Legal Niches

Japanese Nintendo 15+ Titles Now Packaged in Black Boxes

By pete_gallagher

While not required, it appears Nintendo has changed the packaging on its 15+ rated games in Japan in order to offer a visual cue to consumers.

Silicon Era writes that, beginning this year, all Nintendo games rated CERO C (15+) and higher will be packaged in boxes with black borders. The change came about as a result of Nintendo introducing its first CERO D (17+) rated game in Japan, Zangeki no Reginleiv.

As Silcon Era notes, the change was in no way mandated by Japan's Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO), but is more a method of self-policing implemented purely at Nintendo's discretion.

As an added (and perhaps unintentional) benefit, the black boxed games will also stand out from the more common white boxes at retail.

Thanks Andrew!

Full post as published by GamePolitics.com on January 22, 2010 (boomark / email).