Mass Effect banned in Singapore

[Cyorg]

I know it's not PS3 news, but I still found it interesting.

Mass Effect banned in Singapore

Same-sex love scene too much for country's authorities

The Media Development Authority of Singapore has decided to prevent Microsoft's forthcoming Xbox 360 title, Mass Effect, from being released in the country.

According to a report in the nation's broadsheet, The Straits Times, the decision has been taken due to the inclusion in the game of a "sex scene between a human woman and a female alien."

The report claims that the decision has "caused an outcry among local and international gamers, who said it was too strict a decision."

Singapore has previously banned other titles, including God of War 2 for nudity and The Darkness for excessive religious expletives.

Microsoft hadn't responded to a request for comment at the time of writing.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=30669

Maybe it's just me, but I feel that sex, of any kind, has no place in video games.

[Tim Quinn]

Interesting, not completely unexpected though.

Warning, long essay like post forthcoming:

I feel that sex, violence, drugs, alcohol, etc, all have their place in any kind of entertainment media. The scrutiny that video games have gone through in the past 10 years is almost spot on to what happened to the movie industry in the early to mid 1900's. Alfred Hitchcocks movies went through the same process, he purposely made his movies as shocking and disturbing as possible in protest of the restrictions that were being placed on hollywood at the time. In time it was through self-monitoring and control that movies were finally able to get to a point where it's safe to release a rated 'R' film and not have to worry as much about young eyes or easily offended people raising hell with the government.

The ESRB is doing just that, self-policing of video game ratings so that the government doesn't step in and constrict the freedoms of the media type.

That being said, the ESRB and video gaming rating system is still very young, heck, the game industry as a whole is still a baby. In time I believe there will be much better control over who can purchase and play games with questionable content and until then it's up to us parents and workers at electronic stores to be familiar with the rating system to make sure inappropriate content isn't supplied to the young and impressionable.

As a member of the game development community, I strongly support the artistic freedom that video games can give to the designers and artists behind the scenes. If blood, gore, swearing, religious content, sex, nudity, and/or violence offends someone.... then they shouldn't play the game or let their kids play it.

Cheers,
Tim

P.S. I haven't actually ever made a game above a 'Teen' rating, but I might one day, who knows.

[Cyorg]

Tim, I get what you're saying, and I feel the same way to an extent. Since I've never played the game my opinion is not based on any actual experience. However, I feel that unless you are playing Liesure Suit Larry, sex or nudity adds nothing to the game. It's just put there for shock value. Blood, and gore are just a part of many games today, and FPS would be pretty boring without it. Swearing, well, I suppose that adds to the realism of the dialog. Religious content is only subject matter, similar to history, fantasy, or science fiction. But unless it's a game featuring Jenna Jameson, sex just doesn't add anything to the game except a boner for some lonely teenage gamer.

[WeApOn]

I have the same philosophy as Tim. This can be just like the movie industry, and as technology has increased, the tools are there to make things very realistic in games.

Regardless, video games and their creation is an art form, and freedom is something that goes hand in hand with art. The censoring and banning of any videogame, movie, or anything for that matter is appaling. I don't know Singapore's laws by any means, but I strongly support freedom. If people can not stand something, or have any negative views upon that thing-- take responsibility. You are NOT being forced to do anything by any means.

The bottom line is that people are capable of making decisions for themselves. I think the ESRB is a great way to label a game so that you can at least know what to expect.

The truth in it all is that you could be walking down the street and witness a gruesome murder, streaking, or even alien-on-human inter-gender sex. Nobody can blindfold you to that. Trying to hide reality is stupid. But so is abusing the right to show it. As long as nothing is being forced upon you, it is all fair game IMO.

I've played alot of games, and seen alot of gruesome deaths and dismemberment, but there's no way I wouldn't be appaled if I saw someone get their arm or head cut off in real life. You can't be desensitized that much. The feeling of reality is being tried by many game developers, but there is a level that it can never breach.

No reason to ramble on about every aspect. The fact of the matter is this-- people should be the ones making decisions, no one else. Of course, only if there is enough fair warning and the knowledge of what is to come. Again, if nothing is being forced-- freedom of choice should exist.

[bajor27]

while I'll agree that sex in games is often used for shock value, but I don't believe it has to be. There is sex in a lot of movies and tv and it's not sed for shock value (all the time). Romance is part of certain games and I feel like it could become a larger part of it and the stories in time, and along with tat might come sex - not necessarily nudity though.

I personally am ashamed that we live in a world that treats videogames the way we do, but do understand that things take time to evolve. The world still hasn't woken up and realized that the average age of gamers is no longer 8-17.


As a side note - I am the proud owner of a wii and love casual games and other nintendo games which are light on violence, contain no blood, swearing, or nudity. I also like games like gears of war. I know games don't need all "bad" these things to be fun, but I like variety. I like pixar films, but I don't want to see a (dare I say) kids movie everytime I go to the theatre.

I like to be able to have a choice. I don't want others to make the choice for me.

[Teazle]

"Same-sex love scene too much for country's authorities
...
According to a report in the nation's broadsheet, The Straits Times, the decision has been taken due to the inclusion in the game of a "sex scene between a human woman and a female alien." "

Same sex, different species ... what's to be offended over? Then again, this is a country where it's criminal to dispose of chewing gum on public pavement.

Wonder how Clerks 2 did over there.

[statikcat]

Originally Posted by Cyorg

Tim, I get what you're saying, and I feel the same way to an extent. Since I've never played the game my opinion is not based on any actual experience. However, I feel that unless you are playing Liesure Suit Larry, sex or nudity adds nothing to the game. It's just put there for shock value. Blood, and gore are just a part of many games today, and FPS would be pretty boring without it. Swearing, well, I suppose that adds to the realism of the dialog. Religious content is only subject matter, similar to history, fantasy, or science fiction. But unless it's a game featuring Jenna Jameson, sex just doesn't add anything to the game except a boner for some lonely teenage gamer.

Man I doubt it is graphic at all. It is probably a PG13 scene at worst. I am sure you can buy movies in Singapore with girls kissing as there are plenty under R rating. And graphic sex doesnt belong in a serious game, sure but you can't exclude it entirely. Games are very cinematic today.. and it can be tastefully done. The thing is I dont think Singapore cares how tasteful it is.. they just dont want it period.

[actionhank]

Iam just glad i live in America

[Cyorg]

Originally Posted by statikcat

Man I doubt it is graphic at all. It is probably a PG13 scene at worst. I am sure you can buy movies in Singapore with girls kissing as there are plenty under R rating. And graphic sex doesnt belong in a serious game, sure but you can't exclude it entirely. Games are very cinematic today.. and it can be tastefully done. The thing is I dont think Singapore cares how tasteful it is.. they just dont want it period.

I agree. Like I said before, I haven't played it so I have no idea how graphic it really is. At first I was getting the impression that it was some XXX shit, but you're probably right.

[jediknight182]

This lesbian scene is not as provacative as the media makes it seem. First this scene is only available if you choose to make your character a female when you start the game. Second the other character (the one in the lesbian scene) is a different species (not human). Lastly there is no visual sex. It is all dialogue driven with subtle hints. Check it out if you are curious.

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/ma...-scene-is-sfw/

[ps3andlovinit]

Originally Posted by Teazle

Wonder how Clerks 2 did over there.

As well as JackAss 2.

[Teazle]

Originally Posted by ps3andlovinit

As well as JackAss 2.

[SPOILER ALERT]

That one came on cable last week, I watched it up to the part where the guy gets his right buttock infected after branding it repeatedly with a cookie cutter. His mother comes on and says (rightly) what a shame he had to do that to himself, scarring himself permanently for absolutely no reason. The guy just keeps giggling stupidly and at that point I had to turn the movie off, it was so depressing -- almost upsetting. I don't think the scene should have been censored. Still I regret having viewed that senseless instance of real-world masochism. Not at all in the same titillating category as a couple of CGI lesbo aliens getting it on in Mass Effect.

[JTK]

This is going to be a fantastic game.

[WeApOn]

So much for the ban:

http://kotaku.com/gaming/game-on/sin...ban-323638.php

[lch]

Singapore is a special place. We have 4 major races and many religions, so the government have to be sensitive to all. If the content is offensive to 1 of the race, most likely it will be banned. We don't want to have racial or religion problem just bcos of a movie or game.

We don't have R rating for disc, R is only in theatre and for 21 and above.
Our movie disc rating is G, PG, NC16 and M18.
So if the movie that contain questionable scene, the distributor will either cut it to go PG for bigger market or go R21 which have smaller market.

[MasterXeus]

Originally Posted by JTK

This is going to be a fantastic game.

Mass Effect is a great game. I found one early.
Although I have not seen this scene yet, I read that this scene is really just a same-sex kiss.

The game is rated M for Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Violence

I have not seen any partial nudity yet, but from what I read it refers to one side view of a blue alien breast, no nipple and that’s it.

Honestly, I think you’ll see more sexual themes and partial nudity on TV than this game.

[MasterXeus]

Originally Posted by lch

Singapore is a special place. We have 4 major races and many religions, so the government have to be sensitive to all. If the content is offensive to 1 of the race, most likely it will be banned. We don't want to have racial or religion problem just bcos of a movie or game.

We don't have R rating for disc, R is only in theatre and for 21 and above.
Our movie disc rating is G, PG, NC16 and M18.
So if the movie that contain questionable scene, the distributor will either cut it to go PG for bigger market or go R21 which have smaller market.

Singapore may be a special place, but it doesn't sound like a place I want to live, maybe visit.

[DealsR4theDevil]

Originally Posted by lch

Singapore is a special place. We have 4 major races and many religions, so the government have to be sensitive to all. If the content is offensive to 1 of the race, most likely it will be banned. We don't want to have racial or religion problem just bcos of a movie or game.

We don't have R rating for disc, R is only in theatre and for 21 and above.
Our movie disc rating is G, PG, NC16 and M18.
So if the movie that contain questionable scene, the distributor will either cut it to go PG for bigger market or go R21 which have smaller market.

The U.S. has many religions and races as well but we dont go out and tell the KKK they cant hold rallies. I think its a ridiculous notion to ban something. If people dont like it they dont have to play it.

[heathward]

Originally Posted by jediknight182

Check it out if you are curious.

that was the dumbest cutscene i have ever seen. horrible modeling and horrible dialogue. why is this game getting so much hype? it looks really stoopid to me. not just that video, but the many other trailers and clips. bunch of boring star trek people with pee shooters killing lame looking aliens. i don't get it. oh wait...its a first person shooter for the Xbox 360. nevermind, i understand now.

[WeApOn]

I think my above post was overlooked--

THIS GAME IS NO LONGER BANNED

http://kotaku.com/gaming/game-on/sin...ban-323638.php