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[Lunatic_Gamer]

The rating board in Japan, CERO, has banned The Callisto Protocol from release in the country over excessive violence. The developers are unwilling to compromise the experience that players are expecting, and, as a result, the game will not see the light of day in Japan.

In light of these developments, the studio is offering refunds to those who have already pre-ordered The Callisto Protocol.

The CERO ratings board has a strict policy when it comes to realistic depiction of gore and violence, such as human dismemberment. This is the likely reason behind the game’s cancelled release in Japan. Capcom has had to tone down the amount of violence in its Resident Evil titles in Japan compared to the western releases in order to get approved by the rating board. Additionally, the Resident Evil games are distributed in two versions in Japan, with the regular edition containing toned down depiction of blood and gore and a special “Z version” that features a higher degree of violence.

The Callisto Protocol Banned In Japan Over Violence, Devs Refuse To Censor

The Callisto Protocol has been banned in Japan due to concerns regarding violence, as the developer refuses to censor the game.

twistedvoxel.com

 

[FritzJ92]

Did they have Sony tone down the last of us?

 

[Buggy Loop]

WTF Japan??

´member slicing human limbs to reach the sweet stuff? Or was that toned down?

What about dead space?

 

[Con_Z_ǝdʇ]

What about Australia and Germany?

 

[Nautilus]

Its funny how Japan has entirely different values when it comes to "what's acceptable" when compared to the rest of the world.

In the west, we find weird those overly sexual games that Japan usually produces, and they are completely fine with it. But games with a lot of gore, that we are usually fine with, they find it completelt hnacceptable.

Its really fascinating.

 

[GymWolf]

Japanese people rejecting a game with tentacles??

Also how the fuck is this game more violent than stuff like tlou2?

 

[fermcr]

Japan censors their porn... so, not surprised.

 

[GHG]

All he needs to do is put an anime filter on the game and they will approve it.

 

[Bavarian_Sloth]

What about Australia and Germany?

Here in Germany uncut. Thank god. (Link)

In Australia it also seems to release in its full full g(l)ory. (Link)

 

[nush]

Japanese gamers are about to learn how to change their storefront. Banning something is a badge of coolness and desirability. Thanks CERO.

 

[Jennings]

It makes one wonder what the Japanese think about the rest of the world's lusty thirst for explicit violence.

 

[N0S]

Not enough tentacles

 

[crackajack]

What about Australia and Germany?

Germany's rating is already approved

USK Altersfreigabe für The Callisto Protocol

USK Altersfreigabe für The Callisto Protocol: keine Jugendfreigabe gemäß § 14 JuSchG.

usk.de

 

[OZ9000]

That's pretty sad.

 

[tommib]

Did they have Sony tone down the last of us?

Yes.

Japanese censorship​

• The romantic scene between Abby and Owen was modified for the Japanese version. The game cuts to black just before Abby was about to take off her shirt, which would reveal her breasts.
• Dismemberment is no longer possible. Dead human bodies always remain intact on big explosions.
• Internal organs of hung people are no longer visible. All images of dismembered bodies were changed to fully intact bodies.
• A profane note containing drawings of genitalia and breasts was modified. The drawings were replaced with tentacles but with the text untouched.

 

[Kenneth Haight]

Never change Japan

 

[ikbalCO]

Maybe they should hire jj abrams to hide the gore with lense flare, no?

 

[FingerBang]

A profane note containing drawings of genitalia and breasts was modified. The drawings were replaced with tentacles but with the text untouched.

Same thing for the japanese!

 

[supernova8]

Japan resident here, it seems to still be available to pre-purchase on Steam but that maybe because I originally made my Steam account in the UK? (pricing shows up in yen so not sure how it all works). Maybe they haven't gotten round to telling Steam to block it for Japan residents or maybe it'll only apply to physical copies?

宇宙SFサバイバルホラー『The Callisto Protocol』日本向けの販売中止―CERO審査が原因と公式発表 | Game*Spark - 国内・海外ゲーム情報サイト

メール質問にてSteam版への日本語収録があるとの回答を得ていますが、日本から購入できるかについては発表以上の情報は得られていません。

www.gamespark.jp

According to this Japanese article, all they're saying is "you can't buy it in Japan" but haven't clarified whether it applies to Steam.

So yeah as long as you're not buying it on console, there's a chance you can still get it regardless

 

[Spaceman292]

WTF Japan??

´member slicing human limbs to reach the sweet stuff? Or was that toned down?

What about dead space?

For Revengeance, the blood was white in Japan and red everywhere else.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

Its funny how Japan has entirely different values when it comes to "what's acceptable" when compared to the rest of the world.

In the west, we find weird those overly sexual games that Japan usually produces, and they are completely fine with it. But games with a lot of gore, that we are usually fine with, they find it completelt hnacceptable.

Its really fascinating.

But it makes no sense considering some really violent animes they produce.

PS - Also...wasn't TLOU2 released there?

 

[ranmafan]

Well I know the one import store I check out in Akihabara when I go to Tokyo will be selling a lot of copies of the import for sure now. It’s always annoying this happens here in Japan. CERO is way way too draconian with their rules and no one likes it. I miss the older days in Japan where media could go much much further.

 

[TonberrysKnife]

Here in Germany uncut. Thank god. (Link)

In Australia it also seems to release in its full full g(l)ory. (Link)

The irony that AUSTRALIA is releasing the game, instead of Japan, is quite staggering.

 

[Nautilus]

But it makes no sense considering some really violent animes they produce.

PS - Also...wasn't TLOU2 released there?

But its cartoon. Stylized cartoon. And when it comes to violence in these animes, its pretty much isolated, in terms of really violent scenes, to one or two parts. I don't remember a single anime that was as violent or as explicit as Dead Space, for example.

And TLOU 2 was heavily censored there, as far as I remember.

 

[Moses85]

 

[Thief1987]

But it makes no sense considering some really violent animes they produce.

PS - Also...wasn't TLOU2 released there?

Yes, but it's censored

Dismemberment is a no-no in games in Japan

 

[Lucifers Beard]

That seems like an inconsistent approach as there are Anime shows out there that are way more fucked up and gory than this game appears to be. Oh well!

 

[ranmafan]

But it makes no sense considering some really violent animes they produce.

PS - Also...wasn't TLOU2 released there?

Anime content isn’t controlled by CERO, which controls video game ratings. All the rules that anime must follow is the laws of censorship on certain parts of nudity mandated by the government. Even then there’s still controversy these days over some anime going over the top. But as for gaming CEROs rules are so far more draconian than anything else in media in Japan it’s pretty absurd. The Z rating means very little too. They are still censored compared to the western releases. I played TLOU2 here and I was surprised by my friends saying how gruesome it could be as my version wasn’t. When I saw videos online of the western version I was like, WOW I made a mistake buying that version.

 

[Dorohedoro]

Yes, but it's censored

Dismemberment is a no-no in games in Japan

That version is a disgrace, Naughty Dog should've refused to censor it like these devs did instead of bowing down. The gore is a big part of what makes the game what it is.

 

[SCB3]

Japan? Sorry but where is Bloodborne from?

 

[Punished Miku]

Ninja Gaiden Black and 2 also had censored violence in Japan. Couldn't lop the heads off.

 

[Killer8]

Yes.

Japanese censorship​

• The romantic scene between Abby and Owen was modified for the Japanese version. The game cuts to black just before Abby was about to take off her shirt, which would reveal her breasts.

First time in recorded history that censorship improved a game.

 

[Roman Empire]

Japan censors their porn... so, not surprised.

Yes, they do but this is a false assumption. Japan is currently airing one of the most hyped shows out there Chainsaw Man:

https://media.tenor.com/vdW_GaxyAMkAAAAC/chainsaw-man-denji.gif

One of the most violent shows/animes in recent times and there has been no censoring since the whole premise of the show is killing devils with a chainsaw-hybrid devil MC. Japan is just dumb about the arbitrarity of what constitutes as too much violence for the masses.

 

[Filben]

I find anime culture and waifu obsession far more dangerous than violence. Especially when your country has a declining birth rate because young men don't know how to nor want to interact with women in real life anymore.

 

[I Master l]

Also how the fuck is this game more violent than stuff like tlou2?

...

 

[Sophist]

Its funny how Japan has entirely different values when it comes to "what's acceptable" when compared to the rest of the world.

In the west, we find weird those overly sexual games that Japan usually produces, and they are completely fine with it. But games with a lot of gore, that we are usually fine with, they find it completelt hnacceptable.

Its really fascinating.

Most of the west shared the same roots at one moment or another; Greek empire, Roman Empire, Judaism, Christianity, Latin speaking language... because of that we tends to have the same justice, the same moral values, the same maners. Japan had nothing of that, it's a different civilization with different roots (Shintoism, confucianism, bushido, ...). The west had Luter saying masturbation is a sin that will send you to hell meanwhile Japan had Shunga

 

[amigastar]

You know you have to get the game other ways then.

 

[FritzJ92]

Yes.

Japanese censorship​

• The romantic scene between Abby and Owen was modified for the Japanese version. The game cuts to black just before Abby was about to take off her shirt, which would reveal her breasts.
• Dismemberment is no longer possible. Dead human bodies always remain intact on big explosions.
• Internal organs of hung people are no longer visible. All images of dismembered bodies were changed to fully intact bodies.
• A profane note containing drawings of genitalia and breasts was modified. The drawings were replaced with tentacles but with the text untouched.

Whoa. Japan … why.

 

[tommib]

First time in recorded history that censorship improved a game.

Edgelord +1 point.

 

[Calling 911 Melts Beams]

this is worse than december 7th 1941

 

[Revolutionary]

It's incredibly easy to import games in 2022. Japanese gamers will be fine.

 

[ranmafan]

It's incredibly easy to import games in 2022. Japanese gamers will be fine.

Yeah this will be very little problem for gamers here in Japan. There are stores in Akihabara that will sell it, and they will make a big deal out of it being “banned” as well. Amazon will have the import as well. People can easily get the Psn and Xbox digital funds for it either through stores here or online. Hopefully the makers of the game keep the Japanese language options in it for Japanese gamers. The only problem is that it’s going to cost a lot for us here to buy thanks to the yen issues.

 

[Serouj2000]

.

 

[hemo memo]

That version is a disgrace, Naughty Dog should've refused to censor it like these devs did instead of bowing down. The gore is a big part of what makes the game what it is.

It is not the Mona Lisa painting dude. It is just a video game. People want to play the game censored or not. It is stupid to punish the fans because something they have 0 control over. Just censor it and let the fans play the damn game.

 

[NT80]

The famous Berserk Manga with it's excessive gore springs to mind. I don't get it.

 

[alienator]

Japan banning stuff too violent and gory :|

me after watching everything from Takashi miike:

 

[tommib]

Japan banning stuff too violent and gory :|

me after watching everything from Takashi miike:

The CERO rating only applies to videogames, not film or manga.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_Entertainment_Rating_Organization

 

[SmokedMeat]

Japan censoring porn is even weirder to me, but whatever. Doesn’t affect me.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

1. It seems like Glen Schofield has more integrity that Neil Drunkman.

2. Nice.

3. Would a loli skin be enough to make this game approved by Japan?

 

[Inuteu]

thats good news for me