Editing Nintendo (section)

== Policy ==
=== Content guidelines ===
For many years, Nintendo had a policy of strict content guidelines for video games published on its consoles. Although Nintendo allowed [[graphic violence]] in its video games released in Japan, [[nudity and sexuality]] were strictly prohibited. Former Nintendo president [[Hiroshi Yamauchi]] believed that if the company allowed the licensing of pornographic games, the company's image would be forever tarnished.{{sfn|Sheff|1994|p={{page needed|date=September 2021}}}} Nintendo of America went further and games released for Nintendo consoles could not feature nudity, sexuality, [[profanity]] (including racism, [[sexism]] or [[Hate speech|slurs]]), blood, graphic or [[domestic violence]], drugs, political messages, or [[Religious symbolism|religious symbols]]{{mdash}}with the exception of widely unpracticed religions, such as the [[Greek mythology|Greek Pantheon]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filibustercartoons.com/Nintendo.php |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526032316/http://www.filibustercartoons.com/Nintendo.php |url-status=usurped |archive-date=26 May 2012 |title=Nintendo of America Content Guidelines |publisher=Filibustercartoons.com |access-date=25 May 2011 }}</ref> The Japanese parent company was concerned that it may be viewed as a "Japanese invasion" by forcing Japanese [[community standards]] on North American and European children. Past the strict guidelines, some exceptions have occurred: ''[[Bionic Commando (1988 video game)|Bionic Commando]]'' (though [[Nazi swastika|swastikas]] were eliminated in the US version), ''[[Smash TV]]'' and ''[[Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode]]'' contain human violence, the latter also containing implied [[Human sexuality|sexuality]] and [[Smoking|tobacco use]], ''[[River City Ransom]]'' and ''[[Taboo: The Sixth Sense]]'' contain nudity, and the latter also contains religious images, as do ''[[Castlevania II: Simon's Quest|Castlevania II]]'' and ''[[Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse|III]]''.

Nintendo's content policy is responsible for the [[Sega Genesis|Genesis]] version of ''[[Mortal Kombat (1992 video game)|Mortal Kombat]]'' having more than double the unit sales of the Super NES version, largely due to Nintendo forcing its publisher [[Acclaim Entertainment|Acclaim]] to recolor red blood to look like white sweat within the game and to tone down its gorier and more violent graphics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/919/919357p10.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017054400/http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/919/919357p10.html |archive-date=17 October 2008 |title=IGN Presents the History of Mortal Kombat – Retro Feature at IGN |website=IGN |first=Travis |last=Fahs |url-status=dead |access-date=16 August 2010 }}</ref> By contrast, [[Sega]] allowed blood and gore to remain in the Genesis version (though a code is required to unlock the gore). Nintendo allowed the Super NES version of ''[[Mortal Kombat II]]'' to ship uncensored the following year with a content warning on the packaging.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/mortal-kombat-ii/cover-art/gameCoverId,22874|title=Mortal Kombat II (1994) Amiga box cover art|website=MobyGames|access-date=8 November 2019|archive-date=8 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108180054/https://www.mobygames.com/game/mortal-kombat-ii/cover-art/gameCoverId,22874|url-status=live}}</ref>

Video game ratings systems were introduced with the [[Entertainment Software Rating Board]] (ESRB) of 1994 and the [[Pan European Game Information]] of 2003, and Nintendo discontinued most of its censorship policies in favor of consumers making their own choices. Today changes to the content of games are done primarily by the game's developer or, occasionally, at the request of Nintendo. The only clear-set rule is that ESRB [[Entertainment Software Rating Board#Ratings|AO-rated]] games will not be licensed on Nintendo consoles in North America,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/buyers_guide.jsp |title=Nintendo of America Customer Service – Nintendo Buyer's Guide |publisher=Nintendo.com |access-date=25 May 2011 |archive-date=6 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606044152/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/buyers_guide.jsp |url-status=live }}</ref> a practice which is also enforced by [[Sony Computer Entertainment|Sony]] and [[Microsoft]], its greatest competitors in the present market. Nintendo has since allowed several mature-content games to be published on its consoles, including ''[[Perfect Dark]]'', ''[[Conker's Bad Fur Day]]'', ''[[Doom (franchise)|Doom]]'', ''[[Doom 64]]'', ''[[BMX XXX]]'', the ''[[Resident Evil]]'' series, ''[[Killer7]]'', the ''[[Mortal Kombat]]'' series, ''[[Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem]]'', ''[[BloodRayne]]'', ''[[Geist (video game)|Geist]]'', ''[[Dementium: The Ward]]'', ''[[Bayonetta 2]]'', ''[[Devil's Third]]'', and ''[[Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water]]''.

Certain games have continued to be modified, however. For example, [[Konami]] was forced to remove all references to cigarettes in the 2000 Game Boy Color game ''[[Metal Gear Solid (2000 video game)|Metal Gear Solid]]'' (although the previous NES version of ''[[Metal Gear (video game)|Metal Gear]]'', the GameCube game ''[[Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes]]'', and the 3DS game ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater#Snake Eater 3D|Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 3D]]'', included such references), and maiming and blood were removed from the Nintendo 64 [[Porting|port]] of ''[[Cruis'n USA]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ign64.ign.com/articles/060/060333p1.html |title=IGN: Nintendo to censor Cruis'n |date=8 October 1996 |access-date=24 July 2009 |archive-date=12 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412153302/http://ign64.ign.com/articles/060/060333p1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Another example is in the Game Boy Advance game ''[[Mega Man Zero 3]]'', in which one of the bosses, called Hellbat Schilt in the Japanese and European releases, was renamed Devilbat Schilt in the North American [[Internationalization and localization|localization]]. In North American releases of the ''[[Mega Man Zero]]'' games, enemies and bosses killed with a saber attack do not gush blood as they do in the Japanese versions. However, the release of the Wii was accompanied by several even more controversial games, such as ''[[Manhunt 2]]'', ''[[No More Heroes (video game)|No More Heroes]]'', ''[[The House of the Dead: Overkill]]'', and ''[[MadWorld]]'', the latter three of which were initially published exclusively for the console.

=== License guidelines ===
Nintendo of America also had guidelines before 1993 that had to be followed by its licensees to make games for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], in addition to the above content guidelines.{{sfn|Sheff|1994|p={{page needed|date=September 2021}}}} Guidelines were enforced through the [[10NES]] lockout chip.
* Licensees were not permitted to release the same game for a competing console until two years had passed.
* Nintendo would decide how many cartridges would be supplied to the licensee.
* Nintendo would decide how much space would be dedicated such as for articles and advertising in the ''[[Nintendo Power]]'' magazine.
* There was a minimum number of cartridges that had to be ordered by the licensee from Nintendo.
* There was a yearly limit of five games that a licensee may produce for a Nintendo console.{{sfn|Sheff|1994|p=215}} This rule was created to prevent market over-saturation, which had contributed to the [[video game crash of 1983]].

The last rule was circumvented in several ways; for example, Konami, wanting to produce more games for Nintendo's consoles, formed [[Ultra Games]] and later [[Ultra Games|Palcom]] to produce more games as a technically different publisher.{{sfn|Sheff|1994|p={{page needed|date=September 2021}}}} This disadvantaged smaller or emerging companies, as they could not afford to start more companies. In another side effect, [[Square (video game company)|Square Co.]] (now [[Square Enix]]) executives have suggested that the price of publishing games on the [[Nintendo 64]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Leone |first=Matt |date=9 January 2017 |title=Final Fantasy 7: An oral history |url=http://www.polygon.com/a/final-fantasy-7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109201832/http://www.polygon.com/a/final-fantasy-7 |archive-date=9 January 2017 |access-date=11 January 2017 |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]]}}</ref> along with the degree of censorship and control which Nintendo enforced over its games,{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} most notably ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]'', were factors in switching its focus towards [[Sony Computer Entertainment|Sony]]'s [[PlayStation]] console.

In 1993, a [[class action]] suit was taken against Nintendo under allegations that their lockout chip enabled [[unfair business practices]]. The case was settled, with the condition that California consumers were entitled to a $3 discount coupon for a game of Nintendo's choice.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Nintendo May Owe You $3 |magazine=[[GamePro]] |issue=55 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |date=February 1994 |page=187}}</ref>

=== Intellectual property protection ===
{{main|Intellectual property protection by Nintendo}}
Nintendo has generally been proactive in ensuring that its intellectual property in both hardware and software is protected. Nintendo's protection of its properties began as early as the arcade release of ''Donkey Kong'' which was widely [[video game clone|cloned]] on other platforms, a practice common to the most popular arcade games of the era. Nintendo did seek legal action to try to stop the release of these unauthorized clones but estimated they still lost {{USD|100&nbsp;million|long=no}} in potential sales to these clones.<ref>{{cite book | first = Nathan | last = Altice | title = I Am Error: The Nintendo Family Computer / Entertainment System Platform | chapter = Chapter 2: Ports | pages =53–80 | isbn = 9780262028776 | publisher = [[MIT Press]] | date = 2015 }}</ref> Since then, Nintendo has been proactive in preventing copyright infringement of its games by [[video game emulator]]s and [[fan game]]s and other works using the company's intellectual property. The company has also suffered from various [[data breach]]es and has sought action against those that have released these leaks.

=== Seal of Quality ===
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The gold sunburst seal was first used by [[#Nintendo of America|Nintendo of America]], and later by Nintendo of Europe. It is displayed on any game, system, or accessory licensed for use on one of its [[video game console]]s, denoting the game has been properly approved by Nintendo. The seal is also displayed on any Nintendo-licensed merchandise, such as trading cards, game guides, or apparel, albeit with the words "Official Nintendo Licensed Product".<ref name="Nintendo, Seal">{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/licensed.jsp |title=Customer Service &#124; Licensed and Unlicensed Products |publisher=Nintendo |access-date=9 March 2012 |archive-date=15 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315104306/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/licensed.jsp |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2008, game designer [[Sid Meier]] cited the Seal of Quality as one of the three most important innovations in video game history, as it helped set a standard for game quality that protected consumers from [[shovelware]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wired.com/2008/03/sid-meier-names/ |title=Civilization Creator Lists Three Most Important Innovations in Gaming |magazine=Wired |date=4 March 2008 |access-date=7 July 2014 |last=Arendt | first=Susan |archive-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714200336/http://www.wired.com/2008/03/sid-meier-names/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== NTSC regions ====
In [[NTSC]] regions, this seal is an elliptical starburst named the "Official Nintendo Seal". Originally, for NTSC countries, the seal was a large, black and gold circular starburst. The seal read as follows: "This seal is your assurance that NINTENDO has approved and guaranteed the quality of this product." This seal was later altered in 1988: "approved and guaranteed" was changed to "evaluated and approved". In 1989, the seal became gold and white, as it currently appears, with a shortened phrase, "Official Nintendo Seal of Quality". It was changed in 2003 to read "Official Nintendo Seal".<ref name="Nintendo, Seal" />

The seal currently reads:<ref>{{cite book |title=Nintendo 3DS XL Operations Manual |url=https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/SPR_EN_NA.pdf |publisher=Nintendo |access-date=2 September 2012 |archive-date=8 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108141835/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/SPR_EN_NA.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{Blockquote|The official seal is your assurance that this product is licensed or manufactured by Nintendo. Always look for this seal when buying video game systems, accessories, games, and related products.}}

==== PAL regions ====
In [[PAL]] regions, the seal is a circular starburst named the "Original Nintendo Seal of Quality". Text near the seal in the Australian [[Wii]] manual states:
{{Blockquote|This seal is your assurance that Nintendo has reviewed this product and that it has met our standards for excellence in workmanship, reliability, and entertainment value. Always look for this seal when buying games and accessories to ensure complete compatibility with your Nintendo product.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.com.au/support/files/Wii_Manuals/WiiMotionPlusOperationsManual.pdf |title=Wii MotionPlus Operations Manual |publisher=Nintendo |date=2009 |access-date=10 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110308102348/http://www.nintendo.com.au/support/files/Wii_Manuals/WiiMotionPlusOperationsManual.pdf |archive-date=8 March 2011 }}</ref>}}

=== Charitable projects ===
In 1992, Nintendo teamed with the [[Starlight Children's Foundation]] to build Starlight Fun Center mobile entertainment units and install them in hospitals.<ref name="GamePro, Quick Hits">{{cite magazine |title=Quick Hits |magazine=[[GamePro]] |issue=88 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |date=January 1996 |page=23}}</ref> By the end of 1995, 1,000 Starlight Nintendo Fun Center units were installed.<ref name="GamePro, Quick Hits" /> The units combine several forms of multimedia entertainment including gaming, and are a distraction as well as brightening moods and boosting children's morale during hospital stays.<ref>{{cite web |last=Alexander |first=Leigh |title=Nintendo Hooks Up Hospitalized Kids With Wii Fun Centers |url=http://kotaku.com/5019333/nintendo-hooks-up-hospitalized-kids-with-wii-fun-centers |website=Kotaku |access-date=28 April 2017 |date=24 June 2008 |archive-date=11 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511033138/http://kotaku.com/5019333/nintendo-hooks-up-hospitalized-kids-with-wii-fun-centers |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Environmental record ===
Nintendo has consistently been ranked last in [[Greenpeace]]'s "Guide to Greener Electronics" due to Nintendo's failure to publish information.<ref>{{cite web |title=Greenpeace Still Says Nintendo Is Bad For The Environment |url=http://kotaku.com/5549072/greenpeace-still-says-nintendo-is-bad-for-the-environment/ |publisher=Kokaku |last=Ashcraft |first=Brian |date=27 May 2010 |access-date=25 December 2012 |archive-date=20 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520210947/http://kotaku.com/5549072/greenpeace-still-says-nintendo-is-bad-for-the-environment |url-status=live }}</ref> Similarly, they are ranked last in the [[Enough Project]]'s "Conflict Minerals Company Rankings" due to Nintendo's refusal to respond to multiple requests for information.<ref>{{cite web |title=2012 Conflict Minerals Company Rankings |url=http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/content/conflict-minerals-company-rankings |publisher=Enough Project |access-date=5 April 2013 |archive-date=27 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327081523/http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/content/conflict-minerals-company-rankings |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

Like many other electronics companies, Nintendo offers a recycling program for customers to mail in unused products. Nintendo of America claimed 548 tons of returned products in 2011, 98% of which became reused or recycled.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nintendo Product Recycling and Take Back Program |url=https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/recycle.jsp |publisher=Nintendo |access-date=19 April 2013 |archive-date=11 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411141132/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/recycle.jsp |url-status=live }}</ref>

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