ESRB Oversteps Boundaries with God of War 3 Censor
The Entertainment Software Rating Board claims that its role is “to increase awareness and use of the rating system so that parents can make informed computer and video game purchase decisions.” But nowhere on their website does it state that they now have to right to bully videogame websites into censoring games that it finds too violent/realistic for the masses.
But this is exactly what the ESRB has done with God of War 3, Sony Computer Entertainment’s upcoming PS3 title from Santa Monica Studios. The footage has been edited with an image that attempts to cover the ‘overly violent’ segments, which are when Kratos yanks out a cyclops’s eyeball and rips off the head of Helios, the Sun God.
What makes this action so embarressing for the ESRB is that Kratos goes on a 6-minute killing spree, yet they only censored these two small segments. And on top of that, couldn’t figure out when and what to censor. At one point, they’re even completely fine with showing Helios’s dead body AND severed head. Check out the screengrabs below to see exactly what they did, or watch the censored developer walkthrough video itself.
[Source]
20 Responses to “ESRB Oversteps Boundaries with God of War 3 Censor”
This has got to be a joke.
lol
lol at the comment on the images, whomever did should get a promotion.
*looks at last picture* *facepalm*
@wtGp,
I’m already Content Editor. I don’t think they can promote me much higher. =P
Actually… ESRB does have the power to “bully videogame websites into censoring games”. Of course they aren’t censoring the actual game, just the video. The ESRB site states that “No advertisement should contain any content that is likely to cause serious or widespread offense to the average consumer.” and that they enforce their guidelines.
But yes, I’m with you. This is such a joke, and ESRB really needs to stop.
you missed them being okay with the close up of the head with the veins hanging down.
I’m a little confused that I had to input my birth date and still I have a censored video. Am I not old enough to view a video of an M Rated Game? I thought M meant 17+, did they up the age to 22+ or something? I think Gametrailers should go away with this “input your birthday” whatever, and run it from your GT account birthday, if you don’t have a GT account, you can’t view restricted videos, simple as that. Yeah, kids can lie about their birthday (like they have been doing with GT videos) but now they have to take the time to make a GT account with an adult birthday or wait till the videos on Youtube.
I was worried for a second reading the title of the article. I thought maybe the ESRB stepped in and made them change something in the game. I don’t care if they censor website images.
@giese095
I thought that too. but the ESRB could try to put a AO rating on God of War III, but you know, even if that happens, it will be the first AO rated game sold at All Major Retailers (I don’t think GTA: San Andreas counts) and the top selling AO rated game ever.
@Rictor,
I actually wouldn’t doubt it. Retailers would be scared not to release it, and let online sites like Amazon grab all the cash.
it sucks, but for those that wanted to see it, its all over youtube anyway.
There are few things I find more repulsive than some small group of busy-bodies claiming to speak for everyone else, like the ESRB. It’s just a bunch of personal prejudices that immediately make the “ratings” into a joke.
want a bunch of nubs
anything that keeps the game in the public eye will increase sales.
“bad publicity is always better than no publicity” is an old adage in the
advertising world.\
so sad its silly
as long as its just screen shots they are censoring and when I’m playing GOW3 its ok, then its all good
wow… esrb needs to go f themselves!
As long as the game doesn’t get touched i will be content…
European version, I’ll import you.
yeah you know how long this was out before they finally decided to censor it.. so who hasn’t seen
this awesomeness.