Australia is one of the few countries where video games are still regularly refused classification (RC), even after the R18+ rating was finally introduced in 2013, which allowed for more mature content in video games than the previous highest MA 15+ rating. Additionally, several video game and movie rating decisions are appealed each year to obtain a lower age-rating to be able to reach a broader audience. Recently the Australian Classification Board (ACB) overturned the…
Since the loot box debate peaked again in April 2018 with regulatory enforcement action being announced or taken in South Korea, Belgium and the Netherlands, things have calmed down significantly. Nevertheless, several proceedings, investigations and legislative actions which were initiated during the first loot box peak in October/November 2017 are still ongoing, one of them being the investigation commenced by the French gambling regulator, the Autorité de regulation des jeux en ligne (“ARJEL”). For different reasons, the decision of the…
The worldwide loot box controversy continues. After the Dutch and Belgian Gambling Authorities announced enforcement action on loot boxes this week and the week before, a new loot box bill was introduced in Minnesota, USA this week. The bill joins other state level legislative efforts in the USA which were introduced since the global loot box debate peaked in the second half of 2017. This short summary describes the most notable political and regulatory reactions…
Fan service (ファンサービス): German regultors increasingly crack down on Japanese anime video games | LinkedIn Facts During the last 18 months a significant change of the regulatory practice in relation to Japanese anime games featuring so called “fan service” (ファンサービス / fan sābisu) took place in Germany. Five games were refused classification by the German Age Rating board (“USK”): Criminal Girls 2, Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni, Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash, Gal*Gun 2, and Omega Labyrinth…