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ESRB demands Ninja Gaiden II launch trailer removed photo

Yes, seriously. In what may be the most arbitrary and silly decision yet made by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board, Destructoid has been asked to remove a launch trailer we posted for Ninja Gaiden II in May 2008. Despite the fact that nobody on this site has even thought about that trailer for a year, it was deemed a threat to society and has now been removed.

Even more amusing is the fact that we embedded a Gametrailers video in the aforementioned post, a video that is now dead and doesn't work. Apparently, even posting evidence that the trailer once existed is enough to incur the wrath of the ESRB Gods. 

Out of consideration for Microsoft, we've complied. However, the ESRB must surely realize just how ridiculous it looks with these apparently randomly decisions. A tough job it most certainly has, but these kind of situations are just farcical and makes the ESRB look clueless at best, insane at worst. We are now removing a trailer that is a year old and that nobody except the ESRB cares out, which has also helped draw attention to a long-forgotten video that people will probably now want to see and track down. 

Logic, thy name is ESRB.


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56 comments | showing # 1 to 50

Grimspoon's Avatar
Grimspoon at 04/23/2009 21:37
I had actually made a habit of watching that trailer once every few months, just cause it was so thoroughly titillating.

Guess the ESRB realized it was just a little TOO tittilating, and has finally stepped in and saved me from myself. I'm so weak!

Thank you ESRB, thank you for ridding the internet of that sick filth!

Also, what would the repercussions have been had Destructoid not been so docile and agreeable?
CelicaCrazed's Avatar
CelicaCrazed at 04/23/2009 21:38
I'm sure they had their reasons. I'm guessing pot was involved which lead to the need to rewrite history to provide a more family-friendly outlook on ninjas. And they're so totally out of cheeseburgers right now, man.
eternalplayer2345's Avatar
eternalplayer2345 at 04/23/2009 21:38
We demand every copy of nintendo power that talks about goldeneye be burned!! But seriously ESRB wtf? It's cool you rate games so the goverment doesn't step in but it's not your job to protect the kids of the world from the evils of then interweb
Zombutler's Avatar
Zombutler at 04/23/2009 21:38
DAMN IT

Time to remove that vid from my bookmarks
t0pc0w's Avatar
t0pc0w at 04/23/2009 21:39
How silly of you ESRB. Considering it's a non-profit organization, how wasteful of them to care.
seigfreid's Avatar
seigfreid at 04/23/2009 21:39
Wow, the ESRB is pretty much the Nazis of the gaming world. Or this big evil organization that censors everything.
Guyver 0's Avatar
Guyver 0 at 04/23/2009 21:40
.......... thats mental
SashaNein's Avatar
SashaNein at 04/23/2009 21:40
Could you please post the notice they gave you? I'd like to see what kind of hissy fit these jackholes threw over a completely irrelevant and old as fuck embed of a dead trailer. The ESRB is a joke and they should [THE REST OF THIS SENTENCE WAS REMOVED DUE TO A DMCA CLAIM BY THE ESRB]
Bango Skank's Avatar
Bango Skank at 04/23/2009 21:41
What the shit is all this about? Are they changing the rating or something?
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 04/23/2009 21:47
"Could you please post the notice they gave you?"

We were asked by Microsoft representatives to remove the trailer on behalf of the ESRB's wishes. The ESRB has no power over blogs and the media, so it bullies publishers and developers into making the requests. Out of consideration for MS, we've pulled it. Had the ESRB just tried to threaten us directly, well, they can't. That's why they basically hold a gun to other peoples' heads.
Xhumation's Avatar
Xhumation at 04/23/2009 21:47
What's the ESRB smoking?

Whatever it is it causes a huge case of "the stupids"
megatron0016's Avatar
megatron0016 at 04/23/2009 21:50
That's bullshit. you should have left the trailer up there. I can't begin to see how the esrb has any bearing or poses any mannor of threat to dtoid. this once again proves the senility of the esrb and that it should be disbanded and a new group formed made up of people that have truly dedicated their lives to this industry and still have their wits about them. maybe we need to look into gamers for gaming in another role then that of which it was originaly imagined.
Daxelman's Avatar
Daxelman at 04/23/2009 21:52
Now this is some shit...
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 04/23/2009 21:53
"That's bullshit. you should have left the trailer up there. I can't begin to see how the esrb has any bearing or poses any mannor of threat to dtoid"

The ESRB poses no threat to nor has any power over Dtoid. However, it DOES have power over Microsoft and while we may criticize MS for any number of things, we're not in the business of forcing MS to pay a fine to the ESRB for absolutely retarded reasons. It would be assholish of us to do so. Unfortunately, the ESRB knows this and exploits the fact that blogs aren't all complete cunts.
Zodiac Eclipse's Avatar
Zodiac Eclipse at 04/23/2009 21:56
It's good that they stepped in, I was just about to find and watch that trailer before I fashioned myself a crude hand claw, donned ninja garb and took to the streets. God bless you ESRB for retroactively caring about things that might either continue to not be a problem, or destroy humanity. The line is pretty thin.
Chris Taran's Avatar
Chris Taran at 04/23/2009 21:57
Seriously? You actually removed it?
Must say, I'm a bit disappointed.
TurboHyperFighting's Avatar
TurboHyperFighting at 04/23/2009 22:00


THE FUCK?
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 04/23/2009 22:00
"Seriously? You actually removed it?"

We removed a dead link to a video that doesn't even exist, and we did so because we don't want Microsoft unfairly punished. MS asked us nicely, and we complied. I don't think it's that disappointing.
Grimspoon's Avatar
Grimspoon at 04/23/2009 22:04
No point burning bridges with news sources just for the fun of telling the ESRB to fuck off I guess.
Qraze's Avatar
Qraze at 04/23/2009 22:05
i don't care about the threats one shit company is making, their is a time to stand up to the big black dog and that time is now. if one group of people stand up and fight, more will join to stand beside. this is america godammit, we are allowed to fight for freedom and be against, thats my opinion and my right, what are yours again?
LsTr Of SmG's Avatar
LsTr Of SmG at 04/23/2009 22:10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys-bk_IAGl4

Can't say I'd ever watched it before but thanks for recommending it ESRB!
Chronic Logic's Avatar
Chronic Logic at 04/23/2009 22:14
It's a sly PR ploy in order to hype up Ninja Gaiden II for the PS3!
Niero's Avatar
Niero at 04/23/2009 22:34
We're awaiting a response. Talk about coming out of left field, eh?
HerosPlayDumb's Avatar
HerosPlayDumb at 04/23/2009 22:45
What is the ESRB thinking? Maybe if the trailer went up a day or two ago this would make sense, but it almost a year old. Why ESRB must you show us how stupid you are? We all already know it, proof like this is just unnecessary.
bodybreak's Avatar
bodybreak at 04/23/2009 22:49
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys-bk_IAGl4"

eh, doesn't interest me. also -- i've seen far more brutal trailers than that.
Arttemis's Avatar
Arttemis at 04/23/2009 23:09
Will this have any effect on the development of Ninja Gaiden Sigma II? Hopefully that game doesn't get rated more harshly by the ESRB now that they've reevaluated the 360's trailer...
sloganpwns's Avatar
sloganpwns at 04/23/2009 23:10
"Out of consideration for Microsoft, we've complied."

What type of bullshit is this?

Sure, taking down the video is no big deal but 'out of consideration for microsoft'? Really? You talk shit about them and how they nickle and dime us in every post! And you dont want them to be fined by the ESRB? How considerate.
Black Nexus's Avatar
Black Nexus at 04/23/2009 23:19
?????? I tired of trying to figure out the ESRB, lets just say bizarro zebra people run those offices and call it a day.
ChronosWing's Avatar
ChronosWing at 04/23/2009 23:20
@Sloganpwns

Yee of little mind, you see in the real world dtoid gets a lot of exclusive content from MS, if dtoid were to just say "Fuck you MS were not taking it down its old!" how do you think that makes dtoid look to MS? Next time an exclusive comes along MS will just pass the information on to another gaming site and dtoid misses out, this is a business after all not some revolution.
Meh's Avatar
Meh at 04/23/2009 23:23
Actually, I'm becoming more and more convinced that this is a market trick by MS.
Pichu0102's Avatar
Pichu0102 at 04/23/2009 23:27
The ESRB has the authority to have other companies send takedown notices on their behalf, and doesn't see an issue with this? If the ESRB wants people to support their rating system from getting overridden by laws to replace them, manipulating and pissing on some of the same people who are trying to support the status quo is not only a dick move, it's shooting themselves in the foot.
Qraze's Avatar
Qraze at 04/23/2009 23:34
but chrono, if not one gaming site or publisher stands up to them, they will only use and abuse their power more until someone makes a new ratings board to compete with them, they have monopolized themselves and have no competition making themselves very powerful. i say its time to get rid of them, we can push the move but a publisher will be the first step in removing them. how does the esrb have domain over trailers anyway?
MechaMonkey's Avatar
MechaMonkey at 04/23/2009 23:38
chronoswing has the right of it. While Microsoft may not be the most consumer-friendly corporate monolith in the neighborhood, they've always been good to Destructoid. No need to jeopardize that relationship for the sake of a dead video link.
Jack Maverick's Avatar
Jack Maverick at 04/23/2009 23:50
Hey Qraze, it's just a video. Yes, the video is a year old and this whole ESRB thing is moronic but that's all it is. Chillax, man.
ChronosWing's Avatar
ChronosWing at 04/23/2009 23:52
@Qraze

But the ESRB are not the ones who asked for the link to be removed... well they DID but they asked indirectly through MS probably because they knew dtoid wouldn't bother listening to them. I'm sure had the ESRB directly contacted DToid and asked the link to be removed they would of probably got a nice "Go fuck yourself" in return.
Qraze's Avatar
Qraze at 04/24/2009 00:25
yeah, i hope that would have been the case, i mean what can they ban from dtoid? hawp? lol. but in the end, i'm just preaching to the choir. if any stand is to be made, it will have to be made from a publisher and not a gaming site though we can provoke it just a bit, we have no real chess peices to move.
Dexter345's Avatar
Dexter345 at 04/24/2009 00:34
Huh? I didn't even know they had the authority to do this to new trailers.
Pichu0102's Avatar
Pichu0102 at 04/24/2009 00:37
@Qraze

Problem with trying to remove the ESRB and replacing it could turn it into a political issue. Having to find a suitable replacement and trying to hold off the government using the internal strife as a reason for the government to personally rate and restrict games is two wars that should not be fought at the same time.
MrSlippery's Avatar
MrSlippery at 04/24/2009 00:44
The fact that we're talkign about this is the only reason I'd have ever thought about it. This is illogical beyond all means, I think I feel my brain coming out my ear.
odber's Avatar
odber at 04/24/2009 00:55
wow now i HAVE TO see this trailer ->
free touch's Avatar
free touch at 04/24/2009 00:58
What I don't understand is if they are a voluntary group, how do they have the power to fine anyone anything?

I'm going to start a voluntary group that watches over youtube videos. And if we vote a video to stupid, we will fine youtube.

Could I make a living doing that?
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 04/24/2009 01:51
There's probably a new group of people rating the ps3 version of NG2 and they decided to raise a stink over something. Hopefully the PS3 version wont suffer censorship.
SetoChaos's Avatar
SetoChaos at 04/24/2009 02:44
http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache:Ff31gaqF8EQJ:www.destructoid.com/ninja-gaiden-ii-launch-trailer-has-blood-in-it-86471.phtml+http://www.destructoid.com/ninja-gaiden-ii-launch-trailer-has-blood-in-it-86471.phtml&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk

The cached version still exists :)
Syn's Avatar
Syn at 04/24/2009 03:48
As if we didn't know the ESRB was just a bunch of tired old sods who's only purpose in life is to bang their plastic hammy and pretend they know something about what's appropriate.

They only issue this bullshit because they can. As soon as they die of old age maybe we can abolish Stupid in positions of authority.
Cough's Avatar
Cough at 04/24/2009 05:15
So, wait. They ask microsoft, microsoft ask you guys.

What would happen if you didn't comply? Could they sue microsoft? Do they really have the power to do that? Why are they so annoying? Who are these people?
Adrock's Avatar
Adrock at 04/24/2009 06:11
I've now watched it. It's brutal and bloody and it makes me want to go out and hurt cute puppies (like all violent videogame trailers). You're horrible ESRB, bringing filth like this to my attention. For shame.
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 04/24/2009 06:28
"Sure, taking down the video is no big deal but 'out of consideration for microsoft'? Really? You talk shit about them and how they nickle and dime us in every post! And you dont want them to be fined by the ESRB? How considerate."

Protip: Fucking with a company's money and/or ability to work with us is not smart business.
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 04/24/2009 06:28
"Sure, taking down the video is no big deal but 'out of consideration for microsoft'? Really? You talk shit about them and how they nickle and dime us in every post! And you dont want them to be fined by the ESRB? How considerate."

Protip: Fucking with a company's money and/or ability to work with us is not smart business.
xenon's Avatar
xenon at 04/24/2009 07:44
That's why it's better to stay actually independent, but it seems nobody is doing that anymore.
Professor Pew's Avatar
Professor Pew at 04/24/2009 08:11
Eh, I can see how submitting to demands can be viewed as not-so independent, but seriously: a year old non-working video? Remove and be done with it :)
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