Why are we censoring Karthus' face in North America?

Cheese Pope·Mar 27, 2016·220 votes·22,066 views

Karthus' face was censored in China.

http://i.imgur.com/4G37xeD.png

Karthus was given a visual update. His other skins were not given a splash update (like many other visual updates).

Now that Riot is "unifying" the art we are getting China's stupid censorships. Why are China's censorships being forced upon us in a country where we don't censor these sort of things?!?!??!?! They are giving us the splash arts where they cover up his face for his skins (the old splash arts) and they are blacking out his current face?!??!?!?!

http://i.imgur.com/dD2L7z8.gifv

WHY RIOT, WE DON'T LIVE IN CHINA WHY ARE YOU CENSORING HIS BEAUTIFUL FACE IN AMERICA.

151 Comments

YCitizenSnipsYMar 27, 201685 votes

The real question is why is statue of Karthas being changed, especially to a splash that doesn't even use the statue of liberty's pose.

Like can we also get an Uncle Ryze update where he is just reading from a scroll or something since Iconic poses for something that is being parodied doesn't matter anymore /s

Monkey D LuffyMar 27, 201620 votes

The real question is why they feel like this unification is necessary???

Velzard of KozMar 27, 20164 votes

To be honest - because many players requested the update. In some cases it seems Riot misunderstood it, but it would be little jerky to make new waves of hatred, because that way chances Riot will read boards and care about those little things will be negated even more. Players were now and then complaining (with many upvotes) that some of chinese slpash is better (more up to date) and if they don't want to waste resources on updating some (namely Pharaoh Nidalee), they can simply use the Chinese one. The only one which looks like ridiculous change is Nightraven Fiora. That literally looks like reverting it to older splash. Even the pose looks like the older slpashs.

Blue Moon WolfMar 27, 201646 votes

I would have said it was cause they are using the chinese splashes and will eventually update them to the current standard... but then I saw the change to his current splash... WTF RITO? HE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A SKULL FOR A HEAD ANYMORE! WHY IS HE GETTING CENSORED?! If they really wanted to censor some skulls, they should have another look at Hecarim who literally has 4 SKULLS ON HIS TORSO -__-

General Esdeath Mar 27, 20166 votes

It's not about the skull, it's the face of death. It's a Chinese culture thing.

Blue Moon WolfMar 27, 20166 votes

Well if that was the case, shouldn't Kindred's faces be cov- oh wait :p

iamthegoatofwarMar 27, 201627 votes

then trust me when I say im shocked they let jhin exist. china does not like the number 4.

ModAcademy KaynMar 27, 20162 votes

Yeah, but that would be like Candy Crush Saga trying to sue for Copyright of the word Saga. You just can't get rid of the number four, because you don't like it's existence.

iamthegoatofwarMar 27, 20162 votes

...if they own the company can't they basically order them to take jhin out? Only reason i could see them not doing that is the community back lash it could cause.

KaisadiIIaMar 27, 201612 votes

That doesn't work exactly that way. Although Tencent owns RIOT, they don't control nor they don't care about what they do. They only care about profits. They set certain economic goals that have to be met. The way they are met is irrelevant to them. The only situation where I think they would tell off RIOT is if they introduced something very unappropiate like a racist joke within the game.

GreenLoreMar 27, 201612 votes

But Karthus isn't death. In fact the face of death is seemingly MORE acceptable since riot didn't have to censor the face of grim reaper karthus.

And his ingame model isn't censored either,so I don't know why his splash art would need to be censored

General Esdeath Mar 27, 20161 votes

Dude, karthus has a skin where's he's the grim reaper. That's death. And the model isn't art so to them it's not as bad.

GreenLoreMar 27, 20166 votes

Yes and said skin went completely uncensored in china,because it is ok to show the face of death as a skull. I mean we even get the chinese reaper karthus splash and it looks like this: https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--FkP-rBCaBg/VvWrcgSOVfI/AAAAAAAAMpk/jl0vzBef0jUsgBJ5tk7-Ec_65_Q25wfHg/s1600/Karthus_Splash_3.jpg

AstôlfoMar 27, 201643 votes

because it looks like graves' cigar

DexterousGeckoMar 27, 201635 votes

Isn't riot 100% owned by a Chinese company now?

DraqoneMar 27, 201611 votes

{quoted}

Isn't riot 100% owned by a Chinese company now?

I really doubt chinese businessmen care about ideology as long as it doesn't influence their cash balance.

The SoulforgedMar 27, 201618 votes

I thought the point of the karthus VU was to be able to use his art in China...

GreenLoreMar 27, 201612 votes

I think it is more along the lines of: -China is used to karthus with a hidden face -So his face is hidden in shadows even in his new look so that it doesn't look that different. -Riot thinks it looks good with the hidden face,so they use it as the standard.

Like seriously that shadow doesn't hide that much and the ingame model is unchanged as well,so it kinda fails as a censor anyway.

RalanrMar 27, 201613 votes

Isn't it because China had a law against showcasing bones?

General Esdeath Mar 27, 20162 votes

They don't believe in showing the face of death

AntiSkillshotMar 27, 201632 votes

{quoted}

Isn't it because China had a law against showcasing bones?

Interesting to know that laws in China when it comes to bones affect people in the US. Interesting to remember that China gives no fucks about copyright laws in the US.

Star GuardíanMar 28, 20162 votes

Chinese laws don't affect companies outside of China. Riot's product is "sold" in China therefore they have to adhere to their rules in China. The only reason why it's affecting us is because Riot doesn't want to have a different product for each region. You're also wrong about China not caring about US copyright laws. All the Chinese companies that are multi national and have firms in the US and other countries sure as hell abide by those rules. It's the companies that never expand out of China that blatantly break copyright laws.

AntiSkillshotMar 28, 20163 votes

{quoted}

Chinese laws don't affect companies outside of China. Riot's product is "sold" in China therefore they have to adhere to their rules in China. The only reason why it's affecting us is because Riot doesn't want to have a different product for each region. You're also wrong about China not caring about US copyright laws. All the Chinese companies that are multi national and have firms in the US and other countries sure as hell abide by those rules. It's the companies that never expand out of China that blatantly break copyright laws.

Actually, no. Riot isn't selling a different products for each region. Every region gets the exact same skin. It's up to the players preference when it comes to the splashes. And, clearly, the NA server neither wants the "Nightraven" Fiora splash nor the change to Karthus' splash downgrades. And that's what I was jabbing at when I was talking about copyright laws.

Star GuardíanMar 28, 20162 votes

I'm saying that Riot doesn't want to have a different product for any region in anyway possible. They wanto have the same splashes, same lore, same logins, same everything for all regions. Up until this point part of the product has been different for the regions (splash arts) which is why they're unifying them to be the same.also remember this is a temporary fix until they actually update the splash arts. Also China is losing some of the splash arts they're attached to and love so it isn't a one way street.

AntiSkillshotMar 28, 20164 votes

{quoted}

I'm saying that Riot doesn't want to have a different product for any region in anyway possible. They wanto have the same splashes, same lore, same logins, same everything for all regions. Up until this point part of the product has been different for the regions (splash arts) which is why they're unifying them to be the same.also remember this is a temporary fix until they actually update the splash arts. Also China is losing some of the splash arts they're attached to and love so it isn't a one way street.

Temporary fixes are worse than just straight up fixing them right off the bat.

CynicattMar 27, 20165 votes

{quoted}

Isn't it because China had a law against showcasing bones?

When he was visually reworked they literally made sure to design him so that he would be acceptable for China. Now, what, they don't even like this? Something that was pretty much made for them, and that I'm sure they agreed upon?

The blackening of his face in his classic splash looks stupid, was obviously hastily done with the burn tool, and is unnecessary. Asking why is entirely realistic.

TygerMaulMar 27, 201612 votes

Logged in just to comment on this. Ridiculous when our game must be changed to conform to the standards of COMMUNIST China. The same China that jails political dissidents, limits the amount of children their citizens can have, censors the internet and all around treats its citizens like minions. Lame Riot.

IgotlazyMar 27, 201610 votes

Well in all honesty the birth limits are pretty damn logical considering just how many people live in that Country. China can only hold so many humans you know? Earth has a cap as well and eventually it's possible most populated countries will enforce a limit.

KaisadiIIaMar 27, 201610 votes

Why are you writing propaganda here? First of all, China is not a COMMUNIST country, it's a "socialist" one (de facto they are capitalist anyway). Second, I find it stupid that Americans in the XXI century still use "communist" as an insult. C'mon, you should respect other people's political views. Finally, the birth limit was necessary.

LankPantsMar 27, 20165 votes

Welcome to America, where Bernie Sanders, a completely sane Socialist is somehow just as controversial as Donald Trump, a completely insane far right arsehat, for lack of a better word.

KaisadiIIaMar 27, 20164 votes

Traditional right-wing media in European countries (at least mine) are tagging Donald Trump as a fascist, and his ways to power are seen similar to Hitler's. I sincerely don't know how too many people can support someone like that. Meanwhile some of the Bernie's proposals are considered basic rights in Europe.

LankPantsMar 27, 20163 votes

are tagging Donald Trump as a fascist, and his ways to power are seen similar to Hitler's.

I can certainly see that one, I still think Arsehat fits well though.

It Hertz When IPMar 27, 20165 votes

Wasting your time, average US citizen doesn't know the difference between fascism, socialism, and communism.

-A US citizen

SubunduMar 27, 20162 votes

{quoted}

Logged in just to comment on this. Ridiculous when our game must be changed to conform to the standards of COMMUNIST China. The same China that jails political dissidents, limits the amount of children their citizens can have, censors the internet and all around treats its citizens like minions. Lame Riot.

It's not a question of political ideologism. They own the company. They have more money and they take decisions. Period. That's the american model and one of the most famous american rules, dude...

CasterGilgameshMar 27, 20166 votes

i honestly kinda like the darkness it makes karthus seem more....i dont know it just seems to fit

4th3t0sMar 27, 20166 votes

Because they, as a international business, need to cater to universal appeal. The world doesn't revolve around the USA, get used to it. They explained this clearly in the S@20 post.

Zenthon PrimeMar 27, 201618 votes

I have an idea! What if we just had slightly different splashes for regions with special laws (aka China and literally nowhere else)?

Oh wait. That's exactly what we have right now. Never mind a major reason for the direction of the Karthus VU was specifically so that it wouldn't offend China, so why it's censored at all is kinda confusing.

LeetriMar 27, 20164 votes

That's exactly the opposite of what the entire point of this change is, Riot wants the game to look the same no matter where you play it. Is it a good change? I have no opinion on that, in some cases it's better and in some it's worse, but it's all about personal taste.

MaratsuneMar 27, 20166 votes

That face update is pretty crappy wow gg rito Almost as bad as the Karma splash changes

DraqoneMar 27, 20164 votes

{quoted}

That face update is pretty crappy wow gg rito Almost as bad as the Karma splash changes

I like some of the Karma splash changes...

SpartenA7991Mar 27, 20166 votes

It isn't being censored, its just getting SPOOKY. http://orig15.deviantart.net/7d3c/f/2014/252/8/3/2spooky4me_gif__by_noahfan-d7yi8tk.png

DigielfMar 27, 20166 votes

i cant believe people complain so much about the most unimportant details

Celio Hogane HDMar 27, 20164 votes

Racist is real bruh.

SolaxoMar 27, 20166 votes

Because Riot sold their souls to Tencent, their chinese overlords

EeyoreMar 27, 20164 votes

I was under the impression that Karthus' rework took into account Chinese culture in the first place. His new face is clearly ghoulish, rather than "possibly a skull" as it was on his old model. I can only assume from the change to his splash artwork that his VU did not do a sufficient job... but that just makes me feel bad for his splash artist. I think he did a good job of making him look gaunt but still skin...

Hís LambMar 27, 20164 votes

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't one of the splashes they are "unifying" have blatant bones/ Skull on it (I think it's the Grim Reaper)? And if we are to assume that bones are the main concern, I would think that one would be way more offensive. His current basic splash almost looks less skull-like, and more rotting flesh, while the new Grim splash is as boney as it could get. I'm just a little confused on the logic... I don't really see why his current splash needs to be changed, although the change is minimal I suppose.

Ulquiorra995Mar 28, 20162 votes

I really, really don't get Riot. First they completely ruin Karthus' Grim Reaper skin by making it nothing like Grim Reaper at all because of China not liking bones... and then they change his splash art into a traditional Grim Reaper - you know, a skeleton. And said skeleton is actually his original Chinese splash.

jama655Mar 27, 20161 votes

i think there doing it for cohesion sake