So, it turns out this game was mildly censored in Japan, but in a way that looks like it'd make the run faster by some amount.
You can see in this video that the entire cutscene with sticking your hand down the decapitated cop's neck is gone, the key is just lying around in the open. This is just the change shown in the video, there may very well be more that aren't known.
I'd love to investigate myself, but you don't seem to be able to just swap between the two on Steam, it's an entirely different product that seems like it would require a japanese IP to activate and maybe continue playing? This varies by game on Steam and I'm not currently in the position where I can drop about £60 in yen to find out.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/530940/?cc=jp
On console you can probably just import the disc.
I'm wondering, does anyone happen to have access to this version of the game and can tell us what's different about it for the speedrun? It seems worth looking into.
While I haven't had a chance to play through yet. I'll be playing through this version some time within the near future, is there any specific moments you want me to keep an eye out for?
EDIT: Also not sure how you'd get the Grotesque version outside of Japan. Its region locked to JP store and CERO Z titles aren't allowed to be sold without credit card proving that the purchaser is of age. This could also cause problems for those wanting to speedrun the console versions as they may not be able to get DLC down the line.
こんにちは。私は日本人です。 Hello. I am Japanese. 私はPCグローバル版をプレイしていますが、日本版との差異はSnakeKeyを入手する時くらいしかありません。それは時間にして15秒位の差になります。 I am playing the PC global version. the difference between the Japanese version and the global version. That is the difference in the degree of events that SnakeKey gets. It is about 15 seconds difference. もしあなたが本当に速さを求めるなら日本版の方が絶対に良い。
So this is ¤all¤ the differences? Is anyone currently using, or is going to use the Japanese version, though? Seems like you really gotta go out of your way to get it. Also, here's a big reddit thread discussing this video: https://redd.it/5tlnob
Yeah, outside of Japan the only "obtainable" version is the console version, at least without doing some VPN stuff I guess that I'm not really sure on
It is worth noting there is a further censored copy too, the standard Japanese retail version. I'm not sure if this will contain any more potential time saves, this version on steam also shares the same app id as the global version so you can not have both Japanese "low violence" and Global uncensored on the same steam account.
EDIT : While I won't be buying it personally. The further censored version is very easy to get for non Japanese Xbox One owners, because its not rated CERO Z, you can just buy it digitally by changing your region to Japan in the console settings. Possible on PS4 too but it requires making another PSN account. It's cross buy with Windows store on xbox too so you should be able to get a low violence PC version through this method too although dont quote me on that.
すいません。これらの違いは日本低暴力版で全ての難易度に於いて起きる事象です。 また大きな問題にならないが、チェーンソーを持ったジャックが死ぬ時爆発しないなどの差があります。 ですが私は今のところ日本低暴力版を購入する予定はありません。
"this version on steam also shares the same app id as the global version so you can not have both Japanese "low violence" and Global uncensored on the same steam account. "
This makes me wonder if just running/downloading RE7 through a japanese VPN would give the Low Violence version.
@shishijima402 情報おかげで 私がうまく答えることはできないけどあなたは理解されています。ありがとう
That's a clever thought, although I know Valve doesn't like people using VPNs for Steam, so be careful.
I'm going ti say probably not. Your account has a violence license attached to it. The license is what says what version you own. Not your location
So, couldn't we just enable parental guidance for the game? I think thats a feature isn't it? Actually considering the games 18+ that might disable the game entirely lol
Maybe the version on steam is the same it's just changed slightly maybe through the exe that launches it.
I did this with re5 a while ago but if you go to the languages tab on steam I think it goes to the region that game was released in. https://gyazo.com/575a4c0b4bcf9ab28adef7c3b6a9bfd0
Not 100% sure but I know it changed re5 to Biohazard 5 on the menu screen.
Edit - It seems to not work with re7. Unlike other games where it downloads a whole new game this just changes a few text boxes.
Matt I believe said to get a CERO Z rated game, you basically need a Japanese Credit Card. So, as far as anyone living outside of Japan is concerned, it's pretty much an impossibility on Steam. However, he also said Windows Store would allow you to buy the CERO D rated version:
"If you want the censored PC version, Windows store is easiest way. Switch your Windows 10 region to Japan, buy the censored version. (You probably can't buy Groteque digitally... you need a japanese credit card)."
The German version appears to be entirely uncensored. So no luck there, either.
The Standard Japanese version (as in, not Grotesque) is entirely censored, however, since this version handles on the same Steam ID as the Global Version, short of some way of tricking the system, we aren't gonna be able to get it. Only real way of getting the censored version realistically is through a VPN, and purchasing the Global Version which might then download the fully censored Japanese Version. Problem there is there's no guarantee Steam isn't just gonna ask you for a Japanese CC/Debit and outright refuse any other methods of Payment. Best bet might be VPN + Paypal?
Personally, outside of console, it's far too much of a farce to bother with. Someone should try Windows Store as Matt suggested though, if it's easy then great, if not then oh well.
Main thing that needs to be considered now really is Japanese runners submitting JPN times basically have a 15 second or so advantage on everyone else.
I'd be more down with making this version of teh game a sub-category rather than making people go through the hassle, to be honest. Especially one that's sketchy (VPN's etc) and can jeopardize accounts. If it's not easily and readily available to the masses, it shouldn't be allowed in the main categories. We're not talking about importing a game from Japan or even flea market or eBay hunting for a specific region of the game.
