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Censorship & Culturalization

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Shiavui

Shiavui

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Thread updated: Please feel free to add any examples of culturalization, especially if censorship is involved.

As a lover of gaming, especially of games (including visual novels) that are from Japan, I wanted to discuss a not-so-new term but one that is becoming increasingly used within the games industry:
Culturalization.


It's well worth watching this video on the subject.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqvkbDqtRY8

Used in the games industry as a term for "the science of inspecting dialogue, imagery – even actions, for things that may cause offence to particular markets or cultures".

Localisation is part of culturalization.


My main questions are:

- Is this cultural appropriation?
- Does culturalization breed intolerance of other cultures? Does it breed hate through lack of understanding, acknowledgement and respect?
- Is this censorship?
- Does culturalization degrade the quality of the product?
- Is this a necessary part of game localisation?
- Do you agree with it? Do you disagree? Are you indifferent?

Notice
: There are important links on the third post of this page. It's well worth checking them out, if you're concerned about the future of gaming.

18-Jun-2017 04:09:34 - Last edited on 04-Nov-2019 17:11:50 by Shiavui

Shiavui

Shiavui

Posts: 50,740 Emerald Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Personally I am against this term and its practice. I would prefer that game developers and publishers simply translate their game as part of their localisation process without culturalization.

I am against being told what I can and cannot play too.
Therefore I am against enforced ratings boards such as PEGI, ESRB, CERO or whatever the equivalent is in your country. I wouldn't be against them simply being there as guidelines rather than total control.

I personally think culturalization is censorship, although there are varying degrees and levels of it depending on the game itself.

18-Jun-2017 04:09:40 - Last edited on 18-Jun-2017 07:14:53 by Shiavui

Shiavui

Shiavui

Posts: 50,740 Emerald Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
For further uses.

Additional links:

International Game Developers Association's "Best Practices for Game Localization"
.
http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.igda.org/resource/collection/2DA60D94-0F74-46B1-A9E2-F2CE8B72EA4D/Best-Practices-for-Game-Localization-v22.pdf

World Health Organization's ICD-11 draft (includes gaming addiction)

http://www.who.int/classifications/ICD11January2017Newsletter.pdf?ua=1

Censored Gaming's video discussing WHO's ICD-11 draft

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMqRaSVkesI

Responses to United Nations proposed ban on Japanese media containing sexual violence:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2016/03/03/japanese-response-to-un-proposed-ban-for-media-depicting-sexual-violence-is-cogent-and-sane/#16b635c65b3e

18-Jun-2017 04:13:41 - Last edited on 20-Jun-2017 02:14:55 by Shiavui

Volkisch

Volkisch

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I agree with your view to some extent. I think I remember reading that some items in Fallout 3 had their name changed for the Japan localization so as to not offend.

Here in the U.S, the ESRB ratings are not enforced by any government entity and it's not actually a crime to sell a Mature rated video game to children. Many large retailers like GameStop and and Wal-Mart generally only stock games that have been rated by the ESRB. They do so because they do not want to go to court for frivolous lawsuits because little Johnny bought the latest Call of Duty and mommy was offended by the content.

The ESRB isn't even a government entity, it's a privately funded censorship board. [qu.ote id=23-24-312-63626936-13867-341770025*[quot.e id=23-24-703-65953575-104-341769920*what devastatingly undeveloped senses of humor you all have
can't even screencap this **** it's so stupid[/qu.ote]

can somebody put this in their sig[/.quote]

18-Jun-2017 04:29:35

Wolfblue42

Wolfblue42

Posts: 3,962 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
I remember Grand theft Auto Vice City had a Haitian friendly version which removed all references to the word Haitian in some missions because some Haitain groups complained. Ironically you still had to kill some as part of a mission anyways. Found it a bit bizzare in a game about random mass killing.

I see a few other games have female character outfits edited a bit when they come out in the west. Other times they edit out random small stuff like this from Final Fantasy 7 Crisis core:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= O5HnvuqDaFc (had to space = cause dumb emotes)

I remember from Ocarina of Time remaster they edited the Mirror Shield symbol and the Fire temple chants because some groups found them offensive or such.

I'd honestly prefer the products to be as close to the original minus editing optional difficulty or some QOL thing. I think otherwise its just a dumb trend of trying to please everyone which just doesn't end well in the end. Its straight up censorship in an attempt to cater to angry mobs, don't really think they should bother with that battle. I think they should just stick to their guns instead of trying to please groups that probably will never even touch the games themselves to begin with.

I know Dragon Ball Kai (the Z remaster) made Mr. Popo this obnoxious blue color instead of black because it may have been offensive. They made it so much more worse by making him that bright blue and calling attention to it. Think they even removed halos and turned them into orbs. It just...becomes this out of touch person trying to tell you what is good for you when in reality its so patheticly pointless and bad for you to try to censor it.

18-Jun-2017 04:57:46

Raleirosen

Raleirosen

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As MotherlyGoat pointed out there can be some reasonable/practical considerations when it comes to this sort of thing, but I think it's pretty obvious that the process of culturalization can stray towards more repulsive elements of the political left. Patrolling Lore FC almost makes you wish for a Great Revision.

18-Jun-2017 07:12:50

Jafnhaur
Dec Member 2020

Jafnhaur

Posts: 1,866 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Culturalization is a liberal euphemism for censorship, and only destroys games. Think about what Treehouse did to Fire Emblem: Fates, or the censoring of Xenoblade Chronicles. It isn't good. Fuck, this culturalization shit is the reason why DOAX 3 wasn't released in the west. “Loddfafnir, listen to my counsel: You will fare well if you follow it, It will help you much if you heed it. If aware that another is wicked, say so: Make no truce or treaty with foes.” - Havamal 127

18-Jun-2017 17:35:55

Ancient Drew

Ancient Drew

Posts: 5,732 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Volkisch said :
I agree with your view to some extent. I think I remember reading that some items in Fallout 3 had their name changed for the Japan localization so as to not offend.

Here in the U.S, the ESRB ratings are not enforced by any government entity and it's not actually a crime to sell a Mature rated video game to children. Many large retailers like GameStop and and Wal-Mart generally only stock games that have been rated by the ESRB. They do so because they do not want to go to court for frivolous lawsuits because little Johnny bought the latest Call of Duty and mommy was offended by the content.

The ESRB isn't even a government entity, it's a privately funded censorship board. And it's not even government related? Apart from the possibility of it being union based, or at the very least preserving reputation for the sake of the business, what's the point of putting an age rating on in the first place? God, if these censorship boards want something done to protect kids they need to speak to some higher-ups. Prepare for hell on RuneScape in Naval Cataclysm!

Pokemon battle? Friend Code: 4614-0426-2439

18-Jun-2017 18:44:52

K-ON Ritsu
Apr Member 2007

K-ON Ritsu

Posts: 3,393 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Wolfblue42 said :
I know Dragon Ball Kai (the Z remaster) made Mr. Popo this obnoxious blue color instead of black because it may have been offensive. They made it so much more worse by making him that bright blue and calling attention to it. Think they even removed halos and turned them into orbs. It just...becomes this out of touch person trying to tell you what is good for you when in reality its so patheticly pointless and bad for you to try to censor it.

Jynx, from Pokemon, suffered a similar fate. "Kindness can sometimes bring forth an even greater sadness." - Homura Akemi

18-Jun-2017 20:57:53

K-ON Ritsu
Apr Member 2007

K-ON Ritsu

Posts: 3,393 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6g6c_FxVTI


Harpies and Fortune Ladies, among many other Yu-Gi-Oh cards, have been censored for nudity. Other cards have been censored for religious and demonic symbolism, as well as for violence. It seems the West needs to work on its gymnophobia and daemonophobia. "Kindness can sometimes bring forth an even greater sadness." - Homura Akemi

18-Jun-2017 21:08:37

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