Censorship *****

As we all know Censorship sucks. So let's talk about it.

Personally I am against any form of Censorship. Not only because it devalues the work of the original creator, but also because it often doesn't make sense. I will explain later what I mean with that statement, but for now let's evaluate about what kind of Censorship I'm talking.

Censorship:

Censorship is the suppresion of speech, public communication or other information which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, politically incorrect or inconvenient as determined by governments, media outlets, authorities or other groups or institutions. (Censorship – Definition and More from the FreeMerriam-Webster Dictionary)

The source of Censorship is always from the outside. Even if the so called Self-Censorship is only done to appeal to a specific target demographic. One of these outside influences can be the law. In Germany and Austria any depiction of symbols from the National Socialist Party, especially the Swastika, is forbidden. As a consequence Wolfenstein had to be censored for a release here. The Nazis in the game were renamed into the Regime and any Swastikas were changed. And even if I'm also against this form of censorship, I at least can understand it because of our history.

I think that a grown up medium can deal with the depiction of controversial themes. Especially if these themes aren't glorified.

Another source for Censorship is pressure from media outlets, twitter, etc. This often happens to eastern video games, especially those who have a large amount of Fanservice.

The third source is the company itself, when the so called Self-Censorship happens. This mostly is done to protect a certain image of a company or to broaden the games audience.

About these last two sources I want to talk today, and why it doesn't make sense to listen to them. For this we'll take a look at Japanese Games coming to the west (or not), which were censored.

Dead or Alive Xtreme 3:

Picture Source: Dualshockers

Some of you may have followed the Shitstorm surrounding this game. When Koei Tecmo announced the release of Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 for the PlayStation 4 and Vita, they also announced that the game would not come to the West, citing cultural differences. They would, however, release an English version in Asia. Of course this was met with a backlash by many gamers lambasting Koei Tecmo for caving in to Social Justice Warriors. Play Asia, an import shop, announced that the Game broke their record for highest Pre-Orders for any product ever and later on also broke their internal sales record.

This proved one thing. True Fans are willing to go a long way to get an uncensored and authentic version of their game.

And for the record, yes Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 is an extremely shallow game that has little to offer except jiggling tits, but so what? It's brainless fun and if you're so horny that you'll spend 60 dollars to get off then more power to you. To find this game disgusting you need to have a very sex negative attitude. It's stupid yes... so what?

Tokyo Mirage Sessions#FE:

Image Soucre: GameIdealist

I talked about the censorship of this game last week. (Read it here:http://dilliansthoughthub.blogspot.co.at/2016/05/tokyo-mirage-sessionsfe-hidden-boobs.html ) 

This case of censorship is, in my eyes, even more problematic than the non release of Dead or Alive Xtreme 3. Because of the Region Lock on the Wii-U and the fact that there won't be an uncensored English version, the only way to experience the game, as the developers intended, is importing a Japanese Wii-U, the Japanese Version of the Game and learning Japanese. I also stated that the censorship of outfits cuts deeply into the idol world of the game and robs it of authenticity. And I will use this game as an example, why Censorship often doesn't make sense.

It doesn't make sense:

Tokyo Mirage Sessions#FE is a niche game. It was a niche game in Japan and it will be a niche game here. It sold 50 thousand copies there and I don't think it will sell much more here. Especially after the censorship. Because that is the case with such games. Many of them are niche games in the west for a very specific audience. A very specific, and often well informed, audience. So things like changes, censorship and bad translation don't go by unnoticed. That's why the censorship of such game is often so baffling. They cut their own flesh with such moves. ''Normal'' Gamers won't buy a game about magical teenage Popstars, which fight strange looking unicorn Ladies, while riding a cyborg Pegasus even if the tits are censored.

Image Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhSRGH5PVdk

And that is the baffling part. By censoring parts of their game they don't open it up to a new audience, but only alienate the original one.

By caving in to backlash they don't create thousands of new buyers. We have seen that times and times again. Many of the people calling things problematic aren't even fans of the product they criticize. And the worst part, at least for me, is that the creators devalue their own artistic vision and integrity with such moves. Where is the pride to stand up for your product?

Even if there are cultural differences don't change the game. Some players may buy the game for exactly that reason. To experience a different viewpoint than the ones they are shown in western games, as a way of cultural exchange.

Of course it's often just because of the boobies, but who cares. Let the boobs be free I say. They are just boobs and, as we all know, asses are far superior.

What I'm trying to say is that Censorship is always more harm- then helpful. It angers the informed fans and it won't appease the critics. I doesn't bring in new fans, but only alienates old ones. And in the end it robs us of stupid and sexy, but still harmless, fun.

And as always

thanks for reading