History Main / TheColoredCross

* ''VideoGame/AmongUs'': Game developers changed the crosses on the [=MedBays=] to blue after the Red Cross took notice.
* In the initial release of ''VideoGame/CuteBite'' the Nurse characters had little red crosses on their hats, this was removed in an update to leave them pure white.

* ''VideoGame/StardewValley'': Since version 1.3.32, Harvey's clinic is displayed with cyan cross signs; the patch notes reasoning is "Fixed a Geneva Convention violation (by replacing red crosses in graphics)."

[[caption-width-right:300:[[HealthyGreenHarmfulRed Because green represents vibrant health while red represents active danger.]]

As such, other symbols like the [[HealingSerpent Staff of Asclepius]], the similar [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus_as_a_symbol_of_medicine Caduceus]][[note]]though, its association with medicine is down to a mistake by the US Army, who mistook it for the similar-looking Rod of Asclepius when creating the branch symbol for the Medical Corps, and then just collectively said "SureWhyNot" when the error was pointed out. The Caduceus is historically associated with Hermes and was a sign for messengers.[[/note]], the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Life Star of Life]], or the aforementioned color substitutes are used. Green[[note]]although this is in some places increasingly being associated with medicinal marijuana dispensaries[[/note]] or blue[[note]]a bit rarer, as a blue cross is the trademark of Blue Cross health insurance[[/note]] are often used due to being colors of health and sanitation. Other variants are a white cross on a green background for first aid, or even a white cross with a red background[[note]]This one is also iffy, as it is the flag of UsefulNotes/{{Switzerland}}. In fact, the inversion of the Swiss flag was the genesis for the Red Cross symbol[[/note]].

* ''VideoGame/StardewValley'': Since version 1.3.32, Harvey's clinic is displayed with blue cross signs; the patch notes reasoning is "Fixed a Geneva Convention violation (by replacing red crosses in graphics)."

->Fixed a Geneva Convention violation (by replacing red crosses in graphics)
-->-- '''Patch 1.3.32 notes''', ''VideoGame/StardewValley''

* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'': In the original toyline, [[ComicBook/TheTransformersMarvel comic book]] and [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers cartoon]], the Red Cross symbol was used on ambulance-mode Transformers like Ratchet and Red Alert. Ratchet in particular had two such symbols on his shoulders in robot mode. However, since the '80s, Hasbro has opted to use all sorts of workarounds instead due to this trope. For example, both the ''[[WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated animated]]'' and [[Film/{{Transformers}} live-action film]] incarnations of Ratchet instead have circles with zigzag lines invoking a heartbeat monitor screen. Even modern toys of the original G1 Ratchet (e.g. in the high-end ''Masterpiece'' line, 2016's ''Combiner Wars'' and 2022's ''Studio Series'') no longer use the cross: one version had the cross shifted to instead become an X while another added diamonds at the end of each cross arm, but now the consistent one is having the Autobot emblem at the center of the cross.

* Modern reissues of ''VideoGame/Wolfenstein3D'' replace the medkit crosses with hearts.

* ''VideoGame/StardewValley'': Since version 1.3.32, Harvey's clinic is displayed with green cross signs; the patch notes reasoning is "Fixed a Geneva Convention violation (by replacing red crosses in graphics)."

[[UsefulNotes/TheRedCross The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement]] makes it SeriousBusiness to protect the symbol when it comes to medical service and humanitarian aid. Even the aforementioned Red Crescent and the religiously neutral Red Crystal symbol are off-limits. This isn't due to them being jerks or trying to preserve trademarks for money. Instead, it is to prevent war crimes. The Red Cross, Crescent, and Crystal symbols are specifically noted in the [[TheLawsAndCustomsOfWar Geneva Conventions]] as a protective symbol. In its purest sense, it is only supposed to be used in wartime, to clearly denote people[[note]]such as medics[[/note]], places[[note]]hospitals and aid stations[[/note]] and things[[note]]ambulances, medical supplies[[/note]] that it is a war crime to attack. The fear is that if it is diluted into a generic medical symbol, that the protective meaning will be lost, inviting war crimes. A secondary issue is to prevent quackery, as the Red Cross symbol is associated with the ICRC, as well as Johnson and Johnson in the United States. How is it that Johnson and Johnson is allowed to use the symbol? They were grandfathered in as their use of the symbol predates the Geneva Conventions that codified the proper use of the symbol. Johnson and Johnson's rights to use the symbol were upheld in court as recently as [[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-johnsonandjohnson-redcross-idUSN1737719320080617 2008]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Quake}}'' has a red cross on the medikit for the first two games in the series. The third game has green and yellow crosses floating in orbs, and the fourth game changed to a [[https://quake.fandom.com/wiki/Medikit_(Q4) white symbol on a red background]].

[[UsefulNotes/TheRedCross The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement]] makes it SeriousBusiness to protect the symbol when it comes to medical service and humanitarian aid. Even the aforementioned Red Crescent and the religiously neutral Red Crystal symbol are off-limits. This isn't due to them being jerks or trying to preserve trademarks for money, but because the symbol is a protected insignia for people and facilities that are off limits during armed conflict under the Geneva Conventions, and the logo being prohibited is also an anti-quackery measure. The fear is if they become a mere medical symbol, that the meaning of the symbol will be diluted, potentially inviting combatants to attack protected personnel and facilities, as well as inviting quackery on the part of unscrupulous types. A vanishingly few non-ICRC uses are grandfathered in, such as use of the Red Cross by Johnson & Johnson (makers of Band-Aid bandages and other first-aid and medical equipment) as their use predates the Geneva Conventions that codified the proper use of the symbol. Johnson and Johnson's rights to use the symbol were upheld in court as recently as [[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-johnsonandjohnson-redcross-idUSN1737719320080617 2008]].

[[UsefulNotes/TheRedCross The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement]] makes it SeriousBusiness to protect the symbol when it comes to medical service and humanitarian aid. Even the aforementioned Red Crescent and the religiously neutral Red Crystal symbol are off-limits. This isn't due to them being jerks or trying to preserve trademarks for money, but because the symbol is a protected insignia for people and facilities that are off limits during armed conflict under the Geneva Conventions, and the logo being prohibited is also an anti-quackery measure. The fear is if they become a mere medical symbol, that the meaning of the symbol will be diluted, potentially inviting combatants to war crimes and quackery.