FOX Effect: Target pulling Mass Effect off the shelves

From Playfuls.com: "Apparently, US retailer Target is either too scared or has the same experience in gaming as Cooper Lawrence, since they've begun pulling Mass Effect off shelves. What's even more absurd is that the game is actually in stock, but Target employees are not allowed to sell it..."

[Joey Gladstone]

Is this in light of the whole 10 second alien mind sex scandal thing?????if it really is due to this tell them to play the mini sex games in both GTA, God of War, a Leisure Suit Larry Game, or Ataris Custer's Revenge lol.....
.....
....
........"The JOEY has Spoken"

[JsonHenry]

Wow. Can't sell ME? But I can walk over and buy a Steven King book, or worse - one of those cheap romance books the next isle over?

[JsonHenry]

That's okay - Wal-Mart said they will take your money!

[Exhaust]

Can't view the playfuls.com article at work but I seriously doubt Target would take this stand.

Walmart is normally the first to ban something because of the "heartland", "family friendly" bull crap image they're trying to maintain. Target only follows Walmart on these types of things. I'd be supprised if they took the first step in censorship on their own.

[masterg]

I'm sorry but I have to say this as a European.
America is seriously screwed up. There are so many double standards it's hard to keep track. You media don't know the meaning of objectivity.

I just hope Obama/Clinton gets elected, maybe then some sanity can be restored.

[darx]

I understand that Europe consists of different countries with different governments and different laws. But aren't there a plethora of games that are banned in some of these European countries? Not sure which ones, Germany I know there are a few games, but you did refer to yourself as European.

[JsonHenry]

MasterG - what exactly about Obama or Hillary do you think is going to bring sanity to anything?

[antoinetm]

@ 1.7 You should avoid senseless statement about the economy and politics. Bush and clinton dont have THAT much influence on the economy.

[AzaziL]

Dammmit, I was so looking forward to some lesbian cross species sex!!!! Oh well, I guess I can cure my sick perversions of torture with Saw I through IV, Hostel I and II, and etc. Then I can further fuel my violence with 80% of the other movies they sell. Then I can lay down, relax, and throw on some music cds that'll tell me to treat women like complete trash, disobey the law, and kill myself. But I really wanted to just see that 1 second clip of alien boob.

[velaxun]

Bubbles for you man, very well said

[Lifendz]

let your dollars speak. If we allow entities like Fox News to influence retailers like this, then we need to speak with our dollars. Give Target none of your money for anything. If corporations are going to do stupid things like this just to appease the conservative and uninformed, then we'll strike back with what businesses want: money.

[solidt12]

They will sell R rated movies but not a video game that doesn't even show anything.

[myxomatosis]

... maybe they think its not suitable for play untill all the glitches are fixed. some how i think not.

[Relcom]

This is beyond retarded

[MK_Red]

Beyond retarded indeed.

[IntelligentAj]

Retarded would be a severe understatement.

[Ri0tSquad]

They can't be serious....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=...

[Tempist]

Can't EA pull legal libelist action against the network if it's found that what they inappropriately / misinforming reported has caused a decline in their sale?

I say it's angry letter writing time part 2. Letters to Fox and Target.

[BIGELLOW]

We'd have to coin a new term. If true, this is really retarget.

[ravenguard88]

We can all blame Fox news for this.

It sucks that 99% of the worlds population is educated by people that don't have an idea of what they're talking about.

[shotputking]

everyone, enjoy the next couple of years (if we even get that long...), becuase the video game industry is going to begin a downfall soon. video games have been somewhat unrestricted, due to not being mainstream enough for the "FOX news"es of the world to care. because of that, video game creators have been free to make games that have whatever content they imagine in the game, whatever creative ideas they have. we've gotten the gritty realism of shooters, games that tell stories that not even hollywood would approach, innovation is constant and games keep getting better and better. but now games have become mainstream, and now they will be moderated to the point of making all of them mediocre at best (example: just about any movie you've seen in theaters the last few years). now we'll get ignorant news pieces followed by even more ignorant reactions. every store and company will be worried about what some soccer mom in nebraska will think of a game with a mature rating on it, regardless of the fact that it isn't intended for little jonny to begin with, due to the over exposure and easy news targets. studios will begin only making the same safe game constantly, with a different coat of paint, and we as a fanbase will suffer for it.

[dilibau]

I just gave you a bubble for that comment...

Quote: "studios will begin only making the same safe game constantly, with a different coat of paint"

Aren't they doing that already? ;)

[shotputking]

they definitely are doing a lot of that already, but there will always be people looking for the quick buck like that. the difference is that right now, there are still a lot of studios developing new and original games... i'm afraid that may stop soon.

[ravenguard88]

Last time I checked the ESRB is one bad mofo you don't want to mess with!

Mass Effect is 17+. If it was a movie, it'd be PG-13.

[Vo_Cal]

I have a song called The Beginning of The End

http://www.myspace.com/voca...

[Keyser]

This is terrible news. Target is acting real scared. I haven't heard Fox's 'news' (loosely used) report pop up anywhere else but here. It hasn't hit the mainstream so why is Target over reacting?

Who says, "OMG, Target sells Mass Effect!?!?! I'm not going to buy my bathroom towels and home decor from there anymore!!!" That is plainly stupid.

[DarkSniper]

Target has done a great service to gamers across the US. Smut content such as Mass Effect does not need to be sold to our children.

Also, Target has just begun early what most retailers will be doing in a couple of years. Which is pulling ALL XBOX 360 related content off the shelves.

Good job Target.

$niper

[Universal 08]

dude you are an a$$hole.

[robbo918]

I have to disagree with you Snipster on this one. I usually enjoy your posts and admire your support of the best system this gen, the PS3...BUT this was too much. I love Target but this is irritating me. I don't want any games pulled off the shelf. They are behind GLASS LOCKED CAGES, its not like some kid is going to be influenced by the front of a box. If the Target salesperson is an idiot and can't check ID's on M-rated games that isn't the consumer's fault.

I am all for protecting the children, seriously, but M-rate games shouldn't be in the hands of kids that are too young to buy it, where are there parents??? This is bad for all gamers.

[CyberSentinel]

http://www.target.com/Mass-...

Dream On B!tchez! You will NEVER, EVER, see Mass Effect on the PreinStall 3!!!

Blind Lemmings, Have To Spread Lies, Because The Truth HURTS So Much.

L@l.

[Amsterdaam]

My brain hurts. What's the number to the Target executive offices? I'm gonna go ahead and leave a message.

[Meus Renaissance]

Although I think this is kinda stupid reaction - I was never impressed with the sexuality in this game. I know it's targeted for Adults, but children will also get their hands on it and personally I feel there is too much sex and violence in society. We don't want to be a society of decadence and immorality.

Anyone else sickened by 13-14 year olds sleeping around, and stabbing each other over foolish disagreements? Where are we headed?

Personally I have no problem stores refusing to sell these type of games because of this. Shows some people high up have some principles. But they should have made the decision in the first place, instead of reacting to the media.

[shotputking]

i'm sorry, but you are the reason this happens. who cares if a kid sees it? if he watches anything other than cartoons on nickelodeon, he's going to see that kid of sexual content. it's not like there is actual nudity, this kind of stuff is permitted on regular broadcast tv. now, if some kid saves up $60 hoping to see some side-boob, at least he will learn a little lesson about hard work and rewards.

people need to be free to be creative and original... not making the same bible quest over and over again becuase society can't handle it. just because you think there is too much decadence doesn't mean that everyone does... maybe i think people are too sheltered and there should be more sex and violence in the world. then maybe these kids would defend themselves with fists instead of being cowards and using knives. maybe if sex wasn't such a forbidden fruit 13-14 year olds would be able to live without it for a few years.

[Amsterdaam]

See Meus, that's the thing. Doesn't happen as much as the media tells you. On top of that, it's rated "M" for a reason, and if you let your kids play those games, expect horrible results. I think the online gaming experience is waaaaaay worse for any child than the game itself (not referring to Mass Effect, games in general). The things they hear (and see, thanks to the vision camera) can be quite disturbing. I don't think that my content should be altered so that little Johnny is never exposed to it. I am an adult, and I want gore, sex, and violence if that is the vision of the creator. I don't believe in censorship, that should be a parent's job. Too hard? Don't have kids.

[mistertwoturbo]

@meus
Whatever happened to people caring about world hunger? Cure for aids? Cure for cancers? Gun crimes? Crap that has nothing to do with video games.

Personally, I highly disagree with your opinion. It's not the job of the "Underage" kid, it's the job of the PARENTS to restrict them from certain things.

And secondly, parents need to just sit down and talk to they're 13-14 year old kids about sex. They learn it at high school ANYWAY! It's the job of the parents to educate them about sex, drugs, violence. And let them know all the bad things about it as well as to be responsible.

WHEN A F'ING GAME IS MADE M FOR MATURE, IT'S M FOR MATURE!!! Not M for Meverybody.

[Keyser]

I hope no one takes your idea and runs with it. LOL! I come from a neighborhood with a lot of violence that you see everyday in 4D. It's not a good thing and it's not something that kids should have to see.

What happened to being a kid? Kids play. That's all kids need to be doing and slowly being introduced to the society they will soon affect.

Kids don't need a healthy dose of hardcore porn and a Faces of Death marathon in the first grade!? Sure, during the first grade kids talked about sex but nobody was sure what really happens. You learn as you grow.

Some material is for adults and adults should be allowed to buy it and it should be sold only to adults. Parents get to make that decision if they want to allow THEIR kids to see certain images.

A child's mind for rationing things that they see is quite different than an adults. You do want to control what kids see but it's open season for adults if that's what they choose. Adults can and should be allowed to purchase what they want.

I wouldn't be opposed if they just divided the 'M' rated games into their own row so that 'Barney's Playland' isn't next to Gears of War. Covering it or pulling it from the shelves? No.

[shotputking]

haha, yeah, i don't really think we need more violence... just trying to make a point though, one persons opinion on "right or wrong" is not THE opinion on right or wrong... just one person's opinion.

[fenderputty]

it's contents. There' s plenty of other forms of media in which a child can find sex/violence. Either way, the game was intended for an older audience. Having that game end up in the hands of an adolecant isn't the games fault but rather that of the parents. Why should we as adult gamers be held to the confines of today's youth? Even still one could argue that as much sexual content can be found in today's Disney movies.

There are ratings on the box people. They were put there for a reason.

[Petraeus]

Games are rapidly becoming an accepted form of entertainment rivaling movies or television. The industry and PARENTs need to step up and do their jobs..take responsibility for making sure little Timmy doesn't get his hands on games like ME. Unfortunately it's always someone elses job...to raise your kid for you, to take the blame for your poor parenting, etc.

Having said all that, I went to see AvP:R and the multiple families with their 3-10 year old kids in there blew me away and just reinforced that people are STUPID and irresponsible these days.

It's a shame the rest of us have to suffer due to idiots and PC liberals.

[i Shank u]

its called human nature, and its been going on a long time before videogames.

[Keyser]

I think Target's reaction is unwarranted and totally off base. (If this is true at all)

There are parents who take their kids to R rated movies. I don't think it's what I would do with my kids, one day, but it's their kid and their business. If they want to buy them Mass Effect or Debbie Does Dallas the Limited Edition, that is there business too. I agree that adults shouldn't be restricted by rules and regulations for kids.

I also believe that they shouldn't sell Debbie Does Dallas next to Spyro the Dragon because to a kid they are both just two games. They should seperate it so that adults know that if you want M rated look in the column right here and if you want kids games look in this column. When the kid is 18 he can see how Debbie looks in all her polygon glory but until then he buys out of the kids section.

They don't have to cover it up as long as what society deems as indecent isn't showing but pulling it off the shelves or covering a guys face with the a star shining behind it is stupid.

[Meus Renaissance]

I accept your views and opinions but I respectfully disagree. I stand by my point.

[robbo918]

I agree with part of what you said but WHERE ARE THE PARENTS??? You say kids will get their hands on it, try parenting then (not you but in general). This society expects children to be raised by everyone but the people who gave birth to them. If my neighbor wants to have a kid, according to your thought process I won't be able to buy an M-rated game because they chose to bear young.

I am sorry but I can't agree with censoring everyone because most parents refuse to parent. I do believe they should be rated as they are now, I do believe they belong locked up (not for theft purposes but to limit exposure to kids), and I do believe EVERYONE should be ID'd for the games. I do not believe the world has the right to tell someone else what they want to play though. I am a Child Welfare worker and trust me I see parents not doing their job on an almost hourly basis, and I also see children exposed to things they shouldn't but censorship is not the road. I applaud that you are sticking to your views, just have to say I can't agree with it.

[dantesparda]

"PC liberals", oh you mean like Fox News? Come on man, get out of here with that right-wing crap! (like to blame everthing on the liberals). Fox News is a right-wing conservative station with a right-wing conservative agenda (just like Bush). And they were the ones who made this an issue, the right-wing conservative media. So recoginze, guy!

[BWS1982]

Couldn't have said it better, I have to disagree (like most others) with Meus. If you can't take the responsibility of raising a child through some moral and ethical values so that they don't end up in juvy or in a premature body bag, don't breed. To top it off the icing on the cake is that many of these parents then have the gaul to moan and whine about everyone but them putting in the effort to shield said children from all of society's evils. IT'S YOUR KID, IT'S YOUR JOB, DON'T TURN ON THE NEWS AND SAY "WELL THAT'S WHY TOMMY BROUGHT THE APPLE SLICER TO CLASS TODAY!" As a child I wasn't allowed to watch The Simpsons until I was 11, not that I agree with that rule, but I agree with that mindset. My mother didn't want me repeating the words 'hell' and 'damn' as a grade-schooler. Kids are monkey see monkey do creatures, I believe in nurture and nature. As an adult now I have the mental filters to weed through such stimuli, and I want the right to buy whatever sadistic, immoral piece of media I want to revel in.

[Bloodwar]

I'm sorry but the world is not going to fall into decadence except when you have pathetic religious folk standing on their soap boxes telling the rest of the world how it needs to live. In the middle east, women have to have a male escort her to the super market or the mall. She has to wear a veil. It is her fault and she will get lashes, imprisoned or executed if some man rapes her because he didn't have the moral capacity to realize she is a human and didn't deserve that disrespect. And now we have people like you who fails to remember that your religious leaders were committing vicious crimes againsts our children before there were video games. Our black brothers and sisters were hung by a noose and burnt at the stake long before there were video games. In the 80's, heavy metal was demonized. In the 90's it was rap and now in the new millineum, our folk on the religious REICH (HAIL JESUS) feel that once again, they must take it upon themselves to tell me what I'm allowed to watch, what game I'm allowed to play. It was old weeks ago when this first came about. Get over it and just raise your children. My daughter doesn't play my video games. She has her own console and it has a built in ratings restriction. My daughter is only 8 years old. She pops a game in that is 13+, its not going to work on her Xbox 360. Get a Life!

[solar]

and the puss-afication of america continues.

[fenderputty]

that you?

[i Shank u]

its even more puss that FOX news was created by Rupert Murdoch; so its an englishman who's news network is puss-afying us

: ( knew they'd get us back some day.......

[dantesparda]

He's Australian. But he's a big time Right-wing, super pro Reagan/Bush nut. But its really more Roger Ailes (an even bigger right-wing nut than Murdoch) who really heads up Fox News

[fenderputty]

stupidest knee jerk reactions I've ever heard of. Why can't people just let parents be parents. The games have ratings people ... follow them if you care so much. I'm hoping this doesn't start to become a trend. If so, your only stop for gaming will be shops like Gamestop or the internet.

[Keyser]

they would rather the government stop their kids from seeing what they think the parent doesn't want them to see. They would also like the government to teach kids about sex because parents don't remember how it works. They would also prefer that the government would teach kids right from wrong and pretty much any other lesson necessary to be a well rounded adult.

The government and the media should win "Parent of the Year Award" every year. (Even though they show violence and sex with no consequences 24 hours a day and then tell YOU not to do it)

[fenderputty]

stupid Janet Jackson Super Bowl Titty thing. Ever since then, the FCC has been on a freaking onslaught of political correctness.

[Salvadore]

Mass Effect is not about having hardcore aliensex or what every image Fox are trying to display to the public. The game has a very interesting story and gameplay mechanism, where the players actions can effect the story and the relationship to fellow teammates.

Edit: I received my 8th bubble today and it looks like somebody took it away from me :(

[Nostradamus]

We all know this. We have been saying it for weeks.

Not being mean, sorry if you take it that way.

[Kaz Hirai]

The PIGbox 360 must be stopped, for the good of all children worldwide. Luckily, my marvellous PerfectionStation 3 will ANNIHILATE it!

MWAH-HA-HA-HA!!!

[OC_MurphysLaw]

But at least this is happening well past its release date. This would have been MUCH more impactful to Bioware had Target pulled this crap prior to or just after its release.

[rofldings]

It's epic that we have no problem viewing people's heads being blown off, but add an alien boob and ohhh shaaat.

[i Shank u]

and then if there's some alien nipple on that boob.........it's "uh ohz somebody get the FCC !"

[mintaro]

you've got to be f*cking kidding me.....

[JohnRico]

First Wal Mart & now Targate is taking an M Rated Game off of shelves ? Idiots

[zslash]

I just called up my local Target store, and they still carry the title. Not to mention the Target website lists Mass Effect as available.

[Amsterdaam]

I was curious about that, since I'm only reading this on some obscure website. Thanks for the footwork!

[andron]

But then the news here are a lot better than Fox.

[shotputking]

yeah, this is more of an american media epidemic than anywhere else i believe... you literally can not watch/listen to mainstream news here other than the weather anymore, without being force fed what they want you to believe. hoping to keep us scared, focused on stupid and pointless issues, and blindly supporting the government so they can have free will to do as they please.

[wageslave]

"without being force fed what they want you to believe"

This is what I call the "everyone's doing it" excuse for Fox News. It is simplly untrue that the other stations have a top-down agenda like Faux News.

I've heard far too many right-wing-nut-jobs defend Faux News by saying "CNN is just as bad but on the left!!1!". When I hear this, I just have to shake my head.

Try watching http://www.cbc.ca or http://www.bbc.co.uk for news. If you're lucky enough to live close to the Canadian border, you probably have access to broadcast CBC. Watch it.

[ar]

To me CNN is just as slanted to the right as FOX.
Americans don't know what left is.

[Mr_Kuwabara]

The media sucks!!!

I wonder what Fox would say about GTA IV's
squeaky-car-prostitute-sex-mo vement-but-if-you-see-inside-th ere-not-doing-nothing thing.

[cmrbe]

this stupid now days?. You think people in the news business should be smart as well as people in big retailers like Target as well. I can't believe people in this day and age are like this ignorant. This can't be true

[vloeistof]

well gta iv has drunk driving wonder how the media is going to pick that up

[wageslave]

They are going to *love* that!

"Rockstar, maker of the murder simulator Bully, has just released its latest edition of its controversial Cop-killing simulator, but with a new twist! This game will include in-game rewards and encouragemnet to drive drunk! Next up on Faux News is Jack Trenton, Video Game Industry Expert to discuss this latest assault on the moral fabric of the God fearing United States of America"

[Ju]

Idiocracy!

[jackdoe]

That is bullsh!t. The ESRB has not rerated the game ala GTA SA so there is no reason for them to pull it off the shelf. All they will be doing is directing potential customers to Best Buy, Circuit City, or Toys r Us.

[JohnRico]

Microsoft & Bioware should sue FOX & jackdoe GTA4 will more then likely get an M Rating

[Evilninja]

@zslash:
You get a bubble for actually checking up on this instead of just having a knee-jerk reaction.

[QQcrybaby]

Bubble from me as well. Also, I am laughing at all the people who actually believe this.

[JohnRico]

LOL at Sony Droids disagreeing with me lets see what happens when GTA4 does not even make it to shelves

[heyheyhey]

that made me laugh

you didn't even mention consoles and yet you think that "sony droids" are randomly disagreeing with you

i think you were joking- if not, then get some perspective on life

[drubils]

I called several stores in SW Michigan and not one has heard of this. I also went on the website and placed an order and it allowed me. They have R-rated movies that have more graphic sex then Mass effect. This is the case of another reporter talking out of his @#$%. They think they're doing a service and all they do is make us more unbelieveing of what they are reporting on.

[bootsielon]

This affects every gamer, not just "Xbots". For every PS3 owner that wants mass effect, this would further diminish the probability of it ever happening.

[pswi60]

i'm partial to Sony this generation, but this affects gamers as a whole. if M rated games are going to be likened to illegal drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and controlled in such a manner, it affects all of us.

this is a win for Fox News, Jack Thompson, and anyone else for regulation of video games and content. i understand the bias and need to rub it in to the other fanboys, but this is where i draw my line in the sand.

[Matsuiichi]

I'm sorry, but I love my PS3, and hate Xbox 360, but this must be said:

I know that Mass Effect is never coming to PS3. It's being published by Microsoft Game Studios, and that means that, unless Bioware gets a new publisher for the rest of the series, we won't ever see any part of this series. With Microsoft as its publisher, it means that, even if we do see Mass Effect sequels on PS3 due to a publisher change, we will still never see the original Mass Effect on PS3.

I love PS3, but I've already come to terms with that. If you want to play Mass Effect, then for now, it's going to be on Xbox 360. Which, of course, means I won't be playing it until I feel like turning it on again. XD

[caffman]

I agree with you. How long before you get to the point when they ban GTA4 because it has guns in it? To say this would be "good" because its a xbox game is just insane!

[Dodgson]

Games like Mass Effect are ruining our society. Kids need something better to do with their time than waste their lives playing Xbox 360.

Might I suggest purchasing a Playstation 3 entertainment system?

We thank you Fox News!

[Matsuiichi]

Heh, clever. :P

[bootsielon]

This isn't about Xbox 360, this is about games in general, if this is true, then RESISTANCE 2, KILLZONE 2, and many other games would be affected! Don't be idiots!

[heyheyhey]

actually they pulled out ME because of sexual content

so unless R2 will feature chimeran butt sex then i doubt it will be taken off shelves

[Dodgson]

Resistance 2 and Killzone 2 are good family friendly games that do not promote alien lesbian sex.

[Bill Gates]

"good family friendly games".....AHAHHAHHAHHAHA

I love it. The BABOONS are going CRAZY over this.

It's like seing wild MONKEYS go crazy when their favorite banana is taken away......AAHHAAHAHHAAHHAHA

[caffman]

boots is no way an xbox fan. You prove you just have no brain. Also don't you think that calling people baboons and apes is getting rather close to racism?
This has to possibility to affect us all you moron!

[bozobucketeer]

Now the three people who go to Target to get video games are out of luck I guess.

[rawd]

XBOX360 ATED MY CHILDRAN

[Matsuiichi]

Xbox 360 is burning our women! Raping our churches!! Oh, the humanity!!!

Bubbles for you. XD

[caffman]

it took away your knowledge of how to spell

[i Shank u]

if not perhaps then EA could get FOX for libel lol...........Welcome to America, land of the law suit

[i Shank u]

not

[ygxbrayzie]

sh!t this sh!t is bullsh!t

[TheD_R_E]

I can't believe this has gotten to this point...I really hope that this report is false for the sake of the gaming public.

[Myth]

Maybe they got too many returns for texture pop-ins and graphical issues.

[KidMakeshift]

yeah, this would be a good time for Bioware to sue Fox for slander

[Lilbambit]

F*CK THE MEDIA

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Well, FOX is about to be sued and forced to make a public apoligy.

[haloblows]

Fox- republicans
CNN- democrats

Oh, and the person that wants Obama or Clinton, so your saying America would be better if we had a corrupt Senator from a corrupt state or a former first lady that was in denial that her husband was getting bj's in the oval office, and he was almost impeached.You might hate Bush, but he didn't almost get impeached did he now.And the mud slinging between those two is ridiculous, I don't what hear how bad your opponents is,I want to hear what you think will improve America. Personally, I think all the candidates suck so I won't be happy with any of them. America kicks arse!

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

The only way for Sony and it's droids to actualy get a sale for "anything", would be to pull Wii's and 360 games and hardware from store shelves. Even then I bet dumb ass droids would still buy Spiderman 3 over a game.

Come on now is your chance Sony to sell some games, Droids don't have anything to do right now. Their still "waiting" for games, and even the ones they do have they are "waiting" for to finish installing. Go Dorids go to Target you have time, just do it while waiting for DMC4 to install.

[Tyrael]

This makes total fiscal sense...

[Tsalagi]

I'd encourage gamers go out and protest this bullsh!t censorship but at the rate they're going i'm afraid we would get ran over by a tank.

[Figboy]

Target: Taking away the responsibilities of parents...*EVERYWHERE!

i doubt this story is true, but if it is, who's Target to decide what type of content people are, and are not allowed to purchase?

what's the purpose of the ESRB, if the ratings mean *NOTHING in the end to retailers, or even to parents.

there is a *REASON why Mass Effect was given an "M for *MATURE" rating:

let's see, right here on the back of the box:

"Mature 17+
Blood
Language
Partial Nudity
*SEXUAL THEMES (emphasis mine)
Violence"

on the front of the box, there is a big "M" on the box that says "MATURE 17+"

it is up to the *PARENTS to regulate what *THEIR CHILDREN are exposed to, to the best of their abilities (i mean, you can't watch them 100% of the time, but you can impart upon them what is appropriate for them, and what is *NOT. hell, my mom did that for me. when sexual parts of movies popped up unexpectedly in a movie, she'd have me close my eyes or ears, or leave the room until it was over. *SHE, THE PARENT, set the boundaries for me and my sisters back then.). it's not the governments responsibility (way to take care of such minor issues like Homelessness, a sagging economy, unemployment guys. i mean, after knocking out those little things, a major thing like Video Game sex is daunting, i know), and it's not the retailers responsibility (i thought you guys were in business to, you know, *MAKE MONEY?).

parents these days are absolute *JOKES. especially here in America. i mean, i'm ashamed to admit it, but i agree with my overseas brethren that this country is *F*CKED UP. we're stark-raving *MAD over here. we don't have opinions unless the *MEDIA (ie, Fox "News"), gives it to us, and we're prone to incredible bouts of hysteria at the slightest provocation (Y2K anyone? there are American households that *STILL have an @ssload of bottled water boxes and canned goods).

abso-friggin-lutely ridiculous.

i swear, i live in a mad house...

[Doctor Strange]

Amazing how Fox reported something so ridiculous and to see it have this kind of effect is just stupid.

I hope this isn't true and if it is EA/Bioware need to do something about it. To have your game pulled of shelves when there is nothing wrong bdecause of some dumb ass journalists who spread blatant lies needs to be handled immediately.

[lockload]

Fake

[Covenant]

Censorship:

Sir Francis Bacon:

"A forbidden writing is thought to be a certain spark of truth, that flies up in the face of them who seek to tread it out."

Jeremy Benthem:

"As to the evil which results from censorship, it is impossible to measure it, because it is impossible to tell where it ends."

David Berninghausen:

"In order to get the truth, conflicting arguments and expression must be allowed. There can be no freedom without choice, no sound choice without knowledge."

Henry Steele Commager:

"Censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it creates, in the end, the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion... In the long run it will create a generation incapable of appreciating the difference between independence of thought and subservience."

My .02 worth.

[ThaToNeKiiDKaBaW]

@Myth - I guess Lair was returned cause it was a sh!tty game.. take your fanboyism Sh!t to the open zone..

Who cares if their not selling MassEffect?? Their just losing money. Theirs plenty of other stores.. BestBuy, Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, EBGames, ect.

[IzKyD1331]

target will pull this off the shelves, but not the GTA games? (i love the GTA series by the way, im just making a point)
but if anyone cares, the game is still being sold at the target website http://www.target.com/Mass-...

[NiteWarrior]

Theres no way..

[bigjclassic]

that's America for you. We just react to stuff without thinking most of the time. (well the majority)

Honestly I applaud Target for pulling ME not because of its controversial content, but for how broken it is and the amount of hype it got for no reason imho.

But seriously devs either need to work within certain parameters. Unfortunately, parent dont parent anymore and kids have access to things they have no business having. Not saying that the content is bad, but that its been taken way out of context.

What about Bully? That game promotes "kissing boys" which is way more controversial than any other game out imo. I'm not a homophobe(sp?) or anything like that, but its goes against so many different cultures and beliefs.

[Venomous_1]

Lucky I got the game already!

[JeepGamer]

Why do you even care if Wal-Mart or Target refuse to carry a game? What difference does it make to you? Do you not know where else you can buy games? If you don't like it then don't buy games from Target... At All. I don't buy games from Best Buy do to a lousy experience there years ago, so take your cash and purchase Mass Effect from another outlet and just keep buying your games from that outlet from this point forward.

[Adamalicious]

I support any retailers right to sell or not sell whatever they want to whomever they want. Just as much as I support my right to buy what I want wherever I want. Target, like any company, is free to be as dumb as they want to be.

[wallace1000]

Seriously though, are you kidding me? Is the side boob offending people :-P

[derseb]

ye ye, the sexbox360... it has always been an american thing to tolerate violence and doom slight sexual content.
shooting people wont effect kids more than a 2 minute love scene??

[socsca]

Why hasn't there been a revolution in the US yet? Its actually a pretty interesting question... Maybe Skocpol has something to say about it, haaa. Seriously guys, unite and bring down your system and rebuild USA from the ground up, your nation and the world needs you to do it!

[ROCCOZILLA]

its really sad that m$ has to put sex in a game to try and sell it.lol,xbox is finished because ever good game they have is also on the P S 3 !PLAY B3YOND!

[sleepbox]

This is completely retarded. Target will continue to sell full nudity movies but pulling ME for a few seconds of side alien nudity? LOLOLOLOL

This is helping ME sales more than hurting it. Fricking nanny state idiots. I cannot wait until this generation that is so irrational about gaming is old enough so that we can abandon them in nursing homes and force them to watch dating sims with hardcore sex from Japan.

[sonyfanonly]

this aint about being a fan of a certain system this is about our right to buy games and experience the games the developers make this in its true since aint right thats why they put a rating system out there but that aint enough they got to pull it from store shelves. just like manhunt 2 they censored the whole game

VIDEO GAMES ARE THE MOST TARGETED YOU DONT SEE STORES PULLING OFF MOVIES BECAUSE OF A SEX SCEENE - NO WHEN IT COMES TO MOVIES THAT HAS TO BE IN A MOVIE BEFORE ITS ANY GOOD I SAY THIS TO VIDEO GAME HATERS STICK WITH YOUR LIFE AND LEAVE OURS ALONE

A LITTLE OFF TOPIC HERE BUT I CANT WAIT FOR RESISTANCE 2

[Saint Sony]

Gotta love this hypocrite crap.

[skitzoid]

Target is only hurting themselves.
People will simply go to the next store (Walmart, Best Buy, Circuit City, Gamestop, etc) to pick up a copy if they want it.
So does this mean that Target is going to stop selling R & M rated movies with actual humans having sex in them?

double standard indeed.

[mastermindnate]

If this whole ordeal with target is indeed true, the funniest part of all of this is that in Denver Colorado, Target now sells hard liquor... (In CO, retailers like walmart dont sell liquor)... so they are worried about the effects of a videogame versus the effects of Alcohol. "Kids... lets stay away from those awful videogames, instead... lets go buy daddy some beer" PATHETIC.

[Bill Gates]

Good for Target....AAHAHAHAAHHAHHAH

Now they're not selling CRAP games....AAHHAHAHHAHHA

The BABOONS are gonna go "ape" over this...AHAHHAHAHHHAHAHAHHA

[Wraith001]

I cant believe this crap is still going on after all this time.

Hmmm and here i am switching Hollyoaks of so my daughter cant watch it, when really i should be taking her DS away from her because her pony game might turn her into some beastiality porn queen.

Dear lord, what is happening to this world.

[truncheon]

...still, it's scary to think that Target's management thinks they're scoring "points" with their customers by keeping the filthy games away from the kids. Funny how the media works - Saddam was a senior Al Qaeda operative, right? And he had nuculer wepons on his top-secret moon base guarded by ferocious leprechauns.

Over the holidays, I actually had a relative (a kindly old woman, my brother-in-law's mother) ask me if we covered "the pornographic games." Misinformation FTW!

[BLACKJACK VII]

What a joke. Never liked Target anyway...

One less consumer for them !

[Ru]

I just called 3 targets and all are willing to sell the game and have not heard anything from corporate.

[truncheon]

http://www.target.com/Mass-...

available online too... this story am false!

[MTabek]

I work back in the Electronics section of a Target and this is totally bull. My store's gotten NO indication or message from corporate telling us to pull the game whatsoever. In fact, I sold two copies of it yesterday jsut fine.

Just another case of people jumping the gun and joining a bandwagon without checking the facts first. Shame seeing as where the info initially came from.