games  anime  |  toys
Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 


No cheeks but plenty of navel on North American X-Blades box art photo

Anyone with an eye for flesh could have noticed the discrepancy between the Japanese PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 cover art for Topware Interactive's X-Blades. The CliffsNotes version of our earlier story: on the cover of the Xbox 360 version, the game's protagonist Ayumi's ass cheeks are exposed; on the PlayStation 3 version, she's wearing underwear.

"X-Blades is being published by different publishers in international territories," a rep from SouthPeak told me today when I reached out to them for comment. "Each does their own creative for their respective market. That includes the box art."

You see, Ubisoft will be publishing the title in Japan, and they're free to make art decisions as they please. We pinged Topware to see what they had to say about the "cheeky" issue, and said they difference in the Japanese artwork was simply a request by Sony. 

"The Xbox 360 cover was the original image," says Topware's Jake DiGennaro, "and we altered it by adding silver swimsuit-stle bottoms to the image for PAX back in August at their request. Sony simply preferred the latter version of the image, so we were happy to obilge."

Check out the North American box art for X-Blades, which SouthPeak was kind enough to send our way. Not quite as risqué, but one can't say that Ayumi doesn't know how to dress herself. Or maybe they can. Because really, she's still not wearing much clothing, is she?


LAUNCH GALLERY (2 IMAGES)
Photo Photo
 

Continue: More Xbox 360 stories





prev next

12 comments | showing # 1 to 12

vonneuton's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2009 18:06
vonneuton
She has no feet? What are those, mushrooms?
elsiluro's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2009 18:07
elsiluro
naval? i don't see any seamen... oh wait, they fixed it.

i much prefer the ass cheeks.
grafkhun's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2009 18:11
grafkhun
relieving Jim I see from seeing yet another X-blades related picture.
Nick Chester's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2009 18:15
Nick Chester
spelling fail!
Cough's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2009 18:59
Cough
It's just... you know. The way i see american culture, *sigh* well.... Americans are not ass people. There is little to none ass in your representation of the female body. So it makes sense that the cheeky cover had to go.
Because i don't really believe that a game like this could be hurt by a risqué cover. It's just presenting the character the way she is.
Krow-Kupo's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2009 19:31
Krow-Kupo
Sigh.
Kraid's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2009 19:55
Kraid
What I can't seem to figure out is how South Peak can publish such a perveted game when NinjaTown and Bing Bang Mini is on the shelves right now... What kind of reputation are they trying to get??!!!
John B's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2009 20:31
John B
@Cough:

As an American, it has nothing to do with ass. Our Puritanical hypocrisy is the problem. For whatever reason (and I think that we all know really what it is) we've been conditioned to think that blood, guts, violence, shredded body parts, spurting veins ... hey, they're all a-OK.

But dare to show a nipple and -- holy fucking jumping Jesus!! -- all hell breaks loose!! Suddenly we're depraved perverts who need to have censored Internet access and fines from the FCC!

It's pathetic. How absolutely ridiculous that the human body in its natural state is considered to be obscene, but tearing that same body to shreds in a violent blood bath is acceptable.

I love my country, but - damn! - a lot of people here have some really fucked up ideas on what is and is not obscene.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2009 21:38
Jim Sterling
John B and I are in total agreement on this. American media is in a sad and sorry state of hypocrisy. British media isn't much better, though it lacks the puritanical bent.
atastysammich's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2009 23:17
atastysammich
@John B
I'm not sure we can even show asses anymore besides Peter Griffin's.
Demtor's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2009 08:07
Demtor
I actually disagree with John B and Jim S somewhat. While its true actual nudity is kept out of the American media while violence is quite acceptable, if you look at the average TV program (be it Fox, MTV, VH1, ABC, you name it) there is PLENTY of sex to be had. Promiscuity has become a pretty big American media theme.

For example, just go to the mall during the summer. Count how many teen girls there are running around, half clothed and readily cock teasing the average slob. Its all they know from their music/movies/TV/magazines and other media influences with pop starlets making sex videos. These are the things that raise kids now, not actual parenting, and adults that have the backbone to say "no."

Wearing thongs when your 13 is hip. Shirts that proudly display 'slut' or something of that type are pretty regular. Low cut jeans, tight tops, etc etc. Its supposedly acceptable behavior these days to watch 'Sex in the City' when your 16 and grow up to be a shallow whore with a false sense of entitlement.

There really is no modesty anymore. Which is why the change to the cover of this game is even more ridiculous!
silvain's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2009 11:08
silvain
Repressed puritanical sexuality is an odd thing to see.
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 
New on Destructoid.TV play all videos

Loading
Loading Destructoid Videos


    Win this!
    Dive in! meetup+play for a chance to win a PC

    Dtoid Twitter    Got news?   tips@destructoid.com

    Reviews & Previews
    Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles review
    Left 4 Dead 2 review
    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex review
    Arkedo Series - 02 SWAP! review
    EyePet review
    more reviews
    Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks
    Monster Hunter Tri
    Hooking onto, under and above Just Cause 2
    PS3's 256-player MAG
    Rooms The Main Building
    more previews


    - The Dtoid Army is 50724 strong -

    Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

    Call for entries: do the wrong thing

    New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide




     Originals
    Jim Sterling: Think L4D2 is an expansion? You're a f*cking idiot





















    More Destructoid Originals




     Popular now more






















    Team Destructoid   tips@destructoid.com
    Nick Chester
    Editor-in-Chief
    Niero
    Founder, publisher
    Jim Sterling
    Reviews Editor
    Hamza Aziz
    Community Manager
    Dale North
    News Editor
    Rey Gutierrez
    Video editor & director
    Anthony Burch
    Features Editor
    Colette Bennett
    Tom Fronczak Brad Nicholson
    Ashley Davis Ben Perlee
    Conrad
    Zimmerman
    Chad Concelmo
    Jonathan Holmes Jonathan Ross
    Brad Rice Jordan Devore
    Will Maddock Matthew Razak
    Dyson Joseph Leray
    Topher Cantler Samit Sarkar
         
      Dexter
    Adam Dork
    Daniel Lingen
    Hollie Bennett
    Joe Burling
    Mikey
    Stella Wong

    Josh Tolentino




     

     
      get involved

    register or login
    post a blog
    post a forum
    enter a contest
    contribute a news tip
    suggest a feature
    be a guest editor
    support

    new member's guide
    login assistance
    tech support
    report abuse
    email our editors
    read our dev blog
    nuclear crisis?
    keep in touch

    RSS feed
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Myspace
    Flickr
    Game nights
    Meetup+play online
    seriously

    about Destructoid
    advertising
    terms of use
    privacy policy
    jobs at MM
    buy our crap
    our network

    Tomopop
    Japanator
    Despingation?




    Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
    living the dream since March 16, 2006