no shortage of good games worth picking up before that deadline happens, though some of the systems' best titles can be purchased on other platforms. There's one game in particular, though, that finds itself in a precarious position: Affordable Space Adventures. If you even have a passing interest in the Wii U exclusive, you'll have to act fast, because it'll go fully extinct at the end of the month.