No Kim Jong-il in Homefront, Deems Japanese Ratings Organization
Much like the fairly recent Medal of Honor debacle with the naming of the insurgent faction in the game (who shall forever remain nameless due to the impending heart attack you will have after hearing its name), a recent story about the yet to be released Homefront has many similarities. The only difference is where the censorship is happening, and who is forcing it on the work.
Having the premise of a North Korean invasion of the United States, Homefront was most likely going to contain Kim Jong-il or some caricature of him (specifically, his son controls the empire established in the game world). Being that North Korea’s militant motives are still a fairly touchy subject, it would make sense that the Japanese publisher/distributor of the game, and the Japanese Computer Entertainment Ratings Organization (CERO) wouldn’t want to provoke anyone that is still in power. According to AndriaSang, the image of Kim Jong-il has been completely removed from the Japanese version of the game, as well as any mention of North Korea as a malicious military superpower.
It’s a very touchy situation, and I can understand why the Japanese government-affiliated organizations and publishers wouldn’t want media that pokes fun at or over-satirizes heads of state. I guess it’s because videogames are serious business, but in a world where Team America or that episode of South Park with the image of Muhammad in it exist, I can’t help but think that having incumbent politicians in fictional, or satirical media would have little to no effect.
via: Gamespot
Hmm, interesting. I have no faith in the game since it’s by the guys that did Frontlines and they showed me nothing, but it’s interesting as a political story.
On a side note, it also goes strictly against my own policy as a theoretical Prime Minister – which would be to wear a webcam and broadcast everything so that the public had total transparency of the UK government – if I then expressed any desire to assassinate the entire North and South Korean governments and replace them with teddy bears. It probably wouldn’t go down too well with them, I guess.
IMHO Homefront is tasteless garbage and only promotes militarism and xenophobia. But I guess that is exactly what US gamers are looking for.
Perfect opportunity to fight another evil dude in a giant mech ruined.
@ParaParaKing: What on earth makes you say that? It’s a fictional story – not propaganda, and it seems to be presented as a what-if scenario of a modern nuclear war. It’s also no more promoting xenephobia against the Koreans than other war games against the Arab nations or the Russians or even the Koreans in all the other games where you can fight against the Koreans.
@UglyDuck: Yes, all war games are militaristic and xenophobic, but much like Red Dawn this game paints the picture of a evil and very powerful country that is very well capable of taking over the world. In most other war games the opposing forces are shown as weeker than the almighty America. Also let’s not forget that South Korea (and with an extension the USA) is still in war with North Korea.