Bethesda opts to censor Fallout 3 for Japan

Posted Nov 11, 2008 at 9:16AM by QJ Staff Listed in: PS3, Xbox 360 Tags: Bethesda Softworks
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Fallout 3 nuke - Image 1I suppose we shouldn't be surprised at the amount of grief Fallout 3 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC) is getting from censorship boards around the world. It's set in a world that was bombed back into the stone age so I kinda doubt political correctness would have remained a priority to the survivors of the Wasteland (or us).

By the same reasoning, it should come as no surprise that another tidbit of controversy just reared its ugly head, this time from Asia. According to Bethesda Softworks' Japanese web page, certain portions of the popular post-apocalyptic RPG are getting the censorship treatment before it can be released into the Japanese market.

No, it doesn't have anything to do with the ingestion on copious amounts drugs that the Australian Attorney Generals found so distasteful. It's more about nuclear-related stuff and perhaps issues of good taste.

(note minor spoilers to follow)

Besides some adjustments to the level of gore in the game, the NPC Mr Burke from the "The power of the Atom" quest, was removed, thus disabling the option for players to detonate a nuclear bomb.

Also, an undisclosed weapon in the game will be renamed. Speculation naturally points to the "Fatman" mini nuke launcher. Check it out on Wiki if you didn't catch the reference.

Although I can understand the need behind the changes ('cept the gore adjustments. I watch anime and the stuff there's way more violent! And they have tentacles!), the general online reaction from the Japanese gaming community has been against the censorship so far.

Fallout 3 for Japan will be released this December.



Related Fallout 3 Articles:

Buy: [Fallout 3 (Xbox 360, PS3)]


Via Bethesda Softworks Japan

 
 
 

Comments [refresh]

by FreePlay - 2008-11-11 05:02
» WTF?

How can you remove Mr. Burke? He's the one who kills the sheriff, leading to a chain of events that gets you the house in Megaton.



Though I can't say I'm surprised they're renaming the Fatman, considering that that's what we dropped on Japan... oh, and maybe while they're at it they could censor the anti-Chinese racism you hear in what appears to be a recording of a Chinese "liberator" broadcasting from somewhere in DC, speaking in a stereotypical Chinese accent (swapping around Ls and Rs).

by platon - 2008-11-11 10:08
» Weird

Japan created blood and gore games, It's weird that they want to censor a ARPG game there... I mean, with all their violent and horror titles, Fallout is like a kid game... lol

by xXPedroMaxXx - 2008-11-11 10:48
» lol

Sooooooo true

by ShinFuYux - 2008-11-11 19:10
» Fatman?

That's stupid, they mention Fatman in MGS2, but we can't mention it because they get offended?



Also, I still don't understand why Dead Space got banned from Japan? Is it because of the gore? Then check Ninja Gaiden.



It's stupid. Japanese should be more open minded in foreign games. We take their games as how they're made, but they can't because they'll freak out?



HA!!

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