EL VIDEOJUEGO CENSURADO POR STEAM Y EPIC

Censorship in Video Games: A Historical Perspective

The Evolution of Censorship in Gaming

• Censorship in video games has historically been a significant issue, with some titles being banned due to excessive violence or inappropriate content, such as "Thrill Kill" and "Manhunt 2."

• Currently, censorship tends to be less severe, often involving minor edits for AAA games to comply with specific religious or political standards in various countries.

Recent Developments on Steam

• Steam is described as a chaotic platform for game releases, rivaled only by the Android App Store. It has allowed controversial games like "Aristoputas" to be marketed.

• Recently, however, a new game called "Santa Rayione" was announced that would not be released on Steam due to its content.

Exploring Santa Rayione and Its Unique Aesthetic

Overview of Santa Rayione

• Developed by an independent Italian studio since 2010, "Santa Rayione" features vibrant and psychological themes while also incorporating horror elements.

Artistic Style and Atmosphere

• The game employs an aesthetic reminiscent of early silent films in black and white, contrasting with typical low-resolution horror indie games.

• Dialogue is presented through character lip movements followed by text screens, enhancing the unique cinematic experience alongside a haunting soundtrack.

Gameplay Mechanics and Themes

Game Structure and Content Warnings

• Players control Anselmo during summer work at a farm where they perform daily tasks; however, the game warns players about its heavy themes including misogyny and psychological abuse.

Narrative Depth and Social Commentary

• The narrative reveals dark themes through the character's interactions with grotesque representations of horses that are actually people wearing horse masks.

• The game critiques societal issues such as conservatism and fascism while providing moments of dark humor amidst its horror elements.

Controversial Game Content and Censorship

Overview of the Game's Themes

• The game features disturbing themes, including a character who kidnaps individuals he deems "horrible sinners" and transforms them into human-horses through grotesque methods involving animal fluids.

• Despite its shocking content, the speaker argues that this is not the first or last game with such themes on Steam, questioning what specifically led to its ban.

Reasons for Ban from Platforms

• The studio suggests that an incomplete scene involving a father and daughter at a farm may have triggered the game's removal from Steam. The daughter wishes to ride a horse, which in-game are depicted as human-like beings.

• To address concerns, the character in this controversial scene was changed to an adult woman to avoid implications of inappropriate interactions, enhancing dialogue relevance within the game's social context.

Reactions and Consequences

• The speaker notes that there were claims about children being harmed in-game; however, after completing it themselves, they found no evidence supporting these allegations.

• Following its removal from Steam, the game was also taken down from Epic Games Store and Humble Bundle but remains available on GOG. This has been interpreted as a marketing strategy by the studio.

GOG's Position on Creative Freedom

• GOG positions itself as a defender of creative integrity by offering the game despite its controversies. They encourage players to support creative works during challenging times for developers.

• However, critics point out GOG's hypocrisy due to their previous ban of another title over political sensitivities related to China.

Cultural Perspectives on Censorship

• There are mixed opinions regarding censorship; some believe it's justified given the game's intense content. This perspective is seen as particularly American and progressive.

• The discussion highlights how certain audiences may demonize works for depicting dark themes without considering their narrative context or intent.

This structured summary captures key discussions surrounding the controversial game while providing timestamps for easy reference back to specific points in the transcript.