isiolia wrote:Hard to say for sure without having seen whatever content it was they found objectionable, but there are different standards for that sort of thing by region, and it's very possible it crosses a line somewhere. While banning it might serve to create a media buzz around this particular title, it also sends a message to publishers about future projects, which might be more the point. I would assume that it's more due to seeming to represent children than nudity, and some of those games do pretty much rely on technicalities to skirt around that.
I'm aware there are different standards by region, but from a UK perspective, it does seem inconsistent, in my opinion, but like you say, it's hard to say without seeing the content they find objectionable and how it compares to other similar games. Looking at the trailers, to ME, it doesn't look any different to games like the Senran Kagura series or the Gal*Gun series. There are probably 'worse' examples than those that haven't been banned, but those are the only two anime fan service-y games I've properly played.
Here's the UK VSC's response anyways. Apparently one of the girls is described as a 'first year', although I've seen someone comment that under Japan's grading system, this would actually make them 16 or older (above the UK's legal age of consent), but I have no idea if that's true or not. It's difficult to defend the 'holding a teddy bear' but though... I just guess my confusion is, why hasn't any other 'creepy' 'weeb' game been banned here until now? Does this now set a precedent moving forward? Or is this either a random anomaly that will be forgotten or is it that this game is actually worse than prior weeb games?
The game is explicit in its setting within a “school” environment and the majority of the characters are young girls – one child is referred to as being a “first year” student and is seen holding a teddy bear. The game clearly promotes the sexualisation of children via the sexual interaction between the game player and the female characters. The style of the game is such that it will attract an audience below the age of 18.
There is a serious danger that impressionable people, i.e. children and young people viewing the game would conclude that the sexual activity represented normal sexual behaviour. There is a constant theme of sexual innuendo and activity throughout the game that suggests behaviour likely to normalise sexual activity towards children. As a means of reward gained by successfully navigating the game, the player has the means to sexually stimulate the female characters by using either a hand held remote device or touch screen software.
The VSC Rating Board believes this content in a game, which would have strong appeal to non-adult players, is an issue which would be unacceptable to the majority of UK consumers and, more importantly, has the potential to be significantly harmful in terms of the social and moral development of younger people in particular.