Drive game for Nintendo Switch “Need for Spirit Drink & Drive Simulator‘ distribution on the Nintendo eShop was suspended on October 25th. It seems that there was a problem with the rating that indicates the target age of this work.
“Need for Spirit Drink & Drive Simulator” is a simple driving game where you ride an off-road vehicle and drive through a course filled with various obstacles. Courses include deserts, jungles, and highways, with challenges such as overcoming large ups and downs, navigating untracked roads, and crossing narrow bridges over valleys.
The game was developed by Atomic Fabrik, and the PC version was released in 2018. The Nintendo Switch version was recently released overseas on October 15th, and was released in Japan on October 19th. However, it soon disappeared from the Nintendo eShop in Europe, and distribution was suspended in Japan as of today, October 25th.
European regional rating organization PEGI (Pan European Game Information)EurogamerAccording to the explanation, this work was rated “PEGI: 3”, which indicates that it is suitable for all ages, but in reality it was rated “PEGI: 16” or “PEGI: 18”, which indicates that it is suitable for people 16 and older. It is said that it is the content of the game that should be played. In other words, the rating posted on the store page was incorrect, so it was probably withdrawn.
In fact, in this game, you drive a car with the purpose of delivering alcoholic drinks such as beer and wine to a celebratory occasion. Also, the game screen is characterized by being distorted, as if you were drunk. According to the developer, it was introduced as a “thrilling element,” and it also appears to be one of the obstacles to completing the course. Tanks that appear to contain alcohol are placed on the cargo bed or roof of the car, but I wonder if the driver is stealing the alcohol. In any case, if a game contains depictions of drinking, it is basically impossible for the game to be rated for all ages.
This work began distribution in Japan with a rating reviewed and assigned by IARC (International Age Rating Coalition), a rating organization that specializes in downloadable games and apps, and is also rated “IARC: 3+”, which is suitable for all ages. Ta. From this, it appears that this work was first reviewed by IARC, and the results were converted into the corresponding rating of each region’s rating organization before it was released in each region.
IARC is made up of members such as PEGI, and, as mentioned above, is characterized by the ability to distribute games all over the world with a single review. Japan’s CERO (Computer Entertainment Rating Organization) is not a member at this time, so it is distributed in Japan with IARC ratings (related article).
IARC’s rating review is free and simple using a questionnaire method. It is unclear how the publisher of this game submitted the application, but because sufficient information about the game’s content was not provided during the review process, it was mistakenly designated as a game for all ages, and even PEGI did not provide it for all ages. It appears that a target rating has been given.
The most important factor behind the discontinuation of this game’s distribution on the Nintendo eShop is the difference in the rating that should have been given. If this game was correctly rated one step higher for all ages (7 for PEGI), all it would take would be to correct the rating notation on the store page. However, if there is a difference of two or more levels, Nintendo will request the developer/seller to resubmit the game, and will temporarily stop distributing the game.
Judging from PEGI’s comments mentioned above, the rating for this work was not just two levels, but three or four levels different, and it seems that discontinuation of distribution is unavoidable. It is said that PEGI and other organizations check from various perspectives even after a game is distributed to ensure that there are no discrepancies in the specified ratings. It appears that this game was recently discovered, and that Nintendo has been entrusted with dealing with it.
As of this writing, the seller and developer of “Need for Spirit Drink & Drive Simulator” has not made any specific statements regarding this matter. Although distribution has been suspended on the Nintendo eShop, it seems likely that all that will be required is a rating adjustment, so it will probably be redistributed at some point.