lUnAtIc
05-20-2007, 03:43 AM
Link:
http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5689&Itemid=53
Capcom Wary of "Smear Campaigns"
Earlier today I was perusing Capcom’s latest financial report and saw an interesting sidenote for investors outlining the business risks associated with the wild world of game development.There were a couple potential landmines that Capcom pointed out that were kind of interesting, but not wholly surprising. Listed were the typical risks you’d think of: rising development costs, rapid obsolescence of game software, seasonal fluctuations, transitional periods, blah, blah, blah.But one risk that Capcom takes into account stood out:
“4. Violent Scenes and Depictions
Some of our popular software titles have provocative graphics and text, such as violent and grotesque scenes. Accordingly, in the event of violent incidents and other criminal cases involving juveniles, we may be subject to a smear campaign by some sections of the mass media which often point out the correlation between crime and games.
Therefore, there is a risk that it may result in having an adverse effect on our business performance, corporate value and narrowed distribution channel under instructions by the relevant authorities.”
It's just interesting that the media's focus on violent content in games is now a part of a company's overall business psyche. Capcom has been relatively lucky that its games haven’t been a major target of these “mass media smear campaigns” lately, at least to the extent of a company like Rockstar. Every now and then Resident Evil will be lumped into a quick list of games inappropriate for young ‘uns. It’s really kind of surprising Capcom hasn’t drawn more attention with Dead Rising. Anyone who’s played that game can confirm that there are some fairly gory moments in the game that give new meaning to the term “smear campaign.” But I guess you can’t beat a hooker to death with a baseball bat in it, so Fox News is cool with it.
http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5689&Itemid=53
Capcom Wary of "Smear Campaigns"
Earlier today I was perusing Capcom’s latest financial report and saw an interesting sidenote for investors outlining the business risks associated with the wild world of game development.There were a couple potential landmines that Capcom pointed out that were kind of interesting, but not wholly surprising. Listed were the typical risks you’d think of: rising development costs, rapid obsolescence of game software, seasonal fluctuations, transitional periods, blah, blah, blah.But one risk that Capcom takes into account stood out:
“4. Violent Scenes and Depictions
Some of our popular software titles have provocative graphics and text, such as violent and grotesque scenes. Accordingly, in the event of violent incidents and other criminal cases involving juveniles, we may be subject to a smear campaign by some sections of the mass media which often point out the correlation between crime and games.
Therefore, there is a risk that it may result in having an adverse effect on our business performance, corporate value and narrowed distribution channel under instructions by the relevant authorities.”
It's just interesting that the media's focus on violent content in games is now a part of a company's overall business psyche. Capcom has been relatively lucky that its games haven’t been a major target of these “mass media smear campaigns” lately, at least to the extent of a company like Rockstar. Every now and then Resident Evil will be lumped into a quick list of games inappropriate for young ‘uns. It’s really kind of surprising Capcom hasn’t drawn more attention with Dead Rising. Anyone who’s played that game can confirm that there are some fairly gory moments in the game that give new meaning to the term “smear campaign.” But I guess you can’t beat a hooker to death with a baseball bat in it, so Fox News is cool with it.