Bethesda opts to censor Fallout 3 for Japan
According to Bethesda Softworks‘ Japanese web page, certain portions of Fallout 3 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC) are getting the censorship treatment before it can be released into the Japanese market. The changes are to involve some potentially culturally insensitive aspects of the game and the levels of gore.
I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised at the amount of grief Fallout 3 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC) is getting from censorship boards around the world. It’s set in a world that was bombed back into the stone age so I kinda doubt political correctness would have remained a priority to the survivors of the Wasteland (or us).
By the same reasoning, it should come as no surprise that another tidbit of controversy just reared its ugly head, this time from Asia. According to Bethesda Softworks‘ Japanese web page, certain portions of the popular post-apocalyptic RPG are getting the censorship treatment before it can be released into the Japanese market.
No, it doesn’t have anything to do with the ingestion on copious amounts drugs that the Australian Attorney Generals found so distasteful. It’s more about nuclear-related stuff and perhaps issues of good taste.
(note minor spoilers to follow)
Besides some adjustments to the level of gore in the game, the NPC Mr Burke from the “The power of the Atom” quest, was removed, thus disabling the option for players to detonate a nuclear bomb.
Also, an undisclosed weapon in the game will be renamed. Speculation naturally points to the “Fatman” mini nuke launcher. Check it out on Wiki if you didn’t catch the reference.
Although I can understand the need behind the changes (‘cept the gore adjustments. I watch anime and the stuff there’s way more violent! And they have tentacles!), the general online reaction from the Japanese gaming community has been against the censorship so far.
Fallout 3 for Japan will be released this December.
Related Fallout 3 Articles:
- Bethesda asks sites to remove Fallout 3 trailers “in connection with ESRB guidelines”
- Moo! India Fallout 3 canceled by Microsoft due to “cultural insensitivities”; Brahmin to blame?
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