Rumor: Bravely Second Native American Costume Censored in Western Release

It seems that Bravely Second has received a bit of censorship for its Western release, but probably not in the way most people would expect.

The Tomahawk class appears to have seen its design changed from a Native American motif to a cowboy one.

Users have been sharing an upload on imgur that shows both the above images, which mentions a “Spanish Store,” to which we’re still trying to find a source.

The reason why this seems a bit difficult to fake is that the Sidewinder skill is unique to the Tomahawk class, plus the provided screenshot looks like something you’d see in-game.

The Bravely series is no stranger to censorship (with costume designs too), however this is by far the most unexpected change I’ve seen, with no clear reason as to why it was changed.

For now, we’re classifying this as a rumor due to the unclear nature of the source – but we’ll update the article should things develop further. We’ve reached out to Nintendo and Square Enix for a comment.

Writer at Niche Gamer. Passionate for video game journalism, and more than glad to be a part of it. I also write DOTA 2 stuff.

147 comments

Patrick Toworfe
November 23, 2015 at 10:50 am

Quelle surprise ಠ_ಠ

Yknow I really think we have to accept that’s how this shit is gonna be. Because if the vast majority of people are going to sit around complacently with it, then nothing’s ever going to change. They don’t care about something unless if affects them directly. Artistic integrity be damned. And yes, I get that this is just a small change. But it’s yet another symptom of a larger problem, one which a few righteous voices can’t fight alone. Oh well, not that we had any power anyway
Valwin Mediaz
November 23, 2015 at 10:51 am

now to wait for the pro censorship people to tell me why this is a good thing i ownder what excuses are they going to use
Misogynerd
November 23, 2015 at 10:53 am

What I find funny about this particular case is that this would be like changing the Jew Class in South Park with a Nazi or Ancient Egyptian (who else oppressed the jews?) class. It probably due to the racism thing, since NoA already changed a Native American shy guy in one image of one Mario Kart game. Can’t wait for a non region locked NX.
CrabCombat
November 23, 2015 at 10:54 am

If this is legit then it’s probably the most amazingly stupid instance of censorship I’ve seen in a long time.

“There’s a Native American costume! That’s racist! What do we replace it with?”
“How about the people they were murdered by?”
“Perfect!”
Zanard Bell
November 23, 2015 at 10:56 am

This is the mentality that made Poison a trans., by the way.

Frankly, I am offended to think that Japanese thinks that they are offending.
Mr0303
November 23, 2015 at 10:57 am

Why? Next thing you know the SJW crowd will complain that Nintendo is removing ethnic minorities from the game.
Mr0303
November 23, 2015 at 10:57 am

Offendiception?
Jack Ripper
November 23, 2015 at 10:59 am

Since the whole “nekkid loli is disugusting!” excuse doesn’t work in this case, what’s the pro censorship idiots going to complain about now?

If this is not Nintendo at its finest in fucking idiocy, I don’t know what is.
Mighty No. 56008
November 23, 2015 at 10:59 am

This is one the few times I understand the “why” behind the censorship. Native Americans voicing their concerns on how they are represented in the media isn’t exactly new, so changing the costume for the Western release is understandable.

But the “how” just doesn’t make sense to me at all. You would think that just changing it up to be more “tasteful” would be sufficient. But not only do they completely change the outfit, but to the almost exact opposite of what it was meant to represent?
a posing fedora
November 23, 2015 at 11:01 am

The “poison is trans only in NA” is just a myth, XIr/xor/bazinga was a trans since the beginning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Lj-9npanOI
@2:30
Alistair
November 23, 2015 at 11:02 am

Well There’s SJWs logic for you.

Hurrah no sex of lolis oh wait this sucks everything under the sun is offensive to them. god I don’t want to be friends with them I wouldn’t want them at my party.

Such party poopers.

“I don’t want to be friends with them” is true because I do not know them as well. So I take that as I am bless. ?
Brimfyre
November 23, 2015 at 11:06 am

You don’t see this level of self censorship in film and books, which is why Video Games will continue to not be taken seriously.

Same problem TV had for a long time because of paid advertisers and the FCC. TV has broken away from that recently. So give Video games another 40 years to figure this out as well.
lucben999
November 23, 2015 at 11:09 am

There’s a few ones they can always fall back on:

-It’s only censorship if the government does it.
-The changes make the game better.
-You’re a racist/sexist/homophobe/transphobe.
-Blocked :^)
Eldhin Hellknight
November 23, 2015 at 11:10 am

That won’t be a surprize…. After the stupid censorship of the first game
MusouTensei
November 23, 2015 at 11:15 am

Well I’ll buy it used then.
Alistair
November 23, 2015 at 11:15 am

You know what this could be what The SJW crowd doesn’t need.

Every time more & MORE they shoot themseves in the foot with this one & diminished themselves. ?
Misogynerd
November 23, 2015 at 11:18 am

That’s what I would recommend, don’t let censorship keep you from enjoying a game, even if it’s a slightly worse version of it. I mean we all have played and enjoyed censored games, even in Japan (cough cough RE4). Still do try not to actually support the companies doing the censorship.
Misogynerd
November 23, 2015 at 11:18 am

Valkyrie Drive Mermaid gave me a cowgirl fetish so it’s OK :^)
Madbrainbox
November 23, 2015 at 11:19 am

This is funny.
EXIE
November 23, 2015 at 11:25 am

I know it was unintended but that “how” double entendre was hilarious…
Keinart
November 23, 2015 at 11:26 am

Good job putting it as a rumor, it looks real and probable but nothing is confirmed and I’ve seen several websites putting it already as a fact when it is not.

Another detail to keep in mind is that the trousers are the same in both costumes, so it’s probably a censored version and they kept part of the original one because lazy censorship.
Guest
November 23, 2015 at 11:32 am

This seems like an extension of the recent SJW bitching over Halloween costumes, censored for cultural appropriation.
Misogynerd
November 23, 2015 at 11:39 am

Well it is the best case example when dealing with censorship, compared to full on removing stuff like a slider or gameplay elements. I’ll admit I like the Cowboy hat, same with the altered bikini in Xenoblade Chronicles, but I still would prefer the original and you know, having an option as a consumer to access the content I want. Hell I’d try putting the original costumes as free DLC later down the road. Total War does something similar to this.
Still over all it is the 2nd best case example on the censorship chart (best is no censorship and worst is the game being removed from being accessed). Still, what I do dislike most about this it’s the sneaky way NoA (also a pretty important distinction, NoJ doesn’t do this stuff) does their censorship. ATLUS handled it the best way with their Dungeon Travelers 2 debacle, contacting the original creators and having them make the changes, explaining clearly the situation (basically they would’ve been slapped with an AO rating which can end up fucking a games sales).
Still don’t let censorship deter you from enjoying a game, since that’s the worst thing a gamer can do, not play a game. I mean if you played a SNES RPG it probably was censored and you probably liked it, even the great Earthbound. The problem is that all regions suffer this from some extent Japan isn’t always much better than the west, shame there’s not a censorship free mecca in the world.
Do find ways to support this companies with the least amount of money as possible, get a used copy, have a friend lend it to you, spend money with your pal buying a shared copy.
SolidSalamander
November 23, 2015 at 11:40 am

All right everyone, time to get out the bingo cards…..again.
Go D. Usopp
November 23, 2015 at 11:44 am

Ok this one actually makes no sense to me. I’m sure I’ve given myself a pretty bad reputation for not giving a shit about this stuff but this isn’t borderline pedophilia or some other such thing that one could make a case for actually being bad (not that i’m going to, I don’t care in those cases because I personally find it gross, too lazy to have a moral opinion) and it’s not like the mere inclusion of something from another culture should be considered offensive. What’s next, no more samurai in video games, you fucking shitlord?
Sam XXX
November 23, 2015 at 11:45 am

LOL. Just dont buy the game.
buddyluv324
November 23, 2015 at 11:54 am

Speaking of censorship, another game you guys covered on the site awhile back, Blade & Soul, is also now said to be censored despite being said otherwise. Here’s a link to their forum page about it:

https://forums.bladeandsoul.com/forums/index.php?/topic/142278-blade-and-soul-is-being-censored-despite-them-previously-saying-otherwise/
BaronKrause
November 23, 2015 at 12:07 pm

Its because of how game ratings are enforced. Pretty much their not, a minor can’t enter a rated R movie and stores aren’t supposed to sell them to them.

But game ratings are treated like suggestions. If M rated games were treated like R rated movies then this wouldn’t be an issue.
BaronKrause
November 23, 2015 at 12:09 pm

Games like that usually get a pass because they are so easy to uncensor (you pretty much just replace with the original uncensored regions files, and they don’t do anything to prevent you from doing so).

And lets be honest, you were probably going to use custom skins/mods for it either way.
dogmentation
November 23, 2015 at 12:11 pm

If we’re talking dangerous ethnic stereotypes, we should be worrying about the Spell Dancers.

“Native Americans” don’t blow shit up when they suspect they are being marginalized.
Immahnoob
November 23, 2015 at 12:12 pm

That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t make an article about it, considering they have an article on how the game won’t be censored at all.

And censorship is always severe, so it’s best if we show people what’s happening.
Stilzkin
November 23, 2015 at 12:15 pm

Thanks America.
BaronKrause
November 23, 2015 at 12:15 pm

True, it should be mentioned, but I think its a little different when they censor something and then “wink wink, nudge nudge” let you uncensor it yourself with their own uncensored files.
Patrick Toworfe
November 23, 2015 at 12:16 pm

I agree with what you’ve said. My frustration is simply that we’re not given a choice, and we’re ALL forced to have a censored version all because of a vocal minority of offended. Feels like nothing ever changes
Madbrainbox
November 23, 2015 at 12:21 pm

They are a business so they are taking cutting down the risks of offending the very sensible and very triggerable Western audience.
This is what we get for not burying the “cultural appropriation” crowd under a torrent of mockery,contempt and ridicule.
Antoinant
November 23, 2015 at 12:23 pm

“oh come on grow up. It’s just a video game !”
“We won’t get anymore japanese games localized from this company if we don’t support it !”
Richard Miller
November 23, 2015 at 12:25 pm

Another Nintendo game censored…
Flin
November 23, 2015 at 12:27 pm

I’ve given up trying to understand the censorship of Nintendo. When it comes to NoA, I’m almost sure it will censored. Now only I give myself the trouble to complain when they are other companies, because the standard of NoA is censored and it will hardly change.
Chino Gambino
November 23, 2015 at 12:28 pm

Just what we need, less joy, color and freedom in the world.
Parkour
November 23, 2015 at 12:41 pm

“The new outfit is cooler! I’m fine with this”

“dis change is fine!!1!u werent goin to buy the gaem anywys OMGseek helpp u monstre pedophil!!1!!

“Only horny weeaboos care about censorship anyways ;) I will be here enjoying my game ;)”

Etc.
magicalfollower
November 23, 2015 at 12:46 pm

Is it just me or almost every game nowadays seems be getting censored?
blackice85
November 23, 2015 at 12:51 pm

Came to say this, it’s almost like it was intentional. If anything, is this not more offensive, especially if you know what it had replaced?
blackice85
November 23, 2015 at 12:54 pm

Yep, I wish it had a little more force behind it. Rate mature games as Mature, and mean it.
blackice85
November 23, 2015 at 12:55 pm

Especially if it’s the publisher doing that nonsense and not the developers. It’s a sucky situation because you don’t want to reward the wrong people, nor make ones who had nothing to do with it suffer.
Alistair
November 23, 2015 at 1:01 pm

Hey I think I found the SJW crowd atherm The lyrics goes like this….

#shut it down shut it down shut it down shut it down #

If copyright permitted of course in your area it’s on iTunes as well.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh5WBegTy7M

Can you top that which is the SJW atherm.
Mr0303
November 23, 2015 at 1:09 pm

Meifon is the only interesting character in that show. Maybe Kasumi too.
West
November 23, 2015 at 1:15 pm

They also covered up her bikini bottom, that’s the sticking point for me. Nintendo is taking the edge out of all the Japanese games they’re bringing over. I really do feel this detracts from the games artistic feel.
MusouTensei
November 23, 2015 at 1:25 pm

Yeah that’s pretty much what I will do with censored games in the future (if a game would get an AO rating without some censorship I might let it slip, depending on what they censor, since that’s not the publisher’s nor dev’s fault. But that clearly isn’t the case here, also I won’t count removing any mentioning of a character’s age, like Xseed does with Senran Kagura, if I really need to know how old a digital person is I can always look that up).
No_Good_Names_Ever
November 23, 2015 at 1:28 pm

I thought it was said in the past that with the Japanese accent she got from being moon people that she’d end up with something like a southern accent, maybe it’s not a case of censorship as much as it is not realizing they might have lost a bunch of waifu bucks they could’ve made with a cowboy talking Indian.
Immahnoob
November 23, 2015 at 1:38 pm

It doesn’t matter if they let you do such a thing or not. It needs an article because the censorship is senseless anyway.
Alistair
November 23, 2015 at 1:39 pm

I found it odd that ninty allow both senran kagura bust & senran kagura-2 uncensored on their platform that is ten times worse then this censored.

Maybe Ninty HQ picks certain days to let off some games & others not so.

Horny weeaboos that SJW talk that is. I will be here enjoying not to buy it as I did not buy the 1st one.
Alistair
November 23, 2015 at 1:57 pm

Those SJW crowd sure does like to label us as “pedo,sexist, mysognist, racist, homophobic etc etc”

Then I realise something how the hell can I be 1 of above to fricking cartoon drawings.
No_Good_Names_Ever
November 23, 2015 at 1:59 pm

Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’
Though the weebs are swollen
Keep those censors rolling
Shanghaiiiiii
Rain and wind and weather
Hell bent for “better”
Wishin’ for Feminists by my side
All the things I’m dissin’
Great beauty, love, and kissing

Will come at some point in my time!
Kiryu
November 23, 2015 at 2:09 pm

Not even surprised anymore,it’s getting comical with Nintendo and censorship.All we can do now is react like Nelson;

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eOifa1WrOnQ/maxresdefault.jpg
Nagato
November 23, 2015 at 2:13 pm

Sigh, oh Nintendo…

You won’t get this market back by continuing to censor every single game we’re potentially interested in; if anything it’ll just hasten your brave journey into complete irrelevance because the few that would’ve bought your games now won’t.

Hell, between constant puritanism and region locking, I’m even beginning to see a reasonable argument in favor of emulation at this point…
Kiryu
November 23, 2015 at 2:14 pm

I find it hilarious when these freaks call us sexist and racist when they themselves are the most sexist and racist people you have ever met.
Juanalf
November 23, 2015 at 2:15 pm

I get the feeling we will be getting daily Nintendo censorship articles….thanks Nintendo
buddyluv324
November 23, 2015 at 2:17 pm

It doesnt change the fact that the localization team lied about not censoring the game.
Ryan Barrett
November 23, 2015 at 2:20 pm

Indian class is hot. /trollface
Kaihaku
November 23, 2015 at 2:21 pm

It’s my impression that there’s a renewed wave of self-censorship in Hollywood films, especially when the subject matter deals with China.
TsukuyomiMagi99
November 23, 2015 at 2:21 pm

So its racist, cultural appropriation, or white washing people of color out of society and history. And then you wonder why nobody should take these petulant children seriously.
Demetrius Coleman
November 23, 2015 at 2:33 pm

inb4 someone claim we’re pedos because we’re against censorship.
Kiryu
November 23, 2015 at 2:36 pm

There is no pleasing these freaks because that’s their job,complain.Also they want to make it clear to you who the boss is,if you disagree you are racist,sexist,pedo,take your pick.
Kiryu
November 23, 2015 at 2:41 pm

Because Nintendo has no say on Senran Kagura,with Bravely Default it’s different,they publish it.
blackice85
November 23, 2015 at 2:41 pm

Or worse, that they don’t even consider it censorship since it’s now ‘better’.
blackice85
November 23, 2015 at 2:43 pm

Yeah anything NoA touches is going to become suspect.
Kiryu
November 23, 2015 at 2:45 pm

Expect the new Fire Emblem and Genei Ibun Roku#FE to be the next on that list.
Azure
November 23, 2015 at 3:04 pm

If it’s true it is a no sale.
If it isn’t true I’m still waiting to see whats been changed because they have and will change something really petty.
Steven T.
November 23, 2015 at 3:22 pm

Meanwhile at Killer Instinct Headquarters, we see Chief Thunder getting ready to kick the ass of a vengeful Japanese ghost girl and an animated Scandinavian Skeleton.
buddyluv324
November 23, 2015 at 3:31 pm

Actually they mentioned it themselves in the forums that they dont consider it censorship.
blackice85
November 23, 2015 at 3:34 pm

Yep, I saw that. Absolutely disgusting.
SolidSalamander
November 23, 2015 at 3:37 pm

Exactly.

What’s killing me even more here is how fucking dumb it is. I mean the class name is Tomahawk, indicating it would be somehow tied to Native Americans, you know? But not only the name, but the original costume design CLEARLY shows that it’s supposed to be a Native American inspired get-up and I would imagine skillset too. But changing/censoring that in the NA release to the character wearing something like they just walked off the set Clint Eastwood movie, the name Tomahawk makes no sense. Unless they change the class name in the NA release as well, which I wouldn’t put past them, is just another layer of icing on this censorship cake.
Narmy
November 23, 2015 at 3:37 pm

Stores aren’t supposed to sell M rated games to kids either, but that doesn’t stop the parents from buying them.
Vampok
November 23, 2015 at 3:51 pm

I waited and bought the first one used for this reason, and I recently bought the Japanese version of Bravely Second. I won’t be paying for censorship any time soon.
Madbrainbox
November 23, 2015 at 3:54 pm

I think they have to remake the whole character because it wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense otherwise.
But my problem with this is not the fact they are changing a character but the reason they are doing it.It’s not their clients demanding these changes.This comes from someone else.This comes from the “We have to ban Nietzsche because his ideas are problematic” crowd.
OverlordZetta
November 23, 2015 at 3:56 pm

Eh, I think that first one is fair in some cases – I sincerely doubt this case or any of the recent ones, but some more extreme raunchy games on consoles do probably fall in that category of either some changes or not getting it at all.

Which doesn’t make it okay, but you can’t expect Rome to be built in a day either. You might get more edits in Year 100, but by Year 105, the content will be considered more normal, and less to no edits will be considered more acceptable than back in Year 100. Or at least, so I thought.

Consider this as a (small) point of evidence: Fallout 3 was censored in Japan. Fallout 4 (supposedly) won’t be.

Unfortunately, with recent stuff, I have to wonder if logic applies to Nintendo’s localization team.
Tsundere Vader
November 23, 2015 at 4:13 pm

…So are they just censoring shit for the sake of censorship now?
Nocturnic
November 23, 2015 at 4:14 pm

What the fuck is this shit? I’m Native American and I find this shit ridiculous.
Getting Gay With Kids
November 23, 2015 at 4:25 pm

Every major game that’s hit America from Nintendo has been hit with censorship. This shit has got to stop.
Getting Gay With Kids
November 23, 2015 at 4:27 pm

I saw someone mention this on KIA and it makes perfect sense. They will lose more customers censoring these games than they ever would from someone not liking a certain something in a game.
Superscooter
November 23, 2015 at 4:31 pm

For fucks sake.
Audie Bakerson
November 23, 2015 at 4:34 pm

At this rate Nintendo of America will be splicing together content from unrelated games to create new products for the American market by 2018
BurntToShreds
November 23, 2015 at 4:36 pm

You mean sort of like what we got with RoboTech, except in videogame form?
Audie Bakerson
November 23, 2015 at 4:59 pm

That’s why I posted the image…
Audie Bakerson
November 23, 2015 at 5:01 pm

Nintendo of Europe already blackfaced several members of the cast of a game that was already 10% dark skinned, so anything’s possible.
British_Otaku
November 23, 2015 at 5:03 pm

Be specific about the game, I know it is Style Savvy 2, but just so no one throws it out without knowing.
Audie Bakerson
November 23, 2015 at 5:06 pm

Actually it’s Style Savvy 3.
British_Otaku
November 23, 2015 at 5:11 pm

Finally, Go D. is on my side! Yes.

Funnily enough someone bought up removing Samurai in Korea releases as a point in the Siliconera thread: http://www.siliconera.com/2015/11/23/rumor-bravely-second-switches-tomahawk-cowboy-job-class-west/#comment-2375175457
British_Otaku
November 23, 2015 at 5:14 pm

My bad, got puzzled since the second game wasn’t numbered in the west and assumed they skipped one. I’ll edit my post.
British_Otaku
November 23, 2015 at 5:15 pm

Thanks Obama.

Waiting for Trump to bring us the uncensored lolis we deserve.
Kiryu
November 23, 2015 at 5:15 pm

Nintendo bends over so much to the sjw’s it’s pathetic,they really are dead.
British_Otaku
November 23, 2015 at 5:17 pm

You used a modded 3DS to get Bravely Second? I’m glad to see that people aren’t letting the region free methods go to waste.
evilmajikman
November 23, 2015 at 5:22 pm

You’d think that would be the reason to not censore the games though. A lot of movie studios dumb their movies down to PG-13 because Rated R movies just don’t sell. Fox had a little bit of a fit until the creative team of Deadpool convinced Fox it was a good idea to make it rated R. A lot of people are complaining that Suicide Squad is PG-13. Again this is another thing where the studio doesn’t want to lose money. The M rating isn’t a death sentence for game sales like the R rating. A good example is Arkham Knight. They could have rated it T, but they said to hell with the rating and kept their artistic vision anyway.
Go D. Usopp
November 23, 2015 at 5:22 pm

Unless they completely redo the character’s skillset and whatnot i’ll probably still end up buying it otherwise i’d be pretty inconsistent since just changing outfits has never been enough to swing me to boycotting before, but if they do (and they probably will because otherwise it’ll make no sense whatsoever) then that’s enough that i’d consider it serious instead of just minor censorship
Dewey Defeats Truman
November 23, 2015 at 5:30 pm

Let’s eradicate those pesky Indians and replace them with cowboys! I don’t see how that could possibly look bad for us.
Vampok
November 23, 2015 at 5:31 pm

No, I just have two 3DSs. An NA 2DS and a J New3DS.
British_Otaku
November 23, 2015 at 5:35 pm

I see. I have a J Retro 3DS and EU Retro 3DS myself. It is a good deal safer than the other options, but I should upgrade.

I actually heard about Bravely Default adjustments and imported the Japanese one since it has English options.
British_Otaku
November 23, 2015 at 5:38 pm

Or every Grand Theft Auto game. M seems to stand for Money.
British_Otaku
November 23, 2015 at 5:46 pm

I figured the difference for you is whether it is a (mostly) fanservice costume or whether it is just because it has some cultural connections hence cut, but it is your stance to hold. I’m only guessing.

I don’t actually expect a skill set change, at least based on how the weapon and skill that we do know is the same. It will probably be her only change if at all, just making it seem more ridiculous.
Joe
November 23, 2015 at 5:50 pm

In the twisted mind of SJWs:

-Showing too much skin is sexist against women
-Showing too little skin (e.g. Muslim or nun dress code) is sexist against women
-Showing any costume elements of a non-white culture (like those feathers) is racist
-Ignoring non-white cultures (by not showing their costume elements) is racist

You can’t win with politically correct people. They are literally insane. So they need to be marginalized back into the dark little cave on university campuses they originally crawled out of.
Fient
November 23, 2015 at 6:02 pm

Nintendo’s western censorship continues.
They’re on a kill streak.
Fient
November 23, 2015 at 6:05 pm

Me thinks business 101 would say to care more about your real dedicated audience and regular people than the noise of a forever loud and unappeasable minority.

But considering how bad Nintendo’s stock keeps going…maybe they’re not good at business.
Fient
November 23, 2015 at 6:06 pm

Yeah for real.
Why are games given a free pass on sales for kids?
Fient
November 23, 2015 at 6:07 pm

With the SJW it’s damned whatever you do, damned whatever you don’t do, damned even if you used a time machine did what they would have told you to do.
Fient
November 23, 2015 at 6:08 pm

Fitting given Nintendo’s treatment of its audience is still stuck in the past.
Kiryu
November 23, 2015 at 6:18 pm

They are either stupid or self destructive.
Hinafag
November 23, 2015 at 6:19 pm

I don’t believe it – way too much of work for NoA.
It’s probably just “Mimic” skill from mastered freelancer job that copies previous character’s sidewinder.
British_Otaku
November 23, 2015 at 6:45 pm

I’m still wondering about whether they would raise an uproar or how valid this is in comparison to Samurai in media aimed at Korea or other things. The only example that people are informing me about is the Washington Redskins which has Native Americans supporting the name and logo being maintained.

An actual real team.
Thanatos2k
November 23, 2015 at 7:25 pm

Remember, if you remove all mention of anything related to Native Americans, you honor them. Then we never have to think about them again. That’s the logic of the politically correct.
blackice85
November 23, 2015 at 7:26 pm

It’s almost like that as it is. Why would removing one of the few references to them be a good thing?
blackice85
November 23, 2015 at 7:29 pm

I’d hate it if it comes to that. I’ve gone out of my way to buy things after I was able to, I’d rather not start feeling justified in piracy.
Go D. Usopp
November 23, 2015 at 8:33 pm

It’s really just down to whether it affects gameplay or significantly impacts my personal experience (so for example while some might argue that character creation is gameplay and thus I should care about the bust slider, I’d have left it on default anyway and so i’m unaffected)

I’m a pretty selfish guy, I have principals but they go out of the window if it means missing out on a good game. lol
koreawut
November 23, 2015 at 9:00 pm

I logged in to upvote. Seriously there can’t be anything worse than replacing Native Americans (or “Original Americans” as they are called here in the Philippines, go figure) with Cowboys.
snugdarkly
November 23, 2015 at 9:27 pm

The guy who wants to censor pixels is anti political correctness?
TeLin特林
November 23, 2015 at 9:55 pm

Good! Tired of Nintendo’s microagressions infiltrating my house and giving me ptsd.
Mighty No. 56008
November 23, 2015 at 11:29 pm

I’m gonna have to plead ignorance regarding your “Samurai in Korean media” point. Do you mean that Koreans are offended by Samurais due to their historical impact on the country, or is if it’s the same possible situation here and that they have issues with how they are represented in media?

As for Native Americans, they’ve had many issues regarding many sports teams using their image, land disputes, the use of headdresses and other items in fashion, and human rights issues. With all of that to consider, I’m not surprised that anyone would consider to tweak the character model a bit to simply avoid stepping on any toes and unnecessary headaches. But what they did with this (if true) is just overkill.
PleaseHelpMe
November 23, 2015 at 11:56 pm

I wonder how badly Shadow Hearts : From The New World would be censored if it came out today.
dogmentation
November 24, 2015 at 1:54 am

You mean like Smash Bros?
Thanatos2k
November 24, 2015 at 1:56 am

I’ve been very clear and very consistent that I’m as anti-politcally correct as they come. If you’re too dense to understand this because of your strange attachment to underage sexual content, can you please shut the fuck up and not reply to every comment I make whining about your petty grievances?

Thanks.
British_Otaku
November 24, 2015 at 2:03 am

I’m fairly ignorant myself and actually found out about it for the first time in this discussion here: http://www.siliconera.com/2015/11/23/rumor-bravely-second-switches-tomahawk-cowboy-job-class-west/#comment-2375189227

A brief look at this Wikipedia page is all I’ve had: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Japan–Korea_relations

It leans more on “Samurai were a part of and related to some terrible stuff in Korea many years, hence don’t feature them in some media (certain Soul Calibur games, he was replaced by Arthur). I don’t much of a difference personally.

Land disputes and human rights issues I can relate with? Not at all, the use of characters somewhat resembling them in a game. For now, all I know is about one sports team which is hanging onto the name with approval from that group.
Mighty No. 56008
November 24, 2015 at 2:43 am

Well being Japanese (born in raised in Canada), though I don’t know all the details I’m fully aware of the Japanese-Korean relations situation.

But that Soul Calibur example is just confusing; the character is still a Samurai (or at least still looks like one), so it’s really just seems like a race issue…which doesn’t seem to make much sense either since Taki is still in the game. Also I’m not sure what the gaming scene was like in Korea back in the day, but I could only assume that there are several other games with Japanese/Samurai characters. I just feel we’re missing something here regarding this specific character change.

As for the Native American issue, I just wanted to point out that relations with the community hasn’t always been the greatest on many different fronts. And since this game is coming out in an area where they live, I’m not surprised if they wanted to be a little more culturally sensitive to avoid any unwanted criticism.
koreawut
November 24, 2015 at 3:18 am

This makes me curious how many cookbooks from China mention dog meat.

But yes you do see it in film and fiction. I guess you didn’t hear about one of the classics of literature being censored because the use of certain language “may confuse people into thinking we tolerate that kind of behavior.” ?
British_Otaku
November 24, 2015 at 3:21 am

There is probably more than we know about the Soul Calibur example yeah, I haven’t even known about it for 24 hours and have a hard time thinking that all Japanese characters especially samurai were scrubbed out of video games (perhaps even more media) back then. I’ll put that example on the shelf till I read up more.

Fair enough, I’m just bugged that the answers I’ve gotten despite talking here and moderating over 700 comments about how extensive the relations issues have been have been limited to “It hasn’t been the greatest”. If I lived in Germany, I’d be mad at how certain imagery can’t make it enough to import but understand a consistent legal limit.

I can name million selling games and manga which have played with the imagery and a niche game from a few years ago Soul Hackers had a dude called Redman (renamed Kinap) in the west who had many more references to Native American culture than most too: megamitensei.wikia.com/wiki/Kinap

I get the sense that they have actual human rights issues to fight, or at least one user who shared some Amnesty International link said that. Square Enix/ Nintendo avoiding flack is alright, see how they attempted to distance themselves from 9/11 despite it being released on that date in various ways or how Capcom deliberately announced Rashid on their social media a day after the actual announcement date.

When it actually does effect content and it is hard to see what is wrong or who is offended… I dunno. Back to Mighty No 9, Megaman has dipped into this too with multiple appearances of Tomahawkman over the decades too.
Stilzkin
November 24, 2015 at 3:26 am

Trump will make anime real
Kraken
November 24, 2015 at 3:39 am

why was this even changed? i live near a reservation. not a single native i know is hypersensitive enough to give half a shit about something like this
British_Otaku
November 24, 2015 at 4:04 am

Which raunchy games on consoles? I know some Vita games got cuts, but Senran Kagura seemed to be the lead in lewdness over some games with cards like Monster Monpiece.

I consider the first one fair in some cases, but only when there happen to be some legal reasons (preferably informed ones) like how Nazi imagery isn’t allowed in games or media released in Germany. I could probably pick apart how they handled that, but at least they seem consistent against violence and that sort of thing.

Call me selfish, but I’d like to live to see proper and official localisations of media that I like. If there aren’t any legal constraints and other games are literally doing the same thing, I’d like to see normalisation through exposure of a subject.

If Fallout 4 supposedly won’t be censored in Japan, that is a rare case of a quick improvement as I see it.
Madbrainbox
November 24, 2015 at 5:29 am

Are they a minority though?I don’t think it even matters at this point.Only thing that matters is the noise they are making.Just the way Wolfenstein was censored in Germany to remove all the swastikas.This is the Western society at this point.
undub lover
November 24, 2015 at 6:39 am

Here we go again. Another Japanese game getting censored for no legitimate reason.
British_Otaku
November 24, 2015 at 8:48 am

The assumption that Natives would be offended by her original appearance. I’d like to think there was an informed decision involved but I don’t have much faith in that happening with most changes in the west.

I’m sure they might have an example or two like Washington Redskins or how Halloween has been going, but yeah.
Brimfyre
November 24, 2015 at 9:57 am

Pretty sure I specifically said, “self-censorship”…. yep, I did.
Nonscpo
November 24, 2015 at 11:03 am

Facepalm time folks…Facepalm!
John Doe
November 24, 2015 at 5:15 pm

They were a minority, but they are indoctrinating children as young as 5, and have been since I was a kid.

Whether you think it was coincidence that Feminists used Marxist rhetoric, or you think it was a KGB op, it doesn’t matter – it was very successful, and we’re living the result.

If something isn’t done soon, they will raise their children in this ideology, and we will grow old.

The world will be doomed.
John Doe
November 24, 2015 at 5:16 pm

Exactly. Nevermind that he was RIGHT about many things….. no, it hurts fee-fees. BURN IT!
CC
November 24, 2015 at 7:46 pm

I’m Native and I’ll admit, I wear and love cowboy hats (alongside my hair feathers sometimes!) because I have as much stake in American history as Native history — BUT: I have to admit, that is some extremely bad decision making. My bro training to be a spiritual leader/priest can’t stop headdesking. It’s especially bad considering Western movies and video games don’t have a great record with portraying Indians vs. cowboys to begin with… = /cough, anyone remember Cnl. Custer’s Last Stand?
XERW
November 24, 2015 at 7:51 pm

*sigh*

I’ll just hack the models back from the JP version AGAIN.

Yes, it has been done before. I even hacked bravo bunny and bravo bikini to Agnes

https://i.imgur.com/RCKfU2m.jpg

F*** YOU NoA
Jettythesunfish
November 24, 2015 at 10:58 pm

If Mega Man can use a character named Tomahawk Man with no problems, Nintendo has no excuse.
Misogynerd
November 25, 2015 at 1:08 pm

They did alter some shy guys to remove their Indian headdress’s in Mario Kart Super Circuit. Nintendo is forced to keep better PR as they are much bigger and are carrying more of the industry, since they make hardware.
Guin
November 26, 2015 at 4:54 am

They get a pass because Killer Instinct is an American IP because we all know Japanese devs always miss the mark when it comes to minorities.
/sarcasm
Guin
November 26, 2015 at 4:57 am

Great which sends them the message that there is no market for Japanese games at all overseas. That’ll show ’em.
Guin
November 26, 2015 at 5:05 am

To play devil’s advocate, 9 times out of 10 parents are forced to buy them because their bratty kids have to have it.

Kids will always want to get something seemingly “grown up” to look grown up. We’ve all been there.
Envy Noson
November 26, 2015 at 9:24 am

The Native American costume is cooler, why remove it?
Francesco Azzena
November 26, 2015 at 8:53 pm

no not the “western” audience but the american one.. us europeans dont care..
Madbrainbox
November 27, 2015 at 2:58 am

Except Sweden.
snugdarkly
November 27, 2015 at 9:21 pm

Are you worried that I’m going to rape the cartoons?
Hugh
December 6, 2015 at 12:21 pm

One is a Native American character, shown with strength and a storyline.

The other is a costume (mocking the spiritual garb of a minority that have been fucking DESTROYED for centuries), worn by a group of visually white people showing off tacky amounts of underboob in the female models.

Do you now see the difference?

The “We’re a culture, not a costume” movement has been going on for years. I’m honestly surprised this is getting this degree of bullshit backlash.
Lunastaria SpiritDiva
February 16, 2016 at 3:30 am

I wish native americans or american indians actually were represented in video games, it gets boring playing the same white people over and over.

Why don’t we at least get Samba Dancers? Cowboys are so boring. South Americans use feathers too, why can’t we just get them?
Kaboom
March 1, 2016 at 11:35 am

There a bigger version of this? I wanna print one out and send it in to Nintendo when I get Bingo.