Earlier this week in Tokyo, the country's biggest retailers and developers (sans Nintendo) met with the Tokyo government to discuss the effects of games on children. The government is considering changing Japan's game rating system and prohibiting the sale of certain software to minors.

The console companies each had an opportunity to speak. Sony stated that the company is putting "parental locks" on the PS3 and already has them in play on the PSP. The company seemed more than obliging and willing to make their consoles kid safe. Sony also stressed that they were interested in using games as an educational tool. Moreover, Microsoft stated their support in "comprehensible package" for the entire industry and was attempting to raise parental awareness.

The software makers were more upfront. Square Enix's Yoichi Wada pointed out that, "It's necessary to verify whether or not youth crime and video games are connected." He warned the Tokyo officials not to judge thoughtlessly. Namco, likewise, added that scientific grounds have not yet been proven.

If the Japanese government starts enforcing an over-18 policy, the software companies are the ones that'll get screwed the hardest. Console manufacturers have the luxury of picking developers with more government friendly software. Sony's sliding "parental controls" into their next-gen console seems like the best solution. Software manufacturers are free to make the games they want, while parents are presumably free to block certain content. And smart kids are free to disarm those parental controls. Call it win-win.

Full Story Here [Watch Impress]