Nintendo lied about not having content restrictions on Wii games

[A Black Falcon]

WiiWare games, to be specific.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsA...rtid=16287

For Nintendo, 'Beer' is Too Strong for Wii Owners

July 7, 2008 at 18:08 PDT – Source: Las Vegas Sun

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Contrasting previous statements about not screening WiiWare content, Nintendo elicited changes in JV Games' upcoming title, including a name change from Frat Party Games – Beer Pong to Frat Party Game

According to the co-founders of JV Games, Nintendo asked them to change the name and some of the content of their upcoming WiiWare title because of one word: "beer." Their game, originally titled Frat Party Games – Beer Pong, was renamed to the more family friendly Frat Party Games – Pong Toss.

This conflicts with some of Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime's statements last year about how "Nintendo will not do any screening of ideas" on WiiWare. JV Games co-founder Vince Valenti recalls how they "had a little discussion with Nintendo and there were some angry parties." The two founders were shocked by Nintendo's reaction. As Valenti puts it, his company's use of the word "beer" was "just like you would hear in any movie or on TV." Co-founder Jag Jaeger said they "wanted to focus on the sport of beer pong, not the alcohol that’s associated with it."

The sport in question is a college drinking game staple and consists of a table with pyramids of cups laid out on each end. These cups are filled with beer and the goal of the game is to throw a ping pong ball into your opponent's cups until they are all gone. Whenever a cup is hit, the opponent has to drink the beer in the cup.

Frat Party Games – Pong Toss still includes almost everything that was in the original build of the game, including using the Wii Remote's motion sensing capabilities to throw the balls, and a crowd that "still says authentic college-ish things like 'Loser,' 'What was that?' and 'I’ve got the munchies.'" The only changes are in the name, the now-empty red plastic cups, and in the new throw power meter, now transformed into a bullet that merely resembles the glass of beer it's replaced.

JV Games hopes to have Frat Party Games – Pong Toss out for WiiWare sometime in July.

Neal Ronaghan, Staff News Writer

Very, very disappointing, Nintendo. Sure, it's a game I'd never dream of buying, but the principle is the thing, and you've just proven that your "our only restriction is no AO titles" rule has more caveats than we knew before. Disappointing.

[Dark Jaguar]

I think the only thing they had them do is change the name, but it's still disappointing.

I think I know why they did this though. They may not want parents complaining about having the game visible, as in, something that a kid can see exists. Parental controls, as of yet, do not apply to the online store in a way that blocks things above the rating from appearing in the store.

They should have just patched it so it DOES block them from appearing. XBox Live's online store is tied to the parental controls in just that way.

[A Black Falcon]

No, read the article.

The only changes are in the name, the now-empty red plastic cups, and in the new throw power meter, now transformed into a bullet that merely resembles the glass of beer it's replaced.

All alchohol references in the game were removed.

I think I know why they did this though. They may not want parents complaining about having the game visible, as in, something that a kid can see exists. Parental controls, as of yet, do not apply to the online store in a way that blocks things above the rating from appearing in the store.

They should have just patched it so it DOES block them from appearing. XBox Live's online store is tied to the parental controls in just that way.

So you're saying you think Nintendo is banning all WiiWare games that would get anythign above an E rating? Are all WiiWare games so far E rated? Hmm, that would be an interesting theory, if stupid given how, as you say, it would be easy to put in parental controls.

[Sacred Jellybean]

I'm at a loss to surmise why frat boys would prefer this over drinking real beer.

Duuude, I'm so wii-wasted right now!

I wonder if the game accounted for how many cups you made and how much alcohol would be in you. Now, they'll have to use something neutral like handicap.

[Dark Jaguar]

Not banning them, I meant banning certain names. However this is even more.

Yeah, it's a bit much. I thought Nintendo of America was "over" this whole thing. I mean they didn't do a thing to Resident Evil 4. Other games have references to alchohol. It just seems a weird choice for the WiiWare games.

Actually, is there a threat that the Homestar Runner game will lack... dare I say, Cold Ones? If not, then they are inconsistant on top of everything else.

I dunno, if it IS an attempt to prevent kids from seeing such games ON the marketplace, again, parental controls could easily be set up to block games beyond a certain rating from even showing up there.

[Great Rumbler]

Odd, considering that Nintendo is just fine with Animales de la Muerte.

[lazyfatbum]

Its a beer reference, drinking age is 21, they could allow it and label the game AO or just remove the beer reference.

Funy tho..... considering the blatant spilling of bendito blood and the rampant nudity in Animales.

[A Black Falcon]

What's that game? I don't know of it...