Authors CurseForge

Icons that depict skulls, blood or anything similar have been changed into more friendly icons (boxes). Random piles of bones found in the game were altered into mere sandbags, blood effects have been changed from standard red to black.

Pictures here

http://www.awakeningofchaos.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=177:wow-china-returns-with-interesting-changes&catid=44:latest

hmm, theres a similar thing happening in germany as well. I had to gift a english version of L4D to a german friend of mine, as the german version is "cut", i.e. no blood, no dismemberment and no ragdolls, which imo makes the game a lot less interesting.

OK, the news of the icons of skulls and such changing into icons of boxes/bags is not old news as it was in a WoWInsider (now WoW.com) post a couple of weeks ago. They also noted that changes to appease the authorities in WoW are not new. Forsaken for several months do not show bones, nor do you leave a skeleton behind when you rez, instead you leave a tombstone. WoW.com had some screenshots of a Battleground and just outside of IF where there was a ton of tombstone/graves. It looked pretty ridiculous to me however then again, I normally play on EU servers. I don't think the serious Chinese players are going to rush back to Chinese servers, rather they will stick with the Taiwanese ones as the content is updated in a timely fashion nor do they have to deal with the PRC censors sticking their nose into the game content.

Regarding the German "no blood or other images of graphic death", this is actually quite old (several years). The German authorities are quite sensitive to depictions of violence. Plus almost any depiction of Nazi symbols is illegal (so no killing SS thugs in Wolfenstien or other games). Most German gamers that I know prefer to buy their games elsewhere.

Quote from Slakah

hmm, theres a similar thing happening in germany as well. I had to gift a english version of L4D to a german friend of mine, as the german version is "cut", i.e. no blood, no dismemberment and no ragdolls, which imo makes the game a lot less interesting.

The last time I tested it there were no differences between the German and the English version... Anybody at the age of 12 or above can buy WoW here.

Edit: Did your friend play with the "violenceLevel" CVar?

Quote from Lykofos

OK, the news of the icons of skulls and such changing into icons of boxes/bags is not old news as it was in a WoWInsider (now WoW.com) post a couple of weeks ago. They also noted that changes to appease the authorities in WoW are not new. Forsaken for several months do not show bones, nor do you leave a skeleton behind when you rez, instead you leave a tombstone. WoW.com had some screenshots of a Battleground and just outside of IF where there was a ton of tombstone/graves. It looked pretty ridiculous to me however then again, I normally play on EU servers. I don't think the serious Chinese players are going to rush back to Chinese servers, rather they will stick with the Taiwanese ones as the content is updated in a timely fashion nor do they have to deal with the PRC censors sticking their nose into the game content.

Regarding the German "no blood or other images of graphic death", this is actually quite old (several years). The German authorities are quite sensitive to depictions of violence. Plus almost any depiction of Nazi symbols is illegal (so no killing SS thugs in Wolfenstien or other games). Most German gamers that I know prefer to buy their games elsewhere.

Didnt know that i saw it first today.
Also not sure about the rushing back to Chinese servers, I read something about it alrdy having close to 2 million subs.

Quote from Xinhuan

WoW in China has been like this for 3 years since its launch with The9.

I remember hearing about the tombstones and general lack of full skeletons, but changing icons and "ambient" objects is news to me. No idea about the blood, but I vaguely recall that cvar being toggled on for some locales.

Honestly I'd prefer the Chinese version of the undead model.

I always hated how you could see your bones after putting on armor. Especially how your dam spine could poke through your cloak and armor!

Lanacan, I agree with you on that one. I had been talking to guildmates about these graphical changes a while ago.

I'd find it interesting if we (US/EU) could have the option for bones to be shown or hidden. What would be even more interesting would be if we could choose different styles of "decay" in character customization.

Then again, I play on a RP server and love buying gear for their cosmetics and not stats...

I for one, find it quite rediculous.

oldie but goldie.

i still like the chinese undead model more. it's totally unlogical that your robe is parted just because your flesh isn't there. so, chinese wins.

Imo the Chinese undead model looks more like a bad textured human or something. Tho I agree with the Robe, cloak, whatever part of the normal UD model.

Quote from d32mjackazz

I for one, find it quite rediculous.

I agree when it comes to the censorship.

I'd still love for the EU/US Undead models to be given more options when it comes to character customization. On a larger scale, I think all races aside from BE/Draenei need a revamp. However, the discussion then becomes "new content versus updating old."