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A Survey of Nintendo's Game Censorship Policies

Posted by Zonk on from the who-is-staatsmeister? dept.

ccnull writes "Found a page which offers a survey of Nintendo's policies on censorship, paying particular attention to how U.S. games differ from their Japanese counterparts. It's not just blood splatters, the author has interesting comparative screen grabs showing "clothed" statues and de-Nazified Hitlers."

6 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. Another example by Radix37 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    There was a treasure in Pikmin 2 worth 666 Pokos in the Japanese version and changed to 670 in the US. What's far worse is that all new games (only in the US) now have a 5 second health warning EVERY TIME you start them because of that stupid lawsuit earlier this year.

    --
    Speed Demos Archive - Lots of speed runs!
  2. Gore + sex a fun game does not make... by (SM)+Spacemonkey · · Score: 4, Interesting
    By the mid-90's, Nintendo's censorship practices were increasingly becoming both an embarrassment and a financial liability. Nintendo was earning a reputation as being a "kiddy" company that was both too patronizing and immature for older gamers.
    Today, Nintendo does not actively censor the games it releases. Games such as the infamous Conker's Bad Fur Day, which include swearing, blood, and sex are now openly published under the Nintendo banner, as long as they carry with them a "M for Mature Gamers" rating.
    Just wanted to say gore and sex doesn't make a game good. Nintendo may have a history for regional censorship, but they have a far greater history of making honestly fun and addictive games.
    1. Re:Gore + sex a fun game does not make... by TykeClone · · Score: 5, Funny
      I like realistic games, and medkits without red crosses make no sense.

      With or without crosses - does a medkit instantly giving you 25 healthpoints seem realistic? Or Hitler running around in a mech suit?

      --
      A fine is a tax you pay for doing wrong and a tax is a fine you pay for doing all right.
    2. Re:Gore + sex a fun game does not make... by Rie+Beam · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Yeah, I mean, why cover statues? It's not like anyone would be offen...

      http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/01/29/sta tues.htm

      You know what, perhaps Nintendo was right.

  3. Gadzooks! by Snowspinner · · Score: 4, Funny

    My Lord, Nintendo is censoring games? Removing sex and violence? How horrible! How awful!

    Oh, wait, what's this? A telephone message from 1994? You say they want their fucking news back?

    --
    Philip Sandifer's academic website
  4. Re:repost with line breaks by demi · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Again, Japanese culture VS the USA culture. If you WANT to see domestic violence and abuse, you're a sicko- go someplace else.

    Sorry, but this statement is very silly. Stories about human beings might include domestic violence. Books, movies--why not video games? Not video games for kids, certainly, but this is what is meant by the author when he says these rules locked Nintendo into being a "kiddie" company.

    I watch The Sopranos--it doesn't make me a sicko, and neither would a video game showing domestic violence in a similar context.

    --
    demi