Bethesda Softworks recently tied up with Connect Entertainment to have Fallout 3 distributed to a majority of the world’s developing markets. The list – which includes Greece, Malta, Cyprus, Turkey, Kuwait, Oman, UAE, Saudia Arabia, Yemen, Lebanon, Qatar, Egypt, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro – is conspicuous for the absence of India, where games like Gears of War 2 enjoy a worldwide release. Which leads us to ponder: Is an Indian release really impossible?
Fallout 3 was banned from India due to fears of “cultural sensitivities” being hurt. The offending elements were not specified, but it’s clear no real cuts were demanded. Look at the game’s Japan release, which witnessed an entire side-quest deleted. Is it really impossible to digitally erase a character model of a two-headed cow?
The worldwide release of Fallout 3 in all developing markets has other implications. Is India lagging behind in the gaming world, since the franchise has gone from classic post-apocalyptic niche title to a global blockbuster (shipping 4.7 million units in it’s first week)? Especially when shabby titles like NFS Undercover get extensive launches, and gory and niche titles like Dead Space and Mirror’s Edge respectively, are freely available?
We think it’s time to take a step forward and offer to publish the game with whatever cuts are deemed necessary. In a country with the fastest emerging media market in the world, the absence of Fallout 3 is at best, conspicuous and at worst, a sore eye.
One Response to “How Long Can Fallout 3 Ignore India?”
if they wont accept the game as it is, then bad for ‘em.
If they are in need of changing things, they can start with changing the goverment. This reminds me of american donald duck laws.
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