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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 4 of 4)
thebvp Aug 11th 2009 2:57PM
I attack you with my... MIND BAG!
I CAST SHADOW WORD:BAG ON YOU! DEVOURING BAG FTW!!!
Screw Off Top Aug 11th 2009 2:59PM
I had to write a research paper on the Internet censorship in China. For some things, like the bones and stuff, it is indeed a cultural thing. But most censorship in China is to keep the government in control of the people, and things are "censored" arbitrarily.
CowOfGoldshire Aug 11th 2009 3:41PM
Frankly, one could make the argument that western censorship is too liberal. China is being more conservative and looking out to block negative imagery to children. Most of you are probably too young to remember, but I'm about 25and when i was a child in America almost every swear word was censored. I can't post which words because it would violate Wow.com agreements.
Now people are actually accusing China for being some sort of totalitarian iron fist oppressive government... but EVERY country has their limits. We still censor nudity. But what's wrong with nudity? It's simply humans in their natural form. Another country could argue America is stupid for censoring nudity, every country has their values (or lack thereof)
We should respect other countries value system. You know it's not just the government who wants the changes. People even who play the game might be offended by what they see too.
I studied Chinese politics for 4 years, have visited China several times and over half my friends are from Mainland china or Hong Kong. I've even met fellow importers who visit China on a Daily basis and I have a close family friend who sells software there. People who talk about Chinese government violating human rights have obviously never been there or been exposed to anything except what they believe on fox news.
China is much as a liberal country as America. You could even argue you have more rights in China than in America. When i was there, people have free reign to start any venture capital they want without the same restrictions as the United States. You can also own property of certain values without the same limiting tax rates as America. Communism is a facade in China and anyone who still believes that it is in full force must also believe that America is a full democracy. Neither is true. America is not 100% democratic and China is not 100% communist. Really some of you need to revamp your IR or Poli-sci studies.
busuan Aug 11th 2009 3:46PM
A message for any1 who cannot read Chinese, hence creates imaginary views on China (or maybe they are manipulated by Yogg-Saron...):
The gaming industry in China is of fierce competition. Blizz's former contractor '9' was...say, dumb in lobbying government and lost their bid on WoW to NetEase, which has better...say, brains.
The skeletons and other gore-related content were questioned by the Ministry when NetEase and Blizz submitted their application to publish WoTLK. Important: questioned, not rejected or censored. And their answer to the Ministry's questions did not seem to be satisfactory. Therefore the long delay.
However, there's a twist in this story. Remember I said 'competition'? There are other large companies who create and host MMORPGs. You honestly believe they will sit there and let Blizz and NetEase grab more and more customers and revenue? LOL, you real life n00b.
(Still can't figure out where the 'questions' were from? You are hopeless. Stay in Azeroth plz...)
The following is my own speculation:
It seems to Blizz and NetEase that the gore-related content is the hurdle which cannot be resolved immediately, because that may involve some significant tech/art revamp they are reluctant to do. However, that seems also a relatively small hurdle, because their application was not rejected outright. As a compromise, their solution is to give a temporary solution, 'bags', to continue the government reviewing process (enable the Ministry to review the game which is much much larger than the gore-content) while they can work on a permanent solution that will satisfy the Ministry.
Grayewolf Aug 11th 2009 4:34PM
If the Chinese Ministry is so unintelligent as to have to question cartoon skeletons and cartoon blood in a game where your goal is to KILL things......well, enough said.
Jason Aug 11th 2009 4:37PM
I think the tombstone idea is actually pretty cool. I come from MapleStory where when you die, you turn into a little ghostie and a tombstone falls from the sky to where you died. I like the tombstone idea, it gives a better representation of how many players died.
Draenors Aug 11th 2009 4:50PM
In regards to the comments about Chinese culture:
I would agree that you should try to understand that other cultures have different traditions than your own. Believing that your culture is the only perfect one would be foolish. I don't think we should necessarily respect cultures. I think that traditions and culture are generally problems.
Compare yourself to the people around you. You generally eat the same food, enjoy the same entertainment and hold the same politics and religion. You're not an individual, but rather part of a big mass which is doing what is has been indoctrinated to do. So in order to get more individualism, I think we need to "break down" culture. Start asking yourself questions like "Do I have better reasons for being a Christian than the Vietnamese have for being Buddhists?" And I certainly think the world would be a better place if we based actions on rationality and arguments instead of traditions and faith.
Anyway, I think it's pretty undeniable that this censorship is ridiculous (like I think censorship usually is). It's okay if an individual Chinese person chooses not to play a video game with skeletons, but the government shouldn't control things like that, as it doesn't hurt anyone. I would also say that we (the Western world) are "right" when we don't feel any offense towards skeletons, as there are no rational reasons to do so. The Chinese people should understand that skeletons are a natural thing and not something that should be taken very serious.
But remember that Chinese culture may be "right" about other issues, and that it certainly isn't the only messed-up country. America, for example, probably has a tons of censorship of its own (among many other issues). And as Keyra pointed out, if you're wearing a cross around your neck, you're just showing your own cultural indoctrination.
negativegirl Aug 11th 2009 5:49PM
"As you can see, everywhere players die, there are instead little graves and tombstones around. "
Now that actually doesn't sound so terrible. Nothing wrong with respect for the dead and from what I understand some cultures are very conscious when it comes to the afterlife. We seem to crave this "realness" from an obviously fairytale game. Does a game feel cheap because guts and gore aren't all over the place?? Do we lack that much imagination or apparent understanding that sword to chest = death without needing to see every detail?
Grass isn't always greener on our side, we apparently have no control over what our government does either for the most part. As long as they sell it to us just the right way, they can do whatever they want. No money, no power.
NinjaClarinet Aug 11th 2009 6:22PM
I thought that was the point of the story behind the Scourge. Loved ones ~are~ defiled by being reanimated. You're not supposed to like it. That's the whole motivation behind the plot of the latest expansion. Sure, it's only a game but WoW has always taken care to present decent story behind most things. Censoring it, at least in my opinion, is neutering the writing. If there is such a cultural trend towards respecting the dead, then it should only serve to make the story and theme more compelling.
Telarc Aug 11th 2009 7:10PM
"Chinese WoW partial relaunch pics, comparison shots of censorship" Censorship? Really? Is the business decision to change the way some aspects of the game look, censorship? I don't think so. If Blizzard allows the Chinese Government to edit the Trace Chat, yeah, sure, then Blizzard is condonning, and assisting in, censorship.
Blizzard will gladly make these changes, if these changes allow them to acces the markets in China. I'd say it's a choice, not oppression.
Telarc's $0.02
Al in SoCal Aug 11th 2009 7:43PM
What is the penalty for going "around" these roadblocks by connecting to different realms, etc?
Also - anyone from China - are you as angry about the government censorship as we are - or are you ok w/ that?
jediking001 Aug 11th 2009 10:46PM
Rogue im 17 and typing on blogs on the internet I usually use slang. I also shorten words into letters if possible. My "bad" spelling is just me using computer slang. I'll try to type better and keep posts where they are related. Now I probally made somewhere between 30-40 corrections from changing some of my terms from slang to proper written english. That was so hard..lol
Crööl Aug 11th 2009 11:06PM
You guys who write long winded crap.. stop taking yourselves so damn serious..
Censorship on this level in a game based on killing over and over again.. is just plain funny.
There is no such thing as a ruling class and people who think there is deserve to be abused by their leaders.
Chaosclaws Aug 12th 2009 2:02AM
I wonder if blizzard might even skip the lich king expansion and just go straight to the new expansion. I know this is sounds dumb, but really realeasing a game about a storm in the middle of the sea will be easier than walking undead everywhere. I'm just saying it might be possible and even a simpler way. Also do they have to reroll or can they play their old toons?
Also to put more wood on the fire... why are people complainning what other cultures do, that isnt your country worry about your own than others. Only worry about them if it is affecting you directly. Its not like you are going to play on a chinese server, so why make a big up roar, just complain do something if it is YOUR country that is affecting game play or anything.
Mike Schramm Aug 12th 2009 2:07AM
Guys, this thread is about the different images and lack of blood and bones in the Chinese version of WoW. It's not about China's population or any other political policies they may have. I'll agree those are interesting subjects, but there are much better and more appropriate places to talk about that stuff.
Keep it about Warcraft please.
Deadbow Aug 12th 2009 2:29AM
wat about the skull for the raid targets will they put a box over him?
loncin Aug 13th 2009 3:01AM
If the scenario i really appreciating and great to believe then it is not hard to believe and sounds really great to pay on that as the consumer wants the best of the market by paying the less of its own pocket..............
http://www.electrocomputerwarehouse.com
Wolfcat Aug 10th 2010 10:31PM
...what?