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by Mike Schramm 
Aug 11th 2009 at 2:00PM
They also have some comparison images of the censorship found over there. Anything with skulls or bones on it is out, and the offending images have been replaced with piles of dirt and bags and debris. Blood appears as black oil rather than red liquid, and even player corpses are out. As you can see, everywhere players die, there are instead little graves and tombstones around. Very interesting. No idea if this actually "helps" in China (or what the point of the censorship is -- seems as though it's a cultural thing, more like it's a respect for death and dead bodies rather than worrying about whether people will be disturbed by the mention of violence), but of course the government over there has final say on what goes into the game, and apparently this is what they approved. Hopefully Chinese players will be headed back to Northrend before long.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Events, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Leveling
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
Jon Do Aug 11th 2009 2:16PM
I think that's actually a screenshot of the Tauren starting village, not TB.
Seaborn Aug 11th 2009 2:17PM
I was amazed to see this screeny. With the population you see here the server is most definitely about to explode. Lag anyone?
oricus12843 Aug 11th 2009 2:53PM
Actually, I was commenting on the fact that the article said the location was Thunder Bluff. I didn't even read your comment until just now, so please don't take offense.
I suppose you do have a point that you shouldn't die in a zone with that many people, but that's supposing anyone else around you cares enough to help.
oricus12843 Aug 11th 2009 2:58PM
Also, I don't see any dead Tauren, so I have no clue what you're talking about. The only place I saw dead people (tombstones) was in the AV screen shots.
Jon Do Aug 11th 2009 3:00PM
@t0xic
There are no quest mobs in TB.
Or in the Tauren starting village, either.
Grayewolf Aug 11th 2009 2:14PM
SO tell me...the Chinese government is so much more concerned about the dead while they treat the living like crap?
Seaborn Aug 11th 2009 2:18PM
When was the last time you were in China?
Makoto99 Aug 11th 2009 2:19PM
Their reverence and respect for the dead has been around for a lot longer than a communist government.
EZ Aug 11th 2009 2:38PM
[citation needed]
impurezero Aug 11th 2009 4:43PM
No doubt Tyler.
My only point is that something's mere existance on the internet isn't the way to determine if it's true or not. Hell...pretty much all truth and all lies find their way to the internet somehow, so it still takes a critical eye. To simply discount what someone says because they refer you to an internet source is absurd. The fact is, websites are just the most condusive way to quickly point to a source on a forum. I can say, "Go to http://www.website.com" or I can say, "Go to your local library and find a copy of this old PBS documentary I once saw which will explain a lot of the things that I'm trying to tell you."
While one may have a greater "appearance" of legitimacy simply because of the format, it's just not feasable to go that route.
jediking001 Aug 11th 2009 2:15PM
ahh WOW not WoW but WOW! ill tell u 2 things for all those players who r starting at the same time.
1) not gunna be hard 2 find a instance.
2) Good Luck getting inside the instance be4 the party limit hits.
and northrand n outland must be terribly fun over there with all those people! i like the Stampede part... lol
RogueJedi86 Aug 11th 2009 2:22PM
They don't have Lich King in China yet.
jbodar Aug 11th 2009 4:13PM
"To the ground baby"?
Keyra Aug 11th 2009 2:25PM
"...seems as though it's a cultural thing, more like it's a respect for death and dead bodies..."
This is exactly what it is.
In Chinese culture (and other Asian cultures), skeletons and piles of bones are a person, an ancestor, a loved one, etc. rather than just something littering the road in The Crossroads. They take great pride in their ancestral heritage and regard haphazard skeletal depictions as disrespect for the dead. An animated corpse moves beyond desecration into the realm of sacrilege.
People here don't understand this and make fun of it (which I find appalling) with some of the comments above and previously on this subject. They say things like "Are they upset about X-rays?" and "Do they cry over a chicken carcass when you're done eating?" when it has nothing to do with this.
A little understanding of another culture is all it takes. If you think it's silly, remember this...here in the US and in other parts of the world, a lot of people wear a corpse nailed to an ancient torture device as a religious emblem.
Nick Aug 11th 2009 2:27PM
To get offended is pretty stupid.
Ignorant people are everywhere, and to let it get to you makes you just another one in the crowd.
RogueJedi86 Aug 11th 2009 2:29PM
I'm also not of that religion, for what it's worth. I'm atheist, though I do respect corpses for who they used to be. But this is just a video game, fictional, fake, that veneration for the dead goes that far?
Painhealer Aug 11th 2009 2:44PM
Well stated.
If you simply changed the word "censorship" to "culture sensitive changes", the author would show more knowledge of the subject instead of demonstrating ignorance or outright disrespect for other nationalities, cultures and values.
Dragundam Aug 11th 2009 2:49PM
@Nick: So you're saying instead of at least educating, it's better to just ignore them and let them think it's okay. Way to be part of the problem yourself.
Royal Aug 11th 2009 4:11PM
While a most noble reply Keyra, I think your assessment fails to take into account the Chinese WoW player's own expressed disappointment over the "culture sensitive changes".
jbodar Aug 11th 2009 4:35PM
You have to admit that it's a bit strange: it's OK to hack/shoot/incinerate someone to death in a video game, so long as you don't have to look at the body afterward.