Sega Rejects Sex, Violence in Software
Japanese game maker Sega Enterprises Ltd. said Wednesday that it has decided to ban the use of software depicting sexually explicit and excessively violent scenes for its television game machines.
The company, fearing it may lose control over the content of the software for its sophisticated game machines, wants to protect it and the industry’s image from criticism as video game use increases with the development of more sophisticated machines, a Sega spokesman said.
Although Sega is the first to impose tighter standards on the type of software it will allow for its game machines, major software makers agree that sex and violence in software is a looming problem and they have set up an industry body to monitor that issue and others.
So far, people in Japan have not been as critical of the use of sex and violence in computer and television game software as they have been in the United States and Europe.
Sega spokesman Munehiro Umemura said the company will eliminate its adult-category games, including sexually explicit graphics, and impose stricter standards for games recommended for those over 18 years old beginning in October.
Under the new rule, photographs and animated pictures of naked women will not be allowed. Figures in swimming suits or underwear will not appear in any games recommended for those under 18.
“The development of 32-bit and 64-bit game machines has made expressions more realistic and precise computer graphics possible,” Umemura said.
“The variety of game programs as well as the customer base is expanding sharply these days. We need to consider more about younger children, or the healthy development of the industry will be jeopardized,” he said.
Confusing distribution channels, created by difficulties such as separating sales counters for children’s and adult games, has also prompted Sega to do away with sexually explicit offerings, Umemura said.
Other game makers, such as Sony Computer Entertainment and Nintendo, have relied on their own codes of ethics banning sexually explicit content in their software.
