Nintendo of Japan has launched an initiative whereby future Wii games that earn CERO’s C rating (equivalent to the OFLC’s high-end M rating) or above will be packaged in new black boxes.

The company’s website suggests that this scheme was established due to the upcoming release of Nintendo’s first CERO D-rated (low-end MA15+) game, Zangeki no Reginleiv (Dynamic Slash). Previously, games rated C, D and, rarely, Z (high-end MA15+ or Refused Classification) used normal white covers.

It appears that the scheme will also extend to third-party titles, with Biohazard: The Darkside Chronicles looking to be the first third-party game to sport the black casing.

In Japan, companies have no obligation to differentiate the appearance of mature games sold at retail—Nintendo is the first company to introduce this scheme. Not only would this help parents pick out games suitable for their children, but it could also help core gamers find many, normally overlooked, titles they might like. Hmm, maybe coloured cases are the key to increased sales... And let’s not forget that the black cases themselves are quite sexy too. So, mature or not, past or future, which games would you like to see get the “noir” treatment?

Source: Siliconera