Computer Entertainment Rating Organization

The Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO) is the organization that rates video games (except PC games such as dating sims, visual novels and eroge) in Japan with levels of rating that informs the customer of the nature of the product and for what age group it is suitable. It was established on July 2002 as a branch of Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association, and became an officially recognized non-profit organization on 2003.
Cultural differences between ratings are very common, and games can receive different ratings in different countries. For example, the games God Hand, Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 and Samurai Shodown: Sen were all rated B by the CERO, which would technically give them T (12+) ratings in North America. However, they were all rated M (17+ - CERO D rating) by the ESRB, a difference of two grades.
Some ratings, however, are consistent, such as No More Heroes which is rated M by the ESRB, D by the CERO and 16 by the PEGI. Also, some games may be partially censored to eliminate some of the more mature themes in the games' content, such as the aforementioned No More Heroes.
==Ratings==
Icon 	Name of Rating 	Description
 	A 	Suitable for all ages
 	B 	Suitable for ages 12 and up
 	C 	Suitable for ages 15 and up
 	D 	Suitable for ages 17 and up
 	Z 	Suitable for ages 18 and up
 	
Education & Database 	Equivalent to ESRB's eC rating
 	Rating Scheduling 	Rating pending
 	CERO Regulation Conformity	Displayed in demo/trial version of games
Former Ratings	Former Ratings 	Former Ratings
 	All Ages 	Suitable for all ages. Replaced by A rating.
 	12 and older 	Suitable for 12 and up. Replaced by B rating.
 	15 and older 	Suitable for 15 and up. Replaced by C rating.
 	18 and older 	Suitable for 18 and older. Replaced by D and Z ratings.
==Content Descriptors==
Icon	Content Descriptor 	Description
 	Crime 	Contains criminal activity, either by depiction or in interactive form.
 	Drinking and Smoking	Contains depiction or references to the consumption of alcohol and/or cigarette or cigar smoking.
 	Drug Use 	Contains depiction or references to the use of drugs and illegal narcotics.
 	Horror 	Contains frightful or horror elements.
 	Gambling 	Contains gambling activities, either by depiction or in interactive form.
 	Language 	Contains profane, derogatory or bigoted language.
 	Romance 	Contains expressions of romance or love.
 	Sexual Content 	Contains expressions of sexual relations and/or sexual activity.
 	Violence 	Contains violent activity.
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