Microsoft Reverses 'Mature' Game Ban On Windows 8 87
another random user writes with news that Microsoft has sorted out the Windows Store guidelines such that games rated 'Mature' in the U.S. will be allowed. An earlier version of the guidelines took cues from the European PEGI rating system, which lumps pornographic content into the same rating as mainstream games that involve violence. In the U.S., they're split up into Adult (for porn) and Mature (for things like Skyrim, Call of Duty, and Assassin's Creed). Gamers and developers were worried that a large number of very popular games were going to be disallowed on the Windows Store. Microsoft hopes to have the situation fixed by December — not ideal, since Windows 8 is now out, but better than nothing.
What about Dragon Age? (Score:4, Informative)
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There's two distinct ratings in the states: M & A, Dragon age is M:
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/25/esrb-rating-explains-dragon-age-origins-sexual [joystiq.com] -exploits/
A is for one of those stupid adult sexploits games that nobody plays.
Even The Witcher 2 with full frontal got M.
Re:What about Dragon Age? (Score:5, Funny)
If we combine Sexploitation and Mature, will that make it S & M?
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Re:What about Dragon Age? (Score:4, Insightful)
Something awful used to review A rated games, though they either reorganized their site, or stopped in 2008. The Review of RapeLay [somethingawful.com] is a classic, though having absolutely no interest in actually playing such games, I can't comment on its "accuracy."
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I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description [soft core porn]; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it, and the [content] involved in this case is not that.
—Justice Potter Stewart, US Supreme Court
What about censorship? (Score:2, Insightful)
There's as much evidence that censorship is bad for children as there is that "adult" and "mature" themes are. That is, none.
Comment removed (Score:4, Insightful)
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Both are Mature. The title and summary on slashdot *gasp* are completely wrong. Mature titles are fine in the US. The problem was that in Europe they use a different system in which US Mature titles were getting wound up in the equivalent of US's AO rating.
So M rated games were always fine, it's the European system which lumps the sex games in with the Mature games that caused the kerfuffle.
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So M rated games were always fine, it's the European system which lumps the sex games in with the Mature games that caused the kerfuffle.
Which as an European makes sense. Why would sex be more mature than violence?
Re:What is Windows 8? (Score:4, Interesting)
I've found home in windows 8. Yes, the interface takes a couple days to get used to initially, but after that the thing is so mindbogglingly responsive that I wouldn't want anything else. I *really* like it.
I've been a big fan of Linux and Mac for many years, and have owned many of both types of PCs, and I can say that Windows 8 is just -really- good.
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I kind of can't wait to switch all the "slow" users over to it, it's just different enough where you have to think a bit before doing something up until you get used to it and.... POW :)
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Windows 7 was also very very fast when it was first released. Then after a few months/years of usage, it slows to a crawl. Is it self programmed obsolescence or does Windows naturally drifts towards slower and slower performance?
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He has malware. Windows 7 auto defrags and has ways to protect its registry and does cleanups over time.
One of the HUGE benefits of upgrading from XP is it no longer has Windows rot. Basically the registry fragments. Overtime it gets so slow it needs to be re-imaged or if the system is ignored business users just get used to low productivity of waiting 10 minutes for their computers to boot up and waste time for 3 hours every Tuesday afternoon when mcCrappy does its scan etc. ... but NOOO do not upgrade tha
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Or do you just get used to it ?
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Win8 has a "refresh" option which will bring it back to initial speed without requiring a full format and reinstallation of all your crap.
Incedentally, I've had several macs, and still have one, and they do the same thing. Apple used to encourage people to reinstall OSX once a year to refresh it back to peak performance. Not sure where they stand on it now. I know my wife's macbook pro from two years ago runs like a relative dog now. Needs a wipe in a big way...
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Reversal Relief (Score:1, Troll)
It's encouraging to see that MS is willing to see reason on this count. I happen to like Win8 quite a bit, and their initial "ban" on M rated content made me very nervous about the long term viability of the platform for me.
Re:Reversal Relief (Score:5, Funny)
I happen to like Win8 quite a bit
So that guy is YOU?
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And me.
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Good, two people is a good start in case you need to start a class action lawsuit... ah, wait, with the new EULA you only have the right to bend over.
Encouraging? (Score:2)
Wait until December to flip the switch? Why not flip the switch now? Is this what we are to expect from this platform?
Willing to accept censorship? (Score:2)
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Not sure how I got modded troll on this. I was being completely serious. I genuinely like Win8...
Classic double standard (Score:5, Insightful)
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apparently, in the usa, people are not mature enough for pornographic content. which does seem to include erotic content as well :)
Re:Classic double standard (Score:5, Insightful)
We all know that seeing a booby damages a young mind irreversibly whereas seeing someone's head explode improves his character.
Re:Classic double standard (Score:5, Funny)
Well, boobies ain't for little kids!
Erh... wait...
Re:Classic double standard (Score:5, Insightful)
Kiss a pair of tits and the movie's X rated. Chop 'em off and it's PG13.
Re:Classic double standard (Score:5, Funny)
Chop 'em off and it's PG13.
As long as you don't show the nipples.
Re:Classic double standard (Score:4, Funny)
Sounds like... (Score:5, Funny)
Windows 8 took an arrow to the knee.
Re:Sounds like... (Score:4, Insightful)
Yes. Shot by none other than Microsoft themselves with careful aim.
Seriously fixed by December? In the mean time a flagship product with an ailing store and developer base is suffering. How could it take so long?
I work for what I can only consider to be the most bureaucratic red tape laden company outside of the government. I once needed to request a purchase requisition, get it approved by my line manager, forward it to a procurement officer, then take the resulting purchase order and fax it to a company all for a $2 lightbulb. It takes me months to get even the simplest of things done. However if something affects production, public perception, or profits rest assured everyone will be standing in line to ensure the red tape is machetied down before it even rises.
Taking 2 months to fix something that sounds quite trivial is appalling.
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That is why you request a $100 lightbulb with the added notes, "Unable to work without this, production halted until requested item is acquired."
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Windows Store? (Score:4, Insightful)
Who cares. :)
Steam Store
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Who cares. :)
Steam Store
That won't be available in Windows 8.
Re:fuck windows 8 (Score:4, Interesting)
To me it sounds more like MS found out nobody even knows there IS a store run by them, or at least nobody gave even half a shit on the PC platform since, well, there are already established platforms and people ain't forced to jump their "Games for Windows" hoops to play.
So they needed something that made people at least TALK about that store. And, behold, it succeeded.
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fuck windows 8. fuck windows rt. fuck metro. fuck microsoft.
Betcha didn't know that windows 8 will flag that comment and block access. Built in censorship, just what the Chinese ordered...
Here it is, the evidence we need. (Score:1)
Windows 8 is an absolute failure. Microsoft, what in the hell were you thinking?
Product differentiation (Score:2)
Windows 7 is a mature, well tested operating system. Windows 8 has just been born, and is not ready to confront the world as an independent adult. Underscoring this immaturity is a desire to dress in Children's Clothing [pcmag.com].
standard American values (Score:4, Insightful)
So (once again) here's the message: sex = bad, violence = OK.
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"People tend to overlook the bizarre things at home and harp on the bizarre things you see elsewhere. "
I'm from the US, idiot.
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Sex = killing babies. Here's how it works:
There you have it. Sex = killing babies
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Nothing of value would be lost (Score:2)
Doesn't steam run on Windows 8? (Score:3)
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Yeah, that's a valid question to which I want a confirmation. Does this OS prohibit all games that aren't downloaded from the "approved" site? I don't think so, but don't know for sure. I've got several games (not a big gamer) and, what, do they not then run if I upgrade to 8? I have to rebuy them at this approved site in order to keep playing them? Makes no sense, but then neither does worrying about what the official game store from usoft may or may not approve when games bought anywhere can run on th
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Why use some lame app store when you can just fire up Steam and download whatever the heck u want when it comes to games?
Because you can't.
Steam does not sell games that other US retailers have found to hot to handle, more trouble then they are worth.
The original restrictions on content in the Windows Store were there because Microsoft wanted to offer clear guidelines for developers and a unified and profitable global marketplace for Windows apps.
Store Spin (Score:2)
Has anyone here ever bought software on a Microsoft Windows store or would intend to buy it? What a slashdot strawman marketing!
Huh? (Score:2)
What about Adult games? (Score:1)
Won't somebody please think of the Adult games?
so... (Score:2, Insightful)
if you have win8 you can't surf porn? not that i would of course.... just saying
also horrible heading FTFA
Well, they DO own the hardware you bought. (Score:3)
The only good thing about this story is that maybe non-techie people will realize that when you let the OS vendor dictate what you can do with the hardware you bought to run their product on, they will ALWAYS use that ability against you.
Consoles, Apple, and now Windows- how many times do we have to learn the same lesson?
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Consoles, Apple, and now Windows- how many times do we have to learn the same lesson?
Don't forget Ubuntu.
Microsoft should tune it for the local market (Score:3)
i.e. they would allow games rated up to M in the USA as well as games rated up to MA in Australia or whatever.
Win 8 features integrated ads (Score:1)
Yes, that's why they don't want you to turn Metro off.
It's even worse than the integrated ads in Ubuntu Unity which they also refuse to turn off.
Problems with a software store... (Score:1)
This is the problem with an software store. We have seen it with the Apple app store and now Microsoft is heading that way too. It allows for too much power over what gets or doesnt get published.