ESRB Defends Dead Island Logo Decision

[Sir Thomas Sean Connery]

Stop being purposely dense. Even in the olympics you can be the worst of the best. There's always a worst. So YES, I'm tired of us getting the WORST boxart. Maybe you should get some perspective, especially before you get slapped with a probation for insulting other users.

Is it bad that I read your whole argument with kickyourass in the voice of FlutterShy?

Snip
In terms of Indigo and the others, I was more responding to the violence aspect, not the lynching.

Otherwise, we'll see how the game turns out. If it's just another zombie hack and slash, the censorship will mean nothing. If it is deep and emotional like the trailer, then the censorship will detract from the emotional power.

I swear if it's another zombie hack and slasher...

The recent interview, and this article [http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/115/1153496p1.html] don't give me much hope. I already posted my opinion on the other thread [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.272491-Producer-Says-Dead-Island-is-More-Borderlands-than-Heavy-Rain], so yeah.

Oooooooh.....

Those articles are both extremely depressing. In that case, you're right. The cover art change doesn't mean much of anything and the outcry is pretty irrational.

 

[EvolutionKills]

Are you American? Are you familiar with American history? Check out the Civil Rights movement of the 50's and 60's. When black people were chased down, beaten, had dogs sicked on them for wanting the rights they're entitled to under the Constitution. And the worst of all was the flagrant and outright murder of black people in the southern states, often with the consent or help of the local law enforcement. And the most iconic of these killing were the LYNCHINGS. Don't know what that means?

"Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people, however large or small."

Do you understand now why the silhouette of a HANGED MAN might just be incredibly offensive to a good chunk of the American population, and could easily be taken out of context and turned into a media shit storm by people with a misguided agenda?

Of course, because America is the only country that has ever had a prevalent problem with anything like racism and mob rule, excuse this humble foreigner for being so blind and oblivious to what is obviously a touchy issue.

Never mind the fact that England also used hanging as a method of execution not too long ago, we've also had incidents of riots in the recent past. Also, I can call out games like Left 4 Dead as being a sad reminder of incidents like the Belfast riot of 1969 (zombie outbreaks always seem to be weirdly simmilar to violent riots). Then let's not forget the fact that I'm sure that the Germans are tired of the large number of games that use Nazi's as an immediate short hand for 'it's ok to kill these guys without remorse' and the Russians who are sick of every game now being about how the US has got the military version of blue balls with them as a result of the Cold War.

Failing that, given the brutal history of cruelty and oppression by the British Empire you'd figure that we'd feel somewhat awkward and uncomfortable about a game where the protaganist enters a foreign (presumeably Middle Eastern or Asian) reigon and starts localised ethnic cleansing for great justice (yet games like Modern Warfare and Battlefield are just as popular over here as they are in the US).

I'm not American but I'm familiar with a wide range of historical events and I can safely say that anyone who starts a fuss over this is the sort of person who nit picks everything just looking for something to whine about.

My ultimate point wasn't that I agree with them, and 'scew you' for not getting it. MY point was that I get why they changed it, and I was so tired of ignorant morons who couldn't grasp WHY they decided to change it. I never said I agreed with it one way or another, however I can understand WHY they would change it. My anger isn't with the developers changing or not changing the logo, it's with the morons who say 'get over it' and couldn't grasp why they would do what they did. There's a difference between disagreeing with what they did, and not understanding why they did it. Ignorance and empathy (or lack there of) are not the same.

 

[Eri]

I don't see what the big deal is, even if the original box art DIDN'T break the rules, the change is so insignificant I don't understand how it even warrents a mention.

I was already on the fence about buying the game or not and now I know for sure, I'm not going to. I'm sick of our box art getting changed or censored for the worse. NO MORE CENSORING.

So let me get this straight, you are refusing to buy a video game because they changed the box art, (box art that, if left unchanged, would have broken industry guidelines and which could have led to the game not getting sold in some places altogether)? That is perhaps the stupidest reason given for any action taken by a human being I have ever heard in my life.

Broken industry guidelines? Game not being sold? And you called my reasoning stupid, this would never happen. Maybe you shouldn't believe everything fear mongers say.

The article said, and I quote

The hanging zombie on the original Dead Island broke the videogame industry's marketing guidelines, says ratings board

I don't know how things work in your little corner of the world, but in mine, when someone's product breaks industry guidelines that product tends not to get sold.

And yes I do think your reasoning is stupid, not buying a game because the LOGO got changed in perhaps the tiniest way possible, is a stupid reason. It's like refusing to buy a cd because the order of the songs got changed.

I don't know how things work in YOUR country, but I'm tired of us constantly getting the worst boxart they have to offer. It's always edited or changed in someway, and the only way to vote is with your wallet. Sure, my one sale won't be missed, but even a few people can add up. And there's little else in the way of making how you feel known, than by not buying it.

I would like to thank you for giving me an oppurtunity to employ my fav pic/


QUICK SOMEONE CALL [img/]http://standupwithpetedominick.com/forums/images/smilies/wambulance_logo.jpg[/img]

I have herd alot of reasons for boycotting a game and that is by far the pettiest, I mean come on the game itself is not being censored in this country at all, the main reason anything is being changed is because some Americans would react badily to seeing their box art witch might LOSE them sales(if the box art is what people say it is), this is not a bad thing that their changing it and your just tring to be a "rebel" because you think thats cool.

Huurrrr right. I'm doing this because I think it's cool. Nevermind the fact I already stated my argument pretty clearly. I think you're the one who is trying to act cool by posting that image.

 

[Sangreal Gothcraft]

America....that is all i have to say, When it comes to a hanging corpse on a tree they go all "It will hurts people feelings"..

 

[Baresark]

I just read a fascinating and persuasive article about how the it's the Anti-racists that keep racism alive. I have had similar thoughts, and this fits right into it. It not the non-racist who sees the dead island logo and thinks that it's a lynched black man. It's only the racist and the anti racist. What a shameful world we live in when these two opposing groups think the same thing.

On the other hand, it's only a logo and it's not that big of a deal. But it's a small symptom of a much larger problem.

 

[yanipheonu]

well, whatever, it didn't have that much relevance so it's a fair enough change to make.

If a hanging zombie was some sort of all-important plot point or something, maybe it would be a little worse, but this seems fair enough.

 

[ninjajoeman]

Dead Space has a cut off arm floating in space. People didn't seem to complain then

Same with the Left 4 Dead 1 and 2 game covers, they're pretty graphic as well, but didn't cause a fuss.

I think it said in this that the l4d cover got altered.

 

[04whim]

Eh, I'm not the type to complain about this. I tend to find a lot of schadenfreude in horror movies and the like, but I suppose I can see the problem with this. It's more a case of 'a child might walk into an electronics retailer and see a depiction of a hanging man' rather than 'oh my god, its disgusting, change it right this instant! its an affront to our lord and now we're going to be dicks in front of a soldier's funeral!' (Seriously, fuck the WBC.

Its still a bit silly but not entirely unreasonable.

 

[Gabrielbew]

Dead Space has a cut off arm floating in space. People didn't seem to complain then

Or even better, the indigo prophecy box art. That shows a man holding a knife while it appears that he cut himself with words like "Guilt" or "Fear" written in blood behind him.

That seems more graphic then a silhouette of a zombie that's hung itself.

Are you American? Are you familiar with American history? Check out the Civil Rights movement of the 50's and 60's. When black people were chased down, beaten, had dogs sicked on them for wanting the rights they're entitled to under the Constitution. And the worst of all was the flagrant and outright murder of black people in the southern states, often with the consent or help of the local law enforcement. And the most iconic of these killing were the LYNCHINGS. Don't know what that means?

"Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people, however large or small."

Do you understand now why the silhouette of a HANGED MAN might just be incredibly offensive to a good chunk of the American population, and could easily be taken out of context and turned into a media shit storm by people with a misguided agenda?

So let me get this straight.

Because of the past, we can never, ever depict anyone hanging, ever?

I mean, really?

So in time, since all types of vicious actions were performed against people through history, we shall never again depict any of those in fear of offending someone.

Never again we can have a Mario box art with Mario jumping from place to place because it makes people think of the history of people throwing themselves off buildings to end their lives. Omg censorship the image!

The fact is, people hang themselves. Other people not only hanged people, but also did a lot of terrible things to other people. If we start to censor our products to never "offend" us by showing what WE did, through history, to one another, I guess we'll only have Barbie Dolls in stores and TV will only show My Little Ponies.

Wait no, that might offend someone too.

 

[Jumplion]

Oooooooh.....

Those articles are both extremely depressing. In that case, you're right. The cover art change doesn't mean much of anything and the outcry is pretty irrational.

Just to make sure I'm clear, as I probably should have explained this earlier, I was not offended by the previous logo or anything. Infact, in certain ways, I do prefer it over the new one. However, I understand why some people would be up in arms over it (not that anyone has been up in arms over it yet), and I do find it prudent of Deep Silver to change a minor detail that would potentially lead to major public fallout.

 

[EvolutionKills]

Dead Space has a cut off arm floating in space. People didn't seem to complain then

Or even better, the indigo prophecy box art. That shows a man holding a knife while it appears that he cut himself with words like "Guilt" or "Fear" written in blood behind him.

That seems more graphic then a silhouette of a zombie that's hung itself.

Are you American? Are you familiar with American history? Check out the Civil Rights movement of the 50's and 60's. When black people were chased down, beaten, had dogs sicked on them for wanting the rights they're entitled to under the Constitution. And the worst of all was the flagrant and outright murder of black people in the southern states, often with the consent or help of the local law enforcement. And the most iconic of these killing were the LYNCHINGS. Don't know what that means?

"Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people, however large or small."

Do you understand now why the silhouette of a HANGED MAN might just be incredibly offensive to a good chunk of the American population, and could easily be taken out of context and turned into a media shit storm by people with a misguided agenda?

So let me get this straight.

Because of the past, we can never, ever depict anyone hanging, ever?

I mean, really?

So in time, since all types of vicious actions were performed against people through history, we shall never again depict any of those in fear of offending someone.

Never again we can have a Mario box art with Mario jumping from place to place because it makes people think of the history of people throwing themselves off buildings to end their lives. Omg censorship the image!

The fact is, people hang themselves. Other people not only hanged people, but also did a lot of terrible things to other people. If we start to censor our products to never "offend" us by showing what WE did, through history, to one another, I guess we'll only have Barbie Dolls in stores and TV will only show My Little Ponies.

Wait no, that might offend someone too.

For fuck's sake, I never said I agree with it, but I understand WHY they did it. If you want to be pissy, then be pissy at the society that is responsible for creating and uphold this particular set of social norms. As of right now, images of hanging are not cool (in the United States) because of the actions of southern white supremacists over the last half century. Simple as that, like it or not, it's just a social taboo. They've changed their box art to conform more to this social norm, in an effort to rock the boat less and improve sales (and possible dodge a media shit storm). I'm not a fan of it, but it is what it is, and I understand WHY they did it...