Bethesda Yanks Fallout 3 Trailers

[DoctorFinger]

Bethesda has contacted a number of high profile gaming websites and requested that they immediately remove all trailers for Fallout 3. Bethesda VP Pete Hines requested the removals "in connection with ESRB's advertising guidelines".

According to Edge-Online, this likely has to do with Fallout 3's widely viewed E3 developer walkthrough, which showed numerous instances of exploding heads. The ESRB has strict guidelines prohibiting advertising that feature excessive violence, blood or gore.

Fallout 3 launches today in North America, and Friday in the UK.

Source - Edge-Online (http://www.edge-online.com/news/fallout-3-trailers-pulled).

[JayVe]

You know, Fallout trailers with exploding heads have been around for months and months. One need look no farther than the E3 2008 trailer to see exploding heads complete with flying eyeballs.

If that was against the ESRB, they should have never put them out to begin with, or should have pulled them months ago.

[NoName]

Their legal department probably mentioned that the news agencies will probably start looking into the game more after it's released. The news will love to jump on videos of heads exploding.

Considering it's unlikely common news agencies will actually play the games, if said videos don't exist then there's nothing to make a fuss about.

[National Kato]

I really don't see a reason for outrage here. Seems like a sound business decision for a mature game.

[Nura]

Do we really care? i mean, you guys can already make heads explode today, and the EU in 2 days.. so who really cares about the trailers anymore? :P

[Johan]

Is the game still for sale (except for in India, of course)? Yes Have the turned it into a Teletubby episode? No.

Nothing to see here, IMHO. Thankfully!

[DoctorFinger]

I don't think this is terribly controversial, just interesting. I have a feeling that Bethesda never considered that a developer walkthrough could be considered an Advertisement, and they're just trying to play nice with the ESRB. Who, if you'll remember, they have a bit of a rocky relationship with. Someone hacked the PC version of Oblivion to remove the underwear from the character models, and the women had nipples (but no one had genetals) so the ESRB re-rated the game from T to M because of that hack.

[Widgetcraft]

The power of the ESRB really needs to be cut back quite a bit. Rate the games, and then STFU; having a say in advertising is ludicrous.

[DoctorFinger]

Well the MPAA has a similar say in how films are advertised too. That's why when you're watching a full trailer you get either a green or red band in front of it. I do wish the ESRB would allow for the equivalent of red band trailers for games, though.

[Young Al Capone]

Someone hacked the PC version of Oblivion to remove the underwear from the character models, and the women had nipples (but no one had genetals) so the ESRB re-rated the game from T to M because of that hack.

I thought it was that in addition to there being some serious scenes of violence (aftermath at least) in the dark brotherhood quests that were not originally seen by the ESRB.

EIther way, seems like a non-issue. Pull trailers, avoid trouble.

[Shadowstorm]

I really don't see a reason for outrage here. Seems like a sound business decision for a mature game.

Oh sshh you! Logic has no place here! :P

[MagGnome]

This is an interesting move, but I doubt it will lead to much outrage.

You never know what will happen with gamers and the Internet though!

[DoctorFinger]

I thought it was that in addition to there being some serious scenes of violence (aftermath at least) in the dark brotherhood quests that were not originally seen by the ESRB. That was the reason given after the fact, but even the ESRB admitted that they'd seen the DB mission in question the first time around, and didn't object to it then. It was just a way for the ESRB to try and save face by not having to admit that the change was due to the real reason: nipples on both genders that can only be seen if you hack the PC version.

[Subversion]

There are different ESRB standards for advertising and game content. For example, kicking someone in the junk is considered "intense violence" in a commercial/ad but is considered "violence" in the context of game.

[Victorvonviolence]

"heads exploding" translates to "Victor wants game."

The less I see about this masterpiece the better until I play it.

[carnage11]

Hey ESRB, I'm 27 years old. Stop telling me what I can and can't look at. Stay out of my life you dirt bag fucks.

If I wanna see gaping assholes and exploding heads then that's my right. If I wanna see black zombies and muslim terrorists then that's my right. If I want to virtually put a bullet in the President's skull then that's my right. If I want to wrap plastic around someone's head and then bash their skull in with a baseball bat (virtually of course) then that's my right. If I want everything to be censored and if I want to be treated like I'm 10 then I'll move to Germany.

[JayVe]

I'm playing Fable II where the headshots are quite nasty too.