Application Tips for Countries Requiring Age Ratings

Applications for Windows and Windows Phone are available in hundreds of countries, and this is reflected in my post on the trends of the Windows Store . In many such countries, there are organizations that assign a rating to the appropriate age group for the application. In some countries, these estimates are optional, but in several countries, in order for an application to be published, it must be assigned an age rating.





These age estimates are usually based on the content and key characteristics of the application, their purpose is to provide users with information about the content of the application or game. The picture on the left shows an example of how a user in the United States sees the ESRB rating in the application description in the Windows Store.
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Windows and Windows Phone support age ratings. In this post I will share tips and ideas on how to simplify the publication of applications in countries requiring age estimates, and also describe in detail how to prepare your application for publication in the Windows Store.

Review of age ratings

Windows app stores and Windows Phone support age ratings from content rating organizations, for example:

• ESRB estimates are used in the United States
• Most of Europe uses PEGI estimates
• In Japan, use CERO estimates

All of these evaluation committees have formed standards for each evaluation category relative to their system; individual evaluations for applications are based on these standards. Most of the organizations involved in the evaluation of applications, also provide an evaluation certificate (in PDF format or similar), which is a confirmation of the assessment. In most of the countries, in order to provide an app with an age rating from a third-party company, you need both an evaluation value and an evaluation certificate .

It is always good practice to get an age rating for your application, even if it is not necessary, as this will help users choose the content that is right for them.

In addition to age ratings for specific countries, Windows Store additionally requires that you assign an age rating for each individual application that is hosted and distributed through the Windows Store. This article only considers estimates specific to different markets.

Remember that adult games are not allowed to be published in Windows Stores and Windows Phone stores, unless they contain valid age certificates for adults for all countries in which they are published and meet all other certification requirements:

- For the Windows Store, make sure that you select an Adult Content rating.
- for the Windows Phone Store, make sure that your game contains valid adult-grade age-rating certificates accepted in each country in which the application is published.

Overview of the age assessment process

During the preparation of the publication application, you choose the countries in which you plan to publish your application. If some selected countries require a game rating, then you need to get an assessment value and supporting documentation for each country, and then submit your publication publication:

• Windows Phone Store : Provide your application, specify a rating for each store (where appropriate) in the metadata, and upload evaluation certificates.
• Windows Store : Create a single GDF file with all grades for the application, submit an application, prepare, send a single GDF file with all grades, and upload evaluation certificates.

Below I will give a table with all countries that require an age rating, and I will describe in detail the process of preparing the publication of applications for them.

Does your application need an age estimate from the evaluation committee?

The following evaluation fees are supported by Windows and Windows Phone Stores.

	Windows		Windows phone
A country	Do I need an age rating?	Evaluation committee	Do I need an age rating?	Evaluation committee
Brazil	Yes	DJCTQ	Yes	DJCTQ
Russia*	Yes	PCBP	Yes	Pegi
South Korea	Yes	GRAC	Yes	GRAC
Taiwan	Yes	CSRR	Yes	CSRR
South Africa	Not necessary	FPB	Not necessary	FPB
United States, Canada	Not necessary	ESRB	Not necessary	ESRB
Europe (without Russia)	Not necessary	Pegi	Not necessary	Pegi
Germany	Not necessary	USK	Not necessary	USK
Japan	Not necessary	CERO	Not necessary	CERO
New Zealand	Not necessary	OFLC-NZ	Not necessary	OFLC-NZ
Australia	Not necessary	COB	Not necessary	COB

* The evaluation process for Russia is different for Windows and Windows Phone. Windows Phone currently supports PEGI, and Windows supports PCBP.

Each evaluation committee has its own process for obtaining an evaluation.

For example, for ESRB, we offer a free online assessment tool ( Windows or Windows Phone ). For PEGI, we can also offer a free online tool ( Windows or Windows Phone ). In order to receive assessments or evaluation certificates from other evaluation commissions other than the ESRB and PEGI, please visit the relevant commission sites.

Next, I will introduce you to the process of obtaining an assessment for each country in which an assessment is needed.

Game ratings in Brazil

In Brazil, content is required to be evaluated by the DJCTQ rating system. The DJCTQ rating system is managed by the Brazilian Advisory Rating Coordination ( Brazilian Coordinated Evaluation Advisory Service ). There are three ways to get an estimate for your DJCTQ application:

• Submit your application to DJCTQ for review and get a rating published in an official government document.
• Get the ESRB score of the game using the online form ( Windows or Windows Phone ), and then determine the equivalent rating using the DJCTQ instructions ,

or

• Get the PEGI score of the game using the online form ( Windows or Windows Phone ), and then determine the equivalent rating using the DJCTQ instructions

Add a rating to the Windows Phone application

In the Windows Phone Development Center , in the application sending process, in the Application Information section (App Info), open the More Options section, then select the DJCTQ grade from the drop-down list and upload the certificate (by scanning the official DJCTQ government document or adding certificates ESRB or PEGI).

Add a rating to the Windows app store

First create a GDF file (game description file) and add a DJCTQ score .



Then, in the process of sending the application, upload the GDF file to the Windows Rating Center (Windows Dev Center) in the Age Rating section:



And add a certification file (DJCTQ, PEGI or ESRB certificate):

Game ratings in Russia

Russia requires a PCBP grade, which you assign yourself, based on the PEGI score. Thus, the first step is to get a PEGI score (use Windows online form and Windows Phone to get it), then evaluate the game yourself using the PCBP instructions.

Add a rating to the Windows Phone application

In the Windows Phone Development Center , in the application sending process, in the Application Information section (App Info), open the More Options section, then select the PEGI rating from the drop-down list and download the PEGI certificate.

Add a rating to the Windows app store

First create a GDF file (game description file) and add the PCBP score .



Then, in the process of sending the application, upload the GDF file to the Windows Development Center (Windows Dev Center), in the Age Rating section:



Add a PEGI certification file:

Game ratings in South Korea

In Korea, all games must be rated using the GRAC system (previously GRB). To get an estimate, follow the instructions described on the GRB website. If you are not from Korea, you will need a local representative in Korea to apply for an assessment.

Add a rating to the Windows Phone application

In the Windows Phone Development Center, in the application sending process, in the Application Info section (App Info) open the More Options section, then select the GRB rating from the drop-down list and download the GRB certificate.

Add a rating for the Windows Store app.

First create a GDF file (game description file) and add a GRB score .



Then, in the process of sending the application, upload the GDF file to the Windows Rating Center (Windows Dev Center) in the Age Rating section:



Add the GRB certification file:

Game ratings in Taiwan

Taiwan requires content to be rated by a CSRR rating system. CSRR is a self-assessment system, so you should rate it based on the CSRR instructions (in Chinese / English ). You must also register with the CSRR as a developer (it usually takes a few days), and then register your name with the CSRR through their website .

Add a rating to the Windows Phone app

In the Windows Phone Dev Center, in the process of sending an application, in the Application Information section (App Info), expand the More Options section, then select the CSRR rating from the drop-down list. No certificate needed .

Add a rating to the Windows store

First create a GDF file (game description file) and add a CSRR score.



Then, in the process of sending the application, upload the GDF file to the Windows Rating Center (Windows Dev Center) in the Age Rating section:



Then add a screenshot from the CSRR website , which shows your rating, confirmed by CSRR.

Last step

After you have a score and a certificate, and you added them during the preparation of an application for publication, I advise you to double-check that the application can be published there in this market.
For Windows Phone , when publishing an application, go to the Store selection, then check that the country or countries you are publishing to stores are selected:





For Windows , when publishing an application, go to the “Sales Details”, then check that the country or countries you are publishing to the stores are selected:





Publishing your applications in countries requiring an age rating can increase the number of downloads of your applications, so if you have not published your applications in all such countries, take time to do it now.

For more information, see the Windows Game Evaluation Documentation, Windows Phone Game Evaluation Documentation , and learn how to create a GDF file .