Japanese developer explains why they are forced to Censor in the West.

Kiyoris · November 2015

Censorship is Western games has become a hot topic. We are seeing it in MMO too, Blade and Soul for example.

Finally, a major Japanese developer has spoken out, as to why they are forced to can Western releases, on their Facebook page.

Team Ninja (チームニンジャ, Tecmo) from Japan started talking to gamers on their Facebook page.

It has nothing to do with rating agencies, but with public pressure.

Basically, the Western debates on "women in gaming", by female advocacy groups, have put pressure on them. It means they can no longer release some games in the West.

They are fearful of the possible backlash from those groups, and they are focusing on asian releases.

https://archive.is/KmUZc

TECMO JAPAN:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5022221/uploads/editor/s8/67jz3fpmmim9.jpg

NEWS:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5022221/uploads/editor/ll/ky71b3g6197q.jpg

RESPONSES:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5022221/uploads/editor/x3/1z8h1fo08n4n.jpg

flizzer · November 2015

But it is more fun that way. We have a group to direct our anger and vitriol at!

Kiyoris · November 2015

DMKano said:

This idea that Blade and Soul and every westernized MMO had been "censored" due to pressure from certain groups is simply OPs agenda.

I did not say every "Western MMO". I said Blade and Soul is censored.

Do you have any proof as to what you are saying? Are there statements from the Blade and Soul developers why they censored.

Link and proof?

I am showing proof from Tecmo, one of the largest Japanese developers that they are censoring due to public pressure.

Thane · November 2015

actually this is not about women in games, but GIRLS in games.

if you have chars that look like girls, don't dress em like bitc***...

Kiyoris · November 2015

flizzer said:

But it is more fun that way. We have a group to direct our anger and vitriol at!

It is more sad than fun, I would have never though Tecmo would cave, one of the largest Japanese developers.

On the upside, the sales of imports are benefitting, in the last couple of months, PlayAsia their sales have gone through the roof.

I am a dual citizen and can play any MMO from Asia too if I want.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5022221/uploads/editor/z1/6umvkftbqooh.jpg

gaeanprayer · November 2015

Actually, what the community manager specifically said was "with regard to how to treat female in video game" and "we do not want to talk those things". That's not at all the same thing as censoring, that means the climate in changing with regards to how women are treated and perceived and TECMO stating that they just don't want to deal with it; i.e., "we just want to do whatever we want and not be held accountable". That you would hold them and their supporters up as the paragons and victims are what is really sad. You should be embarrassed to make this topic, but you're not, because you're agenda has been catered to for so long that your head is spinning that there just might be a different audience even bigger than you.

See my icon? That's me right now.

Kiyoris · November 2015

Forbes supports Koei Tecmo:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5022221/uploads/editor/6o/07v8cxufdy09.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5022221/uploads/editor/w9/zpyy0rxh9ie9.jpg

Sovrath · November 2015

Kiyoris said:

DMKano said:

This idea that Blade and Soul and every westernized MMO had been "censored" due to pressure from certain groups is simply OPs agenda.

I did not say every "Western MMO". I said Blade and Soul is censored.

Do you have any proof as to what you are saying? Are there statements from the Blade and Soul developers why they censored.

Link and proof?

I am showing proof from Tecmo, one of the largest Japanese developers that they are censoring due to public pressure.

Where is your proof? Link?

I actually agree with DMKano.

I do think you have an agenda as can be seen by previous threads you started.

Additionally, you did use Blade and Soul "as an example" which infers that there are others.

Lastly, even though you have provided one example you don't really have proof (link?) that this is the norm for other games. It's just one instance of this particular company bowing to pressure. Did Scarlet Blade bow to pressure?

And lastly this isn't "censorship". They can publish their game without changing one thing. But they don't want to deal with the backlash so they have chosen not to.

The people who dislike the things that cause Eastern games to be changed have every right to express their displeasure just as these game companies have every right "not" to make changes.

Kiyoris · November 2015

Sovrath said:

I do think you have an agenda as can be seen by previous threads you started.

Of course I have, I support Tecmo.

I am always open as to why. I like the games, I am very open about the fact who I support.

Do you think it is fun for us, who like some games, to not get them anymore? Do you think it's fun for DOA fans to not get the game?

Of course, we are ordering through import channels, but do you think this is fun for us or for the developers? To have to deal with this kind of stupidity?

svandy · November 2015

I agree with the overall feeling people have about how developers/publishers shouldn't be so gun shy over a bunch of raging liberal arts students and bloggers, but I feel like censorship isn't the right way to describe it. There is more or less a fear culture in the west right now, everyone is walking on egg shells afraid to do or say the wrong thing, and frankly I don't blame Team Ninja for saying screw it, we just won't deal with it.

The only people truly responsible for the game not coming to the west are the devs themselves... but that said, if we weren't going through yet another widespread moral panic about video games, they wouldn't have had a decision to make.

At least they will get free publicity I guess

Wizardry · November 2015

SO what he is basically saying is that standards on women are lower over there so they will just escape the problem and just release over there.

They could just mature a bit and quit showing women as complete bimbo sex objects in high heels and scantilly clad dresses.It looks even worse when the actions they are taking are fighting bad ass creatures in their attire that looks just foolish.

Purutzil · November 2015

A lot of the changes are more so in regards to the region and how they view things. Not all of them are devious. That said, the Dead or Alive case is a case where Authoritarians are forcing companies to self censor feeling as if its not worth the effort, despite the fact the west generated a large portion of the total profits for the last Dead or Alive Volleyball game.

Its horrible such censoring is happening, but not all of it is 100% from the people who don't even play games, some are changes due to the general climate of the countries they bring them to. As such I don't hold as much fault for it, some I can understand (aka lolicon characters which guilty as I am, I prefered the westerned 'censored' version despite being advocate against censorship) due to the general.

Its really a mixed bag that doesn't apply to every game, but its really something we should be aware of. Its not right for the minority to force companies to feel they need to censor their content due to views of a group primarily who do not even play games. Much like how Grand Theft Auto was pulled from shelves in Australia, its an issue we do need to keep attention towards to try and stop although its something that we can't jump on the bandwagon claiming that all companies do it for that reason.

And lastly this isn't "censorship". They can publish their game without changing one thing. But they don't want to deal with the backlash so they have chosen not to.

What about a dictator who publicly humiliates or demonizes those who oppose him sending them through reeducation camps, so you don't speak up in regards to that publicly and just go with what is said?

How about a bully who doesn't like your obsession with star wars so they pick on you, bashing you infront of others or threatened to take your lunch money if you show it, so you don't wear the starwars shirts anymore or show off and keep quite about the show despite your love to talk about it?

Its censorship no matter if its someone else doing it or someone forcing you to do so.

Edit: Mostly just shifted it to be less political and more example drive for the sake of not diving too much into politics. XP

Zadawn · November 2015

I for one don't look forward to seeing school girls in skimpy ass skirts fighting tentacle monsters. If censoring does just that then I'm all for it.

FlyByKnight · November 2015

The truth is, that DOA is/has been a POS for the past few iterations. It's never a desired game at any major FG tournament. All it has is the controversy of the big boobed hyper exaggerated female characters. No one will lose much sleep over this.

laxie · November 2015

DMKano said:
Western publishers request changes to MMOs such as toning down of over sexualized pre-teen female characters because *it's off putting to average gamer* thus reduced profits.

This may even be the case here. Those two (moral/profit) go hand in hand.

As you are saying, the market for over-sexualised games is shrinking. In part due to female centered movements gaining traction in the west.

Surely if there was a huge eager market for a Dead of Alive game in the west, the developer wouldn't mind the strong spoken activist groups. I know I wouldn't - and any sensible business person wouldn't. If it was going to sell, you would publish it there.

alkarionlog · November 2015

madazz said:

I can't believe how pussified people have become. Especially towards art. This is ridiculous. This new entitled cry baby generation needs to be slapped around.

companys prefer to not deal with this things, so waht is better? risk and spend the money to translate then port? or just keep it on a zones more free for then to work on?

company do what is more profitable, but sometimes they decide for stupid things based on waht they think will work for us, arche age is a good idea on that, trion though all normalization, removing clothes stats, all gliders the same, and low archeum drops(since everyone in a centric crafting based game will want just to do dungeon runs for his gear....) would be more profitable, then it started to not be a more and more players leave, and they are afraid to admit they are doing everything wrong and go back and be more real to the game, because that would mean tehy will spend even more money on it and possible some people who liked the whole equality there so they decide to not bother milk what they can and let it die.

also that is one more reason I prefer computer games, if they choose not to sell to western no problem given enough time modders/fans will make changes to anyone else play, be it in a legal or illegal way, and in doing so everyone loses, we still can play, but people lose more freedom, less work around since tehy don't need to port it, less money will move around, and what is worse the feminism and his white knights (who are only doing this because they think they will have sex if they do what females want....) will think they are winning and will start to be even more opressive to other people

FlyByKnight · November 2015

[mod edit]

No, actually it's NOT a broad term nor open to interpretation. It's literally NOT what you said it was, but yes, censorship is a dangerous and slippery slope, but there is no censorship. My view is that if you don't like it don't look at it or support it. This is why DOA is generally viewed as garbage state side. At the same time they want to make a hentai fapper fighting game which is creepy. Team Ninja should stick by their POS and not blame people who are offended by it in an attempt to get their fans riled up and angry at women's groups.

FlyByKnight · November 2015

Nothing has been censored though. Team Ninja is choosing not to fight for their own title because they know it's a POS game that isn't worth the bad press in the USA. That's the fact you guys should be focused on instead of demonizing the groups who have a right to be a counter point against it. You yourselves know it's hentai fapper creepy shit. You yourselves know if you're so into it, you're probably a creep yourself. It's your right to be a creep though, it's not illegal.

I just laugh at the fact how the hentai fap squad goes on about censorship when the same countries who put these games out put mosaics over the private parts on your cartoon porns.

You're directing your anger at the wrong folks. Direct it at the publisher if you're so disappointed.

Gaendric · November 2015

I agree to those who said this has nothing to do with censorship. These decisions and changes are purely financially driven.

Iselin · November 2015

Kyoris at it again with his anti-feminist, anti-liberal hate mongering?

How the fuck he's still allowed to post his wacko political shit here is mind boggling.

Kiyoris · November 2015

Iselin said:

How the fuck he's still allowed to post his wacko political shit here is mind boggling.

Calm down or leave my thread please. I'm open to discussion, not to "fuck", "wacko" and "shit". Because all you're doing is trying to get the thread locked.

Discuss the topic at hand or leave, simple. Censorship in gaming is a valid discussion.

You obviously don't like me, or the topic, simple solution, leave the thread and post in another one.

alkarionlog · November 2015

Amsai said:

Oh Jesus , dont get me started. Or they could just do it anyways and say fuck being PC and fuck the global agenda to create division and bring to task anyone who disagrees with the liberal agenda. The whole world needs to put on their big boy pants and suck it the fuck up. This kind of sickness is infecting the world like a plague particularly in the west. If you dont like something then dont buy/watch/participate/listen to it. Im not I hater, because frankly im too self absorbed to give two shits what any religious group, minority group or social agenda is doing. Too many people are empty inside and are easily brain washed into one agenda or another to fill that void. And you know what? Thats perfectly fine. That being said I have a live and let live view point. So basically I do what I do and others can do what they do. I dont really give a fuck. The one thing I do care about is when an agenda is shoved in my face and people try to use the law to tell me what to do/say/feel/think. That kind of bullshit should be left up to social structures (ie. rules of polite society etc) and the individual involved. Not regulated by a government and not "enforced" by the mass media. Now if something someone is doing is killing or injuring people, thats when the government should step in. But fuck, they cant even get that right can they?

ISIS: Knock knock.

EU: Whos there?

ISIS: ISIS

EU: ISIS who?

ISIS: ISIS gonna kill you!

EU: Come right in and please murder as many as you like.

Men in the Shadows: #sellsoutownpeople #fattenswallet #hightreason

oh I forgot, Happy Fucking Thanksgiving!!!

well just think, if people still defend ISIS in doing what they do and blame europe for not letting the refugees enter, when the muslim countries also don't let then enter, or some people in this very topic think is ok to censure something just because he don't care.

most people are retards who want to control others because they are not happy with they lifes so they ahve to force they way of thinking on others so everyone can be like him.

Kiyoris · November 2015

Torval said:

Kiyoris said:

Forbes supports Koei Tecmo:

That sounds like a cop out and a clickbait article by a Conde Nast sellout.

Tecmo could release the game in the west as is. Interest groups don't decide what consumers buy, the consumer does. I don't buy games because feminist groups, ratings agencies, game reviewers, or anybody else presents a moral dilemma to me. I make that decision all on my own.

Tecmo isn't releasing the game in the west because of money. It won't sell well "as is". It's not cost effective to make those changes for the west because they predict the game won't sell well enough to make it worth it. If the game was good enough to sell tens of millions of copies you can bet they would change and ship it in a moment.

They have already made the changes though, the import version has been completely translated into English for the West. So it's not because it's too costly to translate the game, they have already done it.

It can't be ratings either, I mean DOA Xtreme used to be bundled with Xbox in several European shops.

FrodoFragins · November 2015

Thane said:

actually this is not about women in games, but GIRLS in games.

if you have chars that look like girls, don't dress em like bitc***...

THIS. At least for me. There's some sick things being put into games by the Asians. that crap won't fly here.

With that being said. You won't catch me playing an MMO with women fighting in lingerie either.

Kiyoris · November 2015

Iselin said:

Kiyoris said:

Iselin said:

How the fuck he's still allowed to post his wacko political shit here is mind boggling.

Calm down or leave my thread please. I'm open to discussion, not to "fuck", "wacko" and "shit". Because all you're doing is trying to get the thread locked.

Discuss the topic at hand or leave, simple. Censorship in gaming is a valid discussion.

You obviously don't like me, or the topic, simple solution, leave the thread and post in another one.

Censorship is just the package you like to wrap your hate mongering around to make it seem more palatable. But your anti-feminist, anti-liberal hate mongering is your obvious agenda every time you start yet another thread about "censorship."

This blatant political shit has no place here.

I don't need to share your opinion, I have my own. I don't need to be Pro-feminist, I don't need to be Pro-censorship.

I am allowed to have my own opinon. I am allowed to be against censorship in gaming. I am allowed to have different views on the world.

You're angry, that's ok, leave, take a cold shower, stop cursing, and come back when you realize others are allowed to have different opinions than you.

observer · November 2015

I have to agree with OP here. He's posting actual developer comments who are stating their reasons on censorship. Everyone else is just stating their opinion. The fact is, the West has very strict censorship. The ESRB and MPAA are great examples for the US, and other nations also have their own system.

I also find it funny that people are trying dismiss his points because he has an agenda. Well, so does the other side, and their agenda is censorship by means of government instead of letting consumers decide.

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Japanese developer explains why they are forced to Censor in the West.

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Japanese developer explains why they are forced to Censor in the West.

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