CENSORSHIP in western PS2 VF4Evo

This weekend at GameJam I had the opportunity to chat with Takuan, AM2's resident PR guy. He mentioned that a US release of Evo will now "probably happen" and that a PAL version is all but guaranteed. Hooray!

While we were chatting away, I told him that we noticed the foreign versions of arcade Evo are different from the JP versions... ie Shun's redness, loss of Vanessa's 1P outfit, Brad's aloha shirt as default, among other things. I asked him if the home versions were going to e similarly changed, thinking that they would mostly leave things identical to the JP version.

To my total and utter dismay and shock, he said that YES, SIMILAR ALTERATIONS ARE PLANNED FOR THE WESTERN HOME VERSION.

But then, of course, I asked WHY. He didn't seem to be able to come up with a very good reason (it was like he was stumbling for an answer), and eventually told me something like Vanessa's 1P outfit is "bad for the kids."

Yes, the same company that put out Beach Spikers (skimpy bikinis for EVERYONE!) on the GAMECUBE, the system obviously targetting a younger audience, is afraid that seeing Vanessa in grappling clothes will SCAR OUR CHILDREN FOR LIFE. Is this the most ridiculous thing ever or what? Not to mention it was perfectly acceptable in the previous Version C release - she was even shown in that outfit in the promo materials.

OK, so this isn't anywhere near as pressing, as, say, the whole memory card thing (I'm trying to find out what the status on that is), but you must admit that it is still UNBELIEVABLY STUPID. I thought this sort of stuff stopped happening to games years ago.

Think I'm kidding? Check out the PS2 wallpaper images - NONE of the 1P Vanessa outfit to be seen at all. It seems like tey made these in ANTICIPATION for these changes.

If they're going to censor/alter something like this, it makes me worry about some of the items, player names, and chat messages as well.

And Vanessa once again is getting no respect. Sadness! (;_

(But don't blame Takuan here - he's still the world's coolest PR agent. I respect ANYONE who crossdresses as Shenhua for promotional purposes. It's some unknown bonehead in management who is making these decisions.)

 

Nevermind

 

I think that's a load of crap too. Do you think there's anyway we can stop this insanity?

 

Start a pertition /versus/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

By the time you have a few hunderd signatures the code will be done.

 

I haven't been a member of vfdc to be able to tell when you're being sarcastic or serious yet... /versus/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I say sarcasm this time because once the code is done nothing else will be done.

 

Ehh, its a shame, but really if that is all we have to worry about in terms of the translation, I can easily live with it.

 

You sir are correct.

Code is almost done as is, I dont think they will alter the gamecode at this point, even if its just a few lines.

 

"Ehh, its a shame, but really if that is all we have to worry about in terms of the translation, I can easily live with it."

nah man, its an annoying gamers voice in our heads that tells us stuff like "shun's not red!!, theres some other version with this on it" sure its not a big deal but, i hate that annoying voice in my head. can we just get "as the creators intented" products anymore. cause i cant help myself for nitpicking, its an automatic thing most gamers have.

 

Damn straight, Sal. And how many times did we see people scrambling for import versions of games due to things removed in the Western versions during the Saturn/PS era?

AM2 games have been censored before, though: Look at Saturn Fighting Vipers, where they removed the ability to play as underwear-only Honey, and a picture with her cupping her breasts in her hands.

The difference between that and this, though, is that Honey is *supposed* to be skanky. Vanessa is not, so why they pick on her, I have no idea. XP

 

Ehh, maybe...but you know, the U.S almost always gets the superior version, same goes with ALL the vf's - better loading time...hell, VF3...we lost shun getting red but got a versus mode. I will take that over censorship ANYDAY.

 

I would too, but this is pointless censoring. That's what's got me so upset. So Shun's face isn't red...oh well. And them making Brad's 1st costume his 2nd and his 2nd his first...who cares. But Vanessa's costume was in VF4. That and the fact that it's not bad at all makes this really stupid. I've seen far skimpier in a Catholic school gym class. I'll take the extras and smile, but this pointless censoring is only going to make me mod my ps2 and get the import...the game the way the designers intended.

It could be worst though. At least they aren't eliminating Wolf, Jeff, and Brad's shirtless costumes because they don't want little girls to be offended /versus/images/graemlins/tongue.gif But push comes to shove I'm still happy as hell that I get to see Evo come to America.

 

Would you take the costume over a versus mode? Faster loading? Etc?

 

Why can't we have both?
Of course we want faster loads, and all the modes we can handle but why the hell can't we also have the game as the designers made it? I don't need Big Brother watchin over me!

 

Dean, your point (assuming you actually had one) is completely moot. WE ARE NOT GETTING FASTER LOAD TIMES OR NEW MODES OR ANY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WESTERN VERSION OF VF4E. (Unless the memcard issue gets fixed up) WE ARE HAVING THINGS REMOVED THAT SHOULDN'T BE. THIS IS NOT A TRADE-OFF SITUATION HERE. They could throw in extras if they wanted WITHOUT removing what was already there. Quit trying to play devil's advocate everywhere, it doesn't make you look any more intelligent or informed.

</burnination>

Even if the memcard issue is resolved I would stiff be supremely annoyed. Unless they put in a new outfit for Vanessa. Maybe a schoolgirl uniform! No, wait, I think that'd be even WORSE than what she has now...

 

Mmmmmmmmm schoolgirl uniform mmmmmmm.

 

[ QUOTE ]
Shadowdean said:

Would you take the costume over a versus mode? Faster loading? Etc?

[/ QUOTE ]

Man, did you even read my post /versus/images/graemlins/smile.gif? I said that "I would too", meaning that "I would rather have a vs., etc too". I said that I'm steamed because this is an unnecessary censoring. Plus I said that I'm still "happy as hell" that Evo is coming stateside, regardless of what changes occur.

 

'The difference between that and this, though, is that Honey is *supposed* to be skanky. Vanessa is not'

Err Vanessa is like SOOOOO skanky, believe /versus/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

Did you not play vf3?

 

What does any of these have to do with censorship Shadowdean? Man you need to focus on the topic at hand dude, this is like the war thread all over again. Take the chinese dick out of your ass and read the title before hit the reply button, General Mao!

 

It's a trade off.