In the USA kids under 7 years old are doing drugs and they are afraid that some nipples will screw up their childhood ? .. The inteligence of politicians amazes me even now...
Of course the irony is that under 7 year olds probably see a lot more nipples in their life than most game players.
For those saying we should decry sexism over the Male vs. Female Nipple issues, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was never adopted in the US.
It's o'kay to be sexist here still in general, but before you do I would be certain you've reviewed the rights to Equal Employment Opportunity, and the Fair Housing standard (plus possibly others).
I find it depressing that so many people don't understand what censorship is. The U.S. government is not censoring AoC. The only ones censoring the American version is Funcom.
They could have included nipples. Hell, they could have had fully animated sex scenes. But then the game would have had an adult only rating and it would have hurt sales. Nobody FORCED them to remove nipples from the American version. They chose to do it for marketing reasons.
Bitch about the rating system if you like but stop calling it censorship because that's not what it is.
I don't even care about this but the misunderstanding was bugging me. And honestly, if you're that desperate to see nipples why don't you just go buy a porn movie or flip through your movie channels on TV.
I find it depressing that so many people don't understand what censorship is. The U.S. government is not censoring AoC. The only ones censoring the American version is Funcom. They could have included nipples. Hell, they could have had fully animated sex scenes. But then the game would have had an adult only rating and it would have hurt sales. Nobody FORCED them to remove nipples from the American version. They chose to do it for marketing reasons. Bitch about the rating system if you like but stop calling it censorship because that's not what it is. I don't even care about this but the misunderstanding was bugging me. And honestly, if you're that desperate to see nipples why don't you just go buy a porn movie or flip through your movie channels on TV.
Haha, I get to disagree with Neanderthal again!! ^_^
Anyway, I would think that your view is right. Yes, of course FunCom change the game but as you said, they do that because of the rating, because of the target audience they want to reach.
Now, let's say I FunCom would just say, "fuck sales, we do the game we want to do, regardless of the ratings".
And then we have three gamers. One from America, one from Germany and one from UK. All of them are adult people, 19 years old, grown up, mature (I did hear a rumor that such gamers exist! Honestly!^^).
The American gamer could not get his hands on the game in America, because the ratings make it AO (as far as I know you only get it 21 and up then, correct me if I'm wrong). The German gamer would not get it at all, since it would be put on the index list and he'd have to get it from somewhere else (probably a much more expensive Import Version). And the UK gamer can just go into the store and buy it.
So, what about this is NOT censorship? It's the Rating System telling people what they can or cannot see in a game. Which is, in essence, censorship.
I find it depressing that so many people don't understand what censorship is. The U.S. government is not censoring AoC. The only ones censoring the American version is Funcom. They could have included nipples. Hell, they could have had fully animated sex scenes. But then the game would have had an adult only rating and it would have hurt sales. Nobody FORCED them to remove nipples from the American version. They chose to do it for marketing reasons. Bitch about the rating system if you like but stop calling it censorship because that's not what it is. I don't even care about this but the misunderstanding was bugging me. And honestly, if you're that desperate to see nipples why don't you just go buy a porn movie or flip through your movie channels on TV.
Ah, but the threat of government censorship is looming over the industry. As it stands now, the FCC can fine televisions stations for indecency. Now suppose the ESRB relaxes its standards so that partial nudity garners only an M rating thus maintaining market exposure. The puritanical parents discover this and write to their congressman. Politicians then threaten to take censorship control away from the ESRB. It is the same turmoil that occured around the film rating system. The industry either censors itself, or the government will step in and censor for you.
_____________________________ Currently Playing: LOTRO; DDO Played: AC2, AO, Auto Assault, CoX, DAoC, DDO, Earth&Beyond, EQ1, EQ2, EVE, Fallen Earth, Jumpgate, Roma Victor, Second Life, SWG, V:SoH, WoW, World War II Online.
Games I'm watching: Infinity: The Quest for Earth, Force of Arms.
Ah, but the threat of government censorship is looming over the industry. As it stands now, the FCC can fine televisions stations for indecency. Now suppose the ESRB relaxes its standards so that partial nudity garners only an M rating thus maintaining market exposure. The puritanical parents discover this and write to their congressman. Politicians then threaten to take censorship control away from the ESRB. It is the same turmoil that occured around the film rating system. The industry either censors itself, or the government will step in and censor for you.
Good points but the fact remains that a rating system is not censorship. It is basically a warning label so that people will know what sort of content to expect.
If stores won't carry a product with an AO rating that is not censorship either. It's a business decision. They aren't saying the makers CAN'T put in -this- or -that-, they are just saying they won't market it which is their right to do.
If people got angry over nipples in an M rated game and forced a change in the rating system that is not censorship either, it's just a change in the warning labels.
It may all boil down to defacto censorship but it stems from public pressures and marketing not from government employees editing the game.
I'll say it again, its not the ESRB and its rating system, it's the businesses that will not carry AO rated games! The AO rating is essentially the same rating this game is getting in Britain and most of the rest of the EU, that being, 18 and older. It should be noted that these same businesses sell R rated movies, unrated movies and even NC-17 movies. It's asinine.
Being German I'd rather want to chop off limbs than see nipples. I mean if I want to see nipples I definitely dont need a computer game, heh. But I cant just feed my anger by chopping off limbs in rl, as much as I like sometimes.
So as ever I am going to import a UK version, as most Germany will do. What a farce. I really wonder when consorship will end. My guts tell me it will only grow more not less, alas.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
Well AoC being an MMO and requiring the net I don't see a bunch of nerds having problems with finding nipples... now real ones thats a prob lol, I am all for freedom of expression and such but I don't believe some nipple in a video game counts as art.
Comments
Of course the irony is that under 7 year olds probably see a lot more nipples in their life than most game players.
No nipples?
So after I get this game I still have a use for my girlfriend? I was seriously hoping this game would do everything for me and then some.
God Damn it FunCom!! Stop screwing up everything!!!
I think on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the most disappointing I give it somewhere around a .25
Who cares about tits, just as long as I can cut people's heads off. I can't wait to mutilate some bodies, whoohooo
Does anyone know if arterial spray is in or out? I like to see blood shooting up from the neck into the air when I decapitate.
For those saying we should decry sexism over the Male vs. Female Nipple issues, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was never adopted in the US.
It's o'kay to be sexist here still in general, but before you do I would be certain you've reviewed the rights to Equal Employment Opportunity, and the Fair Housing standard (plus possibly others).
I find it depressing that so many people don't understand what censorship is. The U.S. government is not censoring AoC. The only ones censoring the American version is Funcom.
They could have included nipples. Hell, they could have had fully animated sex scenes. But then the game would have had an adult only rating and it would have hurt sales. Nobody FORCED them to remove nipples from the American version. They chose to do it for marketing reasons.
Bitch about the rating system if you like but stop calling it censorship because that's not what it is.
I don't even care about this but the misunderstanding was bugging me. And honestly, if you're that desperate to see nipples why don't you just go buy a porn movie or flip through your movie channels on TV.
Anyway, I would think that your view is right. Yes, of course FunCom change the game but as you said, they do that because of the rating, because of the target audience they want to reach.
Now, let's say I FunCom would just say, "fuck sales, we do the game we want to do, regardless of the ratings".
And then we have three gamers. One from America, one from Germany and one from UK. All of them are adult people, 19 years old, grown up, mature (I did hear a rumor that such gamers exist! Honestly!^^).
The American gamer could not get his hands on the game in America, because the ratings make it AO (as far as I know you only get it 21 and up then, correct me if I'm wrong). The German gamer would not get it at all, since it would be put on the index list and he'd have to get it from somewhere else (probably a much more expensive Import Version). And the UK gamer can just go into the store and buy it.
So, what about this is NOT censorship? It's the Rating System telling people what they can or cannot see in a game. Which is, in essence, censorship.
Which Final Fantasy Character Are You?
Final Fantasy 7
Ah, but the threat of government censorship is looming over the industry. As it stands now, the FCC can fine televisions stations for indecency. Now suppose the ESRB relaxes its standards so that partial nudity garners only an M rating thus maintaining market exposure. The puritanical parents discover this and write to their congressman. Politicians then threaten to take censorship control away from the ESRB. It is the same turmoil that occured around the film rating system. The industry either censors itself, or the government will step in and censor for you.
_____________________________
Currently Playing: LOTRO; DDO
Played: AC2, AO, Auto Assault, CoX, DAoC, DDO, Earth&Beyond, EQ1, EQ2, EVE, Fallen Earth, Jumpgate, Roma Victor, Second Life, SWG, V:SoH, WoW, World War II Online.
Games I'm watching: Infinity: The Quest for Earth, Force of Arms.
Find the Truth: http://www.factcheck.org/
If stores won't carry a product with an AO rating that is not censorship either. It's a business decision. They aren't saying the makers CAN'T put in -this- or -that-, they are just saying they won't market it which is their right to do.
If people got angry over nipples in an M rated game and forced a change in the rating system that is not censorship either, it's just a change in the warning labels.
It may all boil down to defacto censorship but it stems from public pressures and marketing not from government employees editing the game.
I'll say it again, its not the ESRB and its rating system, it's the businesses that will not carry AO rated games! The AO rating is essentially the same rating this game is getting in Britain and most of the rest of the EU, that being, 18 and older. It should be noted that these same businesses sell R rated movies, unrated movies and even NC-17 movies. It's asinine.
it all stems from those puritans that came over on the mayflower. no sex...but slaughter every native american you can find.
^ LOL!
Being German I'd rather want to chop off limbs than see nipples. I mean if I want to see nipples I definitely dont need a computer game, heh. But I cant just feed my anger by chopping off limbs in rl, as much as I like sometimes.
So as ever I am going to import a UK version, as most Germany will do. What a farce. I really wonder when consorship will end. My guts tell me it will only grow more not less, alas.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
Well AoC being an MMO and requiring the net I don't see a bunch of nerds having problems with finding nipples... now real ones thats a prob lol, I am all for freedom of expression and such but I don't believe some nipple in a video game counts as art.
Still looking forward to AoC and Stargate Worlds.
It's not about nipples, it's not about art, it's about who gets to decide what is acceptable and how they go about enforcing their decisions.