Friday, May 05, 2006
Oblivion Re-Rating Translated Into English
So for those who don't quite get the whole "Oblivion" thing, or who haven't heard: The ESRB decided to re-rate The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion as rated "M" (for Mature - 17 or older) instead of rated "T" (For "Teens"). This move resulted from some prior events, such as the "Hot Coffee" scandal, which I won't go into here, and the ever louder cry from politicians that in the name of family values they want to take control of the multibillion-dollar industry.
Here's the highlights (sound bites) of "Obliviongate" translation into English:
Senator Hillary Clinton: “Today's report is yet further proof that we need to make sure parents have the tools and support they need to make informed decisions for their children.”Translation: Hmmm... can I help my career by legislating a new, thriving industry and exciting art form out of existence? Only if can do it before the people who really know and care about it learn that they are old enough to vote!
Senator Joe Lieberman: "We do want to ensure that these videos are not purchased by minors. Our bill will help accomplish this by imposing fines on those retailers that sell M-rated games to minors.”Translation: Let's make the ESRB a new federal legislative body so their rules become LAW, punishable by fines and imprisonment!
ESRB president Patricia Vance: "ESRB recognizes that parents must be made aware of the change as quickly as possible so they are certain to have the most current and accurate information."Translation: See? We are responsive! Better than most government legislative bodies!
ESRB: "The content causing the ESRB to change the rating involves more detailed depictions of blood and gore than were considered in the original rating, as well as the presence of a locked-out art file or 'skin' that, if accessed through a third party modification to the PC version of the game, allows the user to play with topless versions of female characters."Translation: Parents are complaining that the game's got boobies. But let's cover our butts by noting the blood and gore, too.
ESRB (Patricia Vance, I assume): "It is increasingly important for parents to realize that PC games can be altered through the use of downloadable programs created by other players called 'mods' (short for modification), which are broadly available on the Internet and can change the content of a game. Since players create them, it is impossible for ESRB or any rating service to consider them in assigning a rating. However, some mods can alter a game in ways that may not be appropriate for younger players and may be inconsistent with the ESRB rating, so parents should be aware of their existence and, as always, do their best to monitor their child's gameplay."Translation: We are not the clueless n00bs. We know about mods. If you don't watch what your kids download, it's your own fault, not ours! And by the way, Senators, you couldn't do a better job at this either, 'k?
Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association: "As evidenced by the most recent FTC study, the nation's leading retailers now require identification for the purchase of Mature-rated games at approximately the same rate as the movie theatres do for R-rated film admission. When we were notified of the game's ratings change today, we alerted our member company representatives who communicated to their stores the change in the game's rating. The effective change in sales policy was immediate... Of note in this matter is the speed at which retailers reacted and parents were empowered..."Translation: We can take care of ourselves, Senators!!!! See how good we are? Please don't legislate us out of existence!
Bethesda Softworks (developers of Oblivion): "Bethesda, not its co-publisher, developed the game, handled the ratings application before the ESRB, and stands behind it."Translation: Please don't take your grudge against Take-Two out on us!!!
Bethesda Softworks:"We will not contest the ESRB's decision to re-rate the game as Mature, nor will we change the game's content to keep a Teen rating... No product recall is being directed."Translation: As long as Wal*Mart will still carry it, it's cheaper to leave it this way!
Multiple Oblivion Fans: "Props to Bethesda!"Translation: Mmmm... boobies!
Bethesda Softworks: "Bethesda didn't create a game with nudity and does not intend that nudity appear in Oblivion. There is no nude female character in a section of the game that can be `unlocked.' Bethesda can not control tampering with Oblivion by third parties. "Translation: Oh CRAP! I thought we removed that texture from the release build!
Bethesda Softworks: "We gave accurate answers and descriptions about the type and frequency of violence that appears in the game. We submitted a 60-page document listing the explicit language, acts, and scenes in the game. Oblivion packaging already contains warnings for 'Violence' and 'Blood and Gore.'"Translation: You said that the violence was okay, you just didn't want us to have any boobies!
Bethesda Softworks: "We value the role of the ESRB and believe the rating agency plays a valuable role in regulating our industry. As always, we will continue work in good faith to comply fully with the ESRB's standards and policies."Translation: We can take care of ourselves, Senators!!!! See how good we are? Please don't legislate us out of existence!
ESRB President Patricia Vance: "Though Bethesda may believe their submission was 'full, accurate and comprehensive,' our investigation proved otherwise, forcing us to correct what was found to be an inaccurate rating."Translation:It's not our fault!
California Assemblyman Leeland Yee (who's anti-videogame law was struck down on Constitutional grounds several months ago): "The ESRB again has failed our parents and clearly has shown they can not police themselves. Plain and simply, the current rating system is drastically flawed and here is yet another reason why we need legislation to assist parents and protect children."Translation: And I would have gotten away with it too, if it hadn't been for that danged Bill of Rights!
Labels: Mainstream Games, Politics, Roleplaying Games
- posted by The Rampant Coyote @ 8:27 PM (Permalink)
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It's funny to read until you realize it is actually something said by people who are supposed to represent other people and handle that power in a responsible way.
Then it becomes very sad.
I still don't get why there's such a fuss about barbie-like skin graphics being underneath the clothes of our characters. Or why there's a problem about violence in games, either.
Movies have lots of action and they are okay to watch for kids. So what's different about games?
Same for the same level of nudity in games and on barbie dolls. Or does the doll have an ESRB rating of M as well?
Just call me confuzzled by double standards and (most probably) hidden agendas...
Then it becomes very sad.
I still don't get why there's such a fuss about barbie-like skin graphics being underneath the clothes of our characters. Or why there's a problem about violence in games, either.
Movies have lots of action and they are okay to watch for kids. So what's different about games?
Same for the same level of nudity in games and on barbie dolls. Or does the doll have an ESRB rating of M as well?
Just call me confuzzled by double standards and (most probably) hidden agendas...
# posted by 
: May 05, 2006 10:53 PM
: May 05, 2006 10:53 PM
The great thing about this whole fiasco is that nobody even complained to the ESRB about anything, and nobody probably would have if the rating had never changed. I still don't see what's so different about using a user created mod that enables an unused model as opposed to a mod that uses a third parties nude model. Still further proof that the nude female torso is much more evil and gruesome than violence and gore.
# posted by : May 06, 2006 12:27 PM
: May 06, 2006 12:27 PM
Well, I *would* submit that sexual content causes a much more powerful emotional and physical reaction than violence.
But that's neither here nor there.
My personal opinion (and I doubt anyone is going to have all of the facts) is that this was an ACCIDENT on Bethesda's part. The ESRB responded the way it was set up to respond. But I feel we're heading down a VERY slippery slope at this point.
Because creative modders can do ALL KINDS of amazing and horrifying things with existing content. I mean, dang, take the texture map to a plate of Spaghetti and Meatballs and map it onto the cranium of a human, and BOOM! You've got excessive gore. Take the texture map of a cow's udders and map it onto...
Well, you get the idea.
Once upon a time a fun bunch of kids decided to string together Lara Croft's comments and sound effects into a particular arrangement that was EXTREMELY suggestive. Existing content!
The ESRB taking the stand that they must police not only what appears in the game as shipped, but also to rate a game based upon the raw content as it exists in the files, is a dangerous position for the ratings board, the consumers, and the industry as a whole.
But that's neither here nor there.
My personal opinion (and I doubt anyone is going to have all of the facts) is that this was an ACCIDENT on Bethesda's part. The ESRB responded the way it was set up to respond. But I feel we're heading down a VERY slippery slope at this point.
Because creative modders can do ALL KINDS of amazing and horrifying things with existing content. I mean, dang, take the texture map to a plate of Spaghetti and Meatballs and map it onto the cranium of a human, and BOOM! You've got excessive gore. Take the texture map of a cow's udders and map it onto...
Well, you get the idea.
Once upon a time a fun bunch of kids decided to string together Lara Croft's comments and sound effects into a particular arrangement that was EXTREMELY suggestive. Existing content!
The ESRB taking the stand that they must police not only what appears in the game as shipped, but also to rate a game based upon the raw content as it exists in the files, is a dangerous position for the ratings board, the consumers, and the industry as a whole.
It began with Leeland Yee, but now "Wacky Jacky" is out on the talk-show circus... I mean, circuit... bolstering his career and trying to drum up some business with some class-action lawsuits...
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