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NWR Interactive => TalkBack => Topic started by: MegaByte on July 13, 2007, 05:37:24 PM

Title: Mario Party 8 Launched, Recalled in the UK
Post by: MegaByte on July 13, 2007, 05:37:24 PM
Nintendo cites assembly error, but there could be another reason.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=13950

 Nintendo of Europe posted the following announcement on their website today:    


[Mario Party 8] was launched in the UK today. Unfortunately we have discovered that a small number of games contain the wrong version of the disk due to an assembly error. We have therefore decided to recall all copies of the game from UK retailers so that this mistake can be corrected.    


We will re-launch Mario Party 8 in the UK as soon as possible and will announce a new launch date shortly. We very much regret any inconvenience caused.

   


However, an online rumor indicates a possible alternate reason for the recall.  The game contains the following incantation by Kamek:    


Magikoopa magic!
  Turn the train spastic!
  Make this ticket tragic!

   


The inclusion of the word "spastic" resulted in a recall of Ubisoft's MindQuiz for Nintendo DS late last month after a woman publicly complained that the game had called her "Super Spastic."  The term holds an offensive connotation in the UK, particularly with regard to those afflicted with cerebral palsy, a disease from which her son had recently died.  The word is generally innocuous in North America, and highlights the care that must be taken during localization, even when the language doesn't change.

Title: RE: Mario Party 8 Launched, Recalled in the UK
Post by: KDR_11k on July 13, 2007, 07:22:18 PM
It's offensive in Germany too but since it's applied to an inanimate object noone should take offense. If they do they need a punch in the face anyway.

He should have made the train epileptic and handed it an N64, just to piss that retarded woman off who's at fault for those constant health warning screens Nintendo plasters on everything. She doesn't just need a punch in the face, she needs to have a funnel stuffed in her mouth and demons pouring coins down that all day.
Title: RE:Mario Party 8 Launched, Recalled in the UK
Post by: Nephilim on July 14, 2007, 03:41:29 AM
Its offensive is most countrys, its lame american slang for a disability that isnt funny
the slag is most often said while talking in a retarded/slurred way, I have noticed

Its a pathetic attempt to bring someone down, which nintendo american localiation team failed to address by using it in a "cool" way
Title: RE: Mario Party 8 Launched, Recalled in the UK
Post by: BranDonk Kong on July 14, 2007, 04:14:21 AM
I've *never* heard of anyone being offended by the word "spastic" in the US. I've always heard it used to mean something is out of control, or something like that, as it's meant to be used in the game. This is like a game saying the word "stupid", and then Nintendo has to remove it because someone called a retarded person stupid one time.
Title: RE: Mario Party 8 Launched, Recalled in the UK
Post by: matt oz on July 14, 2007, 05:26:45 AM
Spastic, spaz, spazzing out - I've never heard these terms used in an offensive way.

I've actually worked with people afflicted with cerebral palsy, and the vast majority of them were not "spastic."

by the way, I like how deadly d is so offended by "spastic," but uses the word "retarded" to describe the way people talk.  That is a universally offensive term.
Title: RE: Mario Party 8 Launched, Recalled in the UK
Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on July 14, 2007, 06:06:52 AM
It's a UK thing.  They have laws limiting frequencies of light flashes on TV over there and everything.  I actually agree that images shown on TV should go through a "no-seizure" filter in the US like they do in the UK.  It's fairly easy to adjust images on a TV program to avoid frequently flashing lights and patterns since it's the same exact image every time.  Games can avoid such flashes to some extent, but games are far less predictable (e.g. maybe the screen only flashes  frequently enough when 8 guys just happen to be shooting at you in this one room at the same time at this particular angle).
Title: RE:Mario Party 8 Launched, Recalled in the UK
Post by: NeoThunder on July 14, 2007, 07:29:28 AM
everyone's affended by something, and everyone thinks everything applies to them
Title: RE:Mario Party 8 Launched, Recalled in the UK
Post by: Mashiro on July 14, 2007, 08:21:56 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: NeoThunder
everyone's affended by something, and everyone thinks everything applies to them


Your spelling of offended offends me good sir! Ban this man! (Just kidding of course =P)
Title: RE: Mario Party 8 Launched, Recalled in the UK
Post by: Blue Plant on July 14, 2007, 06:09:50 PM
I remember an old episode of Dexter's Lab where Dexter sought out to replace Dee Dee and an energetic, chatty nun replied to the audition and repeatedly used the words and called herself a "spastic sister".  I've constantly heard the word "spaz" used in media and among people.  None of which ever appeared to be a mockery of cerebral palsy.  A thicker skin is needed!  
Title: RE:Mario Party 8 Launched, Recalled in the UK
Post by: KDR_11k on July 14, 2007, 09:51:18 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: TheYoungerPlumber
It's a UK thing.  They have laws limiting frequencies of light flashes on TV over there and everything.  I actually agree that images shown on TV should go through a "no-seizure" filter in the US like they do in the UK.  It's fairly easy to adjust images on a TV program to avoid frequently flashing lights and patterns since it's the same exact image every time.  Games can avoid such flashes to some extent, but games are far less predictable (e.g. maybe the screen only flashes  frequently enough when 8 guys just happen to be shooting at you in this one room at the same time at this particular angle).


From what I read Nintendo actually tries to limit the seizure causing elements in their games (they said that as a response to that N64 epilepsy death lawsuit that caused those press-A-to-continue warnings they have now)  but of course there's so much that can cause it that it's not possible to do 100% (popular example is a white picket fence the view moves past at high speed).
Title: RE: Mario Party 8 Launched, Recalled in the UK
Post by: Mashiro on July 14, 2007, 10:00:14 PM
Quote
From what I read Nintendo actually tries to limit the seizure causing elements in their games (they said that as a response to that N64 epilepsy death lawsuit that caused those press-A-to-continue warnings they have now)


If I recall correctly this was actually put on there (the warning) thanks to another area of Nintendo. Their animation department.

In an episode of Pokemon (the one with Porygon) some missiles explode and blue and red continually flash in the BG at such a high rate that it causes children in Japan to go into a epileptic state. This prompted the warning to be put on video games and for animation companies to be very careful of what flashes of light and colors they use in their animations.

This event also cause Pokemon not to be released in the US believe it or not. In the end the episode was sealed away and was never shown again and the show was eventually allowed to air in the states.  
Title: RE:Mario Party 8 Launched, Recalled in the UK
Post by: Nephilim on July 15, 2007, 12:09:33 AM
Quote
by the way, I like how deadly d is so offended by "spastic," but uses the word "retarded" to describe the way people talk. That is a universally offensive term.


As someone how has been around people with disabilitys, I can say it isnt

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_retardation#Traditional_terms
Title: RE: Mario Party 8 Launched, Recalled in the UK
Post by: Plugabugz on July 15, 2007, 01:55:02 AM
Nintendo likely withdrew it to avoid the stinging national criticism similar to what Big Brother received over the race row earlier this year.

Right now anything that is considered offensive in the media pretty much gets spit roasted here.
Title: RE: Mario Party 8 Launched, Recalled in the UK
Post by: Mario on July 15, 2007, 03:55:50 PM
Weak, screw the spastic woman
Title: RE: Mario Party 8 Launched, Recalled in the UK
Post by: Klapaucius on July 17, 2007, 10:10:45 AM
I havn't heard "spastic" used for years... I'm surprised to see it in a game purely because of how dated the word is, and how childish/immature it sounds. Even from when I remember the word last being commonly used, its only by stupid little brats who think it sounds cool. Cerbral whatever was never even a consideration.
It is an offensive word though in the UK. Perhaps I havn't heard it for so many years because no 10 year olds have tried to insult me.