Bethesda just made an AV Idol out of Fallout 3 by censoring the game in Japan.

The side-quest The Power of the Atom has been changed. Non-playable-character Mr. Burke has been taken out of this side-quest, removing the option of detonating the nuclear bomb. That's not all, the name of a weapon was changed as it was deemed "inappropriate" for Japan.

Without getting too political, this seems like a proactive move by Bethesda. Good for them. But doesn't this ignore the elephant in the room? The whole premise of Fallout wouldn't be Fallout if we weren't talking nuclear bombs, post-apocalyptic society, and the like. I'm not trying to be insensitive, but don't people who are playing the game already understand what's going on in the setting? Why draw the line at a side-quest when the game's freakin' name refers to the "lingering radioactive particles from a nuclear explosion?" It's not like the rest of the world tells Japan to cover its ears when we say the word "atom bomb."

One has to wonder whether Bethesda would have made this move if this game hadn't already been causing controversy worldwide. Fallout 3 was banned in Australia (and since has been unbanned, but requires editing for distribution) - and that was for mere drug use. So instead of risk getting banned in Japan or taking a PR hit, Bethesda did its own editing. It's understandable that they don't want to lose international markets for this game, but it's lame that for many the game won't be played in its truest artistic form.

[kotaku]

[bethesda]

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