Apparently it has been. According to recent news posted on Pacific Epoch, the company which runs the Chinese Localized World of Warcraft - The9 - has done some modifications to the "Scourge" race to no longer show bones protruding through flesh; even going as far as changing the corpses from skeletons to tombs. A bit much I'd say, but it sounds as if the company is looking to appease a new censorship review with the changes.
The9 (Nasdaq: NCTY) changed the looks of the Scourge race in its licensed MMORPG World of Warcraft (WoW) on June 26, reports Southern Metropolitan News. Scourge are an undead race that in previous versions showed part flesh and part skeleton. The9 modified the look to show no skeleton, and changed scourge corpses from bones to tombs. The9 claimed that it made the change because the original look of the Scourge race was too scary and thus unlikely to pass new Chinese censorship review.
Comments
I wonder if it still tears the sleaves and pant legs on your armor model. I always hated the look of the mysterious floating cuffs on my warlock.
Yeah this has me curious. I suppose it's just the zombie type of models where bones are protruding through flesh.
This change was pushing by china gov in background, most of chinese people r refused to these modifiecations, there is one way to restore the patch to it used to be.so....we can play the normal game but "with some bugs"...
btw: to Tarz....r u a jap?why do you have problem with chinese people? just shut the fk up,thx!!
yeah...
Wondering what the entire plaguelands area as well as ghostlands will look like then...
There's alot of skeletons and bones in the game, and not just in those specific areas. RFD got plenty too, I recall.
And does this only cover human like skeleton/bones, or is it any depiction of skeletons/bones? If the latter, the game is crammed with alot of stuff they need to change graphically, even affecting important Lore sites (like the remains of the old God in Northern Kalimdor).
Wonder what they'll rename valley of Bones to? Valley of Flesh? That just gives soooo wrong a picture ;)
Scourge = Undead legions under the command of Lich King Arthas... Forsaken = Free undead under the leadership of Sylvanas Windrunner...
Anyway, back to topic...
They might as well remove the Plaguelands and replace it with "Hello Kitty land" or something...
I believe they're referred to as Scourge in China. :)
"changed scourge corpses from bones to tombs" - that's a weird one. All the other races turn to skeletons, but the Forsaken turn into tombs? Guessing they've changed all the skeleton models...
lol this wierd , but i think you should change the tittle to Forsaken instead of Scourge , since they're not the same thing
http://www.wowinsider.com/media/2007/07/new_ud_models.jpg Heres what they look like. Pretty stupid in my opinion :/
thank god. i dont live in china
I wouldnt want to see the scourge censored but i'm pretty interested what they would look like... are there any pics?
For longer than I can remember, it has been illegal in china to depict a human skeleton or any overtly religious scene. For years, Magic: the Gathering cards depicting angels, priests or skeletons have had alternate art version printed in simplified chinese that have been highly sought after by american collectors.
They were probably worried that all those dogs might get over excited by the bones and they wouldn't be able to skin them for furs to sell to Europe... (EU proposes cat and dog fur ban)
Would they censor FPS games to use catapults instead of guns too, or are even they too barbaric? Perhaps throwing fluffy teddies at each other would be more appropriate.
I'd personally like the look of forsaken bones covered up, optionally.
Ya, I definitely want to see screenshots of what they look like now. Seems like a ton of work to change them.