430°

Sony UK To Speak With Petition Maker About PS4 Censorship Policies

Back in late October of 2018 a development partner for the Japanese and European branch of Marvelous Entertainment who works for Igrasil Studio, named Yagyu, started a petition in hopes of getting Sony to recognize that the censorship policies that they had in place for the PS4 were disruptive. On December 2, the petitioner stated on a Change.org update that he will talk with Sony UK next week to explain why Sony's censorship policy is a bad one.

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CrimsonWing692345d ago

Look, it's simple, just don't censor the game and slap it with an M rating. Let the angry parents get upset with themselves for not regulating what their kid plays or get upset with how said kid retrieved the game.

Felix_Argyle_Catbro2345d ago (Edited 2345d ago )

COMMON SENSE?! WHAT THE FUCK?! WE AIN'T DOIN THAT AROUND THESE PARTS!!!

I agree 100%.

CrimsonWing692345d ago

Lol, but yea I just don’t get how there can’t be games for all types of gamers. Nothing about these games are explicit so it’s not unreasonable content. Getting so tired of selfish groups of individuals that every kind of media content needs to cater to their preferences.

Just make games for everyone. Don’t like it, don’t play it. Here’s the other thing, censoring these games will not make it to where people who are offended by the content will just up and suddenly play the game. It’s still catered and directed to the same audience, you just now pissed them off by removing things.

rainslacker2345d ago (Edited 2345d ago )

I wish it were simple. but this is probably more them looking after their interests than it is about protecting the children. They don't want the negativity that sometimes comes along with these kinds of games. Criminal Girls invite got a lot of it back in the day from social media, and some media outlets deciding to make a cause about how it proved men were misogynistic pigs.

Ironically, those things tended to die down after a week or two, and didn't affect Sony, or the consumers at large in the least. But now if they back down, they'll probably invite even more hate from the kinds of people who complained about that content before.

On the plus side though, they'll keep their actual customers happy.

Me, i'd prefer to know the scope of the policy, and what exactly it allows or prohibits. Think of the children, and vague "global standards" is pretty meaningless, since the content that gets banned seems rather regional to Japanese games, many of which don't make it westward, and some which really don't push the line that much. It also seems that the current standard can be implemented at will by Sony, and I have no doubt that many games will be given the go ahead because Sony doesn't want the heat from censoring a big name game...say like GTA.

I doubt this little talk they're having is going to go anywhere. I did sign the petition though. Maybe if there is enough push back, Sony will change its policy, but given the way things go nowadays, I'd assume they're just going to wait for it to blow over. Best we may be able to hope for is that individual devs will keep making mention of it to keep the topic alive for the long term.....but even that I think isn't really going to happen.

blackblades2345d ago (Edited 2345d ago )

Yeah I wanna see the full scope of the policy as well and also think that talking to them would not change anything. Its a 1st start though but we need more devs and players taking a stand to show them we dont like the policy. Complaining in the comment section of sites not gonna help.

rainslacker2345d ago

I've complained on Sony's forums as well. I'll buy the games on the Switch if they're censored on PS, and for each one I do, I'll go on Sony's forums and say that I would have preferred to buy it on PS.

blackblades2345d ago (Edited 2345d ago )

Damn well just heard tumblr banning content as well, I wonder whose next.

Dark_Overlord2344d ago

@rainslacker
I'm going to buy a Switch if Sony keeps this regressive policy and post them a copy of the receipt for every 'lost sale' it results in :)

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Aura75412345d ago

The problem is that like any big corporation who holds massive share of a market, they tend to exert even more control. Sony has this misguided notion that us, the consumers, are lost lambs that must be shepherded by Big Brother. The principles of artistic freedom and letting the consumer make his/her own decisions are thrown out the window. Who cares about principles if you make tons of money?

MoonConquistador2345d ago

Very succinctly put and great points

JackBNimble2345d ago

Just playing devil's advocate....
Has anyone stopped to think for a minute that the ps4 and psn is Sony's platform?
That being said, doesn't Sony have the right to allow what ever content that they feel is appropriate?

I am not advocating censorship by any means but it really is Sony's platform to choose what is or is not available to consumers.

annoyedgamer2345d ago

They wont know better, the journalists and "firms" are part of the propaganda machine that make sure our voices are not heard. Anyone who speaks out is labeled an extremist or pedophile.

Veneno2345d ago

I think you actually don't understand the reasoning behind this.

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Gamist2dot02345d ago

But but but irresponsible parents don't want to be held accountable. Just like those parents who brought their kids to watch the R rated movie Ted. OMFG.

Godmars2902345d ago

@CrimsonWing69:
Not seeing how parents are so poorly informed about game ratings or how game companies can't just put rating/age gates on their games.

Hell, at this point you'd think they could make an app that alerts a parent's phone or email when a kid tries to access a game they shouldn't be playing.

gamer78042345d ago

I know, its really quite simple, don't censor, put M rating go about your business and focus on making games or attending or creating conferences. The amount of time this policy has wasted for developers and Sony staff is probably mind boggling. what a waste of manpower and money, only to end up losing sales of games...

whothedog2345d ago

I like Valves approach, f trying to censor everything.

Dark_Overlord2344d ago

Valve aren't innocent, there is a least one employee who has a vendetta against Visual Novels. I can't remember the name of the game, but despite it being rated 'All Ages' it has been removed twice from steam now for bullshit reasons.

whothedog2344d ago

Was this before or after June cause that is when Valve started taking this approach " we've decided that the right approach is to allow everything onto the Steam Store, except for things that we decide are illegal, or straight up trolling"

I am not a VN kind of person but I know they seemed to be hit most by the censorship and now I see a lot more on the store, just wondering if it is still happening at least to some degree.

Link just for stuff https://steamcommunity.com/...

annoyedgamer2345d ago

You're expecting big babies, ahem I mean parents discipline children? What kind of extremist are you?

/s

Inzo2345d ago

I agree that parents should be checking what they buy their kids but I can assure you that for the most part it is not the parents that are complaining. Feminists like Anita Sarkeesian and activist groups like Polygon and Kotaku have been very vocal about this. Unfortunately Sony seems to be bending the knee to this vocal minority but thats ok because we will make ourselves heard by withholding our money.

Veneno2345d ago

I don't believe this is as simple as dealing with angry parents or protecting kids. Sony never gave a lick about that and still don't.

It's about maintaining image. They don't want to have so much adults only content easily accessible on their platform because they don't want to be known as the platform for perverts.

They are the platform holder so they have the prerogative to control their image.

Unfortunately they don't see much reward for taking the risk of allowing adults only content on the platform.

DaDrunkenJester2345d ago

I don't typically care for the type of games that are getting censored anyway. They border on pedophilia with all the touching, groping, and sexual innuendos with school children and such...

That being said, I don't agree with censorship in the slightest so let these people ship the game they created. I don't believe that Sony or anyone else besides the child's parents needs to be the one "worrying about the children". Same goes for MT's/Lootboxes. "But what about the children" is such a cop out to ban things that you don't like.

Parents, understand the games your kid is playing. Do a 10 second Google search on it. Set parental locks on accounts so they can't buy these games or MT's/Lootboxes... Do your damn job as a parent.

UltraDSA2344d ago

Perfectly said! That's what the rating system is for!

pinkcrocodile752344d ago

Fun fact on this.

Growing up my family weren't well off financially so we were usually late to the party technology wise.

This was at the time before blockbuster video and my youngest brother wanted to pick a video to rent (we had one each) and he pick one with a robot on the front, he was only 6. Me mam took a look and saw a robot and paid for it.

It turned out to be Robocop and she didn't know that an 18 was a thing this was in the 80's.

Suffice to say, me mam came while were watching it and saw the scene where the guy's head exploded on the bonnet of the car (post immersion in toxic waste).

She was about to turn it off but saw we were quietly eating popcorn, so she decided to leave us quiet.

On Topic: It's down to the parents and if they are too stupid to do their own job they shouldn't surprised if their child gets groomed

Hitman07692344d ago

AO Label needs to stop being a death sentence. That;s what actually needs to happen.

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XiNatsuDragnel2345d ago

Just slap M OR A+ rating and parents get mad

JackBNimble2344d ago

What do you know about parenting anyway?

XiNatsuDragnel2344d ago

True my dad was a dragon so.... my parenting was complicated

NapalmSanctuary2344d ago

@XiNatsuDragnel I feel ya. My dad was a space beast.

THC CELL2345d ago

Parants let kids play gta n cod without care in UK all the social media political correctness warriors kids will be playing em too 18+ or not

mcstorm2344d ago

It's not just the UK but I do think people take things to far. Also why should some games be for everyone films are not.

Look at films like Ted or team America for an example which people could mistake as a kids film but they are far from it. Would they let there kids watch a porn film? All common sense but we live in a pc world now where people jump all over things just because they can.

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AspiringProGenji2345d ago

It's PS Japan doing all this censoring, and people here are blaming PS HQ in Cal.

Felix_Argyle_Catbro2345d ago

Sony workers at California are forcing Japanese developers to censor their games. They can now do that because Sony headquarters is in California now.

Please investigate these things before commenting.

Japan is not the one doing the censoring, it's US forcing them to.

whothedog2345d ago

Sony is in the wrong, when Nintendo isn't censoring but Sony is, there is something wrong.

Still find it funny that violence is ok but show some boobage, watch out!

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Majinzo2345d ago (Edited 2345d ago )

California is a nazi farm. Self entitled people being taught to hate everything and question nothing.

I live in California for 28 years and it has gone down hill in the last few years.

Update: Just let me play my games lol

annoyedgamer2345d ago

Is the US influence, trust me, I live here. Every word I hear screams US influence. Sony is sensing Japan is moving away from consoles so they want to grasp the US market. Unfortunately CA is full of lunatics and is whispering lies in their ears telling them we all want censored propaganda.

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80°

New Honkai Game Announced and It Might Look Familiar to Pokemon Fans

HoYoverse has announced the development of a new Honkai game, which looks to feature Pokémon-like creature battles.

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90°

50 Best SNES Games of All Time

Cultured Vultures: You love the SNES, we love the SNES, so let’s look at the best SNES games ever together.

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FTLmaster3d ago

Uniracers (aka Unirally in the UK) is a low-key classic SNES game

PRIMORDUS3d ago

I loved Actraiser, the music really showed what the SNES can do.

GhostScholar3d ago

I’m sorry but pilot wings should be way higher than 50

Agent752d ago

UN Squadron, Stunt Race FX, Top Gear 2, Nigel Mansell F1, Rock 'n' Roll Racing, Adam's Family, Super Probotector. Top 3 for me, Mario Kart, Legend of the Mystical Ninja and Mario World. It kills me that the Mega Drive and Super Nintendo generation has gone. Going from a Commodore 64 to a Mega Drive and Super Nintendo, the much higher costs of games, I couldn't play them all.

460°

Former Santa Monica Studio Writer Shares Insight On The Game Industry: “It’s Not Great”

Former Santa Monica Studio writer Alanah Pearce has shared some insight on the game industry, and it's not great.

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Goodguy014d ago

AAA has gone downhill as they focus on huge profits. Indie and other smaller games however have been amazing not chasing trends and the next big thing.

Redemption-643d ago

In all honesty, a significant majority of indies and smaller games fail. At best a you might hear about 10-20 indies that get attention or do well, but 100s more fail. AAA games can still be the bread and butter of the industry, but greedy executives would kill a good game if it doesn't make them a lot of money

Cacabunga2d ago

I don’t game much anymore as i used to. Last big game i played was Stellar Blade. Almost didn’t touch the console since.
I don’t have much backlog for the first time in a long time. Maybe others enjoy what’s coming, but I’m losing feeling a little

Ethereal3d ago

Nail on the head. AAA has lost the magic and focused on profits and "player engagement". Gaming is an art form, and like always the CEO fat cats roll in to capitalize at the cost of innovation, passion, wild experimentation. We need a major realignment in the industry and it starts with gamers voting with their wallets.

Killer2020UK3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

I think that's already happening, we're seeing commercial successes in studios like Larion and whoever made Kingdom Come for example. Double Fine is another good example. Studios who are filled with and run by people who give a fuck that aren't hamstrung by money men. That's the answer and consumers are favouring it more than the soulless AAAs that have been put out. I don't doubt there is talent at Ubisoft for example but when they're told exactly what the end product needs to be by people who don't know what consumers actually want, it's always going to result in the same rehashed but slightly shinier slop.

Ethereal3d ago

Exactly. I do believe we are starting to see a shift in consumer habits. The market is saturated with GaaS and battlepasses, seasons, etc. We can't all play the same four games until the end of time. Fatigue is setting in and the industry needs to get back to making new experiences rather than chasing the latest "money maker".

Killer2020UK3d ago

I was wondering whether this is perception or actually happening but it feels to me, as a semi old gamer, there is more choice than ever and as such people are now much choosier about how they spend their time and money gaming. Certainly noticing this when it comes to GaaS as you mentioned, the question always has to be why would I play this instead of what I'm already playing. Anthem is going to have a real hard time prying away people, especially with a premium price tag that screams money men as a decision.

Palitera3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Nah. Devs need to pay the bills. Uninspired games fail, but artsy games usually fail even harder.

PapaBop2d ago

Gamers are voting with their wallets, Kingdom Come Deliverance, Expedition 33, games made by passionate developers who are not being controlled by money men are seeing their work get universal praise and selling extremely well. Meanwhile Outlaws and Veilguard are underperforming. I wonder how many people Ubi and EA had working on those games, in comparison Sandbox have just a core development team of 30 and managed to put something out EA and Ubi can only dream of.

The underlying problem though lays with how EA and Ubi execs react to these sort of things. Seems like they'd rather just lay off good developers and focus their efforts on their cash cows as opposed to change their development philosophies.

anast3d ago

She didn't even call out Stanfield's PNG file planets when she flew through one. She just 'yelled' something stupid like 'flat earth'. She wasn't even taken aback in the slightest. I am not sure she isn't a part of the problem.

Aloymetal3d ago

She's always been a narcissist bimbo, I'm even more surprised she's not in only fans yet.

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anast3d ago

@Aloy ha!

@Lanx I'm sure you see where you are not making any sense.

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SimpleDad3d ago

You know what...?... for once I totally agree with you. Gaming bimbo true.

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Cellblock113d ago

"Former", wow she didn't last at SM Studios very long at all.

isarai3d ago

4yrs is pretty good not sure what ur talking about

Cellblock113d ago

I wasn't sure of the actual number of years just seemed like it wasn't that long ago when I heard that she got a job as a writer there, guess time flies. 4 years being "pretty good" or not is subjective depending on ones perspective. The question might be, was four years long enough to make a discernible writing contribution to a video game based on how long development cycles are these days?

gleepot2d ago

Maybe for some industries. In gaming that's barely enough time to ship a single game.

QuantumMechanic3d ago

She left SMS because she needed to go back to Australia to support a parent with cancer.

Chard2d ago

Chuds hate her because she doesn't do the anti-woke brainrot thing

Petebloodyonion3d ago

She quit SM studio to focus on her own stuff, There was a video where she explained all of it.

SpacedDuck3d ago

Okay, explain like the other 50 jobs she's had and hasn't held......

I think she likes to bend the truth a ton on how involved she is and when her lies catch up with her she moves on to start a new batch.

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Rainbowcookie3d ago

Greed , lack of innovation and agendas

Why do we rave about a good indie game but we avoid a AAA game.

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