Board 8 > LISA: Definitive Edition releases with odd censorship decisions

(+) Yeah! (+)

Here's the statement from Serenity Forge, explaining what they've changed:

Game Information
Hey all, we want to discuss some content changes made to LISA for the Definitive Edition across different platforms. With LISA coming to consoles like PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, it�s something some of you have asked about. People are worried that based on the game�s content, LISA might be unduly censored in order to comply with the rules of these platforms in a way that harms its humor, world, or artistic integrity. We at Serenity Forge, alongside Dingaling, wanted to take the time to talk about these changes and the thinking behind them.
LISA contains sensitive content that is designed to move players out of complacency, to put them into a world that�s absurd and inappropriate, and to prompt players to confront how they feel in these specific moments. We feel confident in the direction and purpose of LISA�s content, but we also know that certain platforms have regulations that we have to follow.
There have been two specific changes to the game. Specifically, the Salvation Ranger introduction and Junior�s flashback have had small alterations made to them. Whether or not to make these changes was not easy to decide, but ultimately it became an exciting prospect to alter some content in a small way in hopes that it welcomes and includes more players.
In a similar vein, a few more changes were made on PlayStation only in order to launch the game on that platform, but we're happy to say that none of them affect the meaning and intent of LISA. For the PlayStation version of LISA, we�ve added a notice about the protagonists at the beginning of the game. Additionally, cigarettes have been renamed to �cigarette candy,� Joy is no longer referred to as �pills,� and alcohol has been renamed as �soda� in Joyful. Basically, the changes are not a big deal. We just wanted to make everyone aware of it in advance, because we know that LISA fans will notice it as a difference from the original games.
The Heart of LISA
Preserving the original content of the game has always been really important to us all, but the changes we decided to make on our own were ultimately done to better express the main themes and values of the game. Many characters in this game are miserable people persisting off of lies and fantasies. To a degree, you will always be dealing with inappropriate characters and circumstances in this game. Feeling uncomfortable and questioning motives is a big part of it. It's designed this way, but to what degree? And for what purpose?
The stories, jokes, and characters of LISA are never meant to attack or denigrate who someone is as a person. Instead, they are meant to motivate reflection. And although the game features dark characters, it doesn't want to wallow in this notion. Quite the opposite. Even when the world feels like it's completely lost and you are all alone in this mess, you still have to take care of yourself.
You still have to find a purpose, find what you love. We all deserve it, and we are in this together. Buried underneath all the chaos, that's what LISA is about. And if only a tiny piece of that resonates with even just one player, we will have done things right.

https://serenityforge.com/games/lisa-definitive-edition/content-changes

I get why you'd want to edit the intro for the black Salvation Ranger; it is predictable that "*monkey noises* no race jokes please!" would make people feel bad

https://youtu.be/IlT-JTbTDuc?list=PL5dr1EHvfwpOXzpCGz8epIZzr4-xZgS8H&t=689

I'm more confused about what edits they'll make to the Junior scene. Is it just... mom and dad are white, Junior is black, that's somehow offensive? Maybe they'll edit the sprite somehow? Maybe they'll make the dad a specific person rather than some unspecified black guy? idk you can watch the scene for yourself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eYqsZgYoFY

The PS5-exclusive edits to the sequel are even funnier. We have to pretend that alcohol is soda and Joy isn't "pills," but the first scene of the game, where her dad kidnaps a guy and forces her to kill him, is fine. Like watch this, and imagine that a couple of items have their names 4Kidz-ified, and there are no other changes:

https://youtu.be/qKuzdYJ7q0k?t=277

It's just funny that they're re going to censor LISA, but only these extremely specific points. It's like editing a video of a helicopter crash to put a little black bar over the wiener of one of the corpses.

Just bizarre that when it comes to AAA titles they can put out whatever they want.

But anything anime or indy, they want all kinds of edits done.

What is that Ronald Reagan ass PS5 censoring?

I don't actually care about this kind of thing, it's just very strange. Sony has tons of games with smoking and alcohol....?

UshiromiyaEva posted...

What is that Ronald Reagan ass PS5 censoring?

I don't actually care about this kind of thing, it's just very strange. Sony has tons of games with smoking and alcohol....?

havenMt played the game yet, but my understanding is its only changed in the part where you play as a kid? So the issue isnt alcohol, its a kid having it.

Moar liek the DEFINITELY CENSORED Edition mirite?

Sony is honestly The Worst when it comes to censorship these days.

I saw that monkey noise clip once and it immediately made me decide I didn't want to play these games so removing that is almost certainly the correct decision

Thanks for a comprehensive and well-researched opening post, NeatoAnAccount.

Predictably, a lot of people are decrying this out of opposition to any kind of censorship and don't seem to be open to the idea that as part of making extensive changes for the sake of a "Definitive Edition", a game's creators might also want to make it less racist.

Another change not mentioned yet: the song Work Harder has been altered to no longer sample a sound effect from Shenmue. RIP: https://twitter.com/DearNostalgist/status/1681344246224175104

Oh god dammit I was going to ask about that but got sidetracked bybthe wierd stuff.

Understandable but that sucks lol.

I'm more confused about what edits they'll make to the Junior scene

According to a Reddit comment: Juniors son no longer has red lips. That may be the only change.

again, havent played the game so I dunno exactly why that was an issue. I assume he looked a little too Mr. Popoesque?

red or pink lips on black people is a blatantly racist caricature going back for literal centuries, how can you not know why that was an issue

WazzupGenius00 posted...

red or pink lips on black people is a blatantly racist caricature going back for literal centuries, how can you not know why that was an issue

Not everyone is American

yeah that was a dumb of me to say, obviously I know the issue

I think I was just trying to give it some benefit of the doubt in my mind that maybe it wasnt obviously racist looking in this case somehow like maybe they could have been red without being red like that

but no it looked pretty bad

https://lisa-rpg.fandom.com/wiki/Junior

(just realized there was also that clip in the first post that I could have looked at, oops)

MacArrowny posted...

Not everyone is American

most other countries are also racist against black people and this particular caricature originates from Europe to begin with

So the black salvation ranger's into was changed to "*elephant sounds* no race jokes, thank you."

sergiocornaga posted...

Another change not mentioned yet: the song Work Harder has been altered to no longer sample a sound effect from Shenmue. RIP: https://twitter.com/DearNostalgist/status/1681344246224175104

I didn't know that, that's a bummer. RIP indeed. And you're welcome :D I should start thanking people for good posts

MoogleKupo141 posted...

According to a Reddit comment: Juniors son no longer has red lips. That may be the only change.

again, havent played the game so I dunno exactly why that was an issue. I assume he looked a little too Mr. Popoesque?

You can see him in this video. That change sounds fine. Every other character in the game has lips the same color as their skin, including the other black people

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eYqsZgYoFY