Sledgehammer Defends Censoring Nazi Flag. We Call BS

coin-drop:

Now, a quick qualifier: If you live in a country like Deutschland (Germany) or some Buddhist countries, possibly Australia as well. You know that certain Nazi memorabilia and or imagery is banned, illegal, or punishable by Court of Law. In these countries, Sledgehammer gets a pass as COD has had a long history of changing their game to fit in with “Da Rulez”.

So let’s start off with the big point straight from the article it question. Call of Duty WW2 will feature Nazi flags in its campaign to preserve accuracy, as well as be placed in a “tasteful manner”… in so far as the Nazi flag can be considered “tasteful”. Personally, I think the Nazi Swastika looks like a Fidget spinner, but I digress. In Multiplayer, however, the flags will be censored to:

[ravinash]

It is silly as we know they are Nazis.
Plus the Swastika is an ancient religious symbol, it wasn't created by the Nazis.

[XbladeTeddy]

Not all were. It was forced on German Soldiers. The SS were the true Nazi's. Wish a developer would have the balls to show the average German soldier perspective.

[ravinash]

I was referring to the game.
Actually from my understanding, no one from the SS or the German army at the time refereed to them selves as Nazi.
It's actually the english term for National Socialist German Workers' Party.

[XbladeTeddy]

@ ravinash: They didn't need to they were members of the Nazi party making them Nazi. They enforced the rules.

[yeahright2]

@ravin And gay was primarily used to refer to someone as happy. That might be where the symbol originated, but that's not what it means now.

[wannabe gamer]

yea cause those soldiers sure didnt have any balls to die for something other than hate

[Gaming101]

Developers are really dumb on this issue... they don't like the Nazi symbol because it represents hatred, oppression, violence and the Holocaust. Meanwhile, the game itself is visually depicting images that the player participates in of said hatred, oppression, violence and the Holocaust, shooting and killing people, but that imagery is fine? The symbol for that imagery is what they have a problem with? You're literally shooting people in a game, that actual imagery is less offensive than the symbol that represents it?
Wake up, people. -_-

[trooper_]

I believe Japan and China used it in their respective religions.

[Segata]

They still do but the German one is inverted.

[Sunny_D]

It's actually a symbol of Hinduism which originates in India.

[Swiftfox]

The ancient symbol's name you're referring to is the "Heart of Buddha". However it isn't about where the symbol came from or what it was originally used for but what sort of power in the public mind it has today. If you walked down the street and showed the symbol to people, they would say "It's a swastika the symbol of Nazi Germany." Heck, when we say Hitler do we think about a struggling artist in Austria? Or do we think the Nazi war machine, WWII, and the vile, inhuman acts which occurred in his name?

After 80 years this symbol still has the same power Hilter and the world gave it. This symbol rallies people even today and sparks the same uncomfortable dread it has since WWII. If this game were a work of historical record, with any sort of historical significance, I'd argue for them to keep it in. However, this game is a non-historical game for purely entertainment purposes. The power this symbol still holds over the public at large needs to be respected by the game makers. This includes the manly laws which ban the symbol outright from any sort of medium in Europe.

[Glemt]

Very, very well set and argued.

[Allsystemgamer]

People need to stop giving the symbol power by not fearing it anymore.

That's why it has power still. People are just "oh so afraid" to see it.

We see the hammer and sickle everywhere. Stalin murdered far more people than Hitler ever did yet we don't see people cowering in fear over it.

To argue for the banning of the symbol gives it power. It doesn't take it away.

[Relientk77]

I'm sick of censorship in video games.

They don't censor Nazi symbols and flags in Wolfenstein The New Order, Old Blood, and New Colossus.

[Fishy Fingers]

COD is more of a cultural icon and I can see them being more aware of potential/social controversy than a Wolfenstein game might.

While this isn't me defending them and I personally would rather they didn't censor it I also don't see it effecting the gameplay experience for me or making it any more or less fun. But yeah, seems a bit hypocritical when only a few years ago I was gunning down civilians in a airport.

[EatCrow]

What is so controversial about Nazism??
It wasnt good. All in agreement i hope.

[moegooner88]

Yes they do in German speaking countries.

[ShadowWolf712]

They will in the German versions.

Which is why they were censored IN THE MP OF THIS GAME as opposed to the CAMPAIGN. The CAMPAIGN can be censored locally. The MP is worldwide.

[ginganinja]

I think you could print out your comment, tape it to a brick and then smack some of the commenters around the head with it and still it wouldn't click for some of them.

[specialguest]

Seriously wtf is wrong with this generation??? I've played many ww2 games with swastikas in it, because that was the Nazis symbol during ww2. No one ever got offended. This generation is f**king p**sified with its ultra politically correct easily offended ways.

[LiamKreptic]

Hey look a person with brain cells! This generation will either pass super quickly or we are all F**ked. This is just washing history and Germany is at the center of that s**tshow.

[Profchaos]

Shame they are censoring history very sad to see this.

[LiamKreptic]

Two morons believe censoring history is the way to go! God, I hope humanity realizes that history is set in stone and changing it will only cause that stuff to happen again.

[KillZallthebeast]

Rewriting history is nothing new it just usually happens when a war has concluded. The romans did this a lot and countless others. Its a bit bizzare to see screaming jackasses with keyboards do it though

[KillZallthebeast]

Lol let's portray history differently, silent anyone who doesnt agree with our methodologies, and vilinize all who won't support us or speak out against us. Geeze these anti Nazis sure sound like those unmarked german tanks in ww2 XD

[annoyedgamer]

Ths hammer and sickle of communism has alot of "feelings and emotion" associated with it as well but yet its everywhere. Has every western game developer been replaced with SJWs over the past 6 years? Boycott.

[Kabaneri]

Not to mention Stalin and Mao killed millions as well.

[annoyedgamer]

They werent "real" communists duude! We gotta try it again!

/s

[Allsystemgamer]

Stalin killed FAR more people than Hitler ever did.

Communism in general has killed way more people than Nazis ever got the chance to.

[Glemt]

You made a very good point until you brought the SJW into it. I don't get why so many people keep hammering on such an invisible scapegoat. Just stick to your rational reasoning, you did fine.
To come back to point, you are right that the communist symbols are treated very differently. But you can't see it that black and white. Russian and German culture is vastly different, and so is the way they chose to deal with their history. I think if you use the Communist symbols a lot in occupied countries, like Estonia, they would mind too...

[ginganinja]

Well everywhere except;
Indonesia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Ukraine, etc.
Who have or had varying bans on displaying them.

[Nodoze]

More PC BS. Don't want to offend the cream puffs.

[Maxor]

Classic case of politically correct cowardice. So much for the WW2 experience when even the Nazis can't be Nazis. Its sad how the fictional WW2 game Wolfenstein does WW2 better than these clowns.

[WeAreLegion]

I thought they were doing it because Germany wouldn't be able to play online with other countries, otherwise.

The swastikas are still in the campaign.

[annoyedgamer]

Thats how we know its a big fat lie. Its in the campaign so therefore any law banning its use would still apply. They are hoping we overlook that little detail.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Or maybe they are keeping the SP game accurate since that is trying to be somewhat factual, but they are censoring a symbol that was and most certainly is in todays times a symbol of hate for the MP which is totally not based on any historical fact at all? COD MP is already filled with idiots running around screaming racial slurs as is why give those Dbags something more to use? Is playing a Nazi in a COD MP game going to dramatically change for your all of sudden because you can't have a Nazi flag? Is that flag not being present suddenly going to suddenly change your historically accurate kill streaks? I think what is more sad is all those in hear arguing that because the flag is being censored in the MP they are not getting the game.

I may not be sold on the game entirely yet as I want to see more first but the flag issue is non-issue.

[ShadowWolf712]

...you do realize they're going to take it out of the campaign in the copies shipped to Germany, right?

The MP, however, is all worldwide. They can't "locally" censor that unless they lock them to playing only with players from countries where the symbol is also banned.

If anything, that DISPROVES this entire snifit.

[krazykellerxkid]

Wow. This guy is mad! But that set aside...he has a point. The Nazi's were terrible people who had zero morals. We need not forget that. People are way too sensitive and if you don't like something, don't purchase it. I don't like certain products, but instead of complaining or getting mad over it, I just choose not to buy it. Sledgehammer said this game was going to be soooooooo historically accurate, but if you take out the very cymbal that is the reason no one likes it, you aren't historic at all.

P.S. - is it okay to kill a Nazi zombie because it is a Nazi or because it is a zombie?

[ShadowWolf712]

He'd have a point if this affected anything but Multiplayer and was done for any reason besides avoiding a ban.

But since it don't, and it's not... he don't.

[jokerisalive]

Bunch of tools just trying to be politically correct and alter history to cater to the assonine sjw's out there who might cry like morons because the game is to 'offensive' for them to play. Unreal...... it's a game based on a historically accurate war scenario and the nazis were real enemies that we faced believe it or not and no amount of spin will ever change that. This whole country is going down the drain with all this politically correct crap already. Grow up people and stop making everything about you and your butthurt feelings!

[ShadowWolf712]

It.s only in multiplayer so the Germans and Austrians can play. Chill.

[jokerisalive]

Gotcha bro. Thanks.

[opinionated]

I would love to see how this generation would have handled the nazis. Back then kids went over to Europe and ran into machine gun fire. This pathetic generation can't even handle the trigger warning of a historic symbol.

[Mr-Dude]

No buy then, I never buy censored games.

[MaxiPower90]

No buy then, sorry but when you dilute history to fit your requirements then it is no longer is historically accurate. A reason why I was looking to see what next gen Ww2 stories could offer.

[yeahright2]

I was with you right up until you said you wanted a video game to be historically accurate. If that's what you're looking for you'd be better off watching a documentary. Apart from that you're spot on. voting with your wallet is the best course of action. You can be as loud as you want but these guys won't care until it hits their bottom line.

[MaxiPower90]

Yea I love ww2, seen every movie and documentary on be subject. No doubt the game will be God and ea I know what ya mean it won't be accurate as it's a game and a call of duty game at that. But war is dark and it should be remembered for being as dark as it was.

[ShadowWolf712]

It.s only in multiplayer so the Germans and Austrians can play. Chill. Campaign still has it.

[AnubisG]

......and it's time to cancel my preorder. I will not support bullshit like this.

[yeahright2]

I'm with you Anubis. I hate censorship. let the market decide if it's acceptable or not.

[TeflonHahn]

While I agree it's not cool to censor history, I also think it's just as whiny and lame to complain about the swastika being censored. Ultimately, whichever side of the fence you're on about the issue - the gameplay, storyline etc won't be affected. Why won't both sides just shut up and play? Whenever I see stuff like this I typically say to myself "well that's stupid" and keep it moving. I mean, the entire country of Germany has banned any imagery or usage of the swastika. Granted not to a full degree and historically it can still apply. But everyone on the goddamn planet knows about the Holocaust and what happened. Not using the swastika in the game will not "erase history". You're kidding. Please be kidding. A game company doing the exact same for reasons steeped in actual history isn't that big a deal. Is what it is I say.

[AnubisG]

So saying that we don't agree with censorship is whiney? Really? So we should all just bend over and take this ridiculous SJW crap?

[ShadowWolf712]

You should actually probably read and see Swastikas are in the campaign, genius.

[AnubisG]

But they are not in mp genius because of SJW snowflakes feelings.😱

[Gentleman_Steam]

Yes but, Sledgehammer has been really pushing the "Historical accuracy" stick in their PR. We aren't asking for Nazi banners wall papering the place. But arm bands, flags, the usual assortment. You know historical accuracy. Getting ride of it for rules and refs is one thing.

Sledgehammer is getting ride of it to avoid offending people, that's a totally separate issue. This is for people's feelings, not for legal parameters.

[Chaosdreams]

I heard somewhere that it probably came down to a matter of money (certain countries not allowing the use of the symbol, which would then result in more work / alternate versions - so instead they just opted out all together except in a few instances within the campaign itself). / this is probably theory but hey, who knows.

I'm not overly bothered by this however, not because I don't care for accuracy (I do care, very much) but rather, I never expected a developer that works on Call of Duty, to do all that much in the way of accuracy...

[CrimsonWing69]

I'm sorry but that's just stupid. Wolfenstein doesn't censor it why does a historical game need to censor things that were real? I feel like it's an insult to the audience as if we can't handle such imagery.

Man, I mean when you see the Nazi symbol it evokes a reaction. It's less impactful if you take it away. I thought we were past this level of censorship. Way to set us back even further now.

[ShadowWolf712]

Wolfenstein does. In Germany. Which is why this is being done. In the MP.

[Snakefist30]

BS!

[Kabaneri]

If they want to do this for the Israeli and German versions fine, but this kind of censorship is unacceptable elsewhere.

[ShadowWolf712]

Please, enlighten me on how they can do that for the MP in solely those countries.

Because it's still in the freakin' campaign.

[MilkMan]

I second that BS. Show the flag and let's get to the business of shooting some Nazi scum.

[SovereignSnaKe]

Two things that stood out to me whilst reading this article, black athletes were surprised how well they were treated by the Germans during the 1936 Olympics and even more so they were allowed to stay in the same hotel as white athletes. The other, I noticed this week playing Sniper Elite 4 there's no Swastikas! Lots of German Eagles with empty wreathes? I find this strange because in Zombie Army Trilogy (also made by Rebellion) there were Swastikas every 10 feet + pentagrams. Moral of the story; I loved Zombie Army Trilogy!

[GrimReaperGamer]

A very interesting documentary that you should watch on Youtube is called: Adolf Hitler The Greatest Story Never Told. It's almost a 6 hour long documentary discussing Hitler, WWII, Nazis, etc. What I always find deeply disturbing is people will only focus on the negative things Hitler and the Nazis did in WWII, but never discuss the millions of people Stalin and the Red Army killed throughout WWII. By that I mean the millions of Russian people fighting against communism, along with all the POW's they had in those Gulags. People also like to turn a blind eye to all the Japanese people held in concentration camps by the U.S. during WWII, some of which where actually deported from the US to Japan even though they were born Japanese Americans.

I personally hate war as everyone else should, but there is absolutely no right/good side. Every country involved in WWII did something that was extremely evil. In regards to the point on black athletes treated by Hitler and the Germans, Jesse Owens was the famous American that won gold at the 1936 Olympics. He stated in interviews that Hitler actually gave him a hand wave + tip of the hat gesture after he won 100M Mens, 200M Mens, 4x100 Mens relay and the long jump. Upon arriving back to the U.S., Roosevelt didn't even have the decency to acknowledge Owen's accomplishments and denied meeting him or shaking his hand simply because he was black. For those that don't know the history, the Republicans were trying to pass anti-lynching legislation during the early 1930s, but anti-lynching laws never came into affect until many years later mainly because President Franklin D. Roosevelt opposed anti-lynching legislation.

[SovereignSnaKe]

You my friend get the award for most thought out and factually accurate comment I've probably ever read on this site. I graduated as a History Major and a German Language Minor so I appreciate that you took the time to add in the little details that yes, many people are completely unaware of and I hope other people stop and read your comment. I will also absolutely give that documentary a watch. I can't believe I've never heard of it? Last one I watched was "Hitler: A Career." Interesting, footage I had never before seen, but it left me unsatisfied. Just looking it up on IMDB I have a feeling it's going to dethrone Triumph of the Will as my fav... Currently I'm watching the 4 part series "The Putin Interviews" by Oliver Stone, absolutely fascinating. I will start this 6 hour doc this weekend though. ~Sehr geschaezt! :)

[Glemt]

It's also a good note to think of all the anti-semitism before the second world-war, and how the "final solution" of the nazis actually came about. They honestly first tried deporting all Jews to different countries, like the USA. Guess what? They declined them. The greatest country on Earth, land of the free, built by immigrants. The Netherlands, one of the most liberal countries in history, had the highest percentage of Jewish deportations in the world. The Danes used "German soldiers" after WW2 to clean up land mines from the beaches. Naturally, most of those "soldiers" were teenagers, who did not exactly volunteer to be in the German army in the last years of the Reich; more than 50% of them died cleaning mines.
Like you said, there were so many wrongs in WW2, and it's easy to point a finger and forget about your own mistakes. It's so easy to only look at your own country and those around you, instead of looking a bit farther. It's so easy to blame things on SJW, without taking into account a complex history of a country over the course of a century.
That's why people need to continue posting like you did, and hopefully people will learn something from it. All this "It's all the SJW's fault" is just looking for a scapegoat, and if it gets done long enough, hard enough, and the conditions are right, you're right back at where you were with Nazi Germany, The Communist Witch Hunts in the US, the Khmer Rouge killing all non-agrarians, the crusades against the Jews in Portugal in the 17th century, etc. etc. etc.

Also, about your Jesse Owens fact; I heard Hitler at first only wanted to congratulate the German winners, but his advisors said that would not come of well. So he instead chose to congratulate none. That Jesse Owens got waved/tip of the hat I read too, and the contrast between a racist leader of a country doing that, and your own 'free' leader then sending you back home and having you enter your hotel via the kitchen because you're black..... brrrrr.

[Majin-vegeta]

I've seen that documentary it really.opens your eyes

[GrimReaperGamer]

Trust me you will truly enjoy this documentary, as I personally believe this documentary should be apart of school curriculum for WWII 2 studies. This documentary is part of the reason why I done extremely well in my WWII history courses because I viewed the war from each Axis and Allied Powers perspective and discussed the atrocities that all were guilty of committing.

Interesting to note, I'm sure most people don't even know that Hitler's personal driver was Jewish - Emil Maurice.

[GrimReaperGamer]

Once you finish watching Adolf Hitler The Greatest Story Never Told on Youtube, let me know what you thought of the documentary.

[MetroidFREAK21]

While I can understand the reason in the countries that frown upon the symbol, the fact it is being censored all over the world is annoying and not necessary. It is a part of history no matter how hard they try to hide it or censor it. Truly is the number 1 reason why I've lost so much interest in this year's game (the censorship) I was hoping to play an authentic, "historically accurate" (to an extent for a CoD) game. I've been with this franchise for a long time, but this really sours it for me.

[Glemt]

"not necessary." while I can agree with you, it doesn't mean you (or I) are right. Whether it's necessary or not depends all on the country and if they deem it so.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

I have zero issue with not using the Nazi flag in online MP. We already have to many racist idiots screaming crap as is. I would rather piss them off that they can't have a symbol they covet vs being trying to be "accurate" in a made up online battle that is entirely not accurate to begin with.

[LAWSON72]

Just shows how unimportant SP is, if you want to make a good WW2 game you put swastika in it. You show people that symbol and the people that used it, and you depict just how fucked up they were.

There is no defending anything you sold out to crybabies that can't handle history and the truth. I just know you won't be getting my money for it and your SP will always be a joke in my book

[OC_MurphysLaw]

umm... SP actually has the flag in it. It is only the MP that won't have the flag.

[LAWSON72]

I suppose that is good to hear, I guess odds are the SP still wont be good but I will hope for the best

[scruffy_bear]

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

George Santayana

[GrimDragon]

Strange considering that the swastika originated in Asia it was never a symbol of hate until Hitler took it made it his own and changed its meaning forever. It's not only a piece of history but can also be educational. For this reason censoring the symbol is inexcusable. For that don't make the game if your too afraid to be historically accurate.

[INMATEofARKHAM]

People who are for censoring history are just one step closer to dooming themselves to repeating it.

[Swiftfox]

It is funny how the same decision was made for the recent Captain America films. There is no Nazi iconography in those films--and nobody seemed to care. The film makers then did it for the same reasons these game makers are doing it now. In fact the only people who seemed to care about the film were those who seemed pretty inclined to have the symbol already tattooed on them someplace.

It's not even like they wanted the symbol in there and someone made them remove it, not going with the symbol was the first choice so why are people crying "censorship"?

[fluxmulder]

Eh, modders will fix this for PC.

[EatCrow]

“…multiplayer and zombies players, we’ve chosen deliberately not to include that [Swastika]. We want the community to play together. We want to be respectful of local customs and laws around the world. And frankly it’s a dark symbol with a lot of emotion behind it we don’t feel matches our multiplayer experience…”

Right so shooting each other matches it better?? Seriously what the heck kind of backward thinking is that. If its a dark symbol then show it in a dark light not a postivie ones. Preventing it from being shown is kind of silly. Its equivalent to, not gonna talk about nazism and how terrible it was because its a dark thing and could be offensive culturally. BS I think killing in games is more offensive than a symbol geez.

[Cy]

Terrible. The only thing this does is give Nazis power over how we live our lives 60 years later. It's just a symbol, showing it isn't going to hurt anybody. Sledgehammer are cowards.

[LoveSpuds]

They are the creators of this title, they can choose what content they are comfortable with and what they aren't, to me it's just that simple. If the game interests me I will play it, if it doesn't I won't.

Those making a fuss about combating some perceived social justice agenda seem just as extreme to me as the people who do get offended to easily.

[leemo19]

People need to know their history and understand the dates and what when down doing this time. Whats next, that will be removed from the game, the hammer and the sickle or heck lets removed the US flag as well, since diaper sjw babies are offended by that too.
Demolition Man society is getting closer and closer.

[WhyHate]

The Nazi lovers thread,

[porkChop]

History is history because it actually happened. If it offends people, tough shit. How do you think people felt when they actually lived through it? Censoring this kind of stuff is just bullshit, and unacceptable. Show people what happened. Show them how horrible it was. Show them the Nazi propaganda that was everywhere. If we show people the truth, maybe we can prevent this sort of thing from happening again. Censoring history doesn't do anyone any favours. If the SJWs can't handle it, that's their problem not anyone else's.

[calactyte]

I'd like to say I won't buy this game now because of it's historical inaccuracy, but that'd be disingenuous since I was never going to. Wolfenstein 2 has no problem showing the swatstika. My personal opinion is if you are going to do a World War 2 game then you really should show the world WHY that swatstika is such a symbol of evil. It's an opportunity to teach and remind people. Censorship is really never the answer. Bad call here and I hope their sales suffer for it.

[ShadowWolf712]

It's. Only. In. Multiplayer.
Dear sweet Jesus you guys will blow up over everything.

[FPS_D3TH]

Then there's wolfenstein and BJ taking what seems like more of a stand now than anything in this over politically correct society.

[Elda]

Cowards! Wolfenstein 2 will be much better! No censoring.

[LastCenturyRob]

Defending censorship? That's what liberal always do... Pathetic! Won't be purchasing this game because I will never support institutions that support censorship. "F" the left!

[Enigma_2099]

Dear Sledgehammer,

Then why put Nazis in the game?

Enigma_2099

[BadElf]

And take out the women, please. I don't want to hear women screaming in MP. It takes away from the feeling of the game. And then seeing Black, Handicap, Women Nazis running around? Go shave your hairy feminist armpits, Sledgehammer.

[GhostlyJunior]

When you want to depict history's greatest villains... but you wanna tone it down a bit smh

[wannabe gamer]

they just want more sales in germany and they cant do that with nazi symbols

[LastCenturyRob]

Best way to tell these leftist idiots that you don't like censorship? Don't but the game!

[ZombieGamerMan]

So if you can add the swastika in campaign why not MP? It's a very odd thing to do, you already show it in the game

[Jayszen]

The symbol of the Swastika was taken from a Hindu ancient religious symbol call the 'swastik', inverted (in the other direction) and adopted by the National Socialists. They sent many anthropologists and historians to India and Tibet in the years before WW2 to carry out studies such as comparing the anatomy of the races including size of the skull, brain pan, etc.

There should be no censoring of what the Nazi's represented or stood for. They were as heinous as they are often porttrayed and would have done a lot worse if had been victorious. It is well known that Nazis regarded black people as sub-human and the idea of a Black person in a Nazi uniform is simply ridiculous unless it is a fantasy.