Home Gaming Russia gives Sims 4 the 18+

Russia gives Sims 4 the 18+

1 min read
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Russiasims

I find it funny when countries try to protect people from games. It’s the same when they censor art shows or prohibit literature – it says more about the country than it does about the creative product being restricted. Now Russia is giving The Sims 4 an 18+ rating – but my blood boils at the reason.

Ars Technica picked up the rating announcement on twitter, translating an explanation tweet that states

18+ [rating] has been assigned in accordance with the law number 436-FZ ‘On the protection of children from information harmful to their health and development.

Wait wait wait, The Sims 4 is harmful to the children? Let’s look at this a bit more closely. The Sims generally gets ratings of T for Teen (ages 13 and up in the US) or a PEGI rating of 12 for the EU. Even the notoriously rigid Australians only give the game an M (ages 15 and up) rating. So, what’s in the game that makes the Russian’s so upset? Well, it’s most likely the same-sex options that have been possible since the game’s inception.

Russia has been causing tons of international controversy with their anti-gay laws. Now, it has extended to gaming. You can expect the LGBTQ community to add this to the pile of issues with Russia at the moment. Coming on the heels of Nintendo’s anti-gay Tomodachi Life, it seems apparent that gamers are fairly universally accepting of same-sex options in games. It doesn’t detract from the experience for straight users – it simply adds to the game, giving people of all orientations a sense of acceptance and normalcy. Shame on you Russia, simulating a gay relationship in the Sims isn’t harmful to kids. I think my midnight waking of my Sims to wash their hands because they didn’t have a shower and needed to get their hygiene levels up would be way more traumatic.

Last Updated: May 12, 2014

38 Comments

  1. Viking Of Science

    May 12, 2014 at 09:17

    wait, people actually still play the Sims?

    Reply

    • Kromas

      May 12, 2014 at 09:19

      When a AAA game is not released it usually sits on Incredibles top weekly sales list.

      Then again I could never figure out why people play it.

      Reply

      • Mossel

        May 12, 2014 at 09:44

        I used to love it back in 2000 when it came out. I am a huge fan of SimCity, so the mere fact that you can now build your own house was pretty sick. But I got bored of it quickly as well. Also I was 11 years old.

        Reply

    • Dutch Matrix

      May 12, 2014 at 10:04

      Hey, I love the Sims. BUT… With all the expansions and stuff packs and lordy knows what else, I have to question EA’s morals when it comes to that series.
      (Wait for it… Wait for it…)

      Reply

    • Matewis Jubilai

      May 12, 2014 at 11:53

      Its an acquired taste I think. The first time I played it I got bored within the space of an hour or two. However, some days later I found myself with this indescribable urge to play again. I couldn’t tear myself from the game for days (weeks probably). Just give it a go some time. You might be surprised – its something different:)

      Reply

  2. Alien Emperor Trevor

    May 12, 2014 at 09:24

    Given their stance, it’s not that surprising to me.

    Reply

  3. Rincethis

    May 12, 2014 at 09:35

    Oh those crazy ruskies…

    Reply

  4. Dean

    May 12, 2014 at 09:38

    Guess they’re not russian to have gay themes putin their games….

    I’ll get back in the box now

    Reply

  5. Umar Returns

    May 12, 2014 at 09:41

    Well I mean those pixelated showers are pretty erotic

    Reply

  6. Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

    May 12, 2014 at 09:47

    In mother Russia you don’t play sims, the government does… with you….

    Reply

  7. VampyreSquirrel

    May 12, 2014 at 09:59

    The Ruskies went full retard there…

    Reply

  8. Dutch Matrix

    May 12, 2014 at 10:09

    Not that I am saying it is NOT about the whole gay issue, BUT… From one video I have seen detailing gameplay, a couple got a bit horny from looking at a painting that was risqué… So whilst the 18+ rating is a tad extreme, I do think this iteration of the Sims might have a higher age restriction this time around.

    Reply

  9. iAmWeasel

    May 12, 2014 at 10:30

    It seems to me that the underlying theme of this article is tolerance and understanding. Well I think sometimes people need to take a chill pill and be more tolerant of EVERYONE, including those nations that who’s views contradict our own. Being open-minded doesn’t have to mean constantly chiming a liberal view. I understand that some cultures are vigorously opposed to homosexuality, and it doesn’t bother me.

    Reply

    • Lardus-Resident Perve

      May 12, 2014 at 11:27

      Only liberals and democrats are allowed to have views or opinions, we all know that. I think they own the rights to having rights 😛

      Reply

      • Rags

        May 12, 2014 at 11:31

        You can have all the opinion you want, but being opposed to homosexuality is not only stupid. It’s wrong.

        Reply

        • Lardus-Resident Perve

          May 12, 2014 at 11:45

          In your opinion, yes. Others hold fast to their old traditions and in their opinion you are wrong. The Russians in this instance did not make it illegal to be gay as so many African countries have started doing, they only made the advertisement and propaganda of it to minors illegal – same as pornography, depictions of violence and especially suicide. If you disagree with a country on certain issues then good for you, but prescribing liberal views (and democracy) on those who do not wish it, is oppression in its own right.

          Personally I do not care if people practice their choices, or if it is in games or on TV or wherever, because I can choose to continue watching or playing the game. I can choose to tell Zevran (DA:O) to bugger off or welcome his advances. I am not against it as I generally do not care what other people do. Saw on 9Gag the other day: Worrying about what another man does with his penis is the gayest thing a man can do!
          Live and let live I say – whether I agree with them or not.

          PS – I am not a Bible thumper not an Atheist or a liberal or a conservative. But this sums up how I feel about some of the overly religious reasons given for things: http://i.imgur.com/PTBvp.jpg

          Reply

          • Rags

            May 12, 2014 at 12:55

            The issue is this, you are fine with Russia’s oppressive laws as you seem to endorse iamweasel view? This cultural relativism prevalent by liberals is one it’s greatest flaws. Individual oppression is not okay, and neither is cultural oppression.

            Public or in game display of homosexuality is not hurting, nor oppressing anyone. The same can’t be said by of any ban or law against it.

            You are very against the ‘liberal’ mindset, but if it where not for it those biblical laws would still be in place today as it is under conservative sharia.

          • Lardus-Resident Perve

            May 12, 2014 at 13:14

            I am against overly restrictive laws and such, but I respect the rights of others to have a different opinion to mine, and self-determination of other countries/regions. Nothing wrong with that.

            “Individual oppression is not okay, and neither is cultural oppression” – so you are OK with oppressing the Russian people’s culture/traditions that is for traditional relationships?

            Have you read the law in question? It is against propaganda of certain things to children of a certain age, including things like violence, self harm and substance abuse, with an amendment in 2013 adding ‘propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships’. In an earlier comment I did mention I cannot see how it can be applicable in this instance, as having it available as a choice in a game doesnot constitute “propaganda”.

            “I do not see how it fits into the rating for SIMS, as it is not propaganda”

            and

            “Applying it in this case is a bit of a stretch in my opinion”. I would maybe change this one to be more in line with ‘the application of this law in this instance could be seen as oppression’ because it is quite a stretch.

            I am also not against the liberal mindset as such, more the fact that a lot of liberals believe their views should be enforced on others who do not share the same views/beliefs. The same actually goes for conservatives who believe their views should be enforced on others. I just want everyone to get along and “live and let live”.

          • Lardus-Resident Perve

            May 12, 2014 at 13:15

            Also not allowed to advertise things like smoking and alcohol to people under a certain age, but I see no complaints about that.

          • iAmWeasel

            May 12, 2014 at 13:23

            What he said.

          • Rags

            May 12, 2014 at 13:43

            Again, homosexuality is not oppressing anyone. Sexuality has nothing to do with tradition or culture, its biological. That’s like saying allowing black people to vote is against South African tradition. Or women to vote is against tradition. And people should respect the NATS, STFU, and take a chill pill.

            No, they should not. They should call it for what it is, a stupid and oppressive law. Not trivialise it with cultural relativism apologetics.

          • Lardus-Resident Perve

            May 12, 2014 at 14:07

            NEVER said homosexuality oppresses anyone. Trying to force ones opinion of it onto someone else, when it is THEIR choice to either like it or not, is trying to oppress their opinion. Yes, sexuality is nothing to do with culture or tradition, but being against it can be because of culture/tradition.
            And AGAIN – the specific law is about propaganda of “non-traditional relationships” as well as other things to underage children – it doesn’t make being gay against the law or being gay in public. Nothing said about this “oppressive” law being against propaganda of smoking, violence, alcohol etc to underage children, just the sexuality bit?
            Oooh, playing the race/Apartheid card – nice. There is a difference which you seem to fail to see. Apartheid implemented a law which was oppressive by its very nature. In this SPECIFIC case, a child protection law is being IMPLEMENTED in an oppressive way, while the law itself is not by its very nature for the purpose of oppression. HUGE difference. I do have a problem when laws go too far, like condemning a person to death for being “non-traditional sexually”, but I am not going to invade a country because of their internal laws. I can speak out about it and support the “voice of the voiceless”, but it does NOT give me the right to prescribe how a country should run itself.
            This discussion is not going anywhere, is it? You see me as an anti-gay apologist while I am not, and you seem to not believe that anyone has a right to an opinion that does not “toe the party line”

          • Rags

            May 12, 2014 at 14:32

            Oh when have I said you or anyone is not entitled to an opinion? How is arguing a point now oppressing someones opinion? ROFL.

            The sexuality bit is relevant to this:
            “I understand that some cultures are vigorously opposed to homosexuality, and it doesn’t bother me.”

          • Lardus-Resident Perve

            May 12, 2014 at 14:43

            “I understand that some cultures are vigorously opposed to homosexuality, and it doesn’t bother me” – yeah, that wasn’t me saying that, now was it?

            You didn’t have to say people are not entitled to their opinion, and if you read carefully you will see I said “you seem to not…” – SEEM. The way you are reading/skipping over relevant parts of the conversation and only nit-picking certain things to argue over is an indication that you only focus on the parts that could be seen as opposing your opinion.
            Still nothing about this specific law, its other aspects or its implementation, or the fact that it is against various propaganda aimed at children and not about sexuality and choice at all. See, I was right, this discussion is going nowhere.

    • Rags

      May 12, 2014 at 11:29

      That’s the most retarded apologist bullshit you can ever read. Tolerance of intolerance is cowardice.

      Reply

      • iAmWeasel

        May 12, 2014 at 12:51

        Well I’m sure that all the mentally challenged folk out there can see what a shining example of morality you are. You show dem homophobic retards what terrible people they are.

        Reply

        • Rags

          May 12, 2014 at 13:01

          Ha, practice what you preach hey? Where is the tolerance for me now? Where is your chill pill? Just shows how easily it is for your types to be rattled and go against their own principles the moment they are called out.

          Great show of consistency. Not.

          Reply

          • iAmWeasel

            May 12, 2014 at 13:07

            Ever heard of sarcasm? Is homosexuality something that personally offends you or how do you go about picking and choosing which values you defend? There’s an old saying about people in glass houses 😉

          • Rags

            May 12, 2014 at 13:30

            Ha, yes sarcasm hence my reply. Is homosexuality something that personally offends me? What?

  10. Lardus-Resident Perve

    May 12, 2014 at 10:50

    “A second amendment passed in 2013 adds ‘propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships’ as a class of harmful content under the law” – The law that everyone has a problem with…I do not see how it fits into the rating for SIMS, as it is not propaganda, just a possibility depending on the players choices…though NPC characters might flirt with your same-sex character. Applying it in this case is a bit of a stretch in my opinion.

    Reply

  11. VampyreSquirrel

    May 12, 2014 at 14:58

    There’s a high probability that I’ll get this iteration of the Sims as well… I have a strange addiction to the games. Had the first one with all expansions… same with the second (less some stuff packs)… missing two expansions for the Sims 3 (and most stuff packs)… don’t get the point of the stuff packs, but the expansions add some cool stuff. I just don’t know why they have to release the “same” expansion for every game, and not just carry on from where they left off with the last game.

    Gimme Sims 4 with pets, universities, supernaturals, generations, etc, and I’ll be happy to pay for the additions… otherwise, I’ll just get the base game and give EA the finger.

    Reply

    • Lardus-Resident Perve

      May 12, 2014 at 16:02

      My sister loves the game and tries to get all the extras as well. I normally end up buying it for her. I spent many hours on Sims2 but never got the feel for Sims3 – mostly because of “starting fresh” and the expansions being the same.

      Reply

  12. DrKiller

    May 13, 2014 at 10:30

    Sigh, so now more russians will remain on Dota 🙁

    Reply

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