Censorship in The Witcher

[Stiler]

..]

Eh, hot coffee is is something sexual ?!? Or is that a game ?[/QUOTE] Hot coffee was part of Grand theft auto : san Andreas that basically the developers had in the game d uring development, but later decided it wasn't going to be part of the game, but they didn't remove the content, just left it on the game disc/data but it never appeared in the game normally. However a modder unlocked the content and people d/led the mod to unlock it and other things and it created a problem in the states about game ratings/the esrb. It was re-rated to Adults only (bad for buiness since some stores won't carry AO rated games) and then Rockstar cut it out of the game and it was rerated back to M. The reason the ESRB changed it to AO, wasn't simply because it had nudity, but it was basically a mini-game of prolonged sexual nature (oral sex, etc) that the player played. However having slight nudity and sexual themes are perfectly fine for an M rated game (see God of War, the gothic games, etc). Which is why I was hoping we'd get The Witcher uncensored and how the developers intended for it to be presented. I am an adult and can't stand when things get censored/watered down for lower ratings/kids, I don't want a disneyland world, espically when the core/stock material it's based on isn't like that. I do agree with Solarius Scorch, it doesn't make any logical sense to me how people in tihe States get so upset about nudity, I mean it's a natural human body part. Why is violence seen as "Better" then nudity? I'd much rather a kid end up accidently seeing a breast pop out while watching the superbowl then see someone getting their head blown off or other graphic depections of people dying.

 

[loopy]

no kidding, I am more disgusted by censorship than I ever could be by nudity. Plus, if you don't want to see graphic depictions of violence, don't buy violent video games!! No one's forcing you to play it. Geesh! The rating system is handy in order to know what the content of a game is so you can decide if it is something you (or your kids) should play. But it is aggravating to me that stores will then ban certain games just based on this rating. Especially when doing so can have so much impact of the success of the game. They are using their power as a link to the consumer to make a moral statement, and I feel that is not their place. Individuals should be able to decide for themselves what kind of content they deem acceptable to view, not the retailers trying to decide for them. Ok, end of rant.

 

[mr-morgan]

The censorship in Germany is getting out of hand. A while back i read about a law that was passing in some part of germany that would criminalize violent games. developers, distributers and even players of violent games would be fined and could even go to prison. Some loony tried to pass a similar law for the whole EU and actually got disturbingly much positive feedback.Its the parents job to see what kind of games their kids play!

 

[macell]

According to wikipedia...In December 2006, the German government proposed legislature to consider acts of violence against human-like characters in video games similar to violence against real life people. The bill was introduced by the states of Bavaria and Lower Saxony. Those found guilty of "cruel violence on humans or human-looking characters" could face fines or jail time of up to 12 months. It applies to developers, retailers, and consumers.

 

[username_2059899]

I think censorship in games in general is unnecessary. The ESRB and other ratings bodies do a fine job of classifying the content of a game. It is up to parents to make sure that mature-rated games don't end up in the hands of minors.I do agree that video-game vendors should be held liable for selling mature-rated games to underaged players, but of-age players should be allowed to experience the whole game as it was intended. We're old enough to be making our own decisions about what kind of content we want to experience.

 

[marduk]

Yeah, and lets be fair, this is just a game, we are not talking about child pornography or anything wrong here, why is so hard to understand?; to some people games like this are responsible for all the violence in the world, but that´s not true!!!, if someone get a gun and starts firing at people in real life, that is not a video game issue, is a f**** up personality issue!!!(sorry for my terrible english)

 

[username_2060309]

I am very interested in learning exactly what aspects of the game will have to me altered for the US market. As far as I know there are absolutely no mandatory restrictions of violence and language. The restrictions on nudity and sex are also very minor. Showing female nudity for example is perfectly fine, and day-time TV is a perfect proof of that.I know that Germany has insane censorship laws that have ruined many good games (such as Return to Castle Wolfenstein), but the US is usually pretty good in allowing artistic expression.If you could provide some information on the censorship that is being imposed on you, I'd be interested in maybe writing an article about it.Michael.

 

[Daerdin.435]

The other reservation is the amount of adult content in the game. Quite apart from issues of racism and terrorism and so on, CD Projekt will certainly have to give some thought to things like allowing the player to make out with members of the opposite sex simply by giving them some flowers (not to mention the erotic art cards that you can collect by doing so). NPC conversations about fornication (eg. "I f**ked a she-elf once."), and the tattoos of naked women sported by several NPCs will also have to go.

Come on! That's ridiculous.

 

[Stiler]

Why? have you never been to a biker bar and saw some of the sheer....well....tattoo's they have? Naked women are the tip of the ice berg...Not to mention, in TES4: oblivion there was a woman whom you talk to and she talks about necrophila and how much the penalty is for it, then you can get some humorous responses from her, like telling her it's not that much and she looks so happy and says something about it being cheaper then what the penalty is in morrowind....

 

[dziadu]

The other reservation is the amount of adult content in the game. Quite apart from issues of racism and terrorism and so on, CD Projekt will certainly have to give some thought to things like allowing the player to make out with members of the opposite sex simply by giving them some flowers (not to mention the erotic art cards that you can collect by doing so). NPC conversations about fornication (eg. "I f**ked a she-elf once."), and the tattoos of naked women sported by several NPCs will also have to go.

Come on! That's ridiculous.

Yeah it is

 

[__krakers__]

The other reservation is the amount of adult content in the game. Quite apart from issues of racism and terrorism and so on, CD Projekt will certainly have to give some thought to things like allowing the player to make out with members of the opposite sex simply by giving them some flowers (not to mention the erotic art cards that you can collect by doing so). NPC conversations about fornication (eg. "I f**ked a she-elf once."), and the tattoos of naked women sported by several NPCs will also have to go.

Come on! That's ridiculous.

Oh please! Dont break me down. Is it some kind of joke?

 

[boczekmonster]

According to wikipedia...In December 2006, the German government proposed legislature to consider acts of violence against human-like characters in video games similar to violence against real life people. The bill was introduced by the states of Bavaria and Lower Saxony. Those found guilty of "cruel violence on humans or human-looking characters" could face fines or jail time of up to 12 months. It applies to developers, retailers, and consumers.

Yes.Main reason of the Second World War was that nazis plays to much brutal games and watch a lot of movies like Natural Born Killers or Reservoir Dogs. And The American Civil War was caused by games with nudity and blood.

 

[username_2060309]

Yes.Main reason of the Second World War was that nazis plays to much brutal games and watch a lot of movies like Natural Born Killers or Reservoir Dogs. And The American Civil War was caused by games with nudity and blood.

Yes. It is true. Now that you found out this secret, we must kill you. You will be executed in the most cruel way imaginable, by having to listen to Al Gore.Bwa-ha-ha-ha!

 

[username_2060309]

Seriously though, would someone from CD Projekt be willing to discuss the censorship issue?It is quite critical and should not be ignored. It is very important to understand that the scope of the problem is larger than merely this one game. The way I see it, this is a time where both freedom of speech and freedom of artistic expression are at stake.

 

[username_2060672]

Just like I posted couple days ago, some features will be modified in certain versions. Those are also publisher's restrictions we have to apply. Anyway, they won't affect the gameplay, since erotic issues are not part of quests or storyline. It's not only about the censorship. Nobody likes when someone interferes on his work at any level, that's obvious, but games like every other product distributed worldwide, vary depending on a retail country. Nobody likes it, but everyone should get used to it, like The Beatles hardcore fans who collect a copy of every vinyl released anywhere .

 

[Daerdin.435]

My only fear is that it the game won't be censored enough. I don't mind violence (except gratituis murder as in GTA) but I will not play games with excessive language or sexual content even though I can.

What do you think about that

 

[Stiler]

My only fear is that it the game won't be censored enough. I don't mind violence (except gratituis murder as in GTA) but I will not play games with excessive language or sexual content even though I can.

What do you think about that

I think that the person should deal with having these things called "options" and with options he/she can tailor the game to their liking, but I think if he/she wants to tell ME what I can/can't play they could shove it.Funky Monk, is there anyway you can tell us which releases will not be censored in any way, so those of us that plan to get that version can plan for it?

 

[Daerdin.435]

For sure Polish version will not be altered in any way whatsoever.

 

[krendel]

And what about the German one?I just've read about most violent and bloody scenes and moves, which gonna fall under the censorship in Germany.Will they really be excluded?! Will there be a possibility to get them back by tweacking some ini files? Will it be possible to obtain the uncut english version and to patch it with the German language pack later?

 

[Stiler]

In germany they have fairly strict laws against violence, at least when it is against humanoid characters. They could release it uncensored, but it'd be sold under the shelf and people would have to ask for it/show id and such. That's why most games end up being censored for there.