FFS. Organisers of Iran’s World Cyber Games have been forced to cut a sizeable chunk out of League of Legends’ roster ahead of this year’s tournament. As you might have already guessed, it’s the skin-to-fabric ratio of many of the game’s female champions that has prompted the decimation.
Players have been provisionally banned from fielding a total of 36 characters: Ahri, Akali, Ashe, Caitlyn, Cassiopeia, Diana, Elise, Evelyn, Fiora, Irelia, Janna, Karma, Katarina, Kayle, Leblanc, Leona, Lissandra, Lulu, Lux, Miss Fortune, Morgana, Nami, Nidalee, Oriana, Quinn, Riven, Sejuani, Shyvana, Sivir, Sona, Soraka, Syndra, Tristana, Vayne, Vi, and Zyra.
Among those, some are still under consideration for inclusion: namely Diana, Fiora, Kayle, Leona, Lissandra, Lulu, Lux, Nami, Quinn, Sejuani, Tristana, Vayne and Karma – in only her default skin only.
Event coordinator Reza Babaei told Kotaku that organisers have been in discussions with the Iranian government for two months. League of Legends is reportedly all but banned in the country, and the tournament was only given the go-ahead under a set of certain conditions – of which this seems to be the most notable.
Talks are ongoing, but if all goes as planned WCG 2013‘s LoL leg will play out between September 12 and 16.
We talked to Heroes of Newerth’s art director about breaking the MOBA’s porny streak last month – but doubt this is what he had in mind. Besides anything else, the game’s tactical scope is going to be reduced by about half, isn’t it?
Thanks to the LoL forumites who flagged this up.