The Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (特定非営利活動法人 コンピュータエンターテインメントレーティング機構, Tokutei Hieiri Katsudō Hōjin Konpyūta Entāteinmento Rētingu Kikō) (CERO) is the organization that rates video games and computer software in Japan with levels of rating that informs the customer of the nature of the product and for what age group it is suitable. It was established on July 2002 as a branch of Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association, using Entertainment Software Rating Board as a model and became an officially recognized non-profit organization on 2003.

Rating

On March 1st, 2006, CERO made a new, revised version of the ratings system. The symbols the CERO uses are stylized depictions of letters, meant to convey at a glance a game's suitability:

• A (all ages) (equivalent to the ESRB's EARLY CHILDHOOD, EVERYONE, and EVERYONE 10+ and PEGI's 3+ and 7+). It is often likened to the Eirin's "G" Rating.
• B (ages 12 and up) (equivalent to the ESRB's TEEN and PEGI's 12+). It is often likened to the Eirin's "PG-12" rating.
• C (ages 15 and up) (equivalent to the PEGI's 16+).
• D (ages 17 and up) (equivalent to the ESRB's MATURE). It is often likened to the Eirin's "R-15" rating.
• Z (ages 18 and up only) (equivalent to the ESRB's Adults Only and PEGI's 18+). It is often likened to the Eirin's "R-18" rating.

One of the symbols above is displayed on the front of the package. This mark is the notation of the age suitability based on the contents. The Z rating may not appear to be very different from the D rating, the only difference being that the sale of Z-rated games is regulated by the government.^[1]

Contents descriptor icons

In April 2004, CERO defined the following "contents descriptor icons". These icons are displayed on the back of all packages except those rated as "All ages".

• Love — Sakura Wars, Grandia 3
• Sexual — Super Robot Wars, Sakura Wars, The King of Fighters
• Violence — Dynasty Warriors, Metal Slug, Gears of War, Resident Evil
• Horror — , Ghost Hunter, xxxHolic
• Gambling
• Crime — Burnout, Genso Suikoden I&II
• Use of alcohol or tobacco — Canis Canem Edit (Bully)
• Use of drugs —
• Language or other — Kanon, Baroque

Classic ratings

• All ages (equivalent to the ESRB's EVERYONE and PEGI's 3+ and 7+). This rating was replaced by "A".
• Ages 12 and up (equivalent to the ESRB's E10+ or TEEN and PEGI's 12+). This rating was replaced by "B".
• Ages 15 and up (equivalent to the ESRB's MATURE and PEGI's 16+). This rating was replaced "C".
• Ages 18 and up (equivalent to the ESRB's ADULTS ONLY and PEGI's 18+). This rating was replaced by the two ratings "D" and "Z", setting the age levels where "D" is for ages 17 and over, and "Z" is for ages 18 and over only (Adults ONLY).

Trivia

• The first title that rated "Ages 18 and up" is Dead to Rights on Xbox (released in Nov. 28, 2002).
• As of 2005, the following titles are games on Nintendo hardware that rated "Ages 17 and up":
• (known as "Resident Evil Code: Veronica X")
• Biohazard 4 (Resident Evil 4)
• Due to societal and cultural differences between the eastern and western worlds (especially the United States and Canada), some titles rated "all ages" by CERO are rated very differently outside Japan (hence the term "rating system deviation") such as:
• RPG (except Pokémon & Yu-Gi-Oh!): CERO:A/B, ESRB:E-10/T, PEGI:12+/16+
• 3D Fighting Game (except Shonen Jump's Mangas): CERO:B/C/D ESRB:T/M, PEGI:12+/16+
• Action games (except Manga Games): CERO:B/C/D, ESRB:T, PEGI:12+/16+
• Racing games (except Ridge Racer series and Mario Kart series): CERO:A/B, ESRB:E/E-10/T, PEGI:3+/7+/12+
• Some games that are rated A in Japan have different ratings elsewhere. For example, Final Fantasy IX was rated A by CERO, but the ESRB gave it a T for Teen 13+. Even more drastic, was rated A by CERO and rated M by the ESRB, however it got a 12 by the PEGI in Europe.

See also

• ESRB, the United States and Canadian computer and video game rating system
• ELSPA, the former British computer and video game rating system, replaced by the PEGI system.
• PEGI, the European computer and video game rating system
• USK, the German computer and video game rating system
• EOCS, the Japanese computer and video game rating system for Bishojo games.
• OFLC, the New Zealand media rating system
• OFLC, the Australian media rating system.
• Eirin – The Japanese film rating system.

References

External links

• Official Japanese CERO Website

•  • [ e] Video game controversy
Computer and video game law	Family Entertainment Protection Act • Truth in Video Game Rating Act • Video Game Decency Act
Organizations	Active: Entertainment Software Rating Board • Pan European Game Information • Computer Entertainment Rating Organization Office of Film and Literature Classification • Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle • National Coalition Against Censorship Defunct: Videogame Rating Council • Recreational Software Advisory Council • 3DO Rating System
Major figures	Julia Boseman • Hillary Clinton • Sam Brownback • Herb Kohl • Joe Lieberman • Devin Moore • Cody Posey Rick Santorum • Jack Thompson • Fred Upton • Keith Vaz
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