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La Pucelle Tactics Publisher Explains Alleged U.S. Censorship
Thanks to 1UP for its interview with La Pucelle: Tactics publisher Bill Swartz regarding alleged censorship to the PlayStation 2 SRPG from the developers of Disgaea, after an eToychest interview with the game's Japanese producer revealed: "We did take out a very few things we felt would cause problems in North America." Following sustained noises of discontent on the GameFAQs messageboards, it's explained: "Alloute wore cross earrings a few times and we took them out. We also removed a few other cross accessories and changed a handful of devices that looked like crosses (unless you looked carefully) to devices that looked a little less like crosses." Swartz laments: "There are well organized forces that work hard to punish software makers and sellers for what they consider religious transgressions", and clarifies the changes were "...not things that either carried meaning to the game's original audience or were in any way part of the substance of the game."
Why would crosses be something to censor for America?
The delay with Duke Nukem, They're tidying up the level with the Stripper nuns in the mosque....
It's hard enough to remember my opinions, never mind the reasons for them..
Given the games visibility it's hard to imagine a church group on a letter writing campaign this early in the process. There's the soccer mom factor where in people with far too much time on their hands and not enough sense to use it well are asked their opinions on products which will be used by other demographics. And of course the headless suit factor which is practically the definition of following and never catching the wave.
I'd bet the latter. More likely they ran into some Walmart-esque troubles. (Hiring illegals because they're cheap and keep their traps shut is a Christian thing to do. Cosmo is communist, but products made exclusively by prison labor in China are all-American.)
It might be something for Sega or Nintendo's american brances to do, help other games cross the pacific. They could have either another subsidiary kind of like their own off brand Disney vs Buena Vista, or just do it on the downlow like how boeing finances used Airbus planes.
or all kinds of things.
They can't get past the 6th grade tit-for-tat of it. Sure burning the flag can be a powerful insult. But it can also be a gesture of honor as when a flag is soiled (or even just touches the ground) and is burned. (Which can also have tragic consequences). Someone wants them to feel bad, so they do. Because for whatever reason it's not possible to make the other people offending them feel bad, they want to enjoin the general behavior that made them feel bad. What that completely ignores is they had a choice to feel bad or not. Like your faith, if I may presume, the wellspring they're searching the outside world for lays within. Lacking the feeling, they need something to focus on or identify with. To have that challenged probably feels like an unwelcome intrusion in to what is ones personal space.
Look at the extent this goes to in the muslim third world. Women wearing heavy opaque sacks in 100 degree heat, enduring mutilation, and being butchered when a family member rapes them to preserve some sense of honor. And we've our less graphic pecidillos too.
There was something a little more drastic done in Xenosaga.
**SPOILERS**
There's a scene in which the main antagonist nano-liquifies his arm and jams it into the abdomen of a young-girl-type character. In the original Japanese version it's pretty disturbing and pretty obviously suggestive. The US version replaced this scene was changed to him simply "absorbing" data from her brain through the air. It's been said that some of the creators actually prefer the gentler version.
Two other scenes were edited similarly. There is a full description with screenshots at Zenosaga.com.
... hehe I guess that's ironic.
It strikes me that self-imposed preemptive censorship (the MPAA's rating system, ESRB, the Hays Commission, the Comics Code Authority, Professor Felten, Cable TV standards & practices...) in America is reliably more draconian than any successful government censorship regime.
Perhaps the mainstream media outlets need to take a hint from the porn industry, tell the govenrment to screw off, and accept the occaisional raid+fine (if it even goes that far) as an advertising expense? "You heard about it on 20/20, now play it! the disgusting new action game BANNED in MICHIGAN!"
Also, I'm willing to bet my right arm that it's the censored version that'll reach Europe, too. Besides Europeans being much, much less fanatical about such - honestly - pointless things.
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While its not a videogame, I sometimes wonder why I dont see "neon genesis evangelion" attacked for its heavy use of christian religious symbols. (not that they mean anything.)
Maybe Its just under their radar.
no
As much as I hate censorship, this is a minor change to the game. What's really odd is that they removed the crosses from the church scene! It appears the use of Christian symbology is taken out of context for most Japanese and therefore they blanket-remove them instead of understanding where they're gratuitous. It's also a shame they're removing things that look like crosses, because like Freudian Psychology (mostly bunk), you see certain common shapes everywhere because they're practical. Stop at the next intersection and ponder this.
The Matrix used religious iconography!
BURN IT BURN IT
We must not challenge people's assumptions about symbols! Think of the children!
It's 10 PM. Do you know if you're un-American?
This type of incorrect usage of the word censorship bothers me. The GOVERNMENT censors people. Individuals and corporations, by definition, cannot bring censorship onto something. If a company changes its product in response to critisicm by a potential market, that's called refining the product. If you want to state that a comapny has the right to manufacture its product the way it sees fit, you are 100% correct (excepting government regualtions and rules). But, if the changes would increase their market share, then the company is more likely to do it. This story is only getting any traction on /. because "There are well organized forces that work hard to punish software makers and sellers for what they consider religious transgressions".
is it that bad seein a hot chick again? if i see a hot chick walkin down the hall i dont say "repost"
I have noticed several times in Anime (especially older Anime from the 80's) that it appears the makers have confused the Star of David with the Pentagram, and had characters drawing it on the floor with candles to summon demons, or wearing pendants with it that have paranormal powers. Did anybody ever comment on this, did it raise any kind of controversy, or what?
There's censorship, and there's localization. Don't confuse the two.
For example, where an American would say 'can you throw this in, to sweeten the deal,' the equivalent Japanese phrase would be 'can you throw this in, to add a little sexy blush to the deal.'
The first phrase would be a perfectly good translation of the second phrase, but not a transliteration. So which is the more appropriate? Depends on what you're going for.
Well, Christian symbology means more to the average North American than it does to the average Japanese, even the Christian ones. Actually, they tend to be pretty pragmatic; you see your Christian priest for this, your Shinto priest for that, and your local Budhist monk for the other.
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i almost expected that the main problems would be with the name of the title...
La Pucelle means "the [female] virgin".
I didnt RTFA, but I guess this is a game about Joan of Arc, aka La Pucelle d'Orleans?
I can attest that Japanese seriously don't give much shit about Christian symbols. It's just that Christian girls are another stereotype you can use in games - you have tomboy girls, childhood friends, smart chicks with glasses, older (20+) women, cute 15 y.o. girls, etc. :) I remember at least two hentai games I personally played that featured Christian girls (with very noticeable Christian symbols). One of them was even a nun that had sex with the main character in the church. :) And since I played the American version, apparently the publishers didn't see it fit to censor it (though they make sure that all girls are 18+, even if it means replacing "14 y.o." with "18 y.o." in the text without changing the pictures or the story :] ).
Just my two yen.
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Excellent summation of the issue.
[PowerPoint] is a tool for capitalist presentation
I didn't know Sony Playstation had these problems, considering they released Xenogears, which depicted the crucifixion of furry critters.
americans are notorious for being the most politically correct, easiest to offend people on the good planet Earth. For every cross there needs to be a star of david. For every white person there has to be a latino, black, and asian. Equality is more important than the artists's take on the game in this country. Take Two already had to pay the Haitan government for Anti-Haitan stereotypes in GTA3 and it's making the other developers nervous (btw, this is my first post here!! happy to swing by the nerd section of the internet... it's right where i belong!)
Here's a quick link on the rather convoluted history of the Pledge.
May we never see th
I'm being serious. The USA is the only country I can think of where the flag is considered sacred. I hear things about schoolchildren being forced to swear allegiance to this flag and, as a European, I'm just bewildered. Set fire to a Tricolore or a Union Jack and the French or British people will think, oh, he's making a political statement. Set fire to the Stars and Stripes and you'll have Americans frothing at the mouth and acting like you just admitted to forcing nuns to boil babies in their own urine.
For the Anime with possibly the most Judeo-Christian symbology, check out Neon Genesis Evangelion; some of the Christian and Kabala elements are important to the story, but many seem to have no real significance. Evangelion is not for children, but even shows like Sailor Moon had a scene excised where four characters were suspended on crystal crosses.