Mario Party 8 recalled in Europe

[Beck]

So Mario Party has been recalled in Europe, for the use of the word "Spastic" in the game. They have to get rid of it (or so says Bernie, I would find a link but lazy)

So what does everyone think? Should it have been recalled?

[Vyse]

I'm not sure I understood correctly... they found the game offensive because of that word ?

[Beck]

that word used in the wrong context IS offensive.

[Vyse]

Ouch Sorry hon, I didn't mean to be rude

I actually have no idea what this is all about, I didn't even know until I found out about it in this thread. I don't know if they used it in an offensive way and I don't know anything about the context either, so I apologize if my comment has hurt anybody's sensitivity. I usually find the way games are rated/recalled a bit weird, but I didn't mean to say it was the wrong choice. If the producers of the game used it in the wrong way I suppose recalling it was the right thing to do.

[Beck]

I find that word particularly offensive used out of context, most words I can just ignore, but not that one. My son has Spastic Quadreplegia, which is a disability, so for it to be used for meaning "stupid" or "slow" like many people do I find highly offensive.

www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=13950

I will however point out that Cerebral Palsy is not a disease and you can't die from it, that article has its facts wrong in that regard.

[Vyse]

Thanks for the link hon. I apologize again for what I said. Rest assured I had no intention of hurting you. I actually understand your feelings very well. I'll pay more attention in my choice of words in the future :hug:

[Lizzie]

How foolish of Nintendo. Yes, it should have been recalled. Children would have seen that and thought it was acceptable to call people spastic.

[Allan]

Yeah, it should have been recalled. It's something that's branded as a game suitable for children, and it's teaching them that it's okay to use it. I'm assuming that the game used it in a derogatory sense?

[Beck]

I've got no idea what context it was used in, but it shouldnt be used at all. I think it might have been abad translation from the Japanese or something :dunno:

[Allan]

That's a good point, it could be. Still, they pay people to get the translations right, so it's still no excuse.

[Paul]

im not a huge fan of censorship but i do agree with it in this case, it did need a recall, im very dissapointed about manhunt 2 getting banned in the uk

[Nico]

Nintendo should always be aware of the fact Children are a huge part of there gaming enterprise.

An old link but since none were ever posted:

nintendo.joystiq.com/2007/07/16/uk-mario-party-crashed-for-spastic-reasons/

I think it totally depends on what country you are from, in Scotland the word Spastic is used as an insult and I find it surprising Nintendo didn't keep a closer eye on that kind of thing. You don't hear it as much in the States but it doesn't seem as if it is seen as offensive over here, well not as offensive (not that that makes it right ofcourse).

Let's remember that it was only recalled in the UK no other countries put in complaints including the other EU countries.

The context of the word was something about 'making a train go spastic' which was eventually changed to erratic in the UK sales. I find that the context it was used in was also pretty demeaning.