Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

@StuTwo For underaged, sure, but this usually doesn't stick to "just" underaged. Just look at Tokyo Mirage Sessions, which they censored the living hell out of, that's something just unnecessary.

@Caldorosso-E I understand your point, but they've made their decision with the art-style and how they're designing the characters. Those off-put by that, are probably already getting the message and won't be buying it.

@Caldorosso-E Using "localization" as a euphemism for censorship doesn't change what it is, though. If you're altering content because you feel it's objectionable, or that people would find it objectionable, that's censorship. You're not helping them to appreciate the content more or bridging a cultural gap, you're just imposing your values on them.

@MegaTen The Netherlands. Just like you!

@MegaTen His profile says he's from our cold "frog" country

I knew there would be a Direct and I am hyped for it! Nintendo always does a November direct worldwide and has done since 2012. Usually they only do 1 though in November for everyone. And with December not as frequent this is probably our last Direct of the year.

Enjoy the show folks! Hopefully it is a corker of a Direct! (Please make Amiibo or at least use them...)

@MegaTen We Dutch like our games, do we not?

A good example of a change made for "localization" purposes: in Akiba's Beat, there's a group called "KKK Witches." In Japan, this is understood as a joking reference to a Japanese company. I think we can all agree that this meaning would be lost in the West. The change was made with the intent of helping the Western audience better appreciate the humor and style of the game.

Removing skimpy outfits is never "localization." It's censorship. I can understand changes like that in games like XCX where Nintendo doesn't want a higher age rating, but there was no excuse for it to be present in an M rated game.

And please, let's not act like sexualized female teenagers are seen as unacceptable in the West. A younger teen like the XCX example? Sure. Older teenagers dressing in skimpy clothing is a time honored tradition in horror media, though. So why the changes to Fatal Frame?

Because the localizers disapproved of the content and wanted to impose their values on their audience.

@Ralizah Hmmm, I wonder how this will turn out for Xenoblade 2, considering it's rated 12. We've seen things so far, but I do think they'll give it their "localization".

@MegaTen Kinda like with Senran Kagura? (of which the new Peach Beach Splash is rated 16, compared to XC2's 12)

@MegaTen I remember my brother and I getting a SNES during Christmas way back when, and that's how I started. People with disorders tend to gravitate towards gaming, or so I was told, and we both fit into that category.

Reminds me of the Gamecube days, Ahhh, Double Dash. It was so much fun smacking people off the tracks back then

@Ralizah The people carrying out the localisation of Japanese videogames are probably the biggest weeaboo's on the planet. Not to generalise but they're probably the type of people who have at least one full shelf of anime involving tentacle rape. It's not about them imposing 'their' values...

...it's about them being professional about their job and understanding the differences between how something will be understood and received in the West versus how it will be understood and received in Japan. They also have to understand what things can cause controversy.

Saying that a game is intended only for a niche audience and therefore shouldn't be judged by mainstream moral-ethical standards won't stop a sensationalist journalist or politician running with the headline "Nintendo sells Harvey Weinstein simulator in game aimed at children" when they find out about the 'touching' mini-game in FE.

@UmniKnight I'm hoping this embrace of mature content is a company-wide thing now. If nothing else, they should design their games in such a way that there can be content parity between different versions.

@MegaTen I'm not even necessarily opposed to games launching censored, but with the option of an uncensor patch for adults. That's the deal on Steam, and, honestly, I think it's a clever solution. That way everyone gets what they want.

What I don't appreciate is some moral authority trying to police the content I consume, or assuming that, because THEY find something objectionable, other people should as well. The world doesn't work that way. Different people have different values, and the whole mess only works out if people respect that fact.

@Ralizah 100% agree on that one, since they're basically forcing the same thing on everyone in a country, which is just a shameful display honestly.

@StuTwo Three things:

1) Let's not generalize about what people are like. Calling people uncomfortable with censorship "tentacle-rape consuming weeaboos" is akin to me calling people uncomfortable with the default content "SJW control freaks." It's unhelpful and prejudicial.

2) If the localization was limited to 13 year olds in bikinis, I'd agree with you, but there have been multiple alterations in various games of content that is way tamer than what you would see in any number of given Western cinema, literature, television, etc. It also feeds into the xenophobic perception of Japanese media as being "weird" or "extreme," when, really, our media is often just as bad.

3) Let's not pretend like the people engaging in censorship represent the population en masse. The population en masse doesn't care about this content either way. The only thing this censorship does is anger and punish gamers to try and curry favor with groups of people who broadly don't even play video games.

@MegaTen Oh, I don't mind it. It has some pros, aside it's cons, thankfully. And yes, I agree with choice. Choice is the most pro-consumer thing a developer can give to players. Choice of controls, choice of voices, choice in options and choice in regards to what to experience, and what not to experience.

@Ralizah My tongue was completely in my cheek when talking about the people carrying out localisations - it's a Friday and no-one needs me to deliver a dry sermon from the mound.

I disagree with you on your interpretation of what censorship actually is and I also disagree when it comes to evaluating what changes are necessary to be made in the localisation process. Neither of us will change our minds. But hey - that's fine. I'm not here to make everyone think the same as me!

I would say this though - personally I find Nintendo's localisation efforts to be first class and I think the level where their localisations are currently pitched is pretty much spot on. If companies were 'forced' to be more faithful and 'censor' less then the end consequence is that fewer big companies would take the risk in bringing games over from Japan.

This has nothing to do with xenophobia, morals/ethics, values, or whatever buzzword we want to use.

It's about making a product more marketable. You can't sell underage women in sexually provocative outfits without alienating a large portion of the western audience.

You can't sell a waifu simulator in general. Those types of games sell poorly in the US.

Unless there's something artisticlly significant about clevage that I'm missing. Because I like it as much as the next guy, but come on. It's no big loss. They aren't censoring anything actually cultural, like onigiri or Shinto shrines in FE.

Sweet cheese and crackers, I'd better shut off my StuTwo-creating nanites!

I kid. But I also agree. Localizing games actually means we get thise games. Heck, would anyone get the humor in EarthBound without the long process they took to adapt it?

@StuTwo I stand by your opinion as well. Personally, there is always a good reason why things get censored. We may not get it but they do. Me? I just want to play the game in English. Why get upset about censorship I was not meant to see or read anyway? Sometimes I disagree, most times I agree. But I always respect the publisher/developers' wishes in censorship. Or their lack of it.