With Fallout 3 being subjected to special censorship in Australia so it may appease that country's ridiculous government, Bethesda's Pete Hines has discussed how frustrating it can be to tackle the various censorship laws around the world. With standards differing from country to country, it can be difficult to keep track of who allows what and what needs to be altered where, as the game's project manager explains:
"The frustrating thing for us is that the standards and rules can be so varied across territories, that we work with five or six ratings agencies and each one has different 'hot buttons'."
In one place nudity is a big deal but violence is fine, and in another place drugs are a problem but nudity is fine.
I guess that's the way of the world - not every country is the same. You're not aiming at one target, you're aiming at six different ones, worrying about how each one will feel about different things.
We just go through and make the game that we want to make. We have our eyes wide open, mindful of the things that could be flagged up and how we're going to resolve them if that becomes a problem."
Of course, it's a shame that games have to be censored at all, and I think that the very fact that some countries allow what others ban is proof that allowing them in the first place isn't really that big of a deal. So, America won't allow you to say f*ck on most of its networks -- it hardly makes that country safer to live in than England, where televised swearing is very common.
Censorship, it is stupid. Thus ends the philosophy lesson.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
10:59 AM on 09.02.2008
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Now I'm not saying if you like censorship, you're a Nazi.
I am implying it though.
I'm not crazy about the murky standards these ratings board use, but there's a difference between this and censorship.
True,this isnt straight out censorship (yet),but it is still a shame that Bethesda must cater to these overly harsh and ridiculous rating schemes.Comprimising the integrity of the original version they had planned.And beyond that,its not like anything in it is THAT bad,not like you can moleste children or that dog of yours.The game is targeted for adult audiences,and as adults we should all be able to make our own choices about whats offensive,and not leave it up to a ratings board to decide whats right for us.
At that point, the publisher can decide which is more important: the artistic vision of the original project, or making money. Since the final call rests with the publishers, why don't we complain about how their greed deprives us of the ability to decide what is right for us?
My understanding is that the rules just say what you can provide to anyone under a certain age. If they allow porno and slasher flicks in these countries, I wouldn't call it censorship... but if you want a 12 year old to play your game, you're going to have to play by the rules.
Is this somehow unfair in a way I'm missing?