It has been revealed that Nintendo has blocked the release of the immensely popular The Binding of Isaac on the Nintendo 3DS eShop. The Binding of Isaac and Super Meat Boy designer Edmund McMillen has stated that the decision by Nintendo came “after a long internal debate”. Nintendo decided to block the game due to its “questionable religious content”.
“Attention: 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’,” he added. “Thank GOD Steam exists!”
Tip: Jacob F
I’m glad he has steam, I’m glad Nintendo blocked this!
Why? You wouldn’t need to play it anyway.
Thats a bummer, but I’m not surprised. A game staring a naked crying child? Yeah right!
No, Its not a naked child. Its a crying boy who escapes into the basement to fight off evil demons and monsters.
Disappointing, but understandable.
I’ve never heard of it :P
at least they are sticking to their morals. More than the other two would probably do.
>Okami
>Third party game
>Based on religion
Available on wii
Okami is based on the Japanese religion Shinto. Issac is based on Christianity. The Japanese are much more lax when it comes to using their religion as a basis for stories in their popular culture and no one gets offended. The Christians get offended by the smallest percieved slight. It was smart of them to avoid an uneccesary squabble.
It wouldn’t have found its niche on the 3DS nearly as well as it has done so on Steam. Steam is its true home.
grr logged out.
I haven’t heard of it, though it might turn out to be a nice game…and on Steam either more will buy it, or less will. More because everyone with a computer has access to Steam. Less, because most people on steam use it for the crappy FPS games…so it could go either way. Nintendo would have been a safe bet at nice sales.
It’s already had a successful Steam launch ;)
so much fail here its unreal.
It’s very much real.
So Nintendo is playing GOD now, telling us what we can and cant have?
If we are paying Nintendo to own a 3DS, surely we should be able to decide what we want to play on the thing! :/
I bet Sony and Microsoft wouldnt have a problem offering a game like this.
I guess they’re refraining from getting angry religious mail. But seeing this on PSN and LIVE seems like news that would’ve came out already.
Every company does that. They are not saying what we can or we can’t have. They are just choosing their own product and market.
Yeah, who are Nintendo to decide what games they put on their handheld? I want to play Uncharted on my Wii! I want to play Gears of War on my 3DS! Nintendo shouldn’t be able to decide what games we play on their console! It’s not like they made and distributed it or anything.
That’s an odd comparison… Incorrect too.
How so?
Good one.
And it’s ignorant and selfish twats like you that remind me why maybe it’s a good thing that developers don’t listen to the fan base sometimes. Nintendo doesn’t have to bend over backwards to your every whim.
@ Foxy
I hear what you are saying man, but if Nintendo want to lose money and royalties by not selling a certain game thats their call.
Funny how Nintendo put GTA on the DS but not this game (which is a lot less violent) on eShop
Thats called HYPOCRISY AND DOUBLE-STANDARDS NINTENDO!!!!
GTA didn’t have anything more than blood and a few cuss words here and there…
And it was rated by the ESRB, as opposed to this; M, versus nothing.
How is blood and cuss words not violent?
Do you think its normal to boost cars and shoot people in the face?
You genuinely scare me so please get medical help.
Silly child, there are much scarier and complex things than blood and violence.
A) You hear more cuss words in a single day of high school than you do in an entire GTA game.
You see more blood in 10 minutes of a news broadcast.
You’re coming off as completely out of touch with the world. I suggest thinking before commenting next time. Then you wouldn’t come off as such an idiot.
B) Do you think it’s normal to run around and collect coins while punching bricks? How about throwing birds at random, sickly green pigs?
However, insulting something that actually exists, such as a current government or political party, is considered “inappropriate.” It’s not an issue with religion specifically; it’s an issue with any insult to current institutions. People are just too narrow-minded to realize that. They want to make an issue out of nothing.
Y’ever take LSD? That shit’s genuinely scary.
I’d like to play this game, I like Team Meat works, but I knew from the beginning that this game was not coming for eShop. It could have turned into a bad market for Nintendo, especially with parents. Also, this game is not on PSN and LIVE, I don’t know why, but its not available in any other plataform than PC.
Aw well, not even Resident Evil: Revelations had questionable religious material. (I assume!)
I’m glad people aren’t getting angry though. :D
Why does religion have to ruin everything? “You’re game insults the stupid fairy tales I believe in” When is this shit going to go away?
On the flip side, smart move by Nintendo. They’re about to launch new console, they don’t want any negative press from the religious clowns to cost them sales.
Leave luck to heaven.
Whoa man, no need to be offensive to other cultures. It’s just a game that’s already on Steam anyway.
What about them being offensive to people who don’t believe in their bullshit? The world really needs to move away from religion, all it does is divide people and give them liscense to think they’re better than others because they’re “chosen”.
You are only adding to the level of intolerance that seems to be so rampant these days. I may or may not agree with someone’s religious views, either way I know how to treat them with respect.
Not intolerant, just curious. Why do we have to be denied the game because they’re touchy about this crap. If you don’t like it don’t buy the game.
Like I stated above, I agree with Nintendo not releasing this game on the eshop, because they don’t need any bad press leading up to the launch of the Wii U. It’s purely good PR. Some christian might not buy a Wii U because Nintendo put this game on the eshop, which means Nintendo made fun of god, and are thereby evil. smh.
You’re being extremely ignorant. I’m not religious at ALL but at least I understand the purpose of religion both culturally and spritually. You’re acting exactly how you describe the religions you hate so much. You believe it should be released and that is the word of you! I don’t mind the game at all and I don’t find it offensive. But I totally understand how it could effect some sales if parents walked in on their 8 year old playing a game starring a naked baby killing things with tears of blood.
As a parent it is your responsibilty to monitor what your kids are watching and playing. I know this is on the eshop so that would make it a little harder, but still that’s the parents’ responsibilty not Nintendos’
Thats why ESRBs exist, so the parent knows. Isaac has no ESRB which is why it got rejected.
It doesn’t?
Wow, now that makes more sense, but why Nintendo don’t make a ESRB for that game? In any case they can do the same thing they did with the demos of Resident Evil and Metal Gear, ask their age, that may keep away some kids.
There’s a parental filter on the 3DS. If you don’t want your ten year old playing a game like this, set the 3DS so it filters T and M rated games. I just did it to my niece’s 3DS yesterday, so I know it’s there. It’s really that simple. If there’s features you don’t want your kid using, don’t allow them.
Those of us who can play a T or M rated game shouldn’t have to go without because parents don’t want to have to watch what their spoiled little brat is doing.
Again, Isaac has no ESRB so the filter wouldn’t work.
You can’t demand respect to atheists when you’re insulting religion, that’s just hypocrite.
It’s religion who demands respect for their fairy tales. Atheists don’t believe anything, because we rely on facts. No belief necessary.
I’m just not associated with religion. Atheism, in my eyes, is a religion, against religion sort of (although, I know, the meaning on Atheism is “without god.”) There’s no reason to rant on to people on why religion should be abolished. Although I don’t agree with many, many, things in many religions there are some positive sides. People are brought up with that at birth, and yes, it is offensive to religious people if they are told to stop believing the bull shit that they believe in. Religion is just to describe things, and to have certain morals. It’s going to take hundreds of thousands of years for people to stop believing or hoping for things, so hop off the whole “fairy tale” thing. Although there is no factual evidence, for lets say, the Bible, hey, there could be something up there. We don’t know as humans. As a human, I have resided in believing scientific fact. Do atheists a favor and stop protesting atheism.
Sincerely,
A fellow atheist.
I’ll accept that. This isn’t the place for this anyway.
Don’t ever change, dude. I like the way you put that. Thanks.
That’s funny considering people throw around the words “gay,” “faggot,” “fag,” “queer,” and “homo” on this very website multiple times a day like the words mean nothing. Homophobia isn’t offensive, I guess. But if someone dare tries to say something about religion, “OH NO!!! Don’t say something that has started several wars, has had countless murders committed in it’s name, etc. ruins everything!”
If you ignore people who call others gay it’ll die out, since it’s an insult (it hinges on what others feel). This is exactly the same; if religious people ignore atheists, they’ll stop insulting religion, and continue on with your life.
If you really are an atheist (as in, believe in atheism 100%), you’d find no need to insult other religions OR be “curious” about them. To not believe in anything, you have to exclude all other options; curiosity means you don’t know about the subject at hand.
If you’re a real atheist and are at peace with your decision, you’d go on with your life with no inclination to prove yourself.
+1
I’m an atheist, and I totally acknowledge the beliefs of other religions. I grew up a devout Catholic until I was about 14, when I realized that it didn’t really make sense to me. JUST AS Religious people don’t make sense of Atheism. Its fine, its just a way of living life. It’s what makes you happy. I have plenty of religious friends, and believe me, I hate it when people, religious or not, use their religion to prove arguments. Religion will never die down, it carries on through tradition and is used all over the world. We should just accept each other’s thoughts and feelings and discuss them, not debate them. Living in peace should be everyone’s number one priority, not bashing other people’s beliefs.
I’m a christian and I approve this message.
As one of Nintendo’s politics, they can’t relase any material that is disrespectful to any groups. If you weren’t aware of this when you bought your 3DS thats your problem. There is anything wrong that.
I respect that. They can’t afford any bad press, they know what’s best for their company. My complaining doesn’t matter.
You really think its about religion? When Nintendo has allowed SMT games on the DS? No. That’s what they want you to believe.
The reason is cause the game doesn’t have an ESRB rating.
That means not only Nintendo, but Sony and Microsoft wouldn’t allow it on their systems.
Smart man, this one.
Thats exactly it. Thank you lol. With SMT, the parent knows what they’re getting into when they see the rating. With Isaac, they’d have no way of knowing and, as a once 8 year old boy, I would totally take advantage.
Question though, Why can’t they just add an ESRB? Is it not that simple?
Not really. It’s actually a difficult process. When you you look at it, it can be argued that this game contains content that merits it getting an AO rating…which NEITHER company dares to put such a rated game on their system
I say the game deserves at least a M, because of the blood and the fact that is fucking disgusting.
If you ask me, i say the game deserve a M, because of the blood and the fact that is fucking disgusting.
What’s SMT?
Super Meat Team.
What games have they put out on DS?
I don’t think they have put out any games on DS. Team Meat’s only games were in the Meat Boy series, as far as I know.
>.> Shin Megami Tensei…
Censorship at its finest…
It’s not like that. We are talking about a Company, not about law and government. There’s no law saying you can’t play games with questionable religious content (yet, because THIS would be a problem) It’s just Nintendo saying they won’t support something with that content for their online store on 3DS. They are a company they have to worry about their image, especially talking about a system that most owners are +10 or under.
great way to treat indie developers.
Oh yeah, they’re truly unfortunate enough to be considered victims of this. Don’t give them the pity treatment.
AAAARRGHH! Never thought Nintendo would really ban this game. >:o Time for Operation ‘Save Nintendo’fall or something. :/
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The fact that people are actually sticking up for Nintendo sickens me. This isn’t the 90’s anymore. Being “moral” about this is not something that should be championed, but condemned. Why should Nintendo have to decide this, and not the consumer? Do people who like playing more mature games on their Nintendo consoles not get a say? This was such a stupid decision on their part…
Because the consumer is inherently dumb, and every company knows this. That’s why we’re always given what we want so that by the time something happens that we don’t like, we won’t do anything about it.
Better like that way,because that thing is making of God,even with some ”religious” stuff putted in it.
I like Nintendo a lot, but this isn’t cool, it is not with this attitude (blocking games) that the company will be better. The game contents is not a problem for Nintendo, they should Launch every type of content, let the gamers decide what to but or not. Wake up Nintendo….
This is bullshit. Fuck that.
Isaac is an awesome game. I was looking forward to playing it on my 3DS.
That is in my opinion a good reason to question Nintendo why blocked. It’s clear to me that this game has a sarcastic vision of religions (very good by the way) but blocking the game Nintendo assume a position that in my opinion brings me a question: Is it time to block Nintendo as my favorite game plataform?
No because that’s a stupid idea. You shouldn’t drop a company just because of one game. We never got Mother 3 in America but I got over it and moved on. Why can’t other people when it comes to scenarios like this?
^This
Bah any game based off religion can go to hell
I have enough problems havign to deal with stupid preachers trying to convince me that thier magical fairytale crap is real
Gaming is no place for religion and needs to stay that way
besides a crying naked child?
this game shouldnt even be allowed anyway
people are quick to BM&C about Violent Videogames and shooters but a crying naked baby trying to escape a murderous cult is totally ok
and people wonder why this world is soo messed up huh
You’re an idiot. This game PARODIES religion. It’s not something like Super Noah’s Ark 3D where it PROMOTE religion.
Smart move Nintendo. Good to see a company with morals that they will stick to.
Yup, let’s not allow a game that parodies religion and call that good morals.
I had no interest in playing this game but I think it’s bullshit it’s not being released. Most games have questionable content, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be released. I mean, the Pokemon series is about a world where animal fighting is this okay, everyday thing. I would say that’s questionable content. It could lead to a kid fighting their dog and cat in battle, after all.
It’s up to each player to decide what’s right for them. For example, I like shooting things in the face. Other might not like that. So I would buy something like Resident Evil, while they wouldn’t. Those who would be offended by this likely wouldn’t be looking at an M rated game. Much less buy one without looking into it first.
And, honestly, nothing is better than some old fashion controversy. People get offended, FOX News rants about it for a month. CNN and MSNBC covers it for day, etc. It puts Nintendo in the news. At the end of the day, all press is good press.
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I want a Nintendo game that involves burn Islamic holy books …. just like the yanks are doing in Afghanistan!
If you insult the Bible, Americans go mental.
If you burn other religious books, Americans think its funny.
God bless America, right? :/
Religion: Holding everyone and everything back since forever.
So what’s your proof that no religion would have been a better option for humanity?
The Dark Ages.
Enough said.
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GAH! This was the whole reason I was going to get a 3DS :'(
I kind of understand their point. Unlike Steam, Nintendo systems are closed platforms. Anyone remember the whole issue of the Islamic chant in Ocarina of Time in the Fire Temple? They were asked to removed that. The Binding of Isaac takes a currently existing religion into question, which is different from a fictional religion from Dead Space. If it was a fictional religion, then I think this game would have been released.
NINTENDO Y U FAIL SO MUCH?
Why is religion THAT sensitive?????
This game was meant to be played on a portable system…
A mother receives a message **from God** to kill her baby. She is possessed, tries to kill him, he flees and goes through many dungeons of his basement. Banned.
OK, let’s study this with a different angle:
A mother receives a message from **her neighbor** to kill her baby, or something bad will happen. She has no choice, she tries to kill him, he flees and goes thorugh many dungeons of his basement. You simply rate this game “M” and allow it. Meant for mature audience, that’s all! The game is cartoonish, the plot is just stupid, you don’t care, because you play this game for the gameplay.
Religion………. religion……………………………..
OH
MY
FUCKING
god
It’s because it’s based off a real religion. If it was the message from a neighbor like you said, then they would’ve approved it. Nintendo has experience these kinds of things, mainly with the Islamic chant in Ocarina of Time on the N64.
I can understand Nintendo’s move. But it still pisses me off. I haven’t played this game so I don’t know how religiously questionable it is and what religion is parodies but it is still just a game at the end of the day. It makes me upset when others personal views prevent stuff like this. If you don’t like don’t buy it. I have no issue with religion but if your trying to use it as an excuse as to why we can’t have a game available to purchase on a system we love, that is where I am annoyed.
Looks like this proves that we will be under control. *sigh* I’ll wait for the other consoles before i get another nintendo system. If people find that religous stuff offensive then don’t play the game. Hate how nintendo just picks out whatever they don’t want. So much for “Freedom of developers” I don’t trust these guys now
Don’t blame Nintendo for this, it’s not their fault. It’s not like they are offended by the game themselves they just don’t want backlash from the people who believe this religion. They are kinda in a lose lose situation. They can lose buyers by putting this game on their system and they can lose buyers from not doing it like you are considering. It would be a bigger risk if they did put it on though sadly. I’m as upset as you but like I said Nintendo is kinda backed into a corner on this and they had to make the least damaging choice.
this is the exact same reason why PSN or XBLA hasn’t released it either
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Damn, they should of got the ESRB so I could play this game on the go…oh well, you win some you lose some.
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