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

The Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK) - German Voluntary Monitoring Organisation of Entertainment Software - is Germany's software rating organisation.
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.

The rating for specific games may refer to localised versions.

Get more information from this website:
http://www.usk.de

Available on the website since March 04, 2009