505 cans Rule of Rose

By Games Industry.biz Published 24 November, 2006

Thanks to controversy.

505 Games will no longer publish controversial horror title Rule of Rose in the UK.

The game was due to go on release today, but has faced a storm of criticism regarding its content, with even the Mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni, and European justice and security commissioner Franco Frattini blasting the games' "obscene cruelty and brutality."

"Following discussions with our retail and publishing partners, 505 Games has taken the decision not to publish Rule of Rose in the UK at this time," said the publisher.

The move is an about turn by 505 Games, which recently challenged critics to view the game itself, after ratings boards PEGI and the Interactive Software and Video Standards Council judged the title suitable for release.

Picture of Games.

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Comments (74) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Mashum #1 5 years ago

    Don't they know anything about Italian politics? They should have just bunged him 50 quid.

  • Steroyd #2 5 years ago

    Wow no wonder Sony didn't touch it with a barge pole.

  • rudedudejude #3 5 years ago

    ffs.

    Someone get a youtube up of this video! I bet it's lame aa hell.

    Free Speech ftw

  • AcidSnake #4 5 years ago

    I still haven't played the game so can't comment directly, however if PEGI found it suitable for release then the canning is a very bad thing indeed...

    I don't know what's going on with the mayor in rome...
    We had elections a few months ago, no need to be making this kind of propaganda...
    Hope this won't continue...

  • ccfb #5 5 years ago

    Can anyone describe this terrible content? I know nothing about it.

  • toy_brain #6 5 years ago

    Pity, but as the game was picking up some really bad (50%-ish) reviews I guess its not a huge loss.

  • Decoded #7 5 years ago

    Shame they pandered to the reactionary idiots. Import it is, then.

  • Eldritch #8 5 years ago

    Wrong headline, EG.

    Should be "No Rule of Rose in the UK" or something like that. 505 didn't can the game itself, right?

  • Blerk #9 5 years ago

    Boo! Hiss!

    It might not have been the best game in the world, but it went through classification and came out of it fine with an 'adults only' rating. Adults should be allowed the choice, regardless of what some dumb fuck politician who's never even played a game thinks.

    Is it just barred for the UK, or is the release going ahead in other parts of Europe?

  • brooza #10 5 years ago

    So the game's not coming out in the UK because of complaints from the mayor of Rome...

  • Blerk #11 5 years ago

    We don't need games where you kill children

    You don't kill children. Didn't your Mum teach you not to believe everything you read?
    Edited by 1 at 24/11/06 @ 11:52

  • Decoded #12 5 years ago

    I just bought 505's Michigan: Report From Hell which, according to G4, has genuinely disturbing content. Oh noes!

    No politician is going to stand in the way of my corruption through video games.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #13 5 years ago

    Too bad.

  • Blerk #14 5 years ago

    In Metal Gear Solid, Snake is captured and tortured. Do you want to ban that too?

  • Sko #15 5 years ago

    EuroSexMachine, do you edit The Sun, by chance?
    Edited by 1 at 24/11/06 @ 12:02

  • Retroid #16 5 years ago

    The ignorant fuckwits have won, then? :/

  • Cappy #17 5 years ago

    Of course EuroSexMachine would be singing a different tune if the game was an Xbox exclusive.

  • Decoded #18 5 years ago

    Don't feed the troll, people.

  • [TR] #19 5 years ago

    I say we should all listen to politicians.
    After all, we put them where they are, so they know we trust them!
    What's that? Go kill some people half a world away for God knows what reason?
    Certainly!
    What again? Don't play games that can, in the slight chance I'm already a bit unstable, mess with my head or God forbid, make me think for myself?
    Thank you Mr. Politician Man. You're our saviour!

    All I can say regarding Rule of Rose is: thank God for piracy!

  • Blerk #20 5 years ago

    Quotes:

    VSC secretary general Laurie Hall told MCV: “I have no idea where the suggestion of in-game sadomasochism has come from, nor children being buried underground. These are things that have been completely made up.”

    “There isn’t any underage eroticism,” added Hall. “And the most violent scene does indeed see one of the young girls scare Jennifer with a rat on a stick. But the rat’s actually quite placid towards her and even licks her face.”

    Source.

  • Sko #21 5 years ago

    I have to wonder - are they really pulling it because of the controversy or just because they reckon it'll sell bugger all. I mean, review wise, it's been lucky to reach the 60s. I'm keen to see what the sales have been like in the US for it.

  • Cappy #22 5 years ago

    Talking of violence between children does anybody remember Gripper Stebson period Grange Hill? Sick filth from the BBC. Ban it!

  • Steroyd #23 5 years ago

    <a href=http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=LaVxy8WLLVc>OUCH!!</a>

    At least it's not what people think.

    /wonders how it got an 18. :/

  • peak_performance #24 5 years ago

    Oh come on, it was friggin rated 16+ by PEGI. A game containing scenes of pedophilic nature would NOT score so low. No matter how questionable ratings can be sometimes, that wouldn't slip through.

    I remember a horror (or terror as the author himself preferred calling it) PNPRPG called Little Fears making this kind of headlines a few years ago. And the accusations where, as usual, mostly bollocks.

    edit: didn't even score points for sexual references...
    Edited by 1 at 24/11/06 @ 12:07

  • Decoded #25 5 years ago

    I shouldn't think they would be worried about low sales - have you seen some of the stuff 505 have released? Rule of Rose almost certainly would have outsold anything else in their catalogue, particularly with the publicity it has received.

  • #26 5 years ago

    So if the game was due out today, and all the copies were printed and pressed, wtf is going to happen to them?

    Surely this will hit 505 hard in the pockets?

  • Blerk #27 5 years ago

    That's probably my biggest worry, actually. 505 are a tiny operation who release great stuff which otherwise wouldn't make it over here. If this busts them up then I'm going on a drug-fuelled rampage with a cricket bat.
    Edited by 1 at 24/11/06 @ 12:13

  • Decoded #28 5 years ago

    If this busts them up then I'm going on a drug-fuelled rampage with a cricket bat.

    Need a sidekick?

    /prepares molotov cocktails

  • Cappy #29 5 years ago

    Christ, that video review is conclusive proof that Americans are by and large complete morons. Game bad. Because its not exactly like Resident Evil 4. Purely from the footage you can see they are going about the game all wrong, bashing enemies left right and centre. You don't like the combat? Guess what? You can run away. Perhaps we'll give you a nice copy of Final Fight to play instead...

  • Steroyd #30 5 years ago

    Based on the G4 review whoever thought the game was about Children, Perversion, Torture and Violence without even looking at the game proper needs to wash their filthy sick mind.

    /looks at EuroSexMachine.
    Edited by 1 at 24/11/06 @ 12:21

  • Danbojones Verified Senior Staff Writer, GamesIndustry.biz #31 5 years ago

    Meh, no great loss by all accounts but it is sad to see the forces of Conservatism getting the casting vote again.

  • WrongShui #32 5 years ago

    I suppose it possible they stopped the disc being printed ages ago and announced its canned on release day just to upset the two people who were going to buy it.

  • Tonka #33 5 years ago

    Wasn't this games biggest problem that it was crap?
    Anyways. In the land of the blind, the autopilot is the king.

  • Heds #34 5 years ago

    Hmm. Doesn't this give the wrong impression to the Jack Thompson wannabes?
    "Shout loudly enough, and you'll bury what you don't like!"?

  • stx #35 5 years ago

    What about the rest of Europe?

  • Blerk #36 5 years ago

    Which one are you aspiring to be?

    Any one of them would appear to be a step up from "EuroSexMachine".

  • Azazel #37 5 years ago

    I don't want virtue to exist anywhere. I want everyone corrupt.

  • Pike #38 5 years ago

    No one gives a shit about you lame trolling, Eurosexmuppet. Please just shut up.

  • Decoded #39 5 years ago

    The song "Faster" has just exploded into life inside my head. Yay for Azazel \o/

  • jellyhead #40 5 years ago

    Love the fact the someone called EuroSEXmachine is giving us jip about game morality and ethics! ha ha ha ha.
    Maybe they shouldn't believe everything that mummy reads to them and that includes unsubstantiated reports of child cruelty in games?
    Edited by 1 at 24/11/06 @ 12:44

  • Netfreak #41 5 years ago


    505 Games will no longer publish controversial horror title Rule of Rose in the UK.


    Smart move considering that the game actually sucked.

  • bloodflowers #42 5 years ago

    Game doesn't look that good now I've seen a vid. Wonder what will happen to the order I'd placed? Now that it's been pulled due to the IGNORANT WHINING MEDIA AND DUMB POLITICIANS, does anyone know where it /has/ had a release to import? I feel duty bound to own a copy now.

  • Kami #43 5 years ago

    Doesn't matter if the game was crap or not... halting the release of a game because of a bunch of ignorant people who completely missed the point of the game and used a bunch of lies to try and stop its release is a VERY BAD THING.

    505 should not have caved in. So what? The game may have been on the average side. So was Manhunt, and the media circus made that sell.

    And on the flipside, there are people who need to learn to think for themselves in these parts, don't believe all you read. Just because someone says something, does not make it true... I'll bet you believed there were Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq, right?

  • bloodflowers #44 5 years ago

    Kami: well, there were WMDs in Iraq. Only thing is they had propellors and tracks, and US/British flags on them.

  • Royal Fool #45 5 years ago

    I reckon this game will become quite the rare collectible if they actually had pressed copies ready to go, just stashed somewhere in a warehouse.

  • el_pollo_diablo #46 5 years ago

    A shame really.

    Not enough games about horticulture.

  • HelloWorld #47 5 years ago

    I don't really know what this game is about, but it sucks when people pander to the Daily Mail and stuff.

  • El_MUERkO #48 5 years ago

    505 are the wailing masses bitches /o\

    Some small enterprising publisher should take it off them and make a tidy sum!

    "THE GAME THEY TRIED TO BAN!"

  • absolutezero #49 5 years ago

    The game may have gotten some poor reviews but the market for Rule of Rose is'nt one thats swayed by reviews. They are the people that bought Silent Hill 4 and Forbidden Siren 2, they bought Michigan and the other Simple Series games.

    Seriously this is a joke, theres nothing all that bad in Rule of Rose, nothing in comparison to what takes place in Clock Tower 3 thats for sure.

    This is a pretty sad day in European gaming, the game was released in the States by Atlus with no fan-fare or ruckus, in fact no one cared apart from those that wanted to play it.

  • dadrester #50 5 years ago

    Yeah I agree totally! I'm glad the government banned this sick, child-rape simulator! PEGI are all perverted pedos, murderers and rapists, as is proved by the fact they let Canis Canum Edit (the game that indoctrinates and trains kids how to commit gruesome high school murders) get through certification at all, let alone with a BBFC 15 rating.

    Oh hang on! Maybe I'm wrong and actually the reason PEGI passed this is because they felt the content was fine for the rating they allocated it. Just as the very vocal opposers of Bully didn't actually have any idea of the content of the game, or for that matter European law, neither to the the critics of this. There are VERY strict laws on violent content (in Film and TV as well as in games) where children are being depicted. Notice how GTA has schoolbuses but no school kids? In Fable you can kill everything apart from the children?

    It's odd, maybe this'll turn into a Clockwork Orange type thing, where people only want to play it because it's not available...

    Anyway EuroSexMachine, if you're not just baiting us (which you clearly are) I have to point out your weak line of argument. Have you played the game? Of course not! Aside from you not lowering yourself morally to play it, it's not released over here! maybe a career in Law might be good for you. I hear Florida is good place to get mentoring.

  • lambtron #51 5 years ago

    haha.

  • Blerk #52 5 years ago

    Seriously this is a joke, theres nothing all that bad in Rule of Rose, nothing in comparison to what takes place in Clock Tower 3 thats for sure.

    That's a good point, actually! That bit where the serial killer smashes the little girl in the face with the huge hammer still makes me wince.

  • Kami #53 5 years ago

    The problem isn't in the content... these politicians smelled a weak and easy target and honed in with their Super Sense of "Justice" (tm) and their Mighty Words of Bull**** to make the world a nicer place.

    It doesn't matter if it's tame, it doesn't matter if they tell lies to get it canned - it's free press for them, shows they are standing up against an evil, violent media and a twisted form of entertainment they cannot understand.

    And it's games like Rule of Rose that suffer...

  • PSegAgesPete #54 5 years ago

    Well now that's happened, it makes me (and prolly many others too) to want get hold of this title even more so now! Importers here i come! ;)

  • Steroyd #55 5 years ago

    yeah i've got that urge to get the game to see what all the fuss was about.

    I've also got an urge to look at Superman just to see how spectacularaly crap it is with my own eyes.
    Edited by 1 at 24/11/06 @ 14:12

  • absolutezero #56 5 years ago

    As a horror-adventure game it works quite well, the cut-scenes are wonderful and the story pretty interesting, the combat is horrible but you can run away from nearly everything.

    Like I said if your the kind of person that enjoys horror games despite their flaws theres alot to love in Rule of Rose, kinda like Cold Fear with less cliches. Actually its nothing like Cold Fear but I think you get my point.

  • Skeletor #57 5 years ago

    The stupidity and false political correctness of some people in the industry is just incredible. If such actions would be common among book publishers, classics like "Lord of the Flies" would have never been published. Maybe it's time to address the issue of ignorance and lies in the industry instead of continueing this senseless discussion about violence.
    Btw, I'm pretty sure there will be a German version. Should come with English audio too, considering it's a rather small release.
    Edited by 1 at 24/11/06 @ 14:24

  • dr_lha #58 5 years ago

    Funny really. This game got released in the USA without incident or notice. I had never even heard of it until I spotted it for sale in Best Buy one day, checked out the review and saw that at best it was a mediocre survival horror game. I think its release would have been similarly ignored in the UK if these idiots didn't kick up such a stink about it!

  • chupachups #59 5 years ago

    "We don't need games where you kill children"

    ...so it's okay to have games where you kill adults, even innocent bystanders who are doing no one any harm?

    People shouldn't have the right to ban something unless they have fairly good evidence that it makes bad things happen, and no such evidence exists as far as games are concerned. If they find that some murderer played violent video games, that doesn't mean the games caused his murderous tendencies, it's more likely that they were just drawn to violence by mental problems that existed anyway. If games didn't exist, they'd watch violent films, and if films didn't exist they'd read violent books.

    As is often pointed out, Japan has the most violent video games and animated series in the world, yet they have one of the lowest murder rates in the world.

    Alcohol would be a far more likelier candidate for a ban in terms of causing people to become violent and dangerous. Fights between two drunk people are the largest single type of murder in Britain, and always have been.
    Edited by 5 at 24/11/06 @ 15:12

  • kangarootoo #60 5 years ago

    @EuroSexMachine

    "If you will play games like this with child torture in it, where will your sick mind draw the line?. Do you have any morals or no go areas?"

    You seem to be suggesting there are only two moral states? Your's being one, and complete and total deviance being the other. Clearly that is rubbish.

    Using the old "if you think that is OK, you probably think all of (insert evil pursuits here) is OK too" angle is pretty lame. Some would describe it as "putting words in other people's mouths". I prefer the term "strawman argument".

    [link url=http:/ /en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawman_argument
    ]http://en .wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawman_ar...[/link]

    You don't help yourself make a point, you just end up looking ignorant (its clear you don't actually know very much about the title in question) and unconcerned with discovering the truth.

    Some might also say the gentleman doth protest too much. Worried how you might feel if you played the game are you?

  • Nova5lag #61 5 years ago

    Argh nanny culture strikes again... please please please tell us what to eat, drink, think and even play now.... I believe the next campaign should be to tell all the ignorant feckers how to breathe underwater.

  • jonnyreb #62 5 years ago

    Anyone seen the comments from Sir Peter over at Lionhead about Fable2??

    I can see that one getting some publicity too - all about how you can play an 'evil' dad and force your kids to go hungry etc.

    Loads about it in this month's Official Xbox 360 magazine - if you can bear to read it that is.....

    By the way - just ignore the EuroSexmachine dude......he is a regular troll in these parts and will argue a point just to get a negative reaction.

    Some people just don't have anything better to do.............

  • tenma #63 5 years ago

    So you guys are cool with GTA, Gears of War, and Mortal Kombat games, but not Rule of Rose?


    oO; k.

    EuroSexMachine: How about reading the quotes that dispel your own ignorant misconceptions about the game instead of making yourself seem more like a prat than you already have been?

  • dudefella #64 5 years ago

    lol @ ESM

    You haven't even played the game. It's probably not that bad. And even if it is, how does that make you a violent and depraved person just by playing it? Good job on being a populistic retard.

    How you can actually say stuff like that and keep a straight face is beyond me.

  • aine #65 5 years ago

    I've pretty much lost all respect for 505 right there. And that was a lot of respect. Unless that whole "retail and publishing partners" thing meant their distributors refused to carry it or something, in which case I suppose it's not their fault.

  • abigsmurf #66 5 years ago

    I respected 505 as any publisher which goes out of their way to publish niche games deserve lots of credit. However Self cencorship is something I can't stomach at all

  • Machetazo #67 5 years ago

    So, the Times newspaper actually took the time to accept 505's invitation to all media to experience the game for themselves in Italy, then? Or did they just print utterly inaccurate heresay, from a sensationalist angle, to sell copies, with an easy scapegoat as the sacrifice for parents' piece of mind.
    It's a Mature rated game, FFS. Therefore, the parents are at fault, if kids are anywhere near it. Irrespective of whether the game's a truly groundbreaking, phenominally enjoyable experience, 505 had enough faith in it to back it for local release.

    Do they have any legal angle to pursue the Times, here?
    Damnit, lots of people complain when there's stagnation, and cookie-cutter rehashes of previously successful formula, but then kick up a fuss when something comes out that is new, just because it's outside of their own pedestrian comfort zone.
    Guess what, little miss/mr insecure in their own moral integrity; you're always going to be locked away inside that little perspex box you love to wander about in.
    Open the borders for everyone! This is why culture remains so stagnant in the UK, specifically. A staunch belief that we somehow know best! A quick look at figures of our television viewing habits would probably dispel that idea, quick enough.

    As much as I was looking forward to playing this, I can't really say much directly in its defence, but I am gravely concerned for the precedence that this fiasco might set.
    The Times is only interested in gaming when it chooses to be, in fact, gaming's relation with mainstream media has never really been complimentary, with the media playing the master role, far too often.
    I am starting to believe that mainstream media isn't worth the Industry's time, or worthy of its attention.
    Why bite the hand that fed you, you ignorant morons?!

    Enjoy running stories on "Crazy-Snowboard-Cartooning-Calamities the sixth" the next time you get an E3 invite...If we limit the pool of inspiration from which our developers can "safely" draw, how can there be any surprise when the games they present us with are equally as limited in scope, direction and subject matter.
    Usually, you think of the smaller guys being the (r)evolutionaries, the ones willing to take that difficult decision, to enable gaming to be a progressive entertainment medium - when the big fish just can't for their bulk. Then, something like this happens.

  • Azazel #68 5 years ago

    videoGaiden have a review of this on Sunday night actually. Wasn't really that interested previously, but I'll be watching more attentively now I think.

  • #69 5 years ago

    so, uh.. is the game still releasing in EUROPE or not? god, I fucking hate you ukgamer.net

    btw. I welcome games where you KILL and SLAUGHTER babies and kids like LITTLE ANIMALS upsidedown. I don't understand why this stuff can't be in games. if I want to rape a baby or gas a jew or hang a black guy or kill the president and have his wife felate me at gunpoint in games where said actions are appropriate I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THESE THINGS. god damn.

    but yeah, this game doesn't feature any of this kind of stuff of course. fagbags.

  • Reihn #70 5 years ago

    Hi all . .

    Is there any information regarding an Australian release for Rule of Rose?
    Or a release anywhere else in Europe for that matter (in terms of gaming, Australia is treated as a part of Europe..)

    Thanks!
    Edited by 1 at 25/11/06 @ 07:39

  • Keyz #71 5 years ago

    Looked like rubbish anyway.

  • Machetazo #72 5 years ago

    [link url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2457394.html
    ]http://ww w.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,...[/link]

    So you can read the other side, without ever having to worry about lining their pockets for the ability to do so.
    It looks to me as if 505 should *voluntarily* submit Rule of Rose to the BBFC. Then, when the highest, legally binding authority in the land on media rating says that it's suitable for release, that'll surely shut a heck of a lot of these idiots up.

    Gaming will be sanctioned, and find its ability to provide engaging content diminished only when it proves that it has no business being regarded as a major entertainment medium; by doing absolutely nothing to stand up for its own creative licence.
    How the fuck is a national newspaper, through ill-informed and poorly researched tripe able to make decisions that could so significantly affect gaming, moving forward?

    The VSC had this response <a href="http://www .mcvuk.com/newsitem.php?id=24913
    ">http://www .mcvuk.com/newsitem.php?id=24913
    </a>
    to the Times and EU justice commissioner Franco Frattini's response to the game, specifically blasting Frattini's comments as "nonsense".
    Edited by 1 at 25/11/06 @ 12:15

  • Decoded #73 5 years ago

    I don't know. That the BBFC rated Manhunt and Bully didn't stop the media from embarking on their misguided crusades.

  • Freek #74 5 years ago

    Children are kidnapped and tortured? Never stopped the Silent Hill games or the recent movie.
    Well, I geuse it didn't trigger the loony moral brigade since the series is a little more surreal and psychological (which is even better and even more scary then just being explicit).

  • hybridial #75 5 years ago

    First off, to any comments about this games quality. That's completely irrelevant to this. I think Halo is crap but I don't think Halo 3 should be prevented from being released here by some lame politicking.

    I've been looking forward to this game, because to me games are art, and whatever the gameplay is like, the fact is almost every review of this game gave it some props in it's art direction and creativity. Besides, ever since RE4, professional reviewers have developed this complete incapability to rate genuine horror games with any competence, so really I don't care about the review scores it got. I am annoyed about this, especially if it hurts 505 as they've brought out Magna Carta, Stella Dues and Steambot Chronicles, 3 awesome games, and were the only reason most likely that we will get to see these sorts of games.

    Ah well, I went to Ebay, imported it, should get it sometime this week. But this does suck, very much so.

  • Gunstars #76 5 years ago

    So it has been released in the EU but not the UK?