It’s not that uncommon to hear about a video game being banned in this, or that country, at least a few times a year. Usually, the reason given is that the game in question is “too violent” or “too sexual.” Too violent? Too sexual? Sounds to me like that is code for “too awesome,” but I digress. China, Australia, Germany and many others have banned their share of games over the years, but Canada is rarely aboard the “ban-wagon.” Until now.
Find out which games are getting banned up North and why after the jump!
As of April 1st, 2009, the province of Quebec is going to enforce the ban of English-only titles sold in Quebec when a French version is (will be) available. The law has actually been in the Charter of the French Language since 1997. Quebec, being the hub of French culture in Canada, has long championed the French language, resulting in a noticeable lack of contests, offers and more that never reach anyone in that Province because companies would rather not spend the extra money needed to meet French language requirements. This latest change in policy is nothing new.
I mean, why would they? Most people will just order the products online or leave the province to make their purchases. We all know the majority of the big money from game sales come during their initial release window. Quebec retailers are going to miss out since French versions of popular titles are often released much later than the English versions. The French version of Rock Band for example was apparently released over 6 weeks behind the English version. Had the law been enforced back in ‘07, Quebec retailers would have lost out on Rock Band sales from the Christmas season.
I can sort of understand why people think this is a good idea. Even though many games sold in Quebec have had bilingual covers, the games inside are almost always English only. Even when French versions of a game have been available elsewhere (France for example), those translations don’t always make it to Quebec.
I do feel it is important for French versions of products to be available, not only to Quebec, and other French speaking Canadians, but also to the large number of French speaking gamers worldwide. However, banning English-only products, in this case video games, does more harm than good.
Do you help retailers in Quebec with this ban? Nope, they’ll actually lose out on money since people will go elsewhere to buy their games. Do you help gamers with this ban? Nope, you just make them wait longer to get the games they want, or simply buy online or go elsewhere to purchase the game, and/or you force them to play a painfully bad translation (damn near every time). So yes, the law will put products which embrace the French language into the hands of those that want it, but you’ll hurt Quebec business’ and only really connect with the few people who did not go elsewhere for their purchasing needs.
I think boath languages should be available, but banning one in favour of the other is a twisted way to go about “promoting the French language.” I doubt it will affect the industry much, since there are all sorts of ways to get around Quebec’s new(ish) law. Either way, they’ll get their money and the only people who lose out are the same people the law was supposed to support.
Source: The Toronto Star
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Good article, and
Too violent? Too sexual? Sounds to me like that is code for “too awesome”
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
I’m from Quebec and I completely agree! My mother tongue is french but I prefer to play my games in English… most PS3 games will be in multiple languages because of the blu-ray capacity… but Halo 3 for example is in French only! That completely SUCKS!
I agree with this, my reason being that Super Smash Brothers Brawl took ages to come to the UK because of translation issues. Brawl has 5 languages programmed onto one disk, but I only ever use one(English). If it’d just been English on the disk, but been released a few months earlier I would have been much happier.
Firstly, good article.
Secondly, I grew up in Ontario in a French speaking family. Though I prefer to speak English as I just found it easier. I can respect that fact that Quebec want’s to protect it’s cultural identity. It’s a beautiful province to visit.
I just feel that this might do more harm than good to local retailers. Consumers will always have choice in where they purchase their games and how they want to play in its original presentation or one that’s modified to suit their language. Retailers under this new law will be limited on what they can offer now due to restrictions.
It just feels a bit overkill.
I was excited when I saw the Quebec flag as I checked the sg webpage. As a Quebec expat it always feels special when I see it in an unexpected setting. Thanks for that.
Good article. Those laws are to protect our cultural identity and the French language. I know it will be a pain for a lot of people but in the long run as the industy and the retailers adapt to it… I think it could be a good thing. Maybe even bring the level of the translation up a bit!
The game industry may not be has big as the movie industry but they faced the same kind of laws and they adapted just fine. Maybe I am too hopeful but I dont think it will be that big of a problem. Plus as you said it will be easy to go around the law.
As a Canadian gamer who also speaks French, I have to think this will do more harm than good. Living where I am now, I am sure I will never see a translated version of anything, but for local retailers in Quebec, this will hurt. You will just see mail order game companies do well of the backs of these local retailers.
If I had the choice of getting the hot new game now in English, or in 6 weeks for the multi-lingual version, I would get in now from Amazon or something.
sorry, it seems time to move to Bc or Alberta
Where in Canada DO you live, PAcman, Does this affect you?
@Shakumo: I live in Ottawa right now. So it affects me seeing as how I live so close to Quebec, all those kids are going to come HERE to buy their games. Which is great, because I LOVE lines and fighting over pre-orders so much.
i live in quebec and i think this is totally ridiculous. it’s not such a big deal since most games now have a french version or at least subtitles.
but really? i never heard about a total ban and seriously, what’s the point??? my mother-tongue is french and thanks to video games in english (also at school), i learned english and practice it.
why would they make a game come out late or even never come out here just because there is no english version. they don’t do that with movies and they don’t even force english ppl to learn french, but now ppl won’t be able to play some games because of this ?
i mean, i don’t know what’s the point… stop ppl from learning the easiest and most common language in the world?
all they could do is promote the games with a french version more than a game that doesn’t have one. not completly ban it so that gamers won’t be able to play it at all and miss out on what could be a great game.
goddamn the government, this is no democracy if they do what THEY think is right.
there is so many other problems they could take care of but no, they have to restrict gamers from video games. they always think it’s the fault of video games -_-
“The French version of Rock Band for example was apparently released over 6 weeks behind the English version”
We got it in Australia a year after the rest of the world.