The Witcher - Rated "Mature"

So, CD Projekt has announced The Witcher has been through two ratings boards - German players in particular will be pleased:

CD Projekt RED informs that The Witcher has been rated by ESRB and USK. ESRB (USA):
Rating: Mature
Descriptors:

• Blood and Gore
• Partial Nudity
• Strong Language
• Strong Sexual Content
• Violence

USK (Niemcy):
Rating 16+
So, great news for the German gamers, you will be playing the full and uncensored version of The Witcher. No green blood this time!
European PEGI rating is still in pending.

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More information.

Note that this is uncensored for the German version and with censored nudity for the yanks

No surprise. I expected a 16 in Germany. BPjM and USK have a problem with shooters and politically intolerant scenarios, but generally not with RPGs.
The only question was if Atari would have a typical case of "foreign publisher misunderstands German rating system" and insist on cuts before sending the game to the USK. Thank god the answer is "No".

btw., the USK lists the tested version as "multilingual".

I'm guessing it'll be an 18 from the BBFC.

I was concerned about AO based on some of the stuff they were saying, so this is good ...

txa1265 said:

I was concerned about AO based on some of the stuff they were saying, so this is good ...

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Yeah, well, they did have to censor it a bit. But yeah, it's good. I won't miss pixelated nudity, it's never been my thing

yeah..great news. way to hype a game.

meh

Brother None
"Yeah, well, they did have to censor it a bit"
So you mean there is cut/removed cotent in the US version?
Any chance I could find out more about this info, I looked on the thread link posted and don't see references to cut content there, either?

Thanks.

I want the original even if I have to pay $100 for an import like G3.

mudsling3 said:

I want the original even if I have to pay $100 for an import like G3.

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I thought G3 was uncut over there?

UK version is likely to be 18, and legally binding (offense to sell to under 18s), which I think is a good way to go.

Acleacius said:

So you mean there is cut/removed cotent in the US version?

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Yup, they removed the naughty postcards you get for getting into bed with da ladeez. (Possibly also the bit about getting into bed with da ladeez altogether.)

In any case, I'm under the impression that it's not exactly central to the experience.

Prime Junta
"Yup, they removed the naughty postcards......"
Ahh to bad, well I am sure your correct about not being central but honestly I don't need the government deciding what they think I should and should not see in a game, so I will get the EU version as well.

Thanks.

@Acleacius, that's not the government -- that's industry self-regulation at its finest. I agree though, it's silly.

Prime Junta said:

@Acleacius, that's not the government -- that's industry self-regulation at its finest. I agree though, it's silly.

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Yes, it is industry self-regulation, the ratings, except in Germany and possibly in the UK as well?

I, too, agree, that it seems silly to make an 18+ game (or 17+) and then (perhaps) cut some naughty postcards from it. I mean, if you're 18+, you're of legal age, and should be able to decide for yourself, if and when you would like to see naughty postcards in a game. How naugthy are these postcard anyway? Are they similar to the socalled French postcards? circulating in the beginning of the 2oth century? If they are, they don't offend me, nor will they offend any normal European, I think.

I just went to PEGI's site, no rating yet. But it could either be 16+ or 18+,
I think. But since the German version did get rated 16+ with all the content in it, I'm guessing that The Witcher probably will recieve a 16+ rating as well from PEGI.

And the whole ratings things is moot anyways as people in the UK or in Germany or Australia or the US just will import the European versions of games, regardless of the costs.

Ah, the delight of the internet...

Lucky Day said:

yeah..great news. way to hype a game.

meh

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This isn't hype or PR, merely information and in that regard, greatly appreciated.

Prime Junta said:

Yup, they removed the naughty postcards you get for getting into bed with da ladeez. (Possibly also the bit about getting into bed with da ladeez altogether.)

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I'm scanning the threads at the Witcher forums looking for exact info from developers about what was actually changed but can't find it ... where is your source?

aries100 said:

And the whole ratings things is moot anyways as people in the UK or in Germany or Australia or the US just will import the European versions of games, regardless of the costs.

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In my estimation the number of people who will actually do that as a percentage of total sales doesn't even amount to 'rounding error' ...

txa1265 said:

I'm scanning the threads at the Witcher forums looking for exact info from developers about what was actually changed but can't find it ... where is your source?

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Sorry, I can't find it now. I came across this tidbit in an article some time last June IIRC. Could have been GamersHell. IOW, treat it as hearsay for the time being, and knock off some brownie points from me for not putting in this disclaimer.

Funny how they don't remove the bedding of women from the porn industry.

But then I forgot the beautiful way women are portrayed in porno.

aries100 said:

Yes, it is industry self-regulation, the ratings, except in Germany and possibly in the UK as well?

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Germany is also self-regulated, although the USK has to remain consistent with decisions made before they became the "official" rating institution. The USK has to deny a rating if they consider a game endangering for the youth according to the established standards. More harmless games receive an "18" (aka "KJ"). The BPjM, an independent branch of the Department of the Interior, can only decide about the fate of games without a USK-rating. Possible verdicts are:
(a) not dangerous for the youth -> now the USK can give this game an "18"; example: God of War. Games with compensating elements can be rounded up to this verdict, for example Counterstrike.
(b) dangerous but not to the extend defined in certain paragraphs covering all media (Nazi symbols, child pornography, snuff, very extreme violence, etc.), for example C&C Generals (Glorification of war, throwing nukes on civilists), many shooters, Crusader. -> The infamous "Index" or "Liste A". Selling to adults is still allowed, but advertizing at all in places accessible for minors, which means commercial death.
(c) the cases listed in the bracket under (b). The BPjM will hand over the survey to the prosecution and recommend the game be confiscated. Prosecution and court routinely follow this advice. -> "Confiscated" aka "Liste B". Possession and personal use, as in "I" but neither "you" nor "we" still allowed. Everything else might even be a crime! Latest example: Dead Rising.

A tricky detail, to the good or bad:
There is no negative list of things to avoid. Every game is evaluated on its own. Positive aspects like teamplay, communication, strategic requirements, non-violent alternatives, quests, etc. may compensate for questionable ideology, reflexive killing, excessive violence and maybe even much of it. But of course you can never be sure ...

"Partial Nudity" "Violence"
Should be "Nudity" and "Sexual Violence"
as seen here:
http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.jsp