Topic: The Binding of Isaac 3DS Release Blocked

[TalesOfFan]

The popular indie PC title did not pass Nintendo's content review process.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/29416

The Binding of Isaac is no longer under review for release on the Nintendo 3DS. According to Edmund McMillen, the game’s creator, “After a long internal debate Nintendo has decided NOT to allow the Binding of Isaac on the 3ds. As many assumed the reasons were due to the games 'questionable religious content'. Thank GOD Steam exists!�

Earlier this year, McMillen announced that his popular Zelda-esque PC game was being pushed to Nintendo for review by an unknown company, which was later revealed to be Nicalis. McMillen noted that Nintendo was okay with the gratuitous violence, gore, and nudity, but not the religious content.

[leahsdad]

Eh...I've got the feeling that a lot of people are going to complain about this, but I played the demo and was really not impressed with this game.  But then again, I didn't like Super Meat Boy either.

[nickmitch]

Nintendo's been a bit touchy on religious stuff in the past, so this shouldn't be too surprising.

[Jonnyboy117]

What is the point of having M and AO ratings if platform holders like Nintendo aren't going to allow such games to be licensed? This game doesn't have "questionable religious content" -- it has religious content, and whether it's questionable is entirely subjective (and irrelevant). Let the consumer decide if it's tasteful.

[Jonnyboy117]

By the way, this comes in a year when Nintendo itself will publish games featuring both angels (Kid Icarus Uprising) and demons (Onii Training).

[Luigi Dude]

Nintendo's been a bit touchy on religious stuff in the past, so this shouldn't be too surprising.

Only in the 80 and early 90's.  Ever since the ESRB was created Nintendo has actually been the most liberal company and will allow third parties to release anything on their consoles as long as it's rated by the ESRB and doesn't have an AO rating.

The REAL reason The Binding of Isaac isn't coming to the 3DS is because the game hasn't been reviewed by the ESRB because if it did, it would get an AO rating.  This is why Edmund McMillen is a lying asshat who's trying to pass the blame on Nintendo for why the game isn't coming when in reality it's completely his fault for creating an AO rated game which Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony all have policies against releasing on their consoles.


Plus it not exactly the religious themes that would get it an AO rating, it's the fact the game stars a young naked boy who fights enemies like aborted fetuses and giant vagina's, with some of his power up's involving killing himself.  I'm sorry but if you create a game that involves naked children killing themselves and fighting giant vagina's, it's going to get an instant AO rating no matter what religious themes it might have.

[nickmitch]

What is the point of having M and AO ratings if platform holders like Nintendo aren't going to allow such games to be licensed? This game doesn't have "questionable religious content" -- it has religious content, and whether it's questionable is entirely subjective (and irrelevant). Let the consumer decide if it's tasteful.

Well, retailers won't carry AO games. The large number of downloadable titles let's games like this get released, but let's be honest about this. The real issue is the possibility of getting the **** sued out of you. Small devs only have so many assets angry parents can go after before they need to hold Nintendo itself liable for scarring innocent children. But that's the point of the AO rating. It's a way of either censorship, blackballing, or self preservation, depending on your outlook.

[Enner]

The REAL reason The Binding of Isaac isn't coming to the 3DS is because the game hasn't been reviewed by the ESRB because if it did, it would get an AO rating.  This is why Edmund McMillen is a lying asshat who's trying to pass the blame on Nintendo for why the game isn't coming when in reality it's completely his fault for creating an AO rated game which Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony all have policies against releasing on their consoles.

Plus it not exactly the religious themes that would get it an AO rating, it's the fact the game stars a young naked boy who fights enemies like aborted fetuses and giant vagina's, with some of his power up's involving killing himself.  I'm sorry but if you create a game that involves naked children killing themselves and fighting giant vagina's, it's going to get an instant AO rating no matter what religious themes it might have.

I had to check for myself on the game's Steam store page and was surprised to see that the game is unrated.

By the way, this comes in a year when Nintendo itself will publish games featuring both angels (Kid Icarus Uprising) and demons (Onii Training).

Oh, that's just Nintendo using familiar beings of various mythologies. The Binding of Issac's premise:

When Isaac’s mother starts hearing the voice of God demanding a sacrifice be made to prove her faith, Isaac escapes into the basement facing droves of deranged enemies, lost brothers and sisters, his fears, and eventually his mother.

is on a wholly different level.

[TurdFurgy]

I didn't expect this to ever be released on the 3DS. Although I kind of wish more mature games(not boobs and splattered brains) would make their way on to Nintendo platforms, although there isn't really an audience for that sort of thing.
But if they started bringing games like that, then perhaps the appropriate audience would form,
"If you build it, they will come."

[Morari]

It's a very entertaining game, best to just go get it on Steam though. It doesn't take much in the way of computing power to run it. Leave the ESRB ratings to the console kiddies. PC gamers aren't afraid of showing religion for what it is.

[Chozo Ghost]

This is the reason why they changed Link's shield in later games. In the original LOTZ on the NES Link has a Christian cross on his shield. I guess that was a no-no.

I can't say I'm surprised Nintendo is choosing to block this game, but I am disappointed. You know there's a saying "there is no such thing as bad publicity"? Well, doesn't that apply here? And considering Nintendo's marketshare is under threat by the Vita and of course mobile stuff they shouldn't be turning down 3rd party support, no matter how controversial it may be. If people are offended, let them direct their complaints to the makers of the game not to the system itself.

PC gamers aren't afraid of showing religion for what it is.

Then why did Firaxis strip religion out of Civilization V? And even when they had it in Civ IV it was just some generic "all religions are the same" bland way of implementing it.

[Morari]

PC gamers aren't afraid of showing religion for what it is.

Then why did Firaxis strip religion out of Civilization V? And even when they had it in Civ IV it was just some generic "all religions are the same" bland way of implementing it.

Developer laziness.

[Podings]

I get it.


Nintendo got huge through the American market, and would never give up their status as a publisher of family oriented products. They don't want this discussion with parents.


It's too bad, because I hoped they had changed. That the game is otherwise a gross, semi-repetitive, taste-ridden, Zelda knock-off, can hardly be the reason for the rejection. With all due respect of course, those are not detractors to me, and I dig Super Meat Boy.

[oohhboy]

In Civilization V it recognised what religion really is. A form of control and pacification. Also some laziness as the game preforms surprisingly poorly for a turn based game.

[Webmalfunction]

Hey guys, let's back away from religious talk outside of that directly relevant to the article. Thankfully, it hasn't really gotten anywhere yet, but let's try to keep it that way.

Also, if Luigi is right about why the game got blocked (which, from a quick Google search, may be the case), I agree. They would be putting Nintendo in an unfair position to expect an AO game to be published by a company interested in making games playable by all ages, especially if it has policies against such games. Even if a game being adults only is no excuse, taking any stance on religion is a HUGE no-no for Nintendo, sometimes even if the themes are "positive" (remember how many biblical games had to be released unlicensed because Nintendo refused to do so themselves)?

[StrawHousePig]

It's not an AO game, it's an unrated game.

I agree with the assessment that this guy is just passing the buck.

[ejamer]

Game not rated by ESRB seems like the end of story for me.

However, I'm no insider to the process.  Maybe they could check for approval from Nintendo before applying for a rating to see if that was all that would prevent publication in the current state?  Applying for a rating costs money, so it makes sense that they wouldn't want to pay unless there was a strong feeling it would be published.

Sadly, even though McMillian is pretty good at making games he's even better at running his mouth to build controversy. That's part of the reason I was skeptical about this from the first announcement, and part of the reason I have a hard time believing anything he says now.

[leahsdad]

Game not rated by ESRB seems like the end of story for me.

However, I'm no insider to the process.  Maybe they could check for approval from Nintendo before applying for a rating to see if that was all that would prevent publication in the current state?  Applying for a rating costs money, so it makes sense that they wouldn't want to pay unless there was a strong feeling it would be published.

You know, I also looked up Binding of Issac on Steam again, and there is no ESRB rating.  I also checked on games that are on both the eshop/Shop Channel and Steam (VVVVVV, Bit Trip, etc) and noticed that there was no ESRB rating for them either. 

I was about to get hopping mad and call out NOA for being hypocrites when a did a quick google search for "ESRB" and "VVVVVV" and found my way to the NOA website (which was slow as crap) and found ESRB ratings for all these games (all E, btw).

Since they're rated anyway, I don't know why Steam doesn't display their ratings.

[NWR_Neal]

From having played this game on Steam, the AO rating seems like it'd be likely. As others have explained, it's pretty messed up.

I don't think we can solely blame Nintendo for not allowing a potential AO game on their system. AO games just don't really exist on consoles. It's unfortunate and I'm bummed, but what can you do?

[Ceric]

I think Religion was picked because its the least arguable of the others, but I'm fairly sure from what I've seen and heard from this game it was AO all the way and there is no way Nintendo would allow that on there download platform.

[Kairon]

Wait a sec, does this game have an ESRB rating or not? I thought you couldn't get on any Nintendo system without having gone through the ESRB process, period?

[Ceric]

Wait a sec, does this game have an ESRB rating or not? I thought you couldn't get on any Nintendo system without having gone through the ESRB process, period?

Isaac Asimov's Guide: Solar System is the only thing that shows up if you search for Isaac on the ESRB site.  I would figure that be pretty definitive.  Also that game is E for Everyone if you wanted to know.

I'm not sure if Nintendo has different rules for its download titles.

[StrawHousePig]

Not.

http://esrb.org/ratings/search.jsp?title=binding+of+isaac

Personal note, I have a son named Isaac so I am damn glad I or my kids don't have to see this game in the eshop.

[ejamer]

Apparently, if you trust McMillian's twitter account, the game has received an M rating in Germany. It hasn't been rated anywhere else as far as I can tell.


It's certainly possible that the game could've avoided the dreaded AO rating in other regions, despite containing material that is clearly intended to be offensive to some groups of people. Does anyone here actually know what criteria pushes a game from M to AO?

[Morari]

Personal note, I have a son named Issac so I am damn glad I or my kids don't have to see the Holy Bible sitting on book shelves.