Gaming: Nintendo game banned - child porn

[genghis61]

Nintendo pulls Dead or Alive over porn fears
24 May, 2011

Nintendo's latest fighting title for its flagship 3DS hand-held console, Dead or Alive: Dimensions, has had its released cancelled in some countries following allegations that it may breach Swedish child pornography laws.

The game - a full review of which you can find here - is the latest in the long-running Dead or Alive series, which features a variety of characters who pummel each other across a range of backdrops. While the tactical fighting action is beloved by many, the game is most famous for one thing: breasts.

Specifically, the somewhat pneumatic charms of its leading ladies, who can all be said to be blessed in the mammary department. Drawing its inspirations from the world of Japanese manga, that's no surprise - but the back-story for some of the characters has led to a possible breach of child protection legislation in Sweden.

Three of the game's characters - Ayane, Koroke, and Kasumi - are described by in-game lore as being under 18 years of age, making them 'children' in the eyes of Swedish law. This prevents them from being depicted in "a pornographic situation."

While the fighting game itself is far from pornographic, the game's distributor in the region - Bergsala - responded to concerns that an in-game photography mode, which allows players to look up characters' dresses in certain poses, could count as 'pornographic' enough for police to take an interest by pulling the title the shelves.

The game will now no longer be available in Sweden, Denmark, or Norway - despite no formal investigation having yet been made.

In a statement to gaming news site Eurogamer's Swedish arm, Nintendo and Bergsala claimed that a joint decision had been taken to cancel the game's release. "Nintendo of Europe has decided not to release the game in Sweden, for various reasons," the statement read.

Although the statement didn't give a reason for the cancellation, it did declare that the companies involved are sorry for "how this impacts Swedish fans of Dead or Alive."

The game will remain available throughout the rest of Europe, Nintendo has confirmed.

[genghis61]

Nintendo game banned after child porn concerns
Asher Moses
June 10, 2011


Can cartoons be porn? ... a grab from Dead or Alive: Dimensions.

A video game that was initially given a PG rating by government censors has been banned from sale in Australia following reports it contained material that could be considered child porn.

The Nintendo 3DS handheld game, Dead or Alive: Dimensions, is the latest game in a long-running tactical fighting series that is famous for its scantily-clad, well-endowed cartoon warriors.

The game's launch in several Nordic countries was cancelled following claims it may breach Swedish child pornography laws. Despite this, it went on sale in Australia on May 26.

Three of the game's characters - Ayane, Koroke and Kasumi - have been described as being under 18 years of age.

The in-game photography mode, which allows players to look up characters' dresses in certain poses, has been considered by some as potential child pornography as laws prohibit sexualised depictions of children even in cartoons.

In Australia, a Sydney man was convicted in 2008 of possessing child pornography over a cartoon showing characters from The Simpsons engaged in sexual acts. In a landmark finding in the NSW Supreme Court, Justice Michael Adams concluded that a fictional cartoon character could “depict” a “person” under law.

Following reports that the game was being sold in Australia with a PG rating, the Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O'Connor, asked the Classification Board to re-examine the game and its rating.

Statements released today by O'Connor and the Board said the Board was not initially told that the game may contain material of a sexualised nature inappropriate for the PG level.

The Board asked Nintendo last Thursday to respond within seven days with reasons why the classification for the game should not be revoked. Today, having considered Nintendo's response, the Board decided to ban the game from sale until it is re-submitted for classification.

"The material in this game is clearly not appropriate to be played by children," O'Connor said.

"I am pleased the Classification Board took swift action to address community concerns."

Nintendo has previously said that it did not believe the game contained material that could be considered child porn.

Today, it said that when Nintendo Australia agreed to distribute the game in Australia, it had already been submitted for classification by "another video game company", THQ, and was then classified PG.

"The original application did not provide adequate information regarding the contents of the game," a spokeswoman said.

"Nintendo Australia is currently working with the Classification Operations Branch on this."

New Zealand: 'Child porn' game sells fast under PG rating
By NZPA and Christopher Chang
5:30 AM Friday Jun 10, 2011



A video game banned in parts of Europe because of claims it contains child pornography is selling out in New Zealand - with only a PG rating.

The Nintendo 3DS game Dead or Alive: Dimensions went on sale in New Zealand last week. But within days, the chief censor called it in for classification.

The PG rating indicates "mild violence and sexualised gameplay" and the game sells for just under $100.

It is banned in Sweden, Norway and Denmark and is believed to violate child pornography laws with features that enable a player to undress female characters and photograph them from any angle, including under their skirts.

It is also believed that underage girls appear in sexualised situations in the game.

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[Neo]

Child porn!? What a bunch of wankers.
Oh well this game is now guaranteed to sell like hotcakes.

[alwarner]

fwap fwap fwap.

[redbaron]

Oh well this game is now guaranteed to sell like hotcakes.

Yep, money couldn't buy this kind of publicity.