EOCS Sets Date for Rape Game Ban

An anonymous “industry insider” in Japan’s adult PC game industry has reported that Japan’s private Ethics Organization of Computer Software (EOCS) ratings board has formally announced that its ban on the creation and sale of professional PC games involving sexual violence will go into effect on October 1st. The continuing sale of previously released “rape” games is also ordered to cease, but a specific date for the stoppage of sale of already released games isn’t specified. The anonymous insider reports that he contacted five adult PC game development studios seeking support for opposition to the ban, but all five studios claimed to be considering ceasing business operations entirely in response to the new content restrictions.

The EOCS restrictions only apply to game development studios that choose to have their productions reviewed and approved by the EOCS organization. Major Japanese retailers refuse to carry professionally produced games not reviewed by either the EOCS or the Japanese government’s CSA (Contents Soft Association), which makes EOCS approval voluntary but practically necessary. The CSA has not formally adopted regulations prohibiting the depiction of sexual violence but presumably will base its game reviews on standards similar to those of the EOCS.

Source: Canned Dogs