Content Restrictions on Japanese ero-games

[Kafriel]

I'm only 20 but as far as I've seen, any porn-related material is exclusively sold to adults (a.k.a. people over 18...or 21 in some countries) so there is no reason to censor,limit or remove any of the content in it. The only way underaged people would get their hands on it is through the internet, so any opposing governments should just be closing down sites instead...

[Jan-Poo]

You would be amazed at how many people say some things should be just banned because there is a chance a kid could bypass the rules and get them anyway. It has been done in the case of "Rule of Rose" when a reporter filmed a boy who bought a game that was rated 18+.

Imho the "kid" argument is often just an excuse to impose censorship and other form of controls. In other words those who claim that are acting in the best interest of kids are the one who are strumentalizing them for their own ends.
It becomes very clear in the case of pornography since certainly kids aren't really the main target of these products and the ones who oppose it are not disturbed at idea of kids reading such materials, it's really the adults they want to prevent from doing that.

[Kafriel]

I also don't get the whole censorship matter, even if you censor a film, the viewers still get the general idea, which is what kids are not supposed to get, rendering censorship rather useless...unless someone of a weak heart is watching or something along those lines.

it's really the adults they want to prevent from doing that

but why would they do that...adult industries are a good source of income so they should be promoting instead of deterring them...right?

[Jan-Poo]

Why would someone make laws that regulate someone's sexual life, spawning bans to oral sex, anal sex, same gender sex or even premarital sex? And yet you don't have to go to some fundamentalist country to find such laws.

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by Kafriel

but why would they do that...adult industries are a good source of income so they should be promoting instead of deterring them...right?

Well, yes, as Jan-Poo alluded to, to those doing the complaining this is more of a "moral issue" and has nothing to do with money. It's from the same (specious?) line of thinking that wanted to ban games like GTA for glorying theft and gun violence; thinking that the portrayal in the game desensitized people to those crimes, and may "inspire" people to commit those same crimes in real life. Of course, there's no way to prove such a link exists; I personally tend to believe more in the "crazy people do crazy things" theory, but regardless...

[Sister Princess]

Originally Posted by MakubeX2

The Genre will survive this fiasco just like how it had weathered the loli and incest crackdown years back.

If the worse scenarior were to happen, I believe the ryoujoku-kei games will continued to be pushed out by small Doujin Soft groups after other software house ceased to. Why would they give hell about anything since they did not joined the likes of Sofurin or EOCS in the first place ?

Actually, the worst case sceneario I would pend on is loss of jobs from these people which can expand to:

-Your familiar seiyuus have less work, which is bad in the long run.
-I'VE may need to find a new home for music because... you know that.

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Right now, does ban rape games includ AV? Yakuza is one of them who make Japan prosperous.

Oh, and in case someone have to ask this, don't ask their goverment to help them. It's useless.

[izmosmolnar]

This just in:

Spoiler for longer article:

Originally Posted by Canned Dogs blog

So now it’s confirmed this time!

The emergency EOCS meeting involving almost 100 representatives from various eroge companies has just ended, and the final conclusion is that rape games are now banned.

According to the writer, there were surprisingly little objections to this, but rather there was an atmosphere among those who were present where many felt that there was probably no other way to solve this problem. Though due to the nature of the meeting they did not actually take a vote.

But this did not mean that were were no opinions that were voiced out, people such as the VisualArts chairman Baba, Morita from AIL, and ex-head director of Studio e.go Yamamoto Kazue have voiced some interesting opinions too.

However there was nobody that held the opinion that it’s absurd that they will have to ban rape games.

Rather, the concerns of many gathered around the exact details of what would be okay and what wouldn’t. That’s understandable as there are many makers that are concerned over the future of the games that are currently already in development.

Basically, although it has already been decided that they’ll ban rape games, the exact regulations and definitions of what is okay and what isn’t will be worked out and refined from here on out.

But for the time being the EOCS will work with each company individually till the exact regulations are made. Though, regulations on packaging and game titles will probably start to get a lot more stricter starting from tomorrow.

Source

I just wish they would have detailed what sort of things are going to be banned, what about Doujin games, what about "mild" Visual novels containing rapes as a bad end; and other such important relevant questions.

*Insert obscenities aimed at that decision*

Edit: It's ironic to see TBS's prediction true...

[aohige]

Originally Posted by izmosmolnar

This just in:

Source

I just wish they would have detailed what sort of things are going to be banned, what about Doujin games, what about "mild" Visual novels containing rapes as a bad end; and other such important relevant questions.

*Insert obscenities aimed at that decision*

Edit: It's ironic to see TBS's prediction true...

I think you're still totally confused on how this works.

EOCS is a SELF-REGULATING group of adult game companies.
THEY ARE NOT LAWMAKERS. What they decide affects the companies represented in their group, it has no bearings outside of that, including independent makers and doujin.
"banned" is not an appropriate word here.

They haven't decided on the details of the regulation yet, but they decided to self-regulate their own group from releasing "陵辱系ゲームソフト", games that focus on rape.
Details on EOCS meeting from insider blog: http://blog.livedoor.jp/abel_/archives/51317108.html

I repeat, they are just reps from companies, THEY ARE NOT LAWMAKERS.
Laws in Japan don't get passed in a blink like that.

[izmosmolnar]

I understand it is the industry regulating itself and it's not the government (I reckon, In a sense probably that might be a reason why they favored that decision, because a governmental intervention could be possibly much more severe).

It's good to know, that they don't have any power whatsoever, over the fan-created programs.
So anyway, is that decision only influences the strictly "rape only" games? By that I mean when the story solely focuses on rape-oriented themes (like the notorious Rapelay, and co).

[Sterling01]

Originally Posted by izmosmolnar

So anyway, is that decision only influences the strictly "rape only" games? By that I mean when the story solely focuses on rape-oriented themes (like the notorious Rapelay, and co).

Like aohige said they haven't set the regulations yet, so it would be hard to answer that.
It really isn't as bad as it sounds.

Also does anyone know if Cyc is part of the EOCS

[yezhanquan]

In short, there's still plenty of time for everything to play out. For now, news on GM sounds more exciting.

[Micchi]

Originally Posted by Sterling01

Like aohige said they haven't set the regulations yet, so it would be hard to answer that.
It really isn't as bad as it sounds.

Also does anyone know if Cyc is part of the EOCS

Yes, Cyc (有限会社ビーアイコミュニケーションズ) is part of the EOCS (http://www.sofurin.org/).

I read the post on AbelGroup's blog earlier and it feels like they 'had to do it'. But since there's not really any specifics, it's hard to gauge what the extent of the restrictions is. FYI, Syrup's game next month had its title changed, along with some words, but it seems the content is still the same.

[u43368]

From what I understand, they've self-regulated themselves when it came to loli and incest as well, so I think the enforcement of these laws is lackluster. Even if it were banned by the law doujin games would always exist.

[theacefrehley]

Originally Posted by Micchi

Yes, Cyc (有限会社ビーアイコミュニケーションズ) is part of the EOCS (http://www.sofurin.org/).

I read the post on AbelGroup's blog earlier and it feels like they 'had to do it'. But since there's not really any specifics, it's hard to gauge what the extent of the restrictions is. FYI, Syrup's game next month had its title changed, along with some words, but it seems the content is still the same.

Really, that's a shame
Cyc games (black cyc I mean) are too good... can't believe it
So, no more stuff like GSS and Extravaganza...?!?!

They better close their Black 'division', in that case, as most of their stuff mistreats poor women...

[maekei]

Ethics Organization of Computer Software(EOCS)
decided
no rape,no confinement,no sex training,no slave
in ero game.
and ero game maker can not put HCG which looks like rape secene(but if it was less than 20%ok)

F××k American who tranlated ero game without permisson and Equality now.

Will be diffcult to sale
Tukihime remake. Rance series. Cross days.Balder sky dive2,Kizuato(might already pass the exam) Nitro＋soft.and others

you guys play our games without money,and give us crazy regulation send Equality now for money.

[aohige]

Um, maeki, no. Those details haven't been set yet.
Only thing they set was rape/choukyou titles will be restricted, the details on content restrictions haven't even been revealed yet.

Oh, and it was BRITISH complaints that led to this, America had nothing to do with it.

I feel like I'm repeating myself.

日本人みたいだから言っとくけど、ソフ倫による「陵辱ゲーム」の自主規制が決まっただけで規制内容の詳細は 一切決まっていない
早とちりしないでソースをちゃんと確認した方がいいですよ
あと問題が起こったのは英国であって米国は無関係

As for Rance, TADA said Alicesoft will not change their stance on content, and will continue to release games in the same form as always.
Alicesoft holds one of the main chairman position in EOCS, so them not taking it so hard is a relief.

Preliminary restrictions starts on 6/5, without the details being revealed.
Many companies are simply changing their game titles to not include words such as Rape, Choukyou, and other sexually aggressive words,
but keeping the content the same, since the content restrictions aren't revealed yet.

[maekei]

[Um, maeki, no. Those details haven't been set yet.
Only thing they set was rape/choukyou titles will be restricted, the details on
content restrictions haven't even been revealed yet.]

-I heard EOCS sent ero-game-maker to the details of restriction last night.
and they decided what I wrote.

[Oh, and it was BRITISH complaints that led to this, America had nothing to do with it.]
- yeah,At beginning BRITISH complianed it,but I think equality now complaints us
hardly.
And they are working at Newyork.and most of funsub website working by
American.
so,can you still say "America had nothing to do with it"? thats bowshit.

[As for Rance, TADA said Alicesoft will not change their stance on content, and will
continue to release games in the same form as always.
Alicesoft holds one of the main chairman position in EOCS, so them not taking it
so hard is a relief.]

-I know, and also fucking Illusion still have one of the main chairman positon.
but how about other makers? can they make their games easily as before?

[aohige]

Originally Posted by maekei

-I heard EOCS sent ero-game-maker to the details of restriction last night.
and they decided what I wrote.

Give me a source.
EOCS sent out the order that new restrictions will be implimented starting on 6/5, but the content details are not known. Even by the game makers, this was noted on game makers blogs.
ECOS works on majority vote of the members, it cannot just make restrictions that makers are not aware of, and tell them later. They CAN'T.

There's a FALSIFIED RUMOR of someone posting this info, and ADDING false details of content restrictions, and spamming it on 2ch.
Please don't tell me this troll spam is your source.

[Seitsuki]

It all depends on where you stand. If you're one of those 'free-speech' people you could argue for allowing Nazi baby bondage in the name of democracy (well maybe not that extreme..)
On the other hand you could get all protectionest and say how in addition to this water pistols should be banned as they resemble firearms or something. Personally I'm leaning on the side of free-speech but I believe in the goodness of humanity and hope that oveboard stuff will automatically be decried and shunned by the people instead of needing legislation which would bring in it's own problems (interpretation, where's the line etc.)
Btw I also believe in green tea flavored cereal.

[Jan-Poo]

Uhm let me get this straight, EOCS is basically an organization with the same objectives as CERO PEGI and ESRB?

In other words they decide PC game ratings in japan. Is it right so far?

Now I've never heard of such an organization to be able to put a veto on a certain product. How exactly are they going to enforce such a decision, and should someone ignore it, how exactly is EOCS going to respond to that? Will they just ignore the product and not rate it because according to them it shouldn't exist? That would actually be counterproductive. Or will thet rate it 18+? But by doing that is as if they would confirm its legitimacy for adults.
Something just doesn't make sense here...