What are the ratings for Japanese games

[Fred 00]

I know that Japan doesn't have an ESRB like we in the States do, so what are their ratings and how are they classified? Ive seen "Cero" on the IIDX games. So, I'm assuming thats the E for everyone equivalent over here.

[Ztype]

CERO is the name of the rating system

A - All
B - 12+
C - 15+
D - 17+
Z - 18+

[Monster in a box]

It goes from 15+, to 17+, to 18+? That's a bit pointless.

[June.H]

Then so is the American ESRB rating system.

What's the point of having "10+" and "T" when the age gap is 3 years?

What's the point of having "M" and "AO"? The age gap is 1 year.

Plus it's not like you can compare Japanese and American cultural differences and taboos to the rating systems.

[Ashura96]

Originally Posted by Ztype

Z - 18+

Bet they have ALOT of those!

[Monster in a box]

I'm not trying to defend the US rating system, but ours seems a little less stupid with the smallest gap being three years. (there are so few AO titles that it's hardly even worth bringing AO up)

[Kσn]

AO games are never released because major game companies will not carry them such as gamestop, and EB Games.

Whats really funny is that when you buy games online they cant enforce the game ratings from other regions, Plus owning an Cero 18 is legal if you are not 18, because the rating board does not carry over. Like I own Baldr Force, which is legal because I own the game outside Japans borders.

Also most Mature rated titles are released in Japan as Cero Z, like Gears Of War. The ratinf system is VERY strict in Japan, but not limited.

[Malev]

Older games rated were slightly different, using numbers for the age (except for All Ages, which was written out in Kanji).

Z ratings are different in that their sales are regulated by the government. They aren't allowed to be advertised like the other rated games. It is one of the reasons Dead Rising hasn't sold very well in Japan (yes, there are many others, 360 sales, etc.)

CERO only rates console games, as far as I know. Most of you "well-known" PC and doujin games simply list "18+ ADULTS ONLY" in the corner.


Also, like Europe's rating system, Japan uses icons to further describe the content (ESRB uses text). They are Love, Sex, Violence, Horror, Alcohol/Tabacco Use, Gambling, Crime, Drug Use, & Foul Language. Sex can also mean ecchi content, like DOA or even King of Fighters (looking at you, Mai's boobs. Seriously, they're hypnotic...), but I don't quite understand the Love Content so much. "Warning: Characters in game might have feelings for each other"?

[Kσn]

you can see the icons on I think the last page of the distorted manual.

[Fred 00]

Originally Posted by Malev

Older games rated were slightly different, using numbers for the age (except for All Ages, which was written out in Kanji).

Z ratings are different in that their sales are regulated by the government. They aren't allowed to be advertised like the other rated games. It is one of the reasons Dead Rising hasn't sold very well in Japan (yes, there are many others, 360 sales, etc.)

CERO only rates console games, as far as I know. Most of you "well-known" PC and doujin games simply list "18+ ADULTS ONLY" in the corner.


Also, like Europe's rating system, Japan uses icons to further describe the content (ESRB uses text). They are Love, Sex, Violence, Horror, Alcohol/Tabacco Use, Gambling, Crime, Drug Use, & Foul Language. Sex can also mean ecchi content, like DOA or even King of Fighters (looking at you, Mai's boobs. Seriously, they're hypnotic...), but I don't quite understand the Love Content so much. "Warning: Characters in game might have feelings for each other"?

Thats actually pretty neat. I wonder what it would be like if the ESRB did that.

[Kσn]

Originally Posted by Fred 00

Thats actually pretty neat. I wonder what it would be like if the ESRB did that.

people would be confused...

[Fred 00]

Hmm, yeah. I guess it would be too much for the people here.