HG/SS Game Corner Changed - for EVERYWHERE outside Japan

[bobandbill]

Hey hey something else not yet mentioned here that was on serebii.net about HG/SS - no matter where you buy the game from, the slots are altered! Not just Europe, but everywhere.

But it's not all that bad...

Finally, the final bit of information is in regards to the Game Corner. The Game Corner has changed in all regions outside of Japan. Instead of the slot machines, they have added a minigame called Voltorb Flip. This game is reminiscent of games such as minesweeper where you have to flip tiles and you get a variety of bonuses of multipliers (x1, x2 & x3). However, in addition to that, you may also find Voltorbs which are placed randomly in each set. You get shown how many Voltorbs are in each row and column and your task is to get the multipliers and not hit any Voltorb tiles. As you progress without hitting Voltorbs, the levels get harder, more Voltorb tiles appear and the higher coin multipliers become more abundant. If you keep hitting Voltorbs, you will end up back at the bottom level.
So unlike Europe's Platinum, there's another game instead. (Mind you some more details about this may come later...).

As for why...well, someone elsewhere put forth the following:

Its part of PEGI's rating scheme. It had become apparent at the Platinum rating survey that there were certain things obtainable via slot machine winnings that were not obtainable any where else.

I contacted PEGI shortly after the EU release of Platinum, and they said the instance above is recognised as encouragement to gamble. If Nintendo kept it in, it would face a 12+ rating.Well isn't that lovely. ;P

[Scyther]

This is the reason I bought in in Japanese~~

Even though, you know, I can't read Japanese. I'm afraid Rossetta Stone doesn't work as well as it should...

[Strange Wigglytuff]

Well, I'm wondering whether or not you can still get coins from this.

Not to say that I wouldn't mind alternatives to getting Game Corner-exclusive TMs (and I probably wouldn't have to indulge for coins to get such TMs), but... I don't see myself making a big deal over this.

[processr]

From the talk of 'coin multipliers', I would presume coins are still available.

Anyway, not surprised about this. At least Anni can't blame the EU for all of this now. ;D

[An-chan]

So unlike Europe's Platinum, there's another game instead. (Mind you some more details about this may come later...).

Actually, having another minigame is fine by me, as I seem to have no luck at all when it comes to slots. I just keep losing and losing... But, this still annoys me. Not the change, but the reason behind it. Here we have a game in which you catch monsters inside these funny balls and then make them battle, and the rating people whine about slot games? Also, how is it "encouragement to gambling"? The coins you use aren't even the currency of the game, but a completely different system, resemblant to chips or tickets you win at some arcades. As I recall, you get the first coins for free. If the slots game was played with something called "beans" or "miniature Poké balls" instead, would it still be censored?

So, yeah, I'm okay with the change, essentially, but the reasons behind it bug me a lot. I don't like it how nowadays essentially everything but violence is censored from kids. I mean, hitting someone with an anvil or dropping them off a cliff is perfectly natural, but showing a ten-year-old a slot machine or the back of a naked person isn't. But, I digress.



Anyway, not surprised about this. At least Anni can't blame the EU for all of this now. ;D

Of course I can, it'll just be very far-fetched and label me as "insane conspiracy person" or something. *xD I'm just eagerly awaiting to see what they censor this time, now that the slot machines are already taken care of. In any case, since the dangerous youth-corrupting stuff was actually replaced with something this time, I'm not going to complain about it. Except maybe a little. *:V

Because complaining is funnn, especially if you get to blame the EU or the government or something. *:B

[Dragonfree]

What puzzles me is why they're making a big deal about it now. The Pokémon games have always had slots machines, operated with coins you need to waste an awful lot of in-game currency on, and there have always been prizes (hello, Porygon) you can't get anywhere else. Why is it suddenly now unacceptable?

And to boot, the new minigame doesn't actually sound like it's one bit less of a gambling thing than the slots - it may not have a real-life casino analogue, but you still presumably play it for coins which cost in-game money and, based on luck, may win huge sums or slowly lose all you have. It's gambling in exactly the same sense. :/ It seems like more of a "This might give kids the idea that slots machines are fun" thing.

[Strange Wigglytuff]

What puzzles me is why they're making a big deal about it now. The Pokémon games have always had slots machines, operated with coins you need to waste an awful lot of in-game currency on, and there have always been prizes (hello, Porygon) you can't get anywhere else. Why is it suddenly now unacceptable?

And to boot, the new minigame doesn't actually sound like it's one bit less of a gambling thing than the slots - it may not have a real-life casino analogue, but you still presumably play it for coins which cost in-game money and, based on luck, may win huge sums or slowly lose all you have. It's gambling in exactly the same sense. :/ It seems like more of a "This might give kids the idea that slots machines are fun" thing.

That is a very good point, but I'm guessing someone at the ESRB have decided to just complain about it now instead of doing it back then. However, instead of putting their foot down, Nintendo decided to kiss up obliged to said complaint in order to maintain their public image.

That's just a wild guess, though. If anything, there could be a law underway against gambling in video games. It happened with Europe after all... -_-;

[bobandbill]

Oh hey who wants pictures and a video? Came from the Korean version of the game - they too also have the censoring of the slots.

Came from here btw: http://www.pokecommunity.com/showpost.php?p=5524746&postcount=61
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4o47kDM-nU&feature=player_embedded
http://img.skitch.com/20100205-ghkea6ft67xrufjskib3q8nfja.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/208wfub.jpg
http://img.skitch.com/20100205-1ce6xjiqtau9u4ki5hc6rtgfih.jpghttp://img.skitch.com/20100205-1uu39iemtcgir5ju8k7ikyf1wf.jpg

[Camisado]

Ohh, this looks similar to one of the older games. Was it GSC that had the little card games as well as the slots?

Aha, yes =D http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Card_flip

Well, at least it's interactive rather than just picking up coins, but...really, isn't it still gambling? xD

[An-chan]

Well, at least it's interactive rather than just picking up coins, but...really, isn't it still gambling? xD

If there's no reference to real-life casinos, of course it's not gambling. *>> I mean, it's not like the definition of gambling is


Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods.

This is sudden censoring is made of failure. I rest my case.

[bobandbill]

Good thing they didn't apply that to, you know, the general idea of Pokemon - you battle trainers by pitting creaturse with magical powers against each other, and if you win you get money, if you lose the battle you lose money - say this doesn't sound like a certain something in a way now, does it? *whistles*

[An-chan]

Good thing they didn't apply that to, you know, the general idea of Pokemon - you battle trainers by pitting creaturse with magical powers against each other, and if you win you get money, if you lose the battle you lose money - say this doesn't sound like a certain something in a way now, does it? *whistles*

Yes, but see, they're not a reference to real roosters or dogs or monkeys armed with knifes. Because, you see, magical animals are an entirely different thing, obviously. It's not animal cruelty. Apparently, it's channelling demons and being an unholy monster lord.

Besides, violence is nothing. Using chemicals to enhance the stats of your critter in a fight is nothing. Receiving money from the people whose Pokémon you beat up is nothing. Being told "I hope to see you again soon!" by the nurses at every Pokémon Center is nothing. But, dear gracious, slot games? The innocent minds of our youth would be spoiled for all eternity!