Thai Government Bans Tropico 5: 'Threat to National Security'
Kalypso Media doesn't intend to contest the ban.
Your Magnificence, I bring news from far-off lands! It would appear that certain aspects of your latest autobiog ... *ahem* fictionalized computer game history of our beloved Tropico has been causing concern in a place called Thailand. The Thai Culture Ministry has issued a ban! A BAN! Although the third and fourth portions of your autobi ... I do beg your pardon, Magnificence ... of the Tropico series were beloved in this far-off Thailand, Tropico 5 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/133859-Tropico-5-Pre-Orders-Open-With-Pre-Purchase-Rewards-Tiers] has been deemed to be detrimental to the country's security. Should I imprison someone, Magnificence?
According to a statement from New Era Thailand marketing manager Nonglak Sahavattanapong, Tropico 5 has fallen foul of the censor because "some part of its content might affect peace and order in the country." The current Thai government is a military junta, which seized control in May this year [http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/22/thailand-army-chief-announces-military-coup]; it was the 19th coup in 82 years. Tropico, as devoted fans will recall, allows the player to control the media and crush all opposition as an iron-fisted dictator.
Even before the May coup, the Thai government was notoriously difficult to deal with, cracking down on anything it deemed immoral, pornographic or critical of the government. In 2012, it banned a Thai adaptation of Macbeth [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb6HFQPcEes], claiming it could cause divisiveness among the people.
"Actually it's a good game with positive reviews," Nonglak said in a statement. "We've had licenses to distribute Tropico 3 and 4 before, but in the fifth installment, the story line has developed further and there might be some part of it that's not appropriate in the current situation."
According to Nonglak, Kalypso doesn't intend to contest the ban.
Source: AP [http://bigstory.ap.org/article/thailands-censors-ban-tropico-5-computer-game]
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Kalypso Media doesn't intend to contest the ban.
Your Magnificence, I bring news from far-off lands! It would appear that certain aspects of your latest autobiog ... *ahem* fictionalized computer game history of our beloved Tropico has been causing concern in a place called Thailand. The Thai Culture Ministry has issued a ban! A BAN! Although the third and fourth portions of your autobi ... I do beg your pardon, Magnificence ... of the Tropico series were beloved in this far-off Thailand, Tropico 5 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/133859-Tropico-5-Pre-Orders-Open-With-Pre-Purchase-Rewards-Tiers] has been deemed to be detrimental to the country's security. Should I imprison someone, Magnificence?
According to a statement from New Era Thailand marketing manager Nonglak Sahavattanapong, Tropico 5 has fallen foul of the censor because "some part of its content might affect peace and order in the country." The current Thai government is a military junta, which seized control in May this year [http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/22/thailand-army-chief-announces-military-coup]; it was the 19th coup in 82 years. Tropico, as devoted fans will recall, allows the player to control the media and crush all opposition as an iron-fisted dictator.
Even before the May coup, the Thai government was notoriously difficult to deal with, cracking down on anything it deemed immoral, pornographic or critical of the government. In 2012, it banned a Thai adaptation of Macbeth [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb6HFQPcEes], claiming it could cause divisiveness among the people.
"Actually it's a good game with positive reviews," Nonglak said in a statement. "We've had licenses to distribute Tropico 3 and 4 before, but in the fifth installment, the story line has developed further and there might be some part of it that's not appropriate in the current situation."
According to Nonglak, Kalypso doesn't intend to contest the ban.
Source: AP [http://bigstory.ap.org/article/thailands-censors-ban-tropico-5-computer-game]
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