Apr 14, 2006 10:59 PM

Wal-Mart Controls Your Gaming Life

The new issue of online mag The Escapist has an in-depth feature on how retail monolith Wal-Mart actually dictates the terms of how the computer games that it sells are designed. Required reading. For the U.S. version of Giants: Citizen Kabuto (2000), Planet Moon put a bikini top on Delphi, the game’s topless sea-nymph heroine, […]

The new issue of online mag The Escapist has an in-depth feature on how retail monolith Wal-Mart actually dictates the terms of how the computer games that it sells are designed. Required reading.

For the U.S. version of Giants: Citizen Kabuto (2000), Planet Moon put a bikini top on Delphi, the game's topless sea-nymph heroine, after Wal-Mart refused to carry the seminude version. In an effort to gain a Teen rating from the Electronic Software Ratings Board (ESRB), Planet Moon also toned down the language and changed the red blood to green - but the game got a Mature rating anyway. (Soon afterward, a patch that removed the changes mysteriously appeared online.)

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Comments

Topicsvideo games

Kalshi Has Been Temporarily Banned in Nevada

A judge ordered Kalshi to immediately halt sports and election contracts in the state, intensifying a growing regulatory battle over prediction markets.

Kate Knibbs

Exclusive LegalZoom Promo Code for 10% Off Services for April

Save on top services at LegalZoom, like LLC registration, incorporation, estate plans, and more with coupons and deals from WIRED.

Parker Hall

Livestream Replay: The War Machine

A panel of WIRED experts dissected the defense tech industry’s impact on modern warfare.

Tim Marchman

A New Game Turns the H-1B Visa System Into a Surreal Simulation

Inspired by real immigrant stories, H1B.Life captures the uncertainty, trade-offs, and pure luck that shape the lives of people trying to build a future in the US.

Zeyi Yang

Your Vape Wants to Know How Old You Are

Companies hope that biometric age-verification tech in cartridges could put flavored vapes back in business. But it's unlikely to solve the real problems.

Boone Ashworth

FCC Enforcement Chief Offered to Help Brendan Carr Target Disney, Records Show

Last year, as FCC chair Brendan Carr threatened ABC over a Jimmy Kimmel monolog, a civil servant overseeing West Coast stations privately pledged support, according to emails obtained by WIRED.

Dell Cameron

Save Up to 40% With These Acer Promo Codes and Discounts

From 40% off accessory bundles to verified student and military discounts, here's how to save on Predator, Nitro, and Swift laptops and monitors at Acer.com.

Luke Larsen

Aeronaut Is an Actual Mac App for Bluesky

If you miss social media on your desktop—à la Tweetbot, TweetDeck, or the official Twitter app—then check out this macOS client for Bluesky.

Justin Pot

What’s With the US Ban on Foreign Routers?

The FCC just banned the sale of new consumer-grade Wi-Fi routers manufactured outside the US. Here’s what it means for you.

Simon Hill

Meta Is Shutting Down Horizon Worlds on Meta Quest

Meta’s flailing virtual reality social experience is being discontinued in June. It's part of Meta’s broader moves to slim down the business that became its namesake.

Boone Ashworth

How Invisalign Became the World’s Biggest User of 3D Printers

Joe Hogan, Align Technology’s plastics-nerd CEO, says you shouldn’t eat with your aligners and that you don’t need to wear your retainers every night.

Paresh Dave

Firewire's Neutrino Looks Like an Ironing Board and Takes Off Like a Shot

Firewire makes the most innovative surfboards in the industry. This winter, I tried the Neutrino, Machado, and Revo Max to see if they're worth the hype.

Brent Rose