Reagan on 11/6/2002 at 13:34
Is there any DEFINITE date set by the Developer? I cannot find one.
julien@arkane on 11/6/2002 at 16:35
The game will be released by the end of June in Germany.
Worldwide release in Mid-September 2002.
Arkane Studios
addink on 11/6/2002 at 18:49
is the June release going to be 'german only', as in, 'no english speech whatsoever'?
or is it about distribution(-rights) issues? I can drive to germany in under 2 hours, so if that's all it takes... \:D/
btw: thanx for posting this info
also: if it will be german only, will there be a patch to change the language (like lionhead released for Black&White)?
julien@arkane on 12/6/2002 at 07:35
Sorry but yes, for marketing purposes, the june release will be a german ONLY version (speeches and texts).
I don't think we will release a patch to enable international version with the german version...:(
xman on 12/6/2002 at 14:18
It is known that Germany has very strict laws about violence in video games.
(and the demo was probably too violent from German laws).
Does the delay between the German and international release mean that we can expect a version without restrictions about violence in the international release?
That would be good news if it is the reason of the delay...
Note: people who know me know that I'm not violent at all. But if a game needs violence for better realism, I just hate when censorship cuts realism off.
julien@arkane on 12/6/2002 at 16:13
Indeed, the german release will be different from the international version.
The international version will include ALL the blood effects and violent things that have been deleted in the german release for law purposes.
- Julien
Tels on 12/6/2002 at 16:37
Quote:
It is known that Germany has very strict laws about violence in video games.
No, we haven't. It is illegal to include certain symbols (Nazi stuff), so RTCW or other games don't feature them (this is a stupid law IMO, but it is a law, and you can't argue with the law ;) Forbidden is also child pr0nography. (e.g anything you are forbidden to print, posess etc in "real life" anyway).
Violence is okay, but if there is a certain violence level, the game might get a rating of "over 18 only". It is called to get "on the index" (e.g. on the list of things over 18) Mind you, that doesn't cover sex, breaking the law (Thief!), murder (FPSs!), getting drunk (arx!), species extinction (RPGs!), environment pullution (pick your game), only violence. And I don't think there is any restricion on what could be in a over-18-only game - except some things that are really off-limit (like violating human basic rights (something called "decency" as a rough translation), showing real fotos of dead people etc, e.g. stuff even I think that it is better *not* produced and sold) or things that are illegal anyway (see above).
I am not sure about p0rn in a game; this is, when exceeding a certain level automatically over-18-only - but then I don't know any games in that category except Leisure Suit Larry (sp?) and even this was harmless
Unfortunately, getting on the index is quite harsh, there must not be advertisertment for a game, pc mags can't publish about it (would fall under advertisertment, but pure computer magazines can do technical report - don't ask me about these stupid, but fine details), and it can only be sold to people over 18 "over the counter", e.g. you have to ask for it and then show that you are over 18. Also, selling over the internet or via mail-order is specifically forbidden. (mail-order companies are hit very hard by this...)
Now, only very few games get on this index (counter-strike did not get on it, strangely - but I think that is good :-). Usually the indexing is done quite a few months/years after the game hit the sales - and it only works for sold titles and only "on request". So, no, getting on the index isn't really the problem - but see below.
Usually, I am in favour of having some sort of rating (for parents as guide what not to buy, and for younger ones as to what to play .-) - but the black/white system here in Germany is quite a problem.
One of the interesting "effects" is the "chilling-effect", e.g. each publisher tries to get his title(s) *not* on the index, and thus many get self-censored even before they hit the market. Usually they censore a bit more to be on the safe side.
When you combine this with crappy dubbing, manuals that are only a cheap translation (some times they even translate the licence automatically - ROTLF!), and effects like HL having green blood for humans (arg!), or robots instead of soldats, no death poses (robot simple "fades" out), or cutscenes left out etc, then you know why I usually buy *only* English originals.
(Exceptions are EU versions like German productions (where the English version comes 6 months later) or Jedi Knight ][ - although strangely enough on my system the "cut body parts" feature never worked even though I used the "special" setting to enable it).
Quote:
(and the demo was probably too violent from German laws).
No. There are special/fixed/trusted-and-tried rules, but I don't know them exactly, but Arx would certainly not fall under them. Counter-Strike did not, so there ;)
Quote:
Does the delay between the German and international release mean that we can expect a version without restrictions about violence in the international release?
That would be good news if it is the reason of the delay...
I still don't understand why they go for the bigger market (English!) first. I presume that every content is produced in French and English anyway, so why make a special German translation? I guess it is because the publisher is German.
No back to the point:
I really really don't know if I should buy the German version (I hate censoring), or wait. Well, I will probably buy both, anyway....
Quote:
Note: people who know me know that I'm not violent at all. But if a game needs violence for better realism, I just hate when censorship cuts realism off.
<aol>me too</aol> Games and reality are two different things, and people that can't differentiate between these two would probably doing mischief anyway - computer or not. I find our current times much less violent than the one where Oggh hit Uggh repeatedly over the head because he had the nicer bear skin....
Cheers!
PS: Sorry that this post turned out so long...
xman on 12/6/2002 at 18:59
No problem Tels.
A forum is dedicated to expression, so if you had much to say, that's fine that you wrote a long post. And I even read it entirely. :D
And yes, when I said that German laws were strict, I didn't say they would forbid violence but simply reduce the market. And there are many many teen players...
So, in the end, because editors don't want to lose such a market, they have to remove some violence (=> the law indirectly forbids violence because it is obvious that most editors will make this choice).
But, as a French adult, I am completely reassured by what Julien said. I wouldn't have liked (although I'd have bought the game anyway) to be forced to play a censored version of the game if it had had to be the same for Germany and the rest of the world.
Tels on 12/6/2002 at 19:04
I just hate that I am forced to buy two versions now because I can't wait..or, well, playing Arx without blood effect? I better wait for the international version. Or not? Decision! (oh, cap German laws...grrr)
Cheers,
Te"As adult as adult can"ls
