Pissed off at recent taming down of M-rated games in the PS4

[Chris_Ceee]

Sony's censorship is specifically directed against small and medium sized Japanese developers, affecting even games only released in Japan. Sony even forces Japanese developers to submit all paperwork and documents in English (surely a problem for small developers in Japan)!
So called "AAA" from Western developers are completely unaffected, even if they feature explicit gory violence and nudity (something which no Japanese game has, for it is not allowed in Japan).

[Omen Gaming]

It isn't just video games but noticeable in most forms of media. I have cable and when I look at the latest films on the premier channel (a channel for films new to the platform) there are very few 15 or above rated films.

[RevolverGirl]

Honestly at this point japanese games should just hop outbof Sony and move to PC, Switch (And I cant believe im saying this) but even Xbox.
I dont know what the heck is going in Sonys heads right now but Spike Chunsoft and Atlas needs to leave Sony or risk theie games being censored to hell.

[Philby The Bilby]

it would be a happy medium but there are still games being banned for sale in australia like Hotline Miami. Maybe i am wrong and i should not want to play such a vial game. i guess it did save some games from the chopping block.

[Matex]

I simply do not buy games that were censored out of a matter of principle.
The worrying aspect is that developers will feel pressured to take away content prior to reveals so we do not even know if it got censored to begin with. Well, in any case, Sony can suck it for the next generation at the very least.

[IceWolf]

The M rating means almost nothing in many games. I have noticed a lot of AAA games nowadays avoid gibs and gore. Luckily not all devs are this scared to do what we demand, but I feel they keep trying to market M rated games as if kids are going to buy them. I'm sorry if you aren't 18 you *shouldn't* be playing M rated games JUST FOR THIS REASON! Of course kids *might* get their hands on these games, but that doesnt mean we should make them much more child friendly for the *just in case* BS.

I agree with this. Why are parents letting kids play M-rated games these days? Also, why are M-rated games getting toned down for kids and still being called "M-rated?" I just answered my own question, didn't I? lol

Anyways, I am pretty indifferent on this as I already feel like there are too many M-rated games on the market. However, censoring games with the already M-rating on it is pretty dumb when that is the rating meant for adults only. Maybe we need to start mainstreaming the 'AO' rating to really allow developers to create games that they want too without worrying about censorship?

[Bolaum]

As a PC gamer only and JRPG lover (altho the games censored aren't really my thing) I hope this makes japanese devs focus on other platforms (like PC )

[Hadley]

I know where you're coming from. I was just pointing out that the entertainment industry in America has become much more conservative and reactionary (especially in regards to female nudity) in the past couple decades.

I believe there's two main reasons we're seeing this in gaming: the big studios have reduced the number of their titles and releases substantially over the years, meaning they invest much more in marque titles and franchises rather than spreading their investments across many projects which greatly multiplies the risk factor, and also simply because of the increase in graphics quality; pixelated or implied nudity certainly =\= HD nudity.

[Verhoven 69]

Trouble is, the games I mentioned are already rated M in the first place. The ratings weren't even changed. An alibi about preserving framerates is kind off BS! Not to mention the memo comes from SONY USA HQ to thr JP developers.

Even the DOA6 has been victim to this.

If they are squeemish on rated Teens then fine. No big. But if its M and still toned down.......too puritanical. We may call to attention MGS which had some blurring in the scene of the exposed guts (its a regional thing so fine, I get that). It was integral to the story and all.

So what again about Nintendo? Too bad their hardware is somewhat lacking in HP else I'd immediately "Switch"(pun intended as I already ordered the Premium DOAX Scarlet for the PS4) to them.

[Verhoven 69]

Yet Nintendon't is now Nintendid now?

[Verhoven 69]

I haven't played any Senran Kagura games yet. So might as well plan on getting those "untouched" versions.

[XENO-PUNK]

When I buy games I don't look at the ratings because it doesn't matter. I'll buy a game if it's well made and it's the type I want. I think Sony is cracking down on Japanese games that feature sexualized characters who appear to be underage.

[Hadley]

I think it's similar to Hollywood, in that they want to reach as many people as possible, children included. Honestly, how many big budget AAA movies come out these days with an R rating? In the past 25 years or so, PG-13 has become the target rating. The video game industry is kind've following suit.

[Musou Tensei]

What do you mean they havn't touched Senran Kagura yet? Xseed has delayed Burst Re:Newal to remove the intimacy mode (basically a basic version of Senran Kagura Reflexions, which Nintenod allows to be sold on the e-shop, also an uncensored version of Burst Re:Newal will be on PC) and SEVEN has also been delayed because they have to tone things down, in japan, which is no guarantee that Xseed won't have to do further mutilating but even without the game will be censored from the very beginning.

This isn't even just an M rating issue, Sony is forcing all japanese developers to get their games evaluated, in english, by a QA team in fucking California now and forces them to censor games in japan already, even if those games are never seeing a localization. One visual novel bombed heavily in sales because of the censorship, japanese gamers are not pleased.

Fuck this, Sony is not getting a single cent from me any longer, what I can get on Switch I buy there, everything else I'll buy used till Sony stops this madness.

[BuketzGaming]

Maybe that's the solution
we went through this is Australia not long ago
its a happy medium for the sensitive