A Week In Comments

Now, I’m not saying artistic expression = boobies. However, being able to include adult situations (and even nudity) when appropriate is really telling of the level of freedom that’s accepted.

I look forward to the day that some shmuck on a “news” show tries to bash the next big game because it has adult situations, and everyone laughs it off just as quickly as we (as a gaming community) laugh off that kind of thing right now.

First, no, the ESRB does not “censor” games; it simply passes judgment on the existing content within a given game. On top of this it is completely up to the game makers themselves whether or not they want to submit to the ESRB. Sure, most places will not sell games that are not rated or have been rated too maturely, but anyone is free to do so at his discretion. The fact that many stores do not is their choice, and it is not the ESRB’s responsibility to micromanage the video game market to correct for this perceived unfairness.

Second, maybe some of you should do a little research on what actual game developers think of the ESRB. I’ve heard some who are very pleased with the system and extol the ESRB as one of the least restrictive rating boards when compared to other countries. Ryan Payton, I believe, of Kojima Productions echoed this sentiment on one of the old KP Reports.

Lastly, even with my defense of the ESRB thus far, I have to point out that it should not exist. It was nudged into existence by the U.S. government, though as it stands it is self-regulating and free of bureaucratic tentacles. Had it lacked its governmental midwife, then it would have been a shining example of how free citizens can affect their society and the powerful, “greedy” corporations that inhabit it. To be honest, it still is; it just would have been a smoother and more accepted affair had the government allowed for people to wait for when they thought it was time for a free and voluntary video game ratings board.

Commander: Shit son bring it up to 100% and hold it together.

Tech Troop: It’s not working! It’s going to surpass 3 million sales and maybe even more!

Commander: Dammit! Send in Monster Hunter for the Wii and may God help us all.

*Hits “Release Monster Hunter” button*

To be completely fair, seeing some of the download numbers on those DS games is pretty eye opening to the situation. I mean, yeah, some are just trying before they buy, but when 10,000+ are downloading a game, thats a pretty large dent to the profits.

However, I don’t think anybody downloads the Imagine games, so bad excuse Ubi.

The veteran died several days later. I still have the toy gun, with the phrase “Ba” carved into the stock from when I tried to etch “Bad Dudes” into the toy gun with a pocketknife, but cut myself as I finished the ‘a’.

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