Pete Hines, product manager for Fallout 3 has said developing a game to suit the varying censorship needs of different countries is "frustrating".
Hines refused to talk specifically about the issues Fallout 3 faced with Australian censorship last month. But, on the topic of censorship in general, he told CVG: "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'."
He went on to explain: "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," he added.
But Hines insists that this doesn't effect initial development decisions. "We just go through and make the game that we want to make," he said. "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."
Surely the easiest way around this is to create the game they WANT to make with nudity, sex, gore, violence etc already in there and then just turn off features depending on the country it's going to be sold in.
I know it's a pain in the butt but so is having to recode the bloody thing to meet different censorship rules and regulations.
Surely the easiest way around this is to create the game they WANT to make with nudity, sex, gore, violence etc already in there and then just turn off features depending on the country it's going to be sold in.
I know it's a pain in the butt but so is having to recode the bloody thing to meet different censorship rules and regulations.
Unfortunately, while fine in theory, this doesn't work, as Rockstar learned to their dismay when the whole "Hot Coffee" scandal erupted. Whether the features are switched off by default is irrelevant, because they will still be there in the source code. And where there is source-code, there are modders ready to explore it and enable the content. Games developers are obliged to disclose everything contained within a game's source code, whether the code itself is disabled or not. Otherwise the company can be fined and the game having its classification revoked, effectively banning it from sale.
Surely the easiest way around this is to create the game they WANT to make with nudity, sex, gore, violence etc already in there and then just turn off features depending on the country it's going to be sold in.
I know it's a pain in the butt but so is having to recode the bloody thing to meet different censorship rules and regulations.
Unfortunately, while fine in theory, this doesn't work, as Rockstar learned to their dismay when the whole "Hot Coffee" scandal erupted. Whether the features are switched off by default is irrelevant, because they will still be there in the source code. And where there is source-code, there are modders ready to explore it and enable the content. Games developers are obliged to disclose everything contained within a game's source code, whether the code itself is disabled or not. Otherwise the company can be fined and the game having its classification revoked, effectively banning it from sale.
Yeah I hear what you're saying and I'm sure that you're right, but it just seems crazy that the devs have to create multiple versions of a game just to comply with localisation issues.
If the game is rated correctly and suitable warnings are displayed prominantly on the box such as "contains sexual scenes" or "adult content" then I don't see what the problem is, but it's the same old story I guess.
Didn’t this happen with the Witcher too? I’m sure that had different versions going out to Europe, America, Australia, etc. because it contained nudity, sex, drugs, drink, and violence.
I guess it just boils down to cultural heritage and what were willing to accept. Europe has always been more open to free thinking.
Of course it will be, UK stuff is always uncensored. (OK, Manhunt 2 being an exception).
Try living in Germany, you'll really appreciate just being able to buy an uncut game in UK then!
The Germans don't mind nudity in games, but abhore violence, whereas its quite the opposite in the US.
I'll be ordering my copy from the UK anyway, as soon as I saw the video of the guy getting his head punched off I knew it wouldn't make it to Germany uncensored.
UK and infact most of Europe will have the standard version. Germany probably has the violence or gore reduced (perhaps the drugs too, but uncertain). Australia had their nickers in a twist over the drug issues I believe. And in the US issues may arise if there's to much nudity (not sure if it is being censored for the US market, but it is certainly possible)
It's always Australia isn't it, with their bloody rules and over-developed censoring...things!
They banned GTA3, GTA3!!! I just wish i'd been there when the first shipment of Manhunt came through.
I still can't see how it's fine to have sex on TV, but not in games! I mean, WTF?! It's not real on TV (well...) but in a game, it's not even real people!
It's always Australia isn't it, with their bloody rules and over-developed censoring...things!
They banned GTA3, GTA3!!! I just wish i'd been there when the first shipment of Manhunt came through.
I still can't see how it's fine to have sex on TV, but not in games! I mean, WTF?! It's not real on TV (well...) but in a game, it's not even real people!
. No they didnt I live in australia and there is a copy of GTA3 at my local video shop. I dont see why countries cant get together and decide on one Point to meet developers at. One of they guys said earlier he'll want an uncensored game. If u read the post It says they develop the game they want then change it for the countries.. thats censorship basicly so U wont get the original game any where.
. No they didnt I live in australia and there is a copy of GTA3 at my local video shop. I dont see why countries cant get together and decide on one Point to meet developers at. One of they guys said earlier he'll want an uncensored game. If u read the post It says they develop the game they want then change it for the countries.. thats censorship basicly so U wont get the original game any where.
Yeah you will, the devs will be the only ones to have that baby though
Sex and nudity in a PC game is still a bit laughable due to tech limitations. Ah well.
For the life of me though, I get really riled by the US and UK censors who seem to think it's OK to have torture, killings, blood'n'gutz etc. on TV but get narky about a couple of people shagging. Especially if (whisper it) they may be of the same gender...
Still, gutspilling aside, I'll forgo the gibbage providing a game provides a bit of intellectual stimulation, heaps of atmos, a decent story and so forth.
Surely the easiest way around this is to create the game they WANT to make with nudity, sex, gore, violence etc already in there and then just turn off features depending on the country it's going to be sold in.
I know it's a pain in the butt but so is having to recode the bloody thing to meet different censorship rules and regulations.
Unfortunately, while fine in theory, this doesn't work, as Rockstar learned to their dismay when the whole "Hot Coffee" scandal erupted. Whether the features are switched off by default is irrelevant, because they will still be there in the source code. And where there is source-code, there are modders ready to explore it and enable the content. Games developers are obliged to disclose everything contained within a game's source code, whether the code itself is disabled or not. Otherwise the company can be fined and the game having its classification revoked, effectively banning it from sale.
Yeah I hear what you're saying and I'm sure that you're right, but it just seems crazy that the devs have to create multiple versions of a game just to comply with localisation issues.
If the game is rated correctly and suitable warnings are displayed prominantly on the box such as "contains sexual scenes" or "adult content" then I don't see what the problem is, but it's the same old story I guess.
The problem in Australia (well, one of them) is that there is no R/18+ rating for games. So anything that is unsuitable for 15 year olds gets banned. Or if it's borderline, might get squeezed through anyway, at the lower classification.
. No they didnt I live in australia and there is a copy of GTA3 at my local video shop. I dont see why countries cant get together and decide on one Point to meet developers at. One of they guys said earlier he'll want an uncensored game. If u read the post It says they develop the game they want then change it for the countries.. thats censorship basicly so U wont get the original game any where.
ALRIGHT, keep your hair on!
I read someware a while ago that GTA3 was banned in Australia at some point, for all i know, it was banned and then re-relesed like Manhunt 2.
Naa, if they made one big cencorship rule for all the countries, no one would be happy about it!
Sure, there's less drugs for Germany but immagine the uproar of disaproval in Austria!
Why should the world make it easier for game developers to disrespect their culture and values?
If you want to sell in the world market, respect your customers, don't try to put them all in a one size fits all definition of values. This isn't missionary work.
Why should the world make it easier for game developers to disrespect their culture and values?
what the hell are you talking about? what do you mean "their values"? not having games with gore, violance, sex, drugs, rape, etc is a value? sh*t. that's not a value of any European country. I guess Australia either. You can get any books, VHS, DVD with any portion of violance, porn, alcohol, drugs in the content if you are not under certain age (i.e. 18 ) legally. So why should any old *uckers in the governments ban video game content? if the content is really hard - ok, sell it in adult shops or something like that. Just make it being sold to the audience of the appropriate age. Or otherwise we get all games -=in fact=- made for 13 year old audience. Just imagine what would it be if porn movies or movies with gore and blood scenes would be rated and cut to match values (which in fact is - be ok for preteen audience). that would be idiocy. When you are talking about so callaed national -=VALUES=- that should be an imperative for each and any citizen it sounds to me like an islam and stuff. Women in black hijabs, no alcohol, obligatory circy for all males - yeah that's an imperative, that's a values....in United Arab Emirates. (Well yeah - same as Europe of last few decades...but that's another topic) In European countries you are FREE to be immoral. And THAT is an actual value. So leave all that gore, sex, blood, alcohol, naked bodies, drugs, and other be. Rate the game 25+ (if you are leaving in pus-sy-country) sell it in 25+ adult shops and stop b*tching around that "Values" sh*t. If it's the matter of profit - make a pus-sy-version (i would like it would marked on the boxes with huge letters: "Fallout 3: a pus-sy version" and sell it in common stores, so that kids and value-bearers would be able to buy it. Therefore you geet your profits, politicians - "the defenders of the "Values" are relaxed and can return to their natural activities: spanking whores, drinking whiskey, and tooting.
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Ah well.
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