Swastikas Cut From Japanese Black Ops

[Andy Chalk]

Swastikas Cut From Japanese Black Ops

Square Enix is very sorry, but localized Japanese versions of Call of Duty: Black Ops [http://www.amazon.com/Call-Duty-Black-Ops-Playstation-3/dp/B003JVCA9Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1288817955&sr=8-2] are going to be cut just a little wee bit more than it promised.

announced in September [http://www.square-enix.com/na/] that the game was being "tweaked" in order to satisfy the requirements of the country's game rating authority. As a result, the "brutal or grotesque portrayal" of dismemberment will be either toned down or removed completely from the Japanese editions of the game. Square Enix said at the time that the zombie mode would remain "unaltered," but apparently it spoke a little too soon.

Two versions of the game are being released, one dubbed and one in English with Japanese subtitles, and today the publisher revealed that all instances of swastikas in zombie mode will be replaced with the iron cross in the Windows and dubbed console versions of the game. For some reason, however, the subtitled console editions will keep the swastikas.

It's a tiny change and one that would probably go unnoticed by most gamers if Square Enix didn't point it out. I'm not really sure why it's bothering, though; censoring the German release [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/104008-Call-of-Duty-Black-Ops-Censored-in-Germany] is understandable, what with all that unpleasantness back in the 30s and 40s, but is this an issue for Japan as well? Regardless, because it had promised that zombie mode would be "unaltered," the company also issued an official apology for the change.

Call of Duty: Black Ops comes out on November 9 for the PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and DS.

Source: 1Up [http://www.1up.com/news/square-enix-editing-call-duty-black]


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[SovietSecrets]

People are still afraid of swastikas and get awkward talking bout this? What happened, happened and over 60 years later its time to move on. Hell my grandparents who were part of the Holocaust made peace with what was done to them and they hold no ill will to it. Why can't everyone else?

 

[mr_rubino]

"Oh Japan".
Yes, we already know you keep ignoring all that ugliness with all your might instead of admitting to it and moving past it. =3

 

[Tireseas_v1legacy]

Really? The country that gave the world Hellsing suddenly has problems with Nazi iconography?

 

[Woodsey]

I think 70 years is enough time to start using a symbol again; it's not like it's being used to promote neo-Nazism in this context.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

I understand that countries don't like to dwell on histories controversies, but I feel that not acknowledging the existence of such symbols is not the way to go around it. People need to learn what these symbols, like the Swastika mean. It has become synonymous with Nazi Germany, when the symbol actually has its roots in religion.

 

[JourneyThroughHell]

It's just a symbol. Alright, at least they're not going the German way of "there are swastikas - remove everything from the shelves".

But this is just a sign of insecurity. How's disallowing a sign supposed to change the history, guys? Let's just pretend it never happened, then?

 

[The Austin]

Why are there Swastikas is a game during the cold war?

 

[MikailCaboose]

Why are there Swastikas is a game during the cold war?

Possibly with the religious aspect in the region. It takes place in areas such as Vietnam and Laos, so it may pop up on some temple, if there is one. Never played it, probably won't so that's as far as I'll say.

 

[Flying-Emu]

Really? The country that gave the world Hellsing suddenly has problems with Nazi iconography?

My thoughts exactly.

What the hell, Japan?

 

[archvile93]

Why are there Swastikas is a game during the cold war?

Possibly with the religious aspect in the region. It takes place in areas such as Vietnam and Laos, so it may pop up on some temple, if there is one. Never played it, probably won't so that's as far as I'll say.

Nazi zombies sometimes have swastikas on them, that's where it comes from.

 

[HK_01]

What? Why are there swastikas in Black Ops in the first place?

 

[AugustFall]

Brutal and grotesque portrayal of dismemberment? Will MG: Rising even be released in Japan?

 

[Iandiaeufaieubfeuihfi]

Either way, both versions are badass. Slicing a zombie with an iron cross is as hardcore as with a swastika. Reminds me of Castlevania in some way...

 

[The Austin]

Why are there Swastikas is a game during the cold war?

Possibly with the religious aspect in the region. It takes place in areas such as Vietnam and Laos, so it may pop up on some temple, if there is one. Never played it, probably won't so that's as far as I'll say.

I don't imagine that they would cut out Swastikas that weren't affiliated with the Nazi regime.

Who knows though. You may be right.

 

[Therumancer]

I'm againt censorship for any reason at all.

I will also say that I have certain issues with Japan and/or Germany trying to pretty much erase any mention of their own history by removing things like symbols from World War II. Symbols of shame they might be, but I think that a proper portrayal of such things when World War II scenarios or stories involving possible Nazi/Imperial Japanese remnants are involved is important ESPECIALLY for them.

I'll also be blunt, when it comes to Japan they are disturbingly one sided about this kind of thing. They are quick to cover up Japanese atrocities during World War II, but at the same time will promote the crap out of putting a spin on things happening during that war if it makes them look good, or like the resolution was some kind of mistake or accident. I've seen plenty of stuff over the years like "Super Atragon" that have involved Japanese super weapons from World War II which were never properly deployed before the A-bombs hit, and anime like "Blue Seed" and "Gasaraki" to name only a few that include some rather disturbing attitudes about the entire conflict.

When it comes to dismemberment I have to sit here and say "WTF", on that level it seems like Japan is engaging in censorship of a non-Japanese product just because it can. I say this because the most depraved, disturbing, and graphically violent things I have ever seen have something in common: they were all made in Japan.

Don't get me wrong, I've seen plenty of ultra violent content from the US and other countries, but it seems like Japan is always raising the bar. We're not just talking about anime and video games here either (and yeah, video game dismemberment is nothing new, if nothing else stop and think about whether you think Raiden is only going to be slicing Watermelon's in the new Metal Gear game coming out), there are plenty of horror movies released under labels like "Tokyo Shock" and with live actors that have limbs and blood flying all over the place.... I won't consider the "samurai drama" sub-genere here because
I guess they are talking about realism and that tends to be more over the top than a lot of the horror fare you see otherwise.

At any rate for those who aren't horror buffs consider this film series as an example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea_Pig_(film_series)

So really, other than censoring this for the sake of censoring it, what is the point?

 

[archvile93]

Why are there Swastikas is a game during the cold war?

Possibly with the religious aspect in the region. It takes place in areas such as Vietnam and Laos, so it may pop up on some temple, if there is one. Never played it, probably won't so that's as far as I'll say.

Nazi zombies sometimes have swastikas on them, that's where it comes from.

prepare for mind=blown:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika


now......... try again, Why would Japan have a problem with the swastika in a game?


if anything they should of spoken up during World at War.

I wasn't trying to asnwer the question of why Japan would care, I'm just telling him where they'll appear in the game.

 

[Rubashov]

What? Why are there swastikas in Black Ops in the first place?

Because Black Ops has a Nazi Zombies mode.