Duke3D XBLA Banned in...

[Joe Siegler]

From George's Twitter Update, in case you missed it:

Originally Posted by George Broussard

Unfortunate news. At the 11th hour Duke 3D for XBLA has been banned in Japan. It received the equivalent of an adult only rating. I'm told nothing can be done.

[Duke's New Chainsaw]

How could that be banned compared to a lot of other stuff they have over there?

[ZuljinRaynor]

That makes no sense. Some hentai games get teen ratings even.

[Mr.Fibbles]

Is it wrong to kill aliens or something? This makes not a lot of sense. Sure, Duke3D was banned in 96 but Japan?
Very strange. . .

[Scream]

So the 4 Japanese people who own Xboxes won't be able to play? Too bad.

[TheGreatCleotis]

Joe, thanks for the update. It would be great if you could let us know if you find out about more location locks in other countries. I for example cant wait to find out whether it will be released here in Germany. Please let us know as soon as you hear something about location locks in any country.

[ZuljinRaynor]

Not to mention, what gave it the rating? Pixelated boobies? Seriously this is ridiculous.

[George Broussard]

Germany has it on the ban list, too, unfortunately. That was sort of expected.

[ZuljinRaynor]

Do you know the exact reasons for the ban/ratings?

[alexgk]

Fortunely, it's not banned in Mexico...

Spoiler:

show spoiler

Or is it?!

[Steve]

What about New Zealand?!

[ZuljinRaynor]

I banned it in New Zealand.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by ZuljinRaynor

I banned it in New Zealand.

Bastard.

[alexgk]

Originally Posted by ZuljinRaynor

I banned it in New Zealand.

But Steef deserves Duke 3D

[Steve]

Originally Posted by alexgk

But Steef deserves Duke 3D

Yes I do.

I'll get it the other way with my US account.. unless microsoft has now blocked that.

[ZuljinRaynor]

Originally Posted by Steve

Yes I do.

I'll get it the other way with my US account.. unless microsoft has now blocked that.

Nah your internet just died so that's why you can't get it.

[TheGreatCleotis]

George, are you 100 percent sure that it will be banned in Germany?? Because I found two sources online..one is xboxuser.de (I assume an official XBox magazine) and xbox-view.de who state that it will infact be available in Germany. xbox-view.de even claims that Microsoft themselves confirmed this through email after xbox-view.de asked them this question.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by ZuljinRaynor

Nah your internet just died so that's why you can't get it.

My internet always dies I really want to dukematch you guys

[TheGreatCleotis]

Steve, you cant get duke by getting a us account anymore. microsoft started ip-checking xbla accounts when downloading such content. but there is a way around it...and i guess i will have to take it, if duke infact will not be available here in germany.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by TheGreatCleotis

Steve, you cant get duke by getting a us account anymore. microsoft started ip-checking xbla accounts when downloading such content. but there is a way around it...and i guess i will have to take it, if duke infact will not be available here in germany.

Oh god damn it

[George Broussard]

Originally Posted by TheGreatCleotis

George, are you 100 percent sure that it will be banned in Germany?? Because I found two sources online..one is xboxuser.de (I assume an official XBox magazine) and xbox-view.de who state that it will infact be available in Germany. xbox-view.de even claims that Microsoft themselves confirmed this through email after xbox-view.de asked them this question.

Just going off what I've been told directly, and I've been told it's on some banned list in Germany. I'm not sure of the specifics as to why and how, etc. I'm sure it has to do with violence against humans, ie: strippers, and red blood when shooting aliens.

[Klaus Kinski]

Well, given that Duke 3D should still be on the index of the BPJM (Bundesprüfstelle für Jugendgefährdende Medien, a federal censorship institution in germany) for youth-endangering media, it shouldn't be available on XBLA in germany. The problem is that any media on that list is not in the classical sense banned but it can't be advertised, sold or even put on display in places accessible to minors. It is absolutely legal to buy it when you're 18 or older but even the slightest hint of advertising could cause legal troubles for MS in germany. It's simply too risky for them to offer it on XBLA unless they don't mind the government "inviting" them into court.
If Duke 3D is still on the index, and I think it is, it won't be available here in germany.
For the same reason the old id games are not available through Steam here.

[Klaus Kinski]

Originally Posted by George Broussard

Just going off what I've been told directly, and I've been told it's on some banned list in Germany. I'm not sure of the specifics as to why and how, etc. I'm sure it has to do with violence against humans, ie: strippers, and red blood when shooting aliens.

Well, germany has issues with taking shots at humanoid enemies and of course the gore. The low level infusion of sex might be a factor too. But mainly the humanoid enemies put it on the list mentioned above. Germany doesn't like that and publishers go to sometimes extreme lengths to stay off that index list. HL's german version uses the robot models available in MP for the marienes and for SoF2 they did not only change the models to robots, they even went so far as to change the back story to some alternate universe nonsense (but still having bio weapons threat).
However, this is not a standard as there are no standards, rules or logic in germany's youth protection attempts. Clive Barker's Undying is completely uncensored for example.

[George Broussard]

It's on the index.

[rockmanekuzu8]

So you can play Halo in those countries like Germany and Japan, but not Duke? LOL WTF?!
Also if they allow Rated R movies or anime, then why the heck not Duke?

[Kalki]

This is unfortunate. A 12 year old game effectively getting banned on re-release.

If memory serves, having a parental lock helped Duke's case in some countries when it was first released.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Kalki

If memory serves, having a parental lock helped Duke's case in some countries when it was first released.

I helped here

I still don't "get" the ban for Japan. I mean, Japan is ripe with that school girl anime suggestive porn gaming shit it's not even funny.

[Talos]

Originally Posted by George Broussard

It's on the index.

Like George said: The original Duke 3D for PC is on the index hence the XBLA version is on the index as well as its content is the same. Duke 3D is not banned in germany (only a few games are such as Mortal Kombat, Manhunt and Dead Rising) but being placed on the index, it's only available for those over 18. The real problem is the fact, that MS has yet to implemented an age verification system within their XBL service. If they could verify the age of the XBL user, Duke 3D would be available for all who are 18+ in germany. Since MS don't have something like this yet, the game is practically banned although it's "just" placed on the index.

*cough* until then there's no other way but to create an Austrian account and hook it up with some MS retail points *cough*

Edit: Hey Joe, you might as well rename the thread into Japan & Germany

[Darren_G]

It's a shame but in the grand scheme of things it could be worse. Japanese aren't known for their mass FPS purchases.

Sure there is some missed sales here but it could've been a bigger audience which would've been truly devestating. As people mentioned, the japanese are gaming perverts (Stylus + Minge = game) but when it comes to aliens and stepping in shit they're not too keen.

Germany isn't a surprise to be honest, I remember playing Turok on the n64 with robots instead of humans which splattered oil everywhere.

[Weses]

I'd hate to be living in Japan right now

[TheGreatCleotis]

Talos,
read what I wrote above. You cant simply create an Austrian account anymore to play banned games. Microsoft started using a location lock which checks your IP. But the three magic words how to get around this are VPN...but it costs though

[Talos]

I see ... well I'll be damned
Hopefully xboxuser.de is right - http://xboxuser.de/news/duke_nukem_3...utschland.html

Thanks for the heads up =)

[pjohnsonjr]

Is Japan's ban based on the sprites of the chicks covered in alien growth and tentacles? Because that would seem highly odd, seeing they were the ones who invented stuff dealing with women and tentacles...

Just saying.

[Hudson]

Originally Posted by Klaus Kinski

for SoF2 they did not only change the models to robots, they even went so far as to change the back story to some alternate universe nonsense (but still having bio weapons threat).

Haha I almost want to play that

[Klaus Kinski]

Oh yeah, it's utterly ridiculous. They do that since years, though. In RTCW, you don't fight Nazis but an obscure sect that, IIRC, calls themselve "The Wolves".
On the other hand Hitman is 100% uncensored as is Devastation (ever decapitated someone in that game?), which has a 16 rating.
As I said, german censorship and youth protection operates without any logic. Oh, and it's corrupt, too. But at least it's somewhat predictable when it comes to games compared to movies.

[JobivanHiob]

THE USK should Re-rate DN3D!!!
In 1996 DN3D get indexed because the visual violence was too much, but in 2008 there are much more brutal games out there which aren't on the index. DN3D is kind of a Satire.

[Klaus Kinski]

Then submit the game to the USK. All you got to do is officially re-publish Duke3D.
But that doesn't necessarily change anything either as I'm not sure if you can have the USK rate already indexed games. And even if they do, there are no guarantees. Evil Dead gets banned every time someone re-releases it here too.

[Talos]

Originally Posted by Klaus Kinski

But that doesn't necessarily change anything either as I'm not sure if you can have the USK rate already indexed games.

You could always request an annulation of the index for Duke 3D. Happens with movies all the time - like the "A Nightmare on Elmstreet"-series. First they were on the index now they're rated USK 16 (at least some of them by now).

Edit: Once again I sure hope it's somehow available in Germany, otherwise I'd be pretty disappointed to say the least

[shiranui]

Well F**K my luck...

[Steve]

Originally Posted by shiranui

Well F**K my luck...

I was waiting for you to reply