Japan's New Games Rating System

The site GamesIndustry.biz has a report on a change to the CERO system. The Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO), now has an adults-only category. From the article: "The A rating is equivalent to the current CERO All rating for all ages, B is for CERO 12 (for ages twelve and over), C equates to CERO 15, and the D rating would be for ages seventeen and up - for which there was no previous equivalent. The A-D ratings will remain advisory, but the Z rating will be regulated by the government."

Comments

Tentacle rape

[Oldsmobile]

What category does tentacle rape belong to?

Re:Tentacle rape

[Evangelion]

That's the H rating.

Re:Tentacle rape

[zalas]

Technically erotic/adult/h-games in Japan aren't rated by CERO, even though their clean counterparts on the Playstation2/Dreamcast are. So the answer would probably be unrated, or if they're really bored, they'll add it to the Z rating.

A start in the right direction

[Joiseybill]

At least they aren't trying to regulate the entire system. The A-D ratings are advisories, but the over-18 is the only govt regulated level. This whole rating thing is good for parents (aunts, uncles, cousins, gift-buyers) who actually participate in the moral upbringing of the child-consumers. OTOH, it creates interest for those teens/adults who have disposable income of their own, and may drive sales of 'randier' rated games. The censorship of any information - even video games, just creates mystery, interest, and an underground market. In that respect - these rating systems probably backfire against their intention.

Re:A start in the right direction

[jandrese]

Except that it becomes de-facto regulation in no time. How long do you think it will take before municipalities (prefects? Dunno at what granularity the local government operates in Japan) start passing laws that prohibit sale of any of the "adult" games? How long until major chains declare that they're not carrying the adult games under the pressure of some focus group?

That's what happens in the States. Ratings systems just become convienent vehicles for no-thought censorship used by the usual suspects. I know it's all "for the children", but the effects can be detrimental to society as a whole. For instance, due to the completely voluntary "Comics Code Authority" label the industry came up with in response to pressure from such groups, the comic culture in the US was absolutely destroyed and the whole genre was relegated to the "childrens stuff" category in the popular mind. It still hasn't recovered from that blow, and as a result we no doubt missed out on some fantastic literature told in a way that traditional media (books) won't allow.