Ubisoft Cancels U.K. Release of We Dare

[NickCaligo42]

"We Dare not coming to anywhere." Might as well start in on this feature, Escapist, just a matter of time now.

 

[Vrach]

If nothing else, it suggests a lack of validity on the part of PEGI, which made a decision and stood by it, and that makes the whole system look bad.

Massively disagree with you here Andy. I'm right behind PEGI on this one. They also stuck to their principles despite the public backlash which is something the industry could stand to learn from these days. Cowering under the mattress every time someone starts yelling (which, with the likes of Fox News and people of certain political views, is not a rare occurrence) is not something we should strive for.

That said I understand where you're coming from. A re-evaluation of how to rate motion-controlled games that can be as much about the environment as they are about the content MIGHT well be appropriate. I'd say it's just a matter of motion controls still being young and there not being a lot of sexy titles for it (hell, Microsoft is openly battling their existence, the twats)

But PEGI rates CONTENT and saying that game has content that's 18+ would simply be inaccurate. In fact, going by that logic, you could also say Wii Fitness or whatever the hell it's called should have an 18+ rating. Because if your partner puts themselves in an appropriate position while you're doing those push-ups... well let's just say it's not what most conservative parents would consider an appropriate action for their underage children

(Also, still freaking out over teenage sex? Can anyone give me a timer on the point where we'll outgrow that as a society?)

 

[Mr. Eff_v1legacy]

That's really unfortunate - that people are so upset about it, and that Ubisoft would cave like that.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

Oh.

How, um... disappointing...?

 

[Venereus]

What does "underage sex" mean, anyway? Isn't 12+ actually the age fucked-up kids these days start having sex?

 

[WolfEdge]

Two, Ubisoft's decision to drop the game in the U.K. is extremely unfortunate; I don't live in the country so I don't know how strong the backlash actually is but it seems to me that a few Sun subscribers and Keith Vaz aren't worth getting terribly worked up over. If nothing else, it suggests a lack of validity on the part of PEGI, which made a decision and stood by it, and that makes the whole system look bad.

Why does it make PEGI look bad? They rated the game based on its content, and refused to alter the rating just because people were whining over a really bad ad for the game on YouTube. I say good for PEGI, not changing the ratings on games just because a vocal minority disagrees even though they've never actually played the game.

As for Ubisoft... I don't know why you guys even bothered making this game in the first place. I thought you were going to only make AAA titles after all your other piles of shovelware for the Wii and DS bombed and you released a stupid statement to the press. But no, more shovelware? Really? Just please don't whine to the media again when you still aren't making money off it.

Don't blame the rest of the Europeans - this one's all about the UK. Compared to most Europeans, Americans (and, famously, the British) are uptight about sex.

Oh, don't worry. I'm keeping this article in the back of my mind, and the next time people from the UK start making "AMERICANS ARE TOO UPTIGHT ABOUT SEX WHAT IS WRONG WITH THOSE PEOPLE" posts, I will whip this out and say "Hey, we aren't the only ones banning stuff; why'd you guys cry until We Dare got canned? Oh, YOU personally didn't do that? Well, sweeping generalizations of an entire group of people based on what piece of land they live on can be a *****."

While in America any game with even the slightest amount explicit sexual content gets rated AO and won't be sold by anyone but porn shops.

Okay, I don't know what America you're talking about, but here in the United States of America, that doesn't actually happen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AO-rated_products
If what you claimed was true, that list would be sooooooooo huge. But it's not, because you're making shit up.

Agree'd, for the most part. However, I feel I need to make a distinction between what you say is happening and what is actually happening. Nothing is actually being banned, here. Ubisoft made the decision completely on their own to keep the game from releasing in the UK and US. People are allowed to get upset by things they don't like. It isn't England's or America's fault, really.

Ubisoft just has a weak spine.

 

[AWDMANOUT]

So the game will neither be released in the US or UK?

Where exactly will it be?

 

[SelectivelyEvil13]

Too low of a game rating has actually stirred the pot quite a bit. The public outrage is pathetic enough, while displaying parental incompetency, but Ubisoft's part is equal, if not worse.

Ubisoft's intention was to create a "sexy" motion controlled game on the Wii using the Diildo Wii-mote in provocative situations promoted by their game. Now what? You can't just back down to what the initial ploy was without looking just as stupid as the parents too lazy to execute any tangible supervision or the unpopular(er) kids who snuck into the party with "We Dare." Who do they plan on releasing the game to now, and why did they even bother making?

Are the remaining games to be used as implicitly sexy coasters?

 

[Siege_TF]

Strange, I don't recall seeing any children in that add...

 

[Eiv]

Lol ain't it great how Europeans think Americans are all up tight about sex?
Then go about banning everything?

Hrmmm, come back when your Age of Conan can uncensor the nipples.

America stands for |Violence = fine||Boobs = NONONONONONONONONONONONONONO

signed
/Troll

Uhh my AOC's nipples have always been uncensored.. at least the last time I played.

My bad then ^^. just remember that the "american public" were in an uproar, not about the brutal killings etc, but the fact it showed nipples.

But yes, britain is renowned for having prudes. Personally i think its a thing of the past that a few pain's in the ass are trying to keep alive through any medium possible. Britain as a whole is far more european nowadays and generally most people are quite liberal.

 

[Eiv]

So the game will neither be released in the US or UK?

Where exactly will it be?

Vatican City. Reckon the pope and his pope friends can all have fun while not praying<--(more sense than one)

 

[AWDMANOUT]

So the game will neither be released in the US or UK?

Where exactly will it be?

Vatican City. Reckon the pope and his pope friends can all have fun while not praying<--(more sense than one)

Now if "Pope and friends" were actually unlockable characters in-game, I might have it imported just to play.

 

[mikespoff]

I'm inclined to think that Ubisoft pulled the plug not because of the controversy but because the game was destined to bomb badly, and that's fair enough.

Yup, it certainly looks like they pulled the game because they realised - somewhat too late - that the whole concept was idiotic and no-one in their intended market would actually buy the game.

 

[mikespoff]

Lol ain't it great how Europeans think Americans are all up tight about sex?
Then go about banning everything?

Um, the game didn't actually get banned in Europe. But Ubi had already said that they weren't even considering a US release.

 

[mikespoff]

If nothing else, it suggests a lack of validity on the part of PEGI, which made a decision and stood by it, and that makes the whole system look bad.

Massively disagree with you here Andy. I'm right behind PEGI on this one. They also stuck to their principles despite the public backlash which is something the industry could stand to learn from these days.

...

I think that's what Andy was actually saying - PEGI's actions were fine, but the fact that the public and industry (in the form of Ubisoft) are all ignoring what PEGI said makes it look like PEGI is irrelevant. I think that's the "lack of validity" that he's referring to - there is a system, but it seems to be impotent in this particular case.

 

[Andy Chalk]

But PEGI rates CONTENT and saying that game has content that's 18+ would simply be inaccurate.

It's not whether or not PEGI accurately rated the game that counts, it's the reaction to the rating that's at issue. At least on the surface of it, an ignorant but vocal minority was able to pressure Ubisoft into canning a game because the rating was "wrong" - which is to say that it disagreed with the assigned rating, despite having no factual basis for doing so, and that ultimately carried the day. Kneejerks reacted, Ubisoft caved, but it's PEGI that is ultimately undermined.

 

[matt87_50]

thats retarded... UK: you are retarded.

why not just rate it 18+? at very least?

 

[Callate]

Actually, I think PEGI's decision was pretty defensible. It doesn't look like the game itself is terribly salacious, despite what it may be encouraging the participants to do. I don't get the impression the game itself contains nudity or language; these are the same things that get "Suggestive Themes" warnings on ESRB games, and such themes alone similarly rarely warrant a higher rating than "T".

I halfway feel like Ubisoft should say, "Look, it's a freaking mini-game collection. You think this is encouraging your kids to have sex? Have you looked at your kid's Facebook page lately?"

Oh well, time to unplug the Wii and play actual Truth or Dare. Try to get turned on without those sexy, sexy Miis.

 

[Catalyst6]

Some developers get backlash and do minor things like change a name (you know which one I'm talking about). Some just shrug it off under "games are art".

Ubisoft abandons an entire market because they don't want to deal with it. What a bunch of cowards.

 

[Tanis]

And nothing of value was lost...minus any kind of pride or self worth and Ubisoft caving in to terrorists.