14 DAY TRIAL // The Binding of Isaac, the indie developed rogue like, is no longer set to arrive on the Nintendo 3DS via the eShop service, with the publisher citing the game’s controversial religious themes as being the reason.
The game creator Edmund McMillen has stated via Twitter, saying, “After a long internal debate Nintendo has decided NOT to allow the Binding of Isaac on the 3DS,” adding, “As many assumed the reasons were due to the games ‘questionable religious content.”
He added, “Thank GOD Steam exists! I gotta again publicly thank Steam for fully supporting Isaac and not requiring ESRB or censoring its published games. Just one of many reasons why Steam is the top dog of digital distribution.”
Some fans have suggested that Edmund McMillen should work with Sony to launch The Binding of Isaac on the new PlayStation Vita handheld but he was not ready to deny or to comment on the suggestion.
The Binding of Isaac is filled with references to the Biblical story with the same name and the actual gameplay of the game can be pretty disturbing, although it stays pretty close to the conventions of the genre.
The game impressed when launched on Steam in late September 2011 and has since then been added to a number of indie-oriented game bundles, although the game creators have not said exactly how many copies they have managed to sell.
The game has been successful enough to merit the creation of a full blown expansion, called The Wrath of the Lamb, which is set to arrive on the PC at some point during 2012, adding more enemies and more in-game items for gamers to use.
Recently, the developers of another indie hit, Super Meat Boy, have talked about the limitations that Nintendo places on titles that are digitally distributed on its handhelds.