Wanna see Cowboy Bebop with the ciggies edited out? Buy the game!

[ClockStomper]

The Cowboy Bebop video game hit the shelves in Japan recently, but with a surprise...no ciggerettes allowed in the game. Even when "Tank!" is shown, the ciggerettes have been edited out and replaced with other objects.

CB is an interesting case...it always seems like America censors content that okay in Japan, but it's the ther way around with this particular anime. In Japan all of the violent episodes were banned and were only available later on a pay-per-view network, yet they were okay for basic cable here, with minor edits (none of which would happen today with CN's 2005 editing standards.)

Now it looks like Japan can't handle smoking in a video game, while the ESRB usually allows it in T-rated games and in small instances, in E-rated games.

Did someone working on CB piss off someone in the Japanese government? Is the crack down on ciggerettes nessessary at the expense of the source material? Does it not matter as long as the game dosen't suck?

[Beat]

So the Bebop game is edited, but the seemingly less mature One Piece Grand Battle has cigarettes?

Weird.

[Martianinvader]

Why hasn't any game website imported that game and given their thoughts yet? I'm curious about it. I know it's based on an anime and it has the Bandai logo(the Kiss of Death in other words) but I still want to know what the thing is like, no matter how bad it is.

Someone really must hate Bebop over there. Haven't things ten times as violent gotten onto the Japanese airwaves?

[Lord Dalek]

Huh?

[RD!]

http://superloo.us/robots/pretendsomeoneelsemadethis.jpg

[MrBananagrabber]

http://superloo.us/robots/pretendsomeoneelsemadethis.jpg Is that a rubber chicken?

[Youko Recca]

Is that a rubber chicken?
My sentiments, partially. I was about to ask what the hell that rubber chicken-wishbone-looking thing is. And still am.

[livingfruitvirus]

My sentiments, partially. I was about to ask what the hell that rubber chicken-wishbone-looking thing is. And still am.Isn't that the spaceship in the background?

[Youko Recca]

Isn't that the spaceship in the background?
I can't remember. Haven't actually viewed it in awhile. Usually just let it play in the background. But looking at that cap...I mean.

['Stute Fish]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/pingle/omgedit.jpg
.....

...Hey, look over there! A distraction!

[Sr.Infierno]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/pingle/omgedit.jpg
.....

...Hey, look over there! A distraction!
It's on fire!

[BBunny]

I heard about this too.

It's odd that they took out the cigarettes.
The game lets you shoot and beat the crap out of a bunch of people, but you can't see anyone smoke?
Faye has a mission inside of a bar, so I guess alcohol is fine but cigarettes are bad.:shrug:

[Nin-Nin69]

Are those screenshots for real or fan made?

Either way this is the most random decision I've heard anyone edit in Japan.

[Sr.Infierno]

Maybe theyre worried a certain attorney who likes his coffee hot would say the game encourages smoking

[Beat]

Maybe theyre worried a certain attorney who likes his coffee hot would say the game encourages smoking
But then why would it be edited in Japan?

[Sr.Infierno]

But then why would it be edited in Japan?
Oh, well I was thinking it was only in the American release

Nevermind

[Fresh V]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/pingle/omgedit.jpg
.....

...Hey, look over there! A distraction! Is that a... lollipop?

[SirLemming]

Keep your tongue firmly planted in your cheek.

No real reason, but while you're at it, also prepare yourself for sarcastic joking.

[Sr.Infierno]

Is that a... lollipop?
No, it's a giant ball of cancer at the end of the cigarrete

Ok, bad joke :sweat:

[One Radical Dude]

You've gotta be joking? :eek: These aren't fan made?

A rubber chicken, a lollipop, what else? I'm sorry, but these images are kinda funny. :sweat:

[Sr.Infierno]

You've gotta be joking? :eek: These aren't fan made?

A rubber chicken, a lollipop, what else? I'm sorry, but these images are kinda funny. :sweat:
How are these NOT fan made?!

Dont tell me youre that gullible :sweat:

[One Radical Dude]

How are these NOT fan made?!

Dont tell me youre that gullible :sweat:
Hey, I didn't sleep well last night. :p

[email2003]

I don't mind the ciggies, I'm just worried about the game play. Cause most all anime games don't do well and always get a 4/10 score.

[Mrs._Tom_Ato]

So is the cigarette censoring a joke or not?

[Delthayre]

How are these NOT fan made?!

Dont tell me youre that gullible :sweat:
I didn't buy the Lolipop, but the rubber chicken was pretty convincingly done. I wasn't even sure it was a Rubber Chicken.

[BBunny]

I don't mind the ciggies, I'm just worried about the game play. Cause most all anime games don't do well and always get a 4/10 score. You don't have to worry then. The gameplay is varied and fun. Shooting, action, flying and beat everyone to bits are the types of levels you get to play. You can also unlock new characters like Ed and Ein to play as.

[Lupin the Wolf]

I don't mind the ciggies, I'm just worried about the game play. Cause most all anime games don't do well and always get a 4/10 score.
"Lupin the Third: Treasure of the Sorceror King" (PS2) averaged a bit higher on that scale with a 66.4% average on GameRankings.com, rating better than the first Squeenix Fullmetal Alchemist game (57.4%) and just under its sequel (68.6%).

"Lupin" plays somewhat like a Splinter Cell/Metal Gear game, but with a bit less smooth of a control scheme. Plus, the English version uses the Geneon/Pioneer TV dub voice cast.

But, also, Banpresto made the game, and not Bandai (and no, there is no relationship between Banpresto and Bandai). So that might have helped it be somewhat less bad?

[Martianinvader]

You don't have to worry then. The gameplay is varied and fun. Shooting, action, flying and beat everyone to bits are the types of levels you get to play. You can also unlock new characters like Ed and Ein to play as.Huh....they passed up Faye? Surprising....this IS a video game; female figure exploitation is one thing games from all regions have in common.

I would be most interested in playing as Ed, though :D

[Ein]

I currently work in the videogame industry and I know the ESRB has a problem with CIGARETTES and BEER appearing in games sold to minors. For instance look at the NASCAR games. All of the car sponsors that have to deal with that stuff are changed for the game. (Earnhart Jr. being the "Bud" car was changed to the "EJ" car. The "Winston Cup" being changed to "The Cup"). If they had stayed in the game it would have gone from an "E" rating to an "M" rating. So I assume the same principles apply to Cowboy Bebop. Lame but true...

[BBunny]

Huh....they passed up Faye? Surprising....this IS a video game; female figure exploitation is one thing games from all regions have in common.

I would be most interested in playing as Ed, though :D Spike, Jet and Faye are in the game from the start.
You can unlock Ed and Ein later on.
If they didn't have Faye in the game it wouldn't be Bebop.

[Zero Kagayaki]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/pingle/omgedit.jpg
.....

...Hey, look over there! A distraction!
It looks like a rose....

[K-S-O]

An anime game is edited in Japan and not in America? That's the most unusual story I've ever heard!