Kojima Unhappy About Peace Walker Censorship

[Austin MacKenzie]

Kojima Unhappy About Peace Walker Censorship

In order to meet Japan's "C" rating for gamers age 15 or older, Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker [http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=76135] had to have a scene removed, and Hideo Kojima is none too happy.

Kojima Tweeted that in order to meet Japan's teen rating, "a certain scene" Kojima feels is both a "standard element" and "absolutely necessary for MGS" was removed. Had that scene not been cut, the game would have garnered a "D" rating, restricting it to gamers who are 17 or older.

While Kojima was not forthcoming on the actual nature of the deleted scene, he is inviting gamers to compare the Japanese version with the American or European release, neither of which were altered. Kojima further voiced concern over the reason Peace Walker was edited.

"There's tolerance for fantasy games, but for games where you show war or real violence between people, you apparently can't complain about anything. With this, it seems impossible to communicate something through games," Kojima said.

The unedited American release of Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker will receive a "T" rating. It is slated for a June 8 release, and will be for the PSP.

Source: adriasang


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[Onyx Oblivion]

Take the "D" rating, if the scene is that important.

He just wants the money from the extra sales. And the in game ads.

 

[SpaceSpork]

Er . . . What's a C rating?

 

[UltimatheChosen]

Er . . . What's a C rating?

I would presume it's Japan's equivalent of the "T" rating in the US.

 

[Irridium]

Er . . . What's a C rating?

It means he didn't study for his test the previous day.

OT: Well thats kind of a shame. But we'll see how big a scene it was in due time.

 

[NarayanFr]

Let me guess. It's gotta be related to kids, so either Paz gets raped, or Chico gets shot/maimed to death in order to get the compulsory "WAR IS BAD" message through like an anvil ?

 

[TsunamiWombat]

Necessary for MGS?

Well i'm assuming it's not boobies, so someone must die graphically.

 

[Brad Shepard]

hes complaining a lot latley isent he?

 

[RJ Dalton]

Take the "D" rating, if the scene is that important.
He just wants the money from the extra sales. And the in game ads.

Exactly. This isn't censorship, this is just conflict with the rating system. Censorship is like what they do in Australia or China, and completely refuse to allow certain things to be shown. He had total control over whether or not the scene was cut and he chose to cut it to get a rating he wanted; that's his choice and he shouldn't ***** about it.
Now, if his complaint was really with the rating system and he *was* really interested in making his point, he'd have left the scene in, accepted the higher rating and then complained about the hypocrisy.

 

[lacktheknack]

If I remember correctly, America is tough on sex, Australia is tough on violence, and Japan is tough on drugs (while the EU is tough on nothing) in games.

If this assumption is true, my bet is on a drug-related torture sequence.

 

[Gigaguy64]

ehh, if he is that worried about it then he should take the "D" Rating.

im pretty sure 15 year olds would of played the game anyway.

i am curios to know what the scene is.
Im thinking it might be along the lines of the same thing MW2 had.
Considering he said...
There's tolerance for fantasy games, but for games where you show war or real violence between people, you apparently can't complain about anything. With this, it seems impossible to communicate something through games," Kojima said.

Just my thought.

 

[ineedscissors]

it was probably the standard Metal Gear torture scene i'm guessing, although it may be a little more extreme this time if Japan censors made a big stink about it this time. but on the other hand, if it was really that bad why would it be rated T in America? (btw i think this is the first time that a main series metal gear game has ever been rated T)

 

[Enigmers]

So how is it that the scene is removed for people aged 15+ in Japan, and yet 13-year olds in the U.S. can see it?

 

[The DSM]

Wait, hes not putting it in just so that the age rating is lower?

So he changed it to increase sales?

At least the other versions will have it but... damn... it not good to censor just to get a bigger audience.

 

[Diligent]

Based on the amount of superfluous exposition in MGS games, I don't think Kojima is really the person to talk about what is "absolutely necessary for MGS".
The scene probably wouldn't be missed by anybody but him, had he not twittered about it.

 

[Rect Pola]

"...communicate something through a game"?

From Kojima? Seriously? He always starts out clear, but midway in (at best) things start getting weird and twisted and by the end it becomes a dribbling stream of delusions and nonsense.

 

[FloodOne]

"...communicate something through a game"?

From Kojima? Seriously? He always starts out clear, but midway in (at best) things start getting weird and twisted and by the end it becomes a dribbling stream of delusions and nonsense.

I agree, but damn it all if his games aren't fun to play.... when you actually get to play them.

OT- Censorship is what it is. If he did it just to make the rating they were aiming for, he shouldn't *****. If Konami was the one who pulled the trigger, whine away then.

 

[AceDiamond]

"...communicate something through a game"?

From Kojima? Seriously? He always starts out clear, but midway in (at best) things start getting weird and twisted and by the end it becomes a dribbling stream of delusions and nonsense.

Except for the obvious "WAR IS BAD" and "NUKES ARE BAD"