On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

October 28, 2008 -

Sites which host game footage were advised by Bethesda yesterday that they must take down any trailers for Fallout 3.

With the highly-anticipated, M-rated game launching today, the move is ill-timed, to say the least. Maximum PC cites an e-mail from Bethesda VP Pete Hines:

In connection with ESRB's advertising guidelines, you are instructed to remove immediately any of our Fallout 3 trailers from your website, pending further notice.

Meanwhile, Edge Online speculates that a Fallout 3 trailer which shows an adversary's head exploding in slo-mo, might be at fault.

The ESRB maintains and enforces guidelines for game advertising. The content rating organization has occasionally intervened with game trailers in the past.

Posted in

Comments

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by Bigman-K on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 12:38.

I say since we have the First Amendment on our side and the nanny-state can't regulate or censor games, why not just get rid of the ESRB and age-based rating systems in general. Of course i'm not saying that young children like 8 year olds should be playing ultra-violent games or that there shouldn't be some sort of content based rating system to warn people and parents if they don't want their children to play it of the violence, swearing, sexual content, drug use and other for lack of a better term "objectionable content" in the games. Why not bring back the old system they used years ago which rated games on a level of 1 to 4 when it came to violence/sex/foul langauge/drug use/ect. It's still usefull and it's nowhere near as arbitrary as the age-based ESRB ratimng system.

"No law means no law" - Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black on the First Amendment

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 12:53.

Why change it? You are basiaclly doing the same thing but not as user friendly. The only thing wrong with the current system is that Console Manufacturers and Retailers do not recognize all the current ratings.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by DeepThorn on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 13:59.

Explain please? You know, so other know what you are talking about exactly... haha. I know you are right, but I can't remember the info behind it.

Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 15:45.

Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft all refuse to license AO rated games. All major retailers refuse to carry AO rated games. Thus they do not recognize all ratings.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by eston on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 10:41.

And again I'm left wondering why a voluntary game ratings board has any authority whatsoever over the content of promotional material...

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 10:57.

Its called contractural law. Bethesda signed a contract that basically says the ESRB will give them a rating and allow them to use that rating in sales and promotion of the game as long as Bethesda follows guidelines outlined in the contract.

If Bethesda does not comply with the terms of the contract, the ESRB is allowed to seek restitution and damages for the infringement.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by DeepThorn on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 12:35.

So ECA needs to come up with its own rating system.... I will do it, as long as the pay takes care of my bills.

Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by Nekowolf on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 12:30.

Wait, so is it pulling ads off from sites? But do the sites have to comply? I mean, the ESRB doesn't have control over the companies or whoever who runs the sites. Or is it if they don't, Bethesda could turn around and file lawsuit against those companies? I'm a little confused as how the ESRB essentially pushes ads off of websites. I don't know very much about law, so yeah.

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 12:47.

Consider the publishers have the deal with the ESRB, They have the deal with the marketing department or agency and the websites who run the ads. The ESRB ca ntell the publisher, "Your ad violates our contract. Pull it or face the contractural consequences." The Publisher then goes to their marketing department, Fix the ad and get it removed from our advertising partners. The marketing departement then contacts the websites hosting the bad ad.

If the website won't change the ad upon request, they will lose an advertising partner and money. So they have nothing to gain by keeping the ad and a lot to lose.

EDIT: You also have to take into account current advertising laws. Most of which state that adult material must be advertised in a manner that does not offend. Such as you cannot show boobies in advertisment even if it is for porn.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by Father Time on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 22:17.

"Such as you cannot show boobies in advertisment even if it is for porn."

Not from the ads I ... happened to have been looking at ... a long time ago.

----------------------------------------------------

"What for you bury me in the cold cold ground?" - Tasmanian devil

---------------------------------------------------- Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by DeepThorn on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 13:57.

To your edit:

And that is why I prefer other countries. If we didnt make a big fuss about boobs, it wouldn't be a big deal... Just like cursing, if no one makes a big deal about when a child cusses, then the child is less likely to cuss. I am okay with boobs in my commercials, but not sex. Boobs just are not a big deal to me, the lower parts are the ones that cause more explanation to the kiddies than I am willing to give, and I can see why they should be censored. Boobs are just boobs though, everyone sees them even if they are covered up, and it is were babies get milk of the mother chooses to do so...

Wait, I am getting off topic, sorry.

Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by Overcast on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 10:37.

They outta tell the ERSB to shove it.

I'll buy 2 copies if they do that.

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by Nekowolf on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 12:32.

If that's the case, then the ESRB just won't rate the game. Then it'd never see the light of day on most shelves; it'd only be found in small business and online.

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by GRIZZAM PRIME on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 10:36.

Man, f-ck Fallout 3, I want me some GEARS OF WAR 2!

-Remember kids, personal responsibility is for losers! -The Buck Stops Here. -Thou Shall Not Teamkill, Asshole.

Reality/////////////////////////////////////Fantasy. Seems like a pretty thick line to me...

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by Christian Astrup on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 10:32.

Yankee Doodle went to town

A'riding on a mutant

Stuck some morphine in his hat

And said "At least it's dormant."

Yankee Doodle keep it up

Yankee Doodle dandy

Mind the wasteland and the gibs

And with the nukes be handy

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by shady8x on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 10:19.

You might want to report on the fact that Fallout 3 launched with STARFORCE and SECUROM versions despite the developers caliming that they would only have a cd check...

Hmm I wonder if modding will even be possible now?

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 11:31.

link please or it didn't happen.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by DeepThorn on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 12:32.

I second the link request.

This will result in one thing if true. Spore DRM affect on Fallout 3. AKA massive pirating that will equally at least 1/3 of total gamers playing it have pirated the game. With Fallout 3 slipping into the trade routes of the pirates 3 weeks before release, they better not be stupid enough to screw them selves out of that much money.

Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by shady8x on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 23:41.

Russia - Starforce

Everywhere else - Securom, just like spore's but without the activations...

A few threads on bethesda's own forums...

http://www.bethsoft.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=892618&hl=

http://www.bethsoft.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=892592&hl=

http://www.bethsoft.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=892863&hl=

http://www.bethsoft.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=893123&hl=

If you register then you can find a few hundred more with the search...

It is already getting one star reviews on amazon for the drm...

I think someone should sue Beth for false advertising... and for spreading malware...

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by Cattleprod on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 11:30.

False advertising, classy. Is there anything on the box or anywhere else that notes the inclusion of DRM before you install?

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by Overcast on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 10:35.

Interesting. I've been waiting for this game a long time. I played Fallout 1 and Fallout 2 many times. I hated Fallout Tactics, I consider it the worst game purchase I ever made. Well, almost. I played it for 15 minutes and uninstalled it. Ended up giving it away.

But between the DRM and PC-ness, I think I might just skip it.

So I guess after it installs 15 forms of DRM, I get to sit around signing Kum-bay-ah, eating cookies and drinking milk in 'Fallout', huh?

Maybe this will spark the mod community more for the old game, I hope.

I'm not even sure I'm willing to try Fallout 3.

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by shady8x on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 10:53.

Well it only installs one type of DRM but it is not known which version of the game has which type of malware...

There should be a law prohibiting sales unless type of DRM is clearly labeled...

oh yes, in countries where starforce is illegal, they are probably selling the securom version...

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by Blu300 on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 09:51.

The music drove me mad. If it's like that in the full game, then it would most likely reduce me to tears...

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by Iris on Wed, 10/29/2008 - 05:07.

You have the option to turn the music off. The patriotic theme was part of the radio station you can turn on using your Pipboy (the minotor on the arm that the video shows). The normal music is usually rather subtle. I opt to keep the radio turned off, but my husband seems to have a thing for blowing people's brains out to the sound of patriotic tunes...

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by SeanB on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 09:35.

http://www.gametrailers.com

All of thier Fallout 3 vid's are still up...... and in beautiful HD quality

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by Spartan on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 08:45.

They will all end up on YouTube now.

-------------------------------------------

"The most difficult pain a man can suffer is to have knowledge of much and power over little" - Herodotus

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The most difficult pain a man can suffer is to have knowledge of much and power over little" - Herodotus

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 09:01.

Well you are looking at one on Youtube.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Re: On Eve of Launch, Fallout 3 Trailer Unexpectedly Yanked

Submitted by DeepThorn on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 08:18.

It just reminds me of Gears of War...

Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls

Shout box

Technogeek: If the developer were male there wouldn't have been a "conversation" in the first place.10/19/2014 - 2:27am

Monte: trolls are just at their absolute worst when it comes to women and feminist. You could bet good money that if the developer were male the trolls would be silent and the conversation would actually focus on the journalism.10/18/2014 - 9:18pm

Monte: Papa: Not the first time we've had a journalism scandals before, but the harassment never got close to this level; the difference with this scandal is that feminists are involved. Without the feminist angle, their would be A LOT less harrassment10/18/2014 - 9:15pm

Papa Midnight: Monte: That's honestly rather short-sighted. As has been proven with other persons who have been targeted, if it wasn't Quinn, it would be someone else.10/18/2014 - 6:26pm

Avalongod: I think that's part of what gives an esoteric news story like this real life...it taps into a larger narrative about misogyny in society outside of games.10/18/2014 - 3:29pm

Avalongod: @Monte, well the trolls made death threats that came to police (and media attention). I think this is tapping into a larger issue outside of games about how women are treated in society (like all the "real rape" stuff during the last election)10/18/2014 - 3:28pm

Wonderkarp: Zippy : Havent tried the PS4 controller. might later.10/18/2014 - 2:37pm

Monte: Seirously, If Quinn was not involved and GG was instead about something like the Mordor Marketing contracts, the trolling would have never grown so vile and disgusting. There have been plenty of movements in the past that never sufferred from behavior..10/18/2014 - 1:57pm

Monte: We have seen scandel's before but the trolling has never been as vile as what we see with GG. Trolls usually have such a tiny voice you can barely notice them, but its like moths to a flame whenever femistist are involved.10/18/2014 - 1:53pm

ZippyDSMlee: Wonderkarp: You might be able to if you had a PS4 controller.10/18/2014 - 1:00pm

MaskedPixelante: http://store.steampowered.com/app/327940/ Night Dive starts charging for freeware.10/18/2014 - 12:21pm

Matthew Wilson: the sad thing is there are trolls on both sides of this. people need to stop acting like their side is so pure.10/18/2014 - 12:19pm

MechaTama31: So, only speak out on a scandal that hasn't attracted trolls? I wouldn't hold my breath...10/18/2014 - 10:49am

Monte: I feel like GG just needs to die. The movement is FAR to tainted by hatred and BS for it to be useful for any conversation. Let GG die, and then rally behind the NEXT gaming journalism scandal, and start the conversation fresh.10/18/2014 - 10:33am

quiknkold: and we dont have a Dovakin to call a cease fire10/17/2014 - 7:37pm

quiknkold: The whole thing is Futile. Both sides are so buried deep in their trenchs that there isnt a conversation. Its just Finger Pointing, Name Calling, Doxxing, Threats. there needs to be a serious conversation, and GG isnt it.10/17/2014 - 7:37pm

quiknkold: I thought it was a good article. Jeff is right. I feel like GamerGate did destroy its message. I am for Ethics in game journalism, but man. so much hate. and its on both sides. I've seen some awful stuff spewed on twitter. Its a big reason why I exited..10/17/2014 - 7:34pm

Matthew Wilson: while he focused on gg, he did call out both sides crap.10/17/2014 - 7:18pm

Papa Midnight: That was a damn good read offered by Jeff Gertsmann.10/17/2014 - 7:17pm

Matthew Wilson: http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/letter-from-the-editor-10-17-2014/1100-5049/ deferentially a nice write up.10/17/2014 - 6:44pm

All shouts

<< Return To Top

Forgot your password?
Username :
Password :