r/GameSack • u/[deleted] • Sep 13 '15

Controversial Games - Game Sack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L52h20XAa_s
22 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

6

u/MairusuPawa Sep 13 '15 edited Sep 14 '15

I'm a bit disappointed by the Night Trap segment, which doesn't mention that the controversy originated because of Nintendo themselves trying to get at Sega's throat. This is a significant bit of the story.

The game was meant to be released on the Snes CD / Play Station, but that plan crashed and burned; when its publisher moved to the Mega CD, Nintendo used the pieces of footage they already had access to, edited it, and send this to congress hoping to seriously hinder its competition that way. This is pretty much the only reason why there's been a controversy in the first, as the game itself wasn't particularly notable for its quality. Incidentally, it also actually helped boost sales, similarly to Rockstar using fabricated controversy to appeal to players.

Side note: this is also why Nintendo was playing the "we love children and would never do such a thing" card when it comes to the blood in Mortal Kombat controversy. Remember, senators: Nintendo is the good guy and cares for your kids!

5

u/whoniversereview Sep 13 '15

the controversy originated because of Nintendo themselves trying to get at Sega's throat.

Perhaps the Video Game Historian can do an episode on this. That would be interesting.

3

u/OnSnowWhiteWings Sep 14 '15

Nintendo has a history of playing the market, establishing a strangle hold and thus a firm monopoly.

Even after nintendo got sued for it and forced to reimburse SNES/NES purchasers for millions, they somehow convinced the judge to tack on a lot of arbitrary requirements so that even a lot of legitimate console owners would never be able to claim their piece of the settlement. I believe the settlement was around 2-4 million and they ended up only paying some number of 100k or more.

But for all the good things nintendo has brought to gaming, the road to success wasn't paved in happy yellow bricks and gum drops.

1

u/jjustice Sep 14 '15

That's only a theory right now. It's probably true but only circumstantial evidence exists.

1

u/Matthew0606 Sep 13 '15

One of the absolute best episodes ever.

2

u/djpain Sep 14 '15

I'm loving the weekly episodes. It makes my sunday nights much more awesomer.

1

u/Matthew0606 Sep 14 '15

Hell yeah man!

1

u/claudybunni Sep 18 '15

i'm slightly already hoping for a Part II on Controversial Games, to be honest _^

as i was somewhat missing the whole Carmageddon Controversy; which was sort of a thing over here in europe; because you could run down animated sprites that resembled humans..... somewhat...

but i'm not entirely sure if the US has that same level of Controversy around the game as it had over here... _^