Many comments have been about Bethesda Softworks's decision to take the nukes out of Japan's release of Fallout 3. Frankly, I applaud Bethesda Softworks for having what I will term "cultural sensitivity"; though many seem to have chalked up this decision as an act of "political correctness" or "censorship". Those accusations couldn't be further from the truth.

Irrational censorship or the kind of "political correctness" that is traditionally despised has to do with distorting a message so thoroughly that it destroys a part of the message. This happens when people use terms like "diversity awareness" to mask the term "racism", or "gender sensitivity" to avoid the term "sexism"; these are code phrases created to diminish the reaction from the public to topics that involve these dicey subjects. By creating these tapioca pudding-like terms, we, in essence, remove a portion of the message. Sexism, racism, and the other "isms" that we are conscious of in today's society are serious problems, and people need to be conscious of the problems in our society, and the history that created those problems.

Because our society decided to be conscious of the history that created racism, America elected Barack Obama, our first Black president, on Tuesday, November 4th, 2008. Because our society decided to be conscious of the history that created sexism, we've had Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Rodham-Clinton, and Sarah Palin take sledgehammers to the "glass ceiling" that separates women and men, doing irreparable damage to that barrier. And though people may have issues with the individual positions of the people I've just mentioned, the strides our country has made towards equality in its truest sense are undeniable.

The second that any gaming company releases a game where the player takes the role of a person who hijacks a plane with intent to fly it in to a government building, or straps a bomb to their chest in order to blow themselves up along with 30 or 40 people waiting at a subway train station, they will have effectively signed their own financial death note. Why? Because our society will not accept that someone was insensitive enough to replicate those events that we deem as dark spots in our history. Our society will not stand for a company that is not conscious of that event, and our actions will display that.

Our society needs to be conscious of the fact that we attacked Japan using the single-most destructive weapon ever used in human history. Our society needs to be conscious of the fact that, as mentioned in Gamespot's article, Japan is the ONLY COUNTRY EVER to have had that power wielded against it. Our society needs to be conscious of the fact that over 200,000 lives were extinguished in two bombings that only took minutes. That is not, and should not be, something you "get over" in 10 years, 20 years, or 50 years. It's a sad part of the world's history that will certainly be repeated in countries other than Japan if we don't do our part to recognize and remember the atrocities that took place in August 1945. 

Bethesda Softworks, I applaud you for your efforts in this department. Thank you for realizing that taking the option to nuke a city (which is not even necessary for progression of the game) out of the Japanese release of Fallout 3 does not ruin the game, or diminish the quality of your product. It simply shows that you respect their past and history.

Bethesda Softworks, thank you for understanding the difference between cultural sensitivity and irrational censorship. I only wish that more of society would understand that this kind of empathy is necessary for the growth and safety of our global society.

As I woke up and checked GameSpot this morning, I was informed that sales of Wii C-lassic, Gamecube, and Wavebird controllers may be banned due to a lawsuit filed against Nintendo by a company called Anascape. If you read the responses to that article, you'll get a lot of information about people's opinions about Anascape, Nintendo, patent policy, and the like.

Let me say this: I love you, Nintendo. I've loved you ever since Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt was brought in to my house in the 1988. I've owned every incarnation of every American-released Nintendo system (with the exception of the Virtual Boy; my parents wouldn't let me get one because of the headaches and such). I'm sure I'll remain a fanboy until you die out or are bought out or merger or whatever.

So my question to you, Nintendo: how could you let this controller thing happen?

Nintendo, you are a multi-billion dollar international corporation. And, regardless of how I feel about American patent rights, I have to refer to anectodal wisdom when I say, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." When you sell in America, you play by the rules America sets down. You can't tell me that, as a multi-billion dollar international corporation, you didn't know that your six-axis specifications were similar to Anascape's. Are you really going to try to tell me that you thought your design was different enough to escape prosecution? You know the game, Nintendo....you invented the game!

I can let all that slide...I know business is business, and there's lots of cut-throat tactics and back-alley dealings, even with companies where they specialize in marketing Italian plumbers and other rather bright and shiny things. Go ahead and let business be business; that's the result of our American laissez-faire economics.

But as much as I love Nintendo, and regardless of how I feel about how Anascape responded, this situation inevitably gives the shaft to one party: the consumer.



It is at this point that I find your actions unacceptable, Nintendo.

Nintendo, I've always respected you for your dedication to us, the consumer. Whether a casual gamer or a hardcore veteran, you have always taken care of us. It is with recent trends in your consumer care that I have held you in particularly high regards, Nintendo...from the Wiimote jacket being shipped with no-cost directly to my house to the feather stylus I got for my purchase of Phantom Hourglass, you've done many a thing to make me feel special and appreciated lately, Nintendo. And though you forgot to get me flowers for our anniversary, I suppose I can excuse that, too...But this?

I've put up with many of your flaws, Nintendo...from choosing cartridge for the N64 to your tendency to insta-drop any and all systems not your foremost on the market (do you know how jealous it makes me to still see PS2 games in production? ). I've stuck by your side because, though I've suffered, I've seen a positive result and reason to your actions, and I know that every choice has some sort of poor consequence. I've always hoped that you've chosen the best policy, Nintendo...

Oh wait, more anectodal knowledge on the line.... "Honesty is the best policy."

Nintendo, I've looked up to you ever since I was little. I've always wanted to work for you in marketing or development or something because I've always felt that you put your customer first more than any other gaming company. But now your decision-making has potentially impacted the consumer in a serious way. Considering the scarcity of Wiis, and the low price-level of the Gamecube, many people's alternative while waiting for the Wii could have been the Gamecube. Also, as it is the cheapest last-gen system available, many a consumer looking for a price-effective gaming experience could have gone with the Gamecube. But who will buy a system with no controllers available for purchase? The customer becomes deprived of many quality games on the Gamecube, as well as many Virtual Console titles simply because of poor business practices, Nintendo. Shame, shame, shame.

Keep your eyes on the prize, Nintendo. We know that you're looking out for us customers. Even if it means waiting a couple extra months for quality and security, we can do that. Please keep yourself safe; it keeps us safe, and ensures that you can continue to provide us a quality and enriching gaming experience.

Scurge: Hive was at my local EB Games for $9.99 new. A DS game for $9.99? I was a little confused.

I read the review on GameSpot to learn that the game seemed to be a blatant Metroid rip-off, but still a quality game.

With concern, I still ventured back to my game shop, purchased the game, and began to play it.


So the production value may not have been high. So there may have not been a lot of hype. So it most-definitely IS a Samus Aran rip-off. On all these points I agree.


But the game is still great.



Games like Mystic Heroes, Scurge: The Hive, and many others seem to fall in to the cracks, games with great potential and good reviews that simply get no play. Zack and Wiki: The Quest for Barbaros' Treasure? Fantastic (and funny) puzzle game. And it sat on Wal-Mart's shelves for $20 while SoulCalibur Legends sold for $40.

Now, maybe that's a blessing. Keeping SoulCalibur Legends out of the hands of ANYONE is really a wise idea, and maybe this is Wal-Mart doing it's part to attempt to place quality games in to the hands of the public?

...

I doubt it.

Now, yes, there is some fault on the part of producers of these game. Market Scurge a little better. Advertise Mystic Heroes. Don't name your game "Zack and Wiki: The Quest for Barbaros' Treasure", put a flying golden monkey and (what seems to be) an 11-year old boy wearing a yellow rain slicker and an oversized costume-shop pirate hat on the cover. But still, we as gamers help to fix these problems.

What makes gaming communities like this great is that we have an opportunity to keep other gamers informed about games that they may not have otherwise tried out. Not only does this enhance our gaming experience, but it supplies third-party developers with motivation to continue creating games that aren't "Mega Man Battle Network (oh, excuse me, "Star Force") 37: Random Compilation of Letters That's Supposed to Sound Hip and Trendy".

So, if you get the chance, shell out the nominal amount of money it'll cost to find a copy of Scurge, DS/GBA owners. And keep an eye out for those games that look a little off the wall, or are ones you haven't heard about...they could end up in your favorites collection in no time.