
Killzone 2 isn't the only highly anticipated shooter not rocking the TGS show floor this year. Epic Games' upcoming 360 would-be killer-app Gears of War isn't playable on the show floor, though it is represented in video and pamphlet form at Microsoft's booth.
So why is it that a surefire hit, just a couple months from shipping, isn't playable? Microsoft is doing everything they can to woo the heretofore elusive Japanese gamer, so why not trot out their prize-winning pony? Sure, they want to focus all eyes on Hironobu Sakaguchi's 360-exclusive JRPGs Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey, but there's plenty of room for all three at TGS. And we know Japanese gamers tend to shy away from the hardcore shooters, but every little bit helps, right?
In reality, the real reason Gears of War isn't at TGS isn't as shady as the complete disappearance of Killzone 2 from all Sony communications, it's a problem with Japan's censors. You see, the extremely graphic nature of the game is currently giving Microsoft a little bit of trouble getting it approved. During a press screening of Gears, a Microsoft rep did note that while a TGS showing just wasn't to be, the game will be playable at next week's X06 event in Barcelona. Unfortunately, the European Xbox 360 market doesn't need all the help it can get. Japan does.
[Grotesque headshot image, courtesy carbonscoring.]



















(Page 1) Reader Comments
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http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/734/734793p1.html
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It's going to be Gears of War vs la resistance.
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if microsoft wasn't a dirty gaijin company, they'd probably have that game on the floor. i'm not calling japan racist...wait yes i am. MS should've named it "super happy fun time, shoot you sorry, it's ok super pals". this article would've read totally different, then.
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And from a culture perspective, Japan IS a racist nation - very much so. Read the book - do NOT watch the movie - "Rising Sun" by Michael Crichton.
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lol I only know what that word is from the fast and the furious: td
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There is a huge difference between anime and other media in terms of censoring.
For instance, Kill Bill in the US to not get an R rating had to change the scene where Uma Thurman fights Lucy Liu and the 77 into black and white. The reason was that too much blood (i.e. red blood) would have made the film ultra violent. In black and white apparently it is not as graphic.
Now I am not sure why the Japanese are causing grief to MSoft about Gears of War but I guess it is due to the fact that humans are being totally munched down. In anime generally it is only some animes which are more graphic (read Ichi the Killer) which has a restriction on it.
It could be that the Japanese want that game to only be for mature audiences and in accordance MSoft cannot let it be playable on a floor which is exposed to the general public later on. TGS opens its doors to the public in its final couple of days.
Just to let you know.
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Damn him for being allowed to go and play it whilst we had to do the actual work!!! GRRRRRR!!!
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as for usa not wanting nudity but saying violence is more acceptable.... i think other countries have it right by saying nudity is heathier than violence. nudity isnt going to hurt anyone, or give them nightmares or depression or any feelings like that. to me it just seems much more healthier the way japan and china think about violence.
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People who play Xbox like Halo. The lack of Halo 3 in Japan is hurting uptake of 360 by Xbox owners right now probably more than it is here.
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As is most of Chrighton's work.
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Uh, think you got that backwards, dude. Sex is a perfectly natural part of life - heck, it's *necessary* for our continued existence. Violence, on the other hand, is not.
Japan's focus on controlling violence in media makes a lot more sense than our obsession with controlling sex.
As for Gears of War, I would argue that focusing on this game at TGS would *hurt* Microsoft in Japan. It would only serve to cement the 360's reputation as a system for "kusoge" - crap games that don't appeal to Japanese tastes. They're doing the smart thing by focusing instead on games they think will appeal to the TGS crowd. This ain't E3, guys - this is the Japanese public here. I still sometimes get the feeling like the Joystiq crew haven't quite grasped that fact yet.
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> conference in Telford last week having played Gears
> of War. And apparently it's astounding. In every way
> possible. It plays as good as it looks. It looks as
> good as it plays. And it's all he ever talks about.
> Every day. "Gears of War was amazing".
Nice shill. Kudos to the MS marketing department. Very subtle.
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I don't know guys, there's been one or two people I've seen nude and been depressed by. and one I can think of that gave me nightmares (let me just say 'armpit hair.') I'm sure the point you meant was that nudity on the part of stunningly attractive people never caused depression.
I think the Japanese are culturally elitist, but I can't make a stink about it because I'm not too fussed about their culture, either.
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I wrote a bit about it here:
http://msmvps.com/blogs/glach/archive/tags/Gears+of+War/default.aspx
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Can't wait for GOW hope it doesn't slip!
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Honestly, that's pretty much _all_ he talks about. That and how annoyed he was that Nintendo didn't have the Wii playable there.
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That combined with this one website I saw which showed pictures of numerous restaurants/bars/stores/etc in Japan that only serve japanese people (they have signs on the door forbidding foreigners from entry) really portray a negative image of the country.
Anyway, not sure how this degraded into a discussion on racism but I'd have to say most of the Japenese people i've met IRL are good people. Have a few Japenese friends that are just as open to other people as others here. GOW is a great game and i'm really not sure why they aren't milking it more especially since playable demos have been around since E3. Also they keep making excuses about how they can't release a demo on live cause it would take too much time yet theres already that demo from E3 they could just release.
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