2006-09-29 10:58:13 Dead Rising Suffers from Restrictive Z-rating in Japan

http://www.gametrailers.com/viewnews.php?id=3654

Summary:
While sales of Capcom's gory zombie-killer Dead Rising have done remarkably well here in the United States, even with a Mature rating from the ESRB, in Japan where the game was recently released, copies of the games are hard to find, not because they're f

As a result of recent changes to the rating system for videogames used in Japan, sales of Z-rated games - those that can only be sold to persons 18 years old and above - are being strictly enforced. Prior to the changes, ratings were used merely as guidelines to inform purchasers of the intended audience of a game.


That's a no-no in Japan

Of course, Dead Rising isn't the first game to receive a Z-rating in Japan. It is, however, one of the first to be released after the changes made to the rating system. Even with substantial editing of the content, including the removal of decapitations and dismemberment, Dead Rising's Z-rating has supposedly relegated it to being almost completely ignored by retailers for fear of the repercussions of selling the game to a minor.

While this does not bode well for Capcom in terms of sales, it's also disturbing to think of the precedent this may create concerning self-imposed censorship by retailers and the resulting limits put on violent videogames. So far there has been no comment made by either Capcom or retailers regarding the enforcement of the game's rating.

2006-09-29 14:32:15

well that sucks

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2006-09-29 15:24:05

That's too bad.

I somehow don't think it would be as bad if it were a on the PS3, i doubt RE5 will see the same fate for example.

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2006-09-29 15:26:19 In reply to Jollipop (2006-09-29 15:24:05)

I think you're right its simply because its a 360 title. Tell me how exactly oneechebara or whatever the hell its called can get away with this stuff?

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2006-09-29 17:32:52 In reply to Optimusv2 (2006-09-29 15:26:19)

Oh please!

"As a result of recent changes to the rating system for videogames used in Japan"

Unless you mean the change was made only for the release of Dead Rising which is ridiculous unless they make another change to once again allow it for the release of MGS4 and many other very violent games which will hit the PS3.

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