Something I noticed

[Mekagojira]

The original cover artwork shown in the store page and in the Steam library was edited to censor Mai's cleavage, you can see the difference between original and censored here: https://imgur.com/a/gaiCToM

Also, when booting up the game you're greeted with the message:
"This product aims to faithfully recreate the content of the original game at the time of release in 2003 as much as possible. Therefore, the content of this game does not represent the ideals of our company, but is provided as is, respecting the original intent of the game, and is not intended to promote or attack any particular ideology or group."

I'm glad they did not mess with the game's sprites or artwork, but the censored cover and the fact they felt the need to put this message in ⟨which feels really unnecessary, I don't see how the content of this game can offend anyone, really⟩ worries me. I really hope SNK is not planning to go the same "politically correct" path that Capcom's been threading. It's very unlike SNK to try and "sanitize" their games and characters like this, so maybe these things were at the request of Capcom, since this is a SNK product with Capcom properties in it.

[Warxa]

I was about to buy it, but now I think I'll never buy a SNK game ever again if that's the direction they're going in.

What even is offensive about this game? Is it Mai Shiranui? If Mai doesn't represent SNK's ideals anymore, then they're dead.

I'm gonna assume it's the dialogue. Some old SNK localizations were so bad it seemed like they couldn't read japanese and were just writing whatever they wanted instead of actually translating. So maybe there's some offensive dialogue, but I can't find any.

[Gibble]

Originally posted by Warxa:

I was about to buy it, but now I think I'll never buy a SNK game ever again if that's the direction they're going in.

What even is offensive about this game? Is it Mai Shiranui? If Mai doesn't represent SNK's ideals anymore, then they're dead.

lmao

[DustyBlue]

What has Capcom done to be politically correct? Also, SNK is owned by Saudi Arabia now, so I expect editorial control comes from them, but just as likely is Steam itself, or SNK themselves. Even adult-only games on Steam can't be that out with it on the general artwork, like I have yet to see any Steam cover images or trading cards with overt nudity on them. But Mai being in this kind of trouble is nothing new. Completely excluded from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, for instance.

[DUNMORUL]

Originally posted by Warxa:

I was about to buy it, but now I think I'll never buy a SNK game ever again if that's the direction they're going in.

What even is offensive about this game? Is it Mai Shiranui? If Mai doesn't represent SNK's ideals anymore, then they're dead.

I'm gonna assume it's the dialogue or localizations. Old SNK localizations were extremely bad. It seems like they couldn't read japanese so they were just writing whatever they wanted instead of actually translating.

Whatever. dork.

[HBR]

Originally posted by Warxa:

I think I'll never buy a SNK game ever again if that's the direction they're going in.

"Anti-Woke" gamers getting filtered by the most minor of things owns so hard. You might want to stick to that roman gladiator game that was so ♥♥♥♥♥♥ it got banned off Steam, buddy.

[Akeashar]

Originally posted by Warxa:

I was about to buy it, but now I think I'll never buy a SNK game ever again if that's the direction they're going in.

What even is offensive about this game? Is it Mai Shiranui? If Mai doesn't represent SNK's ideals anymore, then they're dead.

You must have missed the 90s where KoF had two versions, the US version and the Rest of the World. In the US, they had turned off both the blood and Mai's bounce because it was considered offensive over there, while those of us in the PAL regions had the game intact.

[Warxa]

Originally posted by Akeashar:

Originally posted by Warxa:

I was about to buy it, but now I think I'll never buy a SNK game ever again if that's the direction they're going in.

What even is offensive about this game? Is it Mai Shiranui? If Mai doesn't represent SNK's ideals anymore, then they're dead.

You must have missed the 90s where KoF had two versions, the US version and the Rest of the World. In the US, they had turned off both the blood and Mai's bounce because it was considered offensive over there, while those of us in the PAL regions had the game intact.

I know about 90s censorship. I remember when activists were trying to censor games like Wolfenstein, Doom, Mortal Kombat, Duke Nukem 3D and many japanese games. I was so glad when this era of censorship finally ended. It's making me depressed that we're now regressing back to the 90s because of people who ironically call themselves progressive.

[RunningWild]

The actual reason why that content warning message appears -
https://64.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbm1oj4VMI1qd9g7oo1_1280.png

[Mekagojira]

Originally posted by DustyBlue:

What has Capcom done to be politically correct?

Capcom stating that "simply translating games developed under japanese norms can end up hurting users";
Straight up removing and censoring content from SF 30th Anniversary Collection and Fighting Collection;
Removing/altering dialogue and removing Ashley's upskirt shots from Resident Evil 4 VR;
"Skirts absolutely not allowed!" ⟨see RE3 and 4 remakes⟩;
Censoring Roll's swimsuit skins for the Steam release of Megaman X Dive;

Just to name a few of the top of my head.

[Visi]

Originally posted by DustyBlue:

What has Capcom done to be politically correct? Also, SNK is owned by Saudi Arabia now, so I expect editorial control comes from them, but just as likely is Steam itself, or SNK themselves. Even adult-only games on Steam can't be that out with it on the general artwork, like I have yet to see any Steam cover images or trading cards with overt nudity on them. But Mai being in this kind of trouble is nothing new. Completely excluded from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, for instance.

Can't answer that first question without risking being banned. If you are somehow oblivious to the copious amounts of censorship and pandering Capcom has engaged in the past 5 years or so, then there isn't much that can be done to help you.

You are flat out incorrect regarding adult-only games.

Smash is rated E and has a significant playerbase of younger children as one of the flagship titles for Nintendo's console. No one was surprised by her exclusion given that environment, even if it was disappointing. That is not the same thing as Steam, and since the in-game artwork is still available uncensored, your point is totally undermined.

Originally posted by Hyperboreal:

Originally posted by Warxa:

I think I'll never buy a SNK game ever again if that's the direction they're going in.

"Anti-Woke" gamers getting filtered by the most minor of things owns so hard. You might want to stick to that roman gladiator game that was so ♥♥♥♥♥♥ it got banned off Steam, buddy.

They're called principles, and we "anti-woke" gamers are customers, too. Fighting games are already a niche genre. It's ill-advised to push away part of that playerbase in order to appease non-existent customers. If that art were uncensored, 0 people would refuse to buy it as a result. Censoring it, however, will convince some to not support it. But carry on, noble commissar, in your celebration of the destruction of art. It's so worth it to own we evil chuds.

[HBR]

Originally posted by Visi:

It's so worth it to own we evil chuds.

This, but unironically

[Denyal]

thanks for making this post, would rather wait and see if the rom itself was also altered

[Faiyez]

Thanks OP. I'll be putting my wallet back in the drawer.

I was there in 2003 playing the PS2 import. I hope whoever scoffs at me for taking my stance feels great about having less people to play with.

[Code Mystics]

Originally posted by Denyal:

thanks for making this post, would rather wait and see if the rom itself was also altered

Nothing in the ROM was altered. There is even a disclaimer at launch stating "the content of this game ... is provided as is, respecting the original intent of the game, ..."

[Faiyez]

Originally posted by Denyal:

thanks for making this post, would rather wait and see if the rom itself was also altered

Actually, I wonder if the artwork in the in-game Gallery is uncensored. I saw that the posters that they handed out at EVO are using the original art.