Dementium: The Ward hit Japan this year (along with a colorful launch event for the game), yet is now enduring its first public outcry in the country. According to Yahoo! News (and Google's translation tools), the Japanese Association of Psychiatric Hospitals has requested that the title be removed from shops instantly, arguing that the game could instigate "discrimination and prejudice" against sufferers of psychiatric disorders.
Interchannel distributes the game in Japan, and has yet to comment, but Mike Wilson of [U.S. publisher] Gamecock did proffer a view to MTV Multiplayer, stating that the criticism is down to a "lack of understanding or appreciation (and therefore fear of) games outside our little sub-culture." He also confessed to being "thrilled" by the extra attention the game has enjoyed as a result; as the game failed to penetrate the Japanese top 30, we know what he means.
[Via MTV Multiplayer]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-03-2008 @ 8:35PM
FantomRedux said...
Isn't it more a zombie shooter thats just SET in a psychiatric hospital?
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10-04-2008 @ 12:28AM
aj said...
As both a doctor of psychology AND a mutant hell-beast, I find this game patently offensive.
And as we all know, Japan's medical establishment is at least 80% mutant hell-beasts.
10-03-2008 @ 8:52PM
simplesugar said...
Why am I not surprised that one of the only games (if not the only currently, I don't follow it) being protested in Japan isn't made by Japanese? Xenophobic double standards for the win. We can't have prejudice, but help yourself to some copies of Gaijni Hanzai Ura Fairu in 7-11.
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10-03-2008 @ 9:23PM
SephFinale said...
LOL I never thought Japan was one to complain about videogames.
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10-04-2008 @ 1:43PM
Josh said...
They've been censoring stuff for a while now.
Really, North America seems to be the only region still receiving uncensored games (in terms of violence).
10-03-2008 @ 11:07PM
Zealot said...
What's really going to surprise me is if we suddenly get complaints from moon people that Moon portrays them in a prejudiced and discriminatory manner.
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10-04-2008 @ 2:02AM
Kahblammo said...
So Dementium is bad but girls enjoying rape is okay...good going Japan.
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10-04-2008 @ 3:39AM
potatochip said...
Not to mention all of the other zombie shooters from Japan featuring abandoned hospitals/graveyards/etc. But those are okaay ssomehow..
10-04-2008 @ 11:53AM
chibi_wings said...
you have a point. The whole loli-con thing is creepy. But that too has been given media attention.
10-06-2008 @ 10:08AM
Jamar said...
Oh yeah. I mean, how much attention did Doki Doki Majo Shinpan receive in comparison?
10-06-2008 @ 2:18PM
MagNet said...
On the west maybe quite a lot but in Japan that's nothing special. However one must realise that they're not much into FPS games there anyway so this might be a really big help actually.
10-04-2008 @ 4:21AM
xcdjy said...
They should just chill. The game's rubbish anyway.
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10-05-2008 @ 4:01PM
pas said...
Thats where you are wrong... have you played it ? why do you think is it rubbish ? I found it to be an enjoyable atmospheric game...