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Ubisoft pulls Mind Quiz DS following "offensive term" complaint

June 29, 2007 in News comments 10

When will the UK-based madness end? First Sony takes on the Church of England, Manhunt 2 gets itself banned by the BBFC, Electronic Arts has London Underground Burnout Dominator ads banned, and now Ubisoft pulls a DS quiz game (!) from UK stores because it contains an offensive term. All this in a little over two weeks. Again, when will the madness end?

Following a few weeks of focused controversy throughout the videogame industry, Ubisoft now finds itself in potentially hot water. The company has had to pull Nintendo DS game Mind Quiz from shop shelves in the UK after it was discovered the game uses a term likely to be considered derogatory by the disabled.
mistermostyn via gamersquad.com »
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  • 0
    FRoGBuster Jun 30, 07
    and what exactly was the offensive term used by ubisoft?
    • 0
      Final Blade Jun 30, 07
      I posted a comment on the site here is what i said
      quote
      Ok listen i want to know the damn word. Cause it might not be bad and it could not be a reason to pull it off. Just like Manhunt 2 I don't see how that game gets to be banned when Grand theft auto San Andreas had guns shooting blood, dugs and most of all Sex scenes. Its an unfair ban which will cause baning of all games cause someone doesn't like whats in it. Also add movies, tv shows and music are always looking to push the envelope for content. So is games and this is a violation on there part. Dont ban a game if the predecessors didn't. Thats like arresting a kid for jay walking and letting another go by cause you felt like it. Its not fair and shouldn't be allowed.
      I think my analogy could be wrong.
  • 0
    Final Blade Jun 30, 07
    Big update it seems according to BBC news this is the reason
    quote
    A video game which uses a term abusive to people with disabilities is being pulled by its manufacturer.

    Nicola told the show she had been playing the game - aimed at ages three and above - to pass the time while in hospital giving birth to her baby son, Austin, four weeks ago.

    It was a fraught time for the young mother, who had lost her other son, Logan, just before Christmas.

    The three-year-old - who suffered from cerebral palsy and was severely brain damaged - passed away after contracting pneumonia.

    Nicola was shocked when she had performed poorly at one part of the game and it rated her efforts in a manner derogatory to the disabled.

    "I thought it was absolutely appalling that a word like this should be used to describe someone who has not achieved very well," she said.

    "My daddy also has cerebral palsy and he is in his mid-50s and this is a word that really offends my dad."
    Then i would still like to know the word, however this is the right course of action.
  • 1
    Cruxis Mana Jun 30, 07
    I assume it will be the R-word that is said during the course of the game, so I can see why some people find it offensive. However, I think this week has been a very harsh week for gaming, with so many games / adverts getting banned !
  • 0
    Klope62 Jul 1, 07
    The offensive term was(is?) "Spastic".
    • -3
      Final Blade Jul 2, 07
      Thats not the reason, Crux got it right. It was R-word Since the whole article say that her son who died from cerebral palsy and brain damange. have you read my quote above.

      Besides spastic means this: "Refers to muscles that are stiff and contract in an uncontrolled way (have spasms). It occurs when the nervous system can no longer control muscle activity properly, such as with a spinal cord injury."
      very different.
      • 0
        Klope62 Jul 2, 07
        Do you even know what Cerebral Palsy is?
  • 0
    Ncjpr1993 Jul 3, 07
    They pulled it just for that? In what way was it used?
  • 0
    Klope62 Jul 4, 07
    "Super Spastic".

    http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/3213/mindquizjz9.jpg
  • 0
    Miss Razz Jul 4, 07
    Pfft. People are too sensitive these days. It's not the word that is offensive, it's the person who CHOOSES to be offended by it. It's not like it was deliberately trying to insult disabled people, let alone this mother's dead son. Geez. >_>


    - - -

    ...sorry to be random, but ... this gets me thinking, if a FFVII remake is ever made, I wonder if they'll include Tifa's infamous line "Cloud, stop being a r-tard and climb!"

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