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TGS 08: Mature titles are serious business, ID required photo

At Tokyo Game Show, they're taking mature games seriously. First indication: At Sony Computer Entertainment Japan's exhibitor area this year, all mature titles -- rated Cero, the Japanese equivalent of our "M" rating -- are being shown "behind closed doors."

To simply get in to the area to see these titles, I had to show my passport to verify my age; 17 and up only, folks. Once behind the curtain, I was asked to choose which of six games I wanted to see -- Resident Evil 5, Demon's Souls, SOCOM: Confrontation, Resistance 2, Killzone 2, and Yakuza 3. Once I did, I received a card and was then ushered to another line. After about 10 minutes of waiting, I was allowed access to a curtained off area to play my game of choice. (If you want to play another, you had to repeat the entire process.)

The whole of the Tokyo Game show floor is loud and overwhelming, and Sony's area is no exception. But behind the "17 and over" curtain is dark, scary ... frighteningly quiet. In short, it's incredibly mature.

I'm not entirely sure if all of the mature titles on the floor will require the same sort of age-verification, but I certainly don't remember seeing anything like this last year for any title. (Although I do recall the bloody Ninja Gaiden II being hidden inside a dark booth.)

We'll be trawling the Tokyo Game Show floor over the next few days to bring you the goods; check back for jet-lagged hands-on info, screens, video and more.








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9 comments | showing # 1 to 9
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Nick Chester's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2008 23:05
Nick Chester
In before someone comments about the error in the headline!
Excel-2011's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2008 23:22
Excel-2011
I was rejected from an 18+ event once because I was one day too young.
kawaiiflamingo's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2008 23:52
kawaiiflamingo
The part that makes this completely irrelevant is the prolific existence of cigarette and beer vending machines in Japan that only require a few coins and basic motor skills to use. Or maybe the used underwear gachipong machines in Akihabara. Or maybe the sleazy love hotels in major cities that not only don't ask for ID, but actually never ask to see your face at all. Just a few thousand yen and 5 min and you're in!

But VIDEO GAMES! Watch out, Japan, watch out.
DarkTower06's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/09/2008 00:36
DarkTower06
This is a decent practice, but don't you guys get like a press badge or something?
toejam316's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/09/2008 02:59
toejam316
kawaiiflamingo - MORE DETAILS ON THE LATTER.
Regardless, what the hell? They've really tightened it up that much? Silly.
I'm hoping something good comes out of TGS, because this year has been, by and by, fairly disappointing for me.
What can I say thought? I'm spoiled by Valve.
Knivy's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/09/2008 03:34
Knivy
What's the legal drinking age in japan? If it's 18+ then they should have an "Adult night" for all those M games...and booze
Cowboy TTop's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/09/2008 03:45
Cowboy TTop
Could be an overeaction of sorts. Notice that half of those games are western games being hidden behind curtains. None of these games contain any sex or violence that would not be acceptable at a normal show floor.

Is this a ploy to keep japanese show goers from focusing on any cool upcoming and better looking western games, over their poorer looking (i mean graphics wise) japanese games?

I might be reaching a bit perhaps. Nice to see some sections sealed off from public though, take not E3.
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/09/2008 09:29
Holyetheline
Sounds like a tedious process.
kawaiiflamingo's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/09/2008 09:58
kawaiiflamingo
My bet is that the 17+ shenanigans are probably just for face-saving, what with the media hype over the Thai cab killing.

@toejam: love hotels are definitely skeezy. You walk in and BAM free booze (usually) in the foyer. There's a light-up board of the different rooms you can pick with their 3-hour prices. Just press the button on the room. Most have this little slot where you can pass money to the attendant. Just a quick exchange of cash. I definitely never went in one though.
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