Gaming Binding of Isaac release question

[Janthran]

Religion isn't the reason, or at least the main one. It's the fact that the game is just pretty goddamn creepy in terms of its art-style and gameplay elements. There is a kid with a hanger through his head, giant vaginas, feces and other crude stuff that would generate a lot of controversy.

>Looks at pretty much every Silent Hill game

Although really the only Silent Hill game on a Nintendo system was Shattered Memories which didn't feature the diverse monsters that SH is typically known for. It was a bit more toned down as a Silent Hill game but still rather creepy and very well put together.

Still, the game is creepy, but the fact that crude, ultraviolent games like MadWorld are fine but this isn't is just rather baffling.

Okay, Resident Evil.

 

[TheDreamLord]

It's not that the game has religious themes.

It's that it condemns Christianity. It shows a stupid idiot mother attempt to murder her son for some God that clearly isn't real (although I'm an atheist I'm not talking about in real life, within the context of the game there's no way that the God she experiences is actually the Christian God because it repeatedly asks her to abuse and kill her own son) and is a voice in her head because she's mentally deluded, and then you have to fight your way through these guys:

Fighting with your tears while putting on your mum's lipstick or perhaps choosing to suicide bomb them.

I would never expect it to be allowed by Nintendo unless the money tempts them.

What the hell are you talking about, Nintendo has made games with more disturbing shit then that.

I went over this too many goddamn times. There were actual LISENCING problems with it. Do you really think a large corporation ran by fucking Japanese people give a flying fuck about a game that offends Christianity!?

Especially one that's sold over 1 million copies and still isn't on a popular platform (Like Steam)

Actually, it is on steam. I have it on there.

 

[Minox]

Especially one that's sold over 1 million copies and still isn't on a popular platform (Like Steam)

I'm just going to assume that you phrased that sentence wrong. It's been on Steam since launch.


Regarding Christianity, is it actually stated anywhere in the game that it's that religion he's referring to? Cause from what I remember he's just making references to religion but not actually mentioning it by name. And the way he puts the story it's more of a religious fanatic gone wrong than anything else.

 

[Janthran]

And the way he puts the story it's more of a religious fanatic gone wrong than anything else.

I dunno, I was offended.

 

[injected11]

Especially one that's sold over 1 million copies and still isn't on a popular platform (Like Steam)

I'm just going to assume that you phrased that sentence wrong. It's been on Steam since launch.


Regarding Christianity, is it actually stated anywhere in the game that it's that religion he's referring to? Cause from what I remember he's just making references to religion but not actually mentioning it by name. And the way he puts the story it's more of a religious fanatic gone wrong than anything else.

I think I recall the intro movie saying Isaac's mom watches "Christian broadcasts on the television".

Also, The Bible is an item in the game, as well as halos, holy wafers, etc.

 

[Minox]

Especially one that's sold over 1 million copies and still isn't on a popular platform (Like Steam)

I'm just going to assume that you phrased that sentence wrong. It's been on Steam since launch.


Regarding Christianity, is it actually stated anywhere in the game that it's that religion he's referring to? Cause from what I remember he's just making references to religion but not actually mentioning it by name. And the way he puts the story it's more of a religious fanatic gone wrong than anything else.

I think I recall the intro movie saying Isaac's mom watches "Christian broadcasts on the television".

Also, The Bible is an item in the game, as well as halos, holy wafers, etc.

Now that you mention it I remember it as well. I guess I was wrong with that statement.

Either way, to me it still appears as a depiction of religious fanaticism. Personally I do not think there's a reason to be offended so long as one doesn't identify with the main antagonist in some kind of way.

 

[The Milkman]

Especially one that's sold over 1 million copies and still isn't on a popular platform (Like Steam)

I'm just going to assume that you phrased that sentence wrong. It's been on Steam since launch.


Regarding Christianity, is it actually stated anywhere in the game that it's that religion he's referring to? Cause from what I remember he's just making references to religion but not actually mentioning it by name. And the way he puts the story it's more of a religious fanatic gone wrong than anything else.

It's not that the game has religious themes.

It's that it condemns Christianity. It shows a stupid idiot mother attempt to murder her son for some God that clearly isn't real (although I'm an atheist I'm not talking about in real life, within the context of the game there's no way that the God she experiences is actually the Christian God because it repeatedly asks her to abuse and kill her own son) and is a voice in her head because she's mentally deluded, and then you have to fight your way through these guys:

Fighting with your tears while putting on your mum's lipstick or perhaps choosing to suicide bomb them.

I would never expect it to be allowed by Nintendo unless the money tempts them.

What the hell are you talking about, Nintendo has made games with more disturbing shit then that.

I went over this too many goddamn times. There were actual LISENCING problems with it. Do you really think a large corporation ran by fucking Japanese people give a flying fuck about a game that offends Christianity!?

Especially one that's sold over 1 million copies and still isn't on a popular platform (Like Steam)

Actually, it is on steam. I have it on there.

Yeah I forgot

 

[YoshiKart]

The fact that it puts at least one religion in a negative light (and a BIG negative at that) will spark a lot of controversy on that kind of console.

I'm a Christian and I don't mind playing this game (beat it a couple times), but I know the story's pretty insulting among other game aspects. I'd buy it again if it was on the 3DS, but I definitely understand why Nintendo would be worried. "Questionable religious content" is parallel to "this is not even real religion". Take it with a grain of salt... or maybe a grain of giant spaghetti monster.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

Your not understanding me. I'm saying that Issac wasn't let into the shop because

A) It wasn't very popular (or atleast not like it is now) and the whole Colors 3D fiasco showed us that indies need shitloads of credit and popularity to get in to the eShop.

B) It didn't have an official ESRB rating back then.

Its not drawing any line at Madworld (which like I said, isn't that bad compared to what else is out there) in fact this never was even about religion or violence, there were business reasons why they couldn't put it on.

Since when is Isaac not popular? Tons of my Steam friends have it and I see people play it often. Even then, how come random shit gets on the eShop that isn't even heard of but Isaac gets a cut for being not being "very popular"?

It can get an ESRB rating. It's not that hard. Just submit it and it'll probably get a M rating slapped on it. Woopie.

And MadWorld is pretty bad in terms of adult content. It's not like Isaac is really that much worse than it.

 

[Alexrose]

It's not just making fun of a religion. It's outright saying that religion is something that causes crazed fundamentalists to perform sick acts of child abuse, probably directly caused by the passage from the bible where Abraham is asked to murder his son, Isaac.

And if you interpret it not just to be her mental delusion, it's implying that the Christian God, because it does refer directly to Christianity, exists and would actually ask a mother to brutally murder her own child.

Like, it didn't have to explain the mother's actions with a religious undertone.

That's not the same as Final Fantasy chucking in the name of a Greek god as a boss, or something having demons (which has been a part of practically all religions, so it's just a generic monster), or the gore from zombies. It directly calls the credibility of Christianity into question.

Not that I care; I'm an atheist, and I agree with the game's message, but I can see how Nintendo would want to stay away from that. If I were head of Ninty I wouldn't go near Binding of Isaac with a 50 foot barge pole.

tl;dr Religion is a touchy subject for people, especially when you're insulting fundamentalists, and it's not in Nintendo's best interest to publish a game whose underlying story is a massive stab at one religious group.

Edit: And also @Zantigo, what are you on about "Do you really think a large corporation ran by fucking Japanese people give a flying fuck about a game that offends Christianity!?". Of course they fucking do

3DS units sold (millions):
North America: 5, Europe: 5.18, Japan: 7.23 Other: 1.39 .

Oh yeah, you're right, Nintendo totally don't give a shit about those 5 million Americans and 5.18 million Europeans, the majority of which are Christian. Especially when this whole game isn't in Japanese, it's in English. And guess where western indie games get the vast majority of their revenue? That's right, the west. Indie games do well because the indie games scene at the core are close knit and supportive, and then they spread that to a wider audience at game release. The indie games scene isn't big in Japan, because it's so dominated by western devs, so they don't have that close knit community to show it to the masses. All they have is the games lost in the E-shop under a pile of BUY OUR NES VC GAMES, WE GET TO KEEP 100% OF THAT REVENUE, and games produced in Japan.

So, yes, when they're selling a western indie game on their console, of which the majority of purchasers are from Christian countries, with a game that only a tiny minority of buyers will be from Japan, after a tough 3DS launch, you can bet your ass they care, especially when their image is of a family friendly company.

 

[Fear Zoa]

As far as the remake getting released on 3ds, the man himself said this

Spoiler

As for people being offended, Pretty much everything Edmund makes offends someone as he tends to use themes other people stray away from, its just his thing.
Besides everyone is so thin skinned these days, boo hoo I don't agree with you and am expressing my opinion that happens to conflict with yours. Get over it people seriously if you don't like someones ideas/beliefs/opinions then ignore them.

As a side note anyone that enjoyed super meat boy or binding of Isaac should check out the Basement collection that recently came out on steam, its a collection of Edmunds older works.

 

[KingVamp]

it almost passed

Well then,I guess there is a chance of it passing this time, even with a bigger chance than I thought before.

 

[The Milkman]

Your not understanding me. I'm saying that Issac wasn't let into the shop because

A) It wasn't very popular (or atleast not like it is now) and the whole Colors 3D fiasco showed us that indies need shitloads of credit and popularity to get in to the eShop.

B) It didn't have an official ESRB rating back then.

Its not drawing any line at Madworld (which like I said, isn't that bad compared to what else is out there) in fact this never was even about religion or violence, there were business reasons why they couldn't put it on.

Since when is Isaac not popular? Tons of my Steam friends have it and I see people play it often. Even then, how come random shit gets on the eShop that isn't even heard of but Isaac gets a cut for being not being "very popular"?

It can get an ESRB rating. It's not that hard. Just submit it and it'll probably get a M rating slapped on it. Woopie.

And MadWorld is pretty bad in terms of adult content. It's not like Isaac is really that much worse than it.

I swear its like your picking what you want to hear...

Your not understanding me. I'm saying that Issac wasn't let into the shop because

A) It wasn't very popular (or atleast not like it is now) and the whole Colors 3D fiasco showed us that indies need shitloads of credit and popularity to get in to the eShop.

B) It didn't have an official ESRB rating back then.

Its not drawing any line at Madworld (which like I said, isn't that bad compared to what else is out there) in fact this never was even about religion or violence, there were business reasons why they couldn't put it on.

Those games are all third party titles, the rules change when you can just buy your way into shit.

Once again, not reading. I said the whole reason it was denied the first time is because it didnt have a rating. Im speaking in PAST TENSE.

What...

What do you mean Issace isnt as bad as it?! Thats like saying Silence of the Lambs isnt that much more disturbing then Hobo with a Shotgun.

Its the theme and violence that make it disturbing and the fact it connects to a religious story. While its not as serious as something like Silent Hill or SotL. Its still a very dakr kind of humor. Its completely different.

 

[Vampire Lied]

If its the vaginas that keep it from coming to eshop cause it isn't nintendo friendly, I would like to direct nintendo's attention to resident evil revelations. It has been awhile since I played so I forget the proper name of the creature. The one with a buzzsaw for a hand and a small second head. The main "head" is clearly a giant vagina with teeth. In fact, my friend and I nicknamed the creature vag-mouth. Let's not forget manhunt 2 was released on Wii. The s&m/sex shop level, yeah.
Maybe they need to be reminded of this before they shit on the idea of allowing Isaac on eshop. Don't forget killer 7 on gc either. I'm hoping they allow it. I'll buy it day 1.