BAAAW: Italians Complain About Gran Turismo 5 and Win

Honestly, the last game I would expect to get complaints that could cripple sales would be Gran Turismo 5, and yet here we are. Italian city, Siena, is asking for their city track to be removed. Why? Because apparently its a problem that the Piazza del Campo is a being presented as a kart mode track.

“You can not use images of Contrade, in this case the flags without authorization,” Anna Carli, CEO of the Consortium for the Protection of Palio di Siena, told Corriere Fiorentino. “Given the relevance of the game with no history and references to our party, in particular with the use of images of flags of the contrade, we would not otherwise authorize the use.”

Basically, Siena is made up of several districts, each with its own flag. These flags are all on display on the track without permission. This caused the “Consortium for the Protection of the Palio” to demand that these offensive portions be removed, which Sony complied with. Which was probably a good idea since I think that’s what Doctor Who worked for at one point, and nobody wants the Doctor up in their business…

About the Author

Josh "Genki" Michaelson

Writer of the column “Gotta’ Rant ‘em All,” Josh became obsessed with gaming after playing Super Mario Bros. 3. Since then, he has been deeply rooted in the culture of video games. This love for the medium had led him toward a degree in 3D Animation at Northern Illinois University.