Censorship and what to buy: 1C/Anton please help!!!

Widar · #1 09-04-2009, 01:54 PM

I am a long-time PC fan of the "IL-2" series and really look forward to playing "IL-2: Birds of Prey" on the Xbox 360 and therefore will buy the game, so that is not the problem.

I however have one question: which country version should I buy, which is the least censored?

At the moment I am staying abroad and working in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) which has some of the most severe so-called “youth protection” censorship measures in the world when it comes to electronic entertainment (among other things). I will leave the FRG again when my work here is done.

I however can also have a friend from the Netherlands send me the Benelux (Dutch) version. The Benelux does not have censorship as severe as the FRG has. But if I wait for the Benelux (Dutch) version then I would have to wait for a few weeks before I receive a copy of "IL-2: Birds of Prey" and when I buy the FRG (West German) version I can go out and buy one copy today.

I have been touring the internet to find out if the FRG (West German) version of "IL-2: Birds of Prey" is censored and if it differs from the Benelux (Dutch) version, but I was not able to find any reliable information on this subject. I am not referring to the Austrian versions of games, which are usually less censored than the FRG (West German) ones, but are still more censored than the Benelux (Dutch) versions from what I have been able to find out.

Games that have been altered to comply to FRG so-called “youth protection” censorship for example include: HOI1, HOI2, HOI3, Rainbow six Vegas 2, BIA3, Fallout 3, COD4, COD5 etc. etc. etc. not to mention Xbox Live DLC that is blocked/altered and whole games that are unavailable such as GOW1, GOW2 etc. etc. etc.

So therefore I want to ask directly to 1C (Anton): does the FRG (West German) version of "IL-2: Birds of Prey" differ from the Benelux (Dutch) version sold in the Netherlands and if so, what exactly has been omitted/cut from the FRG (West German) version?

It may seem irrelevant, but I would like to play "IL-2: Birds of Prey" as close to what 1C is allowed to offer to its adult customers and don't feel the need as a 30+ year old to be further restricted in my electronic entertainment by complying to so-called “youth protection” FRG censorship measures, especially since I am not a FRG citizen and only staying in the FRG for the time being.

To be sure that there is no misunderstanding from a legal standpoint: non-FRG software versions may legally be owned in the FRG, but they may not be sold in the FRG by retailers. So I am not talking about breaking any laws here.

1C/Anton could you please supply some reliable information on the subject: What is the difference between the FRG (West German) and Benelux (Dutch) Xbox 360 versions of "IL-2: Birds of Prey", if any?

David603 · #2 09-04-2009, 02:26 PM

While I don't actually know if the German version of Il2 BoP differs from the versions supplied to the rest of the world, I see no reason why the content would be censored. Birds of Prey has no blood and no swastikas or other political material that might be deemed offensive enough to need removing, and it has an age rating of 12 over here, where the minimum age rating of the games you have listed as being censored is 15 and more in the case of games that are actually banned like GoW (18 rated).

cydno · #3 09-04-2009, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David603

While I don't actually know if the German version of Il2 BoP differs from the versions supplied to the rest of the world, I see no reason why the content would be censored. Birds of Prey has no blood and no swastikas or other political material that might be deemed offensive enough to need removing, and it has an age rating of 12 over here, where the minimum age rating of the games you have listed as being censored is 15 and more in the case of games that are actually banned like GoW (18 rated).

Some terms used on the RAF radio to talk about germans... could hurt some german player perhaps.

David603 · #4 09-04-2009, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cydno

Some terms used on the RAF radio to talk about germans... could hurt some german player perhaps.

I doubt the German language voice-over is like that

Yossarian · #5 09-04-2009, 02:57 PM

The UK game has an age rating of '7' so it will be safe to assume they are all the same at that there is no censorship. There are no Swastika's, blood and the enemy all bail out, there is nothing too censor.

Widar · #6 09-04-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David603

While I don't actually know if the German version of Il2 BoP differs from the versions supplied to the rest of the world, I see no reason why the content would be censored. Birds of Prey has no blood and no swastikas or other political material that might be deemed offensive enough to need removing, and it has an age rating of 12 over here, where the minimum age rating of the games you have listed as being censored is 15 and more in the case of games that are actually banned like GoW (18 rated).

Well it is not just symbols, blood and visuals in general. It takes on more serious forms, including "under the hood" items.

In HOI1, HOI2 and HOI3, a sort of strategic political/scientific/economic/military simulation, there is no blood at all and all symbols have already been self-censored out by the developer from day one, as is becoming the standard practice in the "free" world nowadays.

In HOI1, HOI2 and HOI3 have not only the tiny images of certain political, scientific and military leaders been self-censored out but even their names have been changed, omitted etc. etc. etc. For instance the then German President and Prime Minister has been renamed Armand Hiller, the then German Air Minister renamed Hans Gorink etc. etc. etc. HOI1-3 has specific game events that also have been altered for the FRG version, so a lot that is (self-)censored is not visual.

Only the developer knows for sure what he has had to take out of his game in order not to offend the sensitive censors. And therefore consequentially nowadays a lot of what goes out of a game becomes the result of pre-emptive developer Orwellian self-censorship.

In Rainbow Six Vegas 2 the FRG censors did not want to see an achievement for headshots and in BIA3 it was the kill camera that had to go among other things. And who knows what else was taken out in the four months it took to specially make the FRG versions of those two games? In the Fallout 3 Japan version the atomic bomb explosion had to be taken out among other things.

And those are just the examples that I know of. Practically all countries have these shadowy "youth protection" sensorship units by the way, even the USA so it is not just the FRG that does this to be fair.

Maybe in the FRG version all then-German plane markings have been taken out (meaning the German wing and hull beam crosses, unit markings, aircraft numbers etc.), references to or names of well known historical then-German Luftwaffe pilots/personnel removed or maybe on-line German plane performance altered to prevent censor unwanted on-line German virtual-kill-ratios, who knows for sure except 1C?

But before paying 120 Euro's for two "IL-2:BOP" copies, I would like to be able to choose the country specific version that offers me the most realistic/historical experience of the excellent IL-2 simulator! And for that I need help!

juz1 · #7 09-04-2009, 03:50 PM

I can't help, only commiserate...after living in England I can safely say Australia is "pro-active" in "protection"...e.g. games are censored to buggery and they're trying to ban energy drinks ffs

Your English is better than alot of Brits! Stick with UK as I've never really encountered any censorship issues there...
________
Colorado marijuana dispensary

Widar · #8 09-04-2009, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juz1

I can't help, only commiserate...after living in England I can safely say Australia is "pro-active" in "protection"...e.g. games are censored to buggery and they're trying to ban energy drinks ffs

Your English is better than alot of Brits! Stick with UK as I've never really encountered any censorship issues there...

Thanks! Sad to hear Australia is drifting in the same censorship direction. I´ll keep the UK version in mind instead of the Dutch version then.

I really would like to buy my copies today, but I don´t want to run the risk of buying a neutered FRG version. I hope 1C will say something on the subject, but it being Friday and all means that they probably won´t answer until Monday, if at all.

Widar · #9 09-04-2009, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David603

I doubt the German language voice-over is like that

Quote:

Originally Posted by cydno

Some terms used on the RAF radio to talk about germans... could hurt some german player perhaps.

No quite the contrary actually. The FRG censors don't mind any derogatory or defaming remarks concerning Germans and/or Germany in games in general. There is no FRG censorship national pride to hurt, no worries there!

rufuzmitchell · #10 09-04-2009, 05:24 PM

I thought the only censored thing in all versions was the swastika? I can understand that,but i sure hope nothing else has been cut?

I'm from Holland and i reckon i'll get whatever they have in store (sometimes the stores i go to have US and or UK versions prior to Benelux versions) But now i'm a little confused..is the Benelux version more censored than the UK version?