Graves cigar got removed :(

Write to your local ESRB representative, folks!

just dont touch irelias ass and we'll be fine

Interesting. Janna and Evelynn can be half naked in their splash arts, Miss Fortune, Sona, and Ahri can have breasts the size of watermelons, but if Graves has a cigar everyone flips their shit? I remember back in the good ol' days when anything suggestive or sexual in it was given the ESRB banhammer.

Well it's good to have a red clarify the issue at least.

Gun ownership is also highly restricted and outright illegal in some countries that play league of legends. Perhaps we should also remove Graves' gun and replace it with something less offensive.

I guess you better take out Gragas' beer too, while you're at it. I do believe that alcohol consumption is even more restricted than tobacco so let's take that out.

Also, all the murdering and killing in the game. That might kinda be age-restricted in some countries so we should axe that.

All the cleavage too. All that sex is pretty taboo in some countries. I'd say there is a "risk of censorship or age rating problems in various regions".

Ahri literally seduces men, has intercourse with them, and then murders them. Call me crazy but that might be taboo somewhere. Better get on it!!

Additionally, I think it's a great idea to keep Graves with that same facial expression and "cigar chewing" grin. The art looks good and whole, and his facial expression makes 100% sense without the context of a cigar. Doesn't look lazy at all!

The least you could do is give him the old 4Kids Sanji treatment and let him suck on a lollipop.

Hey all,

I can give a bit of context on why the cigar was removed. Essentially, there was a significant risk of censorship or age rating problems in various regions based on the depiction of tobacco usage. This kind of thing is pretty strictly enforced in parts of the world, and in this case it became clear that we needed to remove the cigar in his splash. The relevant laws sometimes apply differently depending on content type, which is why something that might work in peripheral content like a cinematic may not work in content like splashes that are tied specifically to the core game.

I can also speak a bit as to why we wouldn't create multiple splashes in response to this kind of issue. One of our goals moving forward with splash art, compared to how things have been done in the past, is to create content for all regions. In the past we've created modified or entirely different splashes based on the needs or appeal of certain regions, but this is something we've been working to change moving forward. Where possible, we want to stay away from sharding the game unnecessarily for different regions. It may seem like a small thing in this case, but we believe that being consistent with this artistic approach best allows for a common community and common stories for players to experience and share with each other.

-Silver

i dont think allowing NA to have the cigar is going to hurt anyone...seriously this is complete bs just like kats christmas skin

-Silver

Are you going to remove Gragas' booze barrel, then?

I'm sick of this censorship bullshit. Removing skeletons was bad enough. If Riot can make so much money by pandering to other countries' little censorship qualms, it can afford to make localized versions of models, splash arts, etc.

Don't give me bullshit about "oh noes, dat would take so much teimz away from develerpin' moer stuffsz 4 u." No. Riot has more than enough money to start up an army of localization teams.

I'm not a fan of tobacco (I had a close relative die from smoking-induced lung cancer), but I can see that this is complete crap. Is this more pandering for the precious Chinese playerbase?

I think it's more because of the fact that a lot of young people (13+) play this game, and YES cigars make you look badass, but for young people, they'll probably have a puff to try and look as badass as Graves or something. I know the difference but others may not.

As in regards to the death thing... who knows?

Rito reminds me of 4Kids right now. They should make Graves' gun invisible while they're at it.

now he's 15% less cool :(

... 90%, pls get it right. >:l

"our youth" is killed by cars more than guns. Remove cars.

Yes, it's worth having those people not be able to play it. Absolutely.

One thing goes, then another, then another and another. An endless cycle of censorship and contortion, to fit our game into their molds.

It is worth it.

Mechanics removed, one at a time. Mana burn, dodge and others.. silences are slowly going away. Splash art and models changed, no more skulls because in china "bones too spooky". Limited Edition skins re-sold (bloody liars.), to make some quick cash, which of course was poured directly into "muh esports!"

Which straw will break you?

They have a champion entirely based on alcohol. I don't think a cigar should be even remotely a problem.