EA Japan Exec Criticises Japanese Ratings Board

An executive of Electronic Arts Japan has criticised the Japanese video game ratings board for allowing upcoming action game Stellar Blade to be released uncensored while EA's own Dead Space was banned in the country.

[CrimsonWing69]

He’s got a point. If a game is M-Rated, which is the equivalent of an R rating, I don’t get why you need to censor anything. The rating is the indicator of the content and the age appropriate. If it’s appropriate for adults… why treat them like children? 🤷‍♂️

[Eonjay]

This is about gore... not about anything sexual. And specifically I think it is about the realistic depiction of gore. Unfortunately I don't know the nuance of the CERO board or how it is relevant their specific culture (as a prohibition on gore may transcend age) so I hesitate to make a statement. Can anyone else provide insight to what kind of gore is considered unacceptable?

[CrimsonWing69]

Yea, I know this is about gore, but thanks for pointing that out.

My point still stands, if a game is essentially rated for a mature audience then why censor for them as if they’re too young to view it? Makes no sense.

To answer your question: Decapitation, dismemberment, like… anything gore. They have been censoring that since CERO was established. Look up RE4 chainsaw decapitation or any MK games that made it there.

[Cacabunga]

EA Japan? Wtf never heard of that

[ZwVw]

Yet, the Oneechanbara series (y'know, the game with half-naked samurai females slicing up zombies to bloody pieces) get released in Japan uncensored.

The CERO ratings board is an equilibrium.

[Smellsforfree]

This confuses me since I've seen so many gory Japanese movies and anime. For example, Battle Royale.

[gold_drake]

definitely has a point.

but .. its japan. are we really surprised?

[VersusDMC]

I don't know if the EA executive is going off the one close up of an arm being cut off in the demo. Maybe it's uncensored because it's the arm of a cyborg or it doesn't happen that often (didn’t see EVE dismemberment when killed in the demo) .

In the states there's a certain amount of swear words allowed to a PG13 movie before it is deemed R. So maybe it's the same in Japan for gore?

[Eonjay]

Yes I think you may be on to something. The violence is gory but I wouldn't call it gruesome.

[Retroman]

Ea Japan please make Knack 3
in the future

[Eonjay]

Does EA Japan actually make games at all? Or are they just a regional publisher?

[Retroman]

I'm sorry Japan Studio made Knack

[maykhausonninh]

EA Japan :v