Dead Space facing international bans

Community manager says EA's space shooter won't be allowed into Germany, China, or Japan.

In space, no one can hear you scream. And apparently in Germany, Japan, and China, things worth screaming over simply aren't allowed.

In a posting on the official Dead Space Web site, EA community manager Ben Swanson announced that the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC game "will be banned in Germany, China, and Japan." Swanson did not say what indications the team has received to suggest the imminent banning of the sci-fi survival horror game.

While China's government has a lengthy history of monitoring the media its citizens consume, the prospect of German and Japanese bans are somewhat more surprising. Capcom ran afoul of Germany's ratings board with Dead Rising, but even when denied a classification, the game wasn't outright banned. Instead, Capcom had to deal with severe limitations on the ways it could be sold and advertised.

Microsoft had a pair of its own Xbox 360 titles--Gears of War and Crackdown--denied classification in Germany. However, it opted not to release the games in the country after the denial, citing a company policy against releasing unrated products.

As for Japan, the country's Computer Entertainment Suppliers' Association (CESA) tops out with a Z-rating, which the board has found suitable for titles like Assassin's Creed and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Dead Space is set for an October 14 console release in North America (October 20 for the PC version), with a European launch set for October 24. As of press time, EA representatives had not returned requests for clarification on the nature of the bans or why they are expected to come.

411 Comments

  • shailesh_das

    Posted Oct 12, 2008 11:27 pm PT

    Whats the problem in Japan? Did they ban silent hill series in Japan?

  • Dsolow5

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 8:31 pm PT

    "I live in a country that doesn't try to regulate what media I come into contact with."

    What fantasy America are you living in? I'm proud to be American too, but there are many, many attempts at censorship, and some are successful. If you want examples, look at the books banned in many schools. Look at the EU video games with sexual content removed. Look at how the MPAA effectively kills movies by rating them NC-17. America is great, but we have censorship problems just like everyone else.

  • shadowkiller11

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 12:58 pm PT

    i'm surprised china and japan have you seen their horror movies there just plain freaky and disturbing compared to other countries's horrors

  • Daft_Dog

    Posted Sep 28, 2008 3:15 pm PT

    Bit daft imo am glad i english i get to play it
    (no offence to no one)

  • RavenSoS

    Posted Sep 23, 2008 6:04 pm PT

    If this is true, this is one example of why I'm proud to be American. Not that America is necessarily better than Germany or Japan, but that I live in a country that doesn't try to regulate what media I come into contact with. Despite the attempts of some pathetic special interest groups and politicians.

    Now China... yeah in that regard I have no problem believing America to be better. This is, ofcourse, based on what I understand of them.

  • REgrl4life

    Posted Sep 20, 2008 3:43 pm PT

    thats a piece of crap. Whats wrong with the game anyway?!

  • Duplex1

    Posted Sep 15, 2008 11:57 pm PT

    dude you got to admit, when its being banned in some countries you know its good quality. Its like cuban cigars.

  • dynomitemasta

    Posted Sep 15, 2008 7:31 pm PT

    So it's okay for a game that's sexually charged with chicks in bikinis hacking zombies up with a chainsaw with so much blood on the screen you'd swear they painted your screen red, for the Wii no less and the 360, but this? Come on.
    Something tells me that we aren't hearing the whole story, Japanese are pretty prudish when it comes to sex, but NOT violence. Japanese kids will just import an American copy of the game anyway.

  • Afro_Samurai

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 8:13 pm PT

    OK. I understand China banning it because their government bans lots of stuff. I don't understand Germany or Japan banning; Japan in particular. I have seen various horror flics that were produced in Japan so why would they have an issue with a horror game ??

  • TehPickle

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 12:27 pm PT

    I must admit, it seems strange that it's being banned in Japan. But I can't help thinking, even if it wasn't banned would the Japanese game-playing public even care Dead Space? This just strikes me as a game that the Japanese would consider "western" which tend, for the most parts to be overlooked.

  • Dathenrogue

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 8:55 pm PT

    Yeah, the Japan ban is definitely the most confusing of them all. It seemed to have a sort of Japanese/Anime/Manga vibe to the horror style in my opinion. But some of you others may be right, could just be a rumor to up the hype. (gamer 1):"This game is so intense, it's been banned in three countries!" (gamer 2)"ZOMG! I must have it now!"

  • Dathenrogue

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 8:54 pm PT

    Yeah, the Japan ban is definitely the most confusing of them all. It seemed to have a sort of Japanese/Anime/Manga vibe to the horror style in my opinion. But some of you others may be right, could just be a rumor to up the hype. (gamer 1):"This game is so intense, it's been banned in three countries!" (gamer 2)"ZOMG! I must have it now!"

  • zombey1333

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 6:15 pm PT

    ...come on, are we all still this sensitive? really? everything f'd has appeared OUT of Japan, and THEY won't have it? How does that even make sense? Or is it that they won't release it with a rating that high?

  • lamprey263

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 4:16 pm PT

    I especially think a Japanese ban (if it's for real) would be pretty ironic, after all they were the ones that gave us stuff like Battle Royale, up there as one of the most violent films I've ever seen.

    Though, I'm not sure I'm willing to accept there's really a ban in Japan, after all they haven't said anything more about this other than it being banned. After all, like blue_hazy_basic points out, they do allow for pornographic games, with even a large cultural acceptance of non-consensual sex themes (i.e. rape). After all, maybe it's just a different cultural thing like how onomatopoeia words (words that imitate sounds) differ from English and Japanese, like we say "meow" they say "nya(n)", we say "bark bark" they say "wan wan", and when our woman moan with pleasure during lovemaking, their's sound like they're making love to a machete with razor blade kisses. Then again, what seems normal to one culture is completely alien to another, after all we in the United States allow almost all kinds of violence but freak out about anything sexual, and in other countries it seems to be the exact opposite. Blah, anyhow, yeah, Japan, they don't seem to mind too much about sex or violence or even the mix of the two together, which makes me really curious as to what can be so taboo about Dead Space in Japan.

  • Dassam

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 3:14 pm PT

    Coalitions, unions, the United Nations, etc...all irrelevant bureaucracies that A) Make bad decisions B) Extend and expand their powers where they shouldn't and C) Waste taxpayer money. This is true ALL over the world. It is like banning films and books. The crazy notion that the masses will rebel/be brainwashed if they come into contact with a "tainted" piece of media...absurd!!

    I agree, let the parents decide if they are under 18 and if someone is over 18 they don't need the government or some association telling them what they can or cannot read/watch/play.

  • dmdavenport

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 3:13 pm PT

    Lame. Too bad for the gamers who live in those countries. If it's true.

  • killer_rabbit20

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 2:02 pm PT

    Why ban stuff? Why not let the PARENTS decide what there kids are allowed and aren't allowed to play?

  • ebookerd1

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 1:20 pm PT

    Yes SirTiger you are correct!!!

  • Chaos_Eagle

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 12:56 pm PT

    Banning this kinda means that the entire Alien[s] franchise has to be banned aswell.

  • SirTiger

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 12:43 pm PT

    Rumour to increase hype, anybody?!

  • L1qu1dSword

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 12:40 pm PT

    "After watching Japanese horror films I am suprised that this is banned there because they are discusting. I can understand Germany but I am shocked that Australia hasn't banned it yet."

    Exactly. Anyone ever hear of "Ichi the Killer"?

  • stewiegriffin20

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 12:31 pm PT

    I dont understand why? The violence? Anyone who knows Rammsteins story of Mein Teil will find this rather funny, and insignificant

  • JohnnyNeat

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 12:20 pm PT

    This sounds fishy, I would be more concerned over this even being a good game. EA's quality control is as suspect as this post.

  • Wozmcfc

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 12:07 pm PT

    After watching Japanese horror films I am suprised that this is banned there because they are discusting. I can understand Germany but I am shocked that Australia hasn't banned it yet.

  • CamiKitten

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 11:58 am PT

    And here I thought more things denied in America over Japan. o_O

  • lime2k7

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 10:48 am PT

    More publicity for this title, hope this game actually turns out to be good been waiting for a good survival horro game =)

  • p0rkp1e74

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 10:33 am PT

    yeah for living in a country that allows freedom of expression in art form.

  • Citical

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 10:33 am PT

    Ninja Gaiden has decapitations and gore. Actually this information from EA is now questioned as being legit or not. Either way, I'm curious of the outcome, or the potential reasons for its ban (if the info is legit).

  • IXIWhistIXI

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 10:21 am PT

    One of the few reasons I actually like living in america.
    I wasn't going to bother with this game anyways, but I know I don't have to worry about stuff like this.

  • necronaux

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 9:52 am PT

    I'm surprised the Aussies haven't banned it yet.

  • jmrwacko

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 9:46 am PT

    Decapitations are usually censored in Japan because of cultural sensitivity. I'm thinking dead space might have decapitation and/or other forms of physical mutilation, so it isn't surprising that Japan would want to ban it. Germany... I dunno. Maybe it touches on genocide or fascism?

  • syn79

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 9:36 am PT

    I hate how people somehow argue against violent video games, but don't have anything to say about violence or gore in movies. What is the difference between an alien getting shot in a game or in a movie, its f*@#ing stupid. I have seen some of the goriest movies ever from Japan. On a side note, as much as people in America might complain, at least we don’t have to deal with that crap.

  • GARRYTH

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 9:07 am PT

    if these goverments want to ban games they have to teel us in details why they decided too. i hate it when they say banned in this country without explaining them selves the reason.

  • Neloy

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 8:55 am PT

    In space there is no politics, no government intervention. So the game should not be messed up by the government policies, cause everything happening in the game is in space.

  • blue_hazy_basic

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 8:49 am PT

    Germany bans pretty much all violent videogames, China doesn't surprise me, but what I don't get is how can this be worse than the Hentai games in Japan?

  • Neloy

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 8:49 am PT

    Banning in Japan is surprising, since lots of good horror games comes from Japan. I think we all need an explanation from the Japanese censor board.

  • Jmorphman

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 8:49 am PT

    @Grimripper_nec
    They *do* censor Resident Evil in Japan. The American versions are uncensored.

  • ChickenHounk911

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 8:39 am PT

    Banned in Japan? So, deadly wrestling videos are cool, where there is skin tissue, blood and guts everywhere. There is kiddie porn almost everywhere you go and there is even porn in their cartoons, prostitution is legal in some areas, but God forbid they play a violent video game...

  • jawshoeuh

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 8:38 am PT

    that's unexpected news

  • Grimripper_nec

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 8:16 am PT

    how can japan censor this game but not RE lol makes no sense lol

  • ManOfTeal

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 7:52 am PT

    Germany and China I understand the ban because those countries are notoriously censored when it comes to violence and nudity. But Japan???? I have to wonder if this is some kind of backlash against American made video games.

  • ImOldGreg

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 7:50 am PT

    please let the Australian release be ok! PLEASE!!

  • Teh_Total_Nub

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 7:28 am PT

    To the fool on the 2nd page.

    Yes of course it's advertisement EA just contacted a few world leaders and told them to fake a ban, that's how it goes in the gaming world.

    Heavy irony if you cant spot it.

  • Teh_Total_Nub

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 7:25 am PT

    Once again goverments fail, personally what's keeping me from going on a killing spree is the fact that i can do that in games, (joke) but seriously, stop pulling of crap like this, you might as well start banning violent movies then.

  • Stapp_Iz_God

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 7:21 am PT

    Too much government intervention. What if the people want to play this game? Sounds like it's time for a revolution.

  • charizard1605

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 5:57 am PT

    china banning another form of media? i'm not surprised, they have a history of doing that... problem... the world's faastest growing economy is a dictatorship ruled by communists... maybe that's why U.S wants to give India a helping hand... to balance the imminent threat of China.

  • Nosnitsttam

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 5:42 am PT

    it just goes to show that the world hates EA too

  • ssjdagas

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 5:33 am PT

    Probably not hard for Germans to import their games from UK, France or somewhere else in EU. I Live in Sweden and buy a lot of games from UK, after all it's a free market so there is no way of stopping people from importing stuff.

  • Warghost2k

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 5:16 am PT

    A perfect example of why governments should have no control over what people see. China bans a game because it recognizes Tibet as a country? What a joke.

  • Warghost2k

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 5:15 am PT

    A perfect example of why governments should have no control over what people see. China bans a game because it recognizes Tibet as a country? What a joke.

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