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The system is to show target ages of potential game players based
on content and expressions of computer and video games. It endeavors
to indicate age classification marks covering all the computer and
video games for household use sold domestically. The system that started
on October 1, 2002 is maintained and implemented by Computer Entertainment
Rating Organization (abbreviated as CERO) established in June 2002.
An indicated "age classification mark" represents that the game has
been reviewed according to the CERO Code of Ethics and that the game
includes content suitable for the game players of the indicated age
and above. The marks are to be used for informed purchasing decisions.
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1. Scope of rating coverage
The rating by CERO covers the computer and video games for household
use (including cellular phone-type games) sold in Japan. It covers
not only main stories but also all the recorded expressions such as
hidden commands and tricks. Computer and video games for household
use are the ones that are developed and sold for the following hardware
devices.
SEGA Corporation |
Dreamcast |
Sony Computer Entertainment
Inc. |
PlayStation
PlayStation 2
PlayStation Portable (incl. PSPgo)
PlayStation 3
PlayStation Vita |
Nintendo Co., Ltd. |
NINTENDO64
GAMECUBE
GAMEBOY
GAMEBOY ADVANCE
NINTENDO DS (incl. DSLite, DSi, DSiLL, 3DS)
Wii |
BANDAI Co., Ltd. |
WonderSwan |
Microsoft Japan
Co., Ltd. |
Xbox
Xbox 360 |
Personal computer manufacturers |
Personal computers (Compliant
OS: Windows, Mac) |
Cellphone manufacturers |
Cellphones, Smart phones (Compliant
OS: Android, iPhone, Windows Phone, etc.) |
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as of September, 2011 Device manufacturers are listed in kana
(Japanese alphabet) order.
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2. Expression items to be covered by rating
-- Sex-related
expression type --
kiss
embrace
underwear exposure
sexual intercourse
nudity
sex-evoking expression
adultery
defecation
sex entertainment industry
swimwear/costume |
-- Violence
expression type --
description of animated blood
description of mutilation/body-cutting
description of corpse
killing/wounding
horror
description of versus beat 'em-up game/fighting
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-- Antisocial
act expression type --
description of crime
controlled substance such as narcotics
abuse
illegal drinking/smoking
illegal gambling
incest, sexual crime, etc.
providing/soliciting prostitution
suicide/self-injury
human trafficking, etc. |
-- Language-
and ideology-related expression type--
Improper expressions related to language and ideology
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Note: Each expression item has an upper limit, the content and expressions
that exceed the upper limit are designated as "banned expressions,"
and the computer and video games that include the banned expressions
will not be assigned a rating. (See Appendix 3, CERO Code of Ethics
for the banned expressions.)
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3. CERO rating marks
"CERO rating marks" are grouped broadly into "age classification
marks" and "other marks."
A. Age classification marks
Age classification marks include the following five marks.
One of the marks is indicated on the left bottom of the game
box front, and a corresponding color bar is also shown on
the box spine. (Bar colors: black for "A"; green for "B";
blue for "C"; orange for "D"; red for "Z")
Rating criteria set an upper limit, the expressions
and content that exceed the upper limit are designated as
"banned expressions," and the computer and video games that
include the banned expressions will not be assigned rating.
B. Other marks
Other marks include three marks of "Educational/Database,"
"CERO Regulations-Compatible" used for trial versions, and
"Rating Scheduled" used for promotion items that game publishers
use for advertisements of their games being created (having
yet to be reviewed at this point).
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Reminder:
Irrelevant to CERO rating, cases have recently occurred in which
a "rating mark" or a similar mark is indicated on product boxes
in the market. Since such conduct confuses people and allows
them misunderstand that the game in question has been assigned
rating by CERO and infringes the Unfair Competition Prevention
Law, please be reminded that such conduct should not be performed.
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5. Rating process
The following is the flow of the steps for reviewing rating to indicating
an age classification mark:
1) CERO receives a request of ethics reviewing for a computer
and video game from a game publisher.
2) Numerous raters review expressions, content, etc. of the
requester's game.
* The expression items subjected to reviewing include twenty-four
items listed in "2. Expression items to be covered through rating,"
and each expression item has an upper limit, the expressions
and content that exceed the upper limit are specified as "banned
expressions," and the computer and video games that include
the banned expressions will not be assigned rating.
3) An age classification is determined based on respective evaluating
results.
4) CERO notifies the game publisher of the review result.
5) The game publisher indicates an age classification mark on
the product. |
Raters consist of males and females in various occupations, aged from
the twenties to the sixties, who are recruited widely from the public
and have been trained in advance by CERO. Raters have been registered
by CERO and have executed a non-disclosure agreement. It is taken
into consideration that there is no bias in raters' attributes such
as sex and age in respective reviewing. No raters who are associated
with the game industry are registered.
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