"Nintendo no longer "family friendly"" UGH!

[mnbren05]

If you do not want your child playing GTA on their DS then do not buy it for them. A system is in place to prevent them from obtaining the game if they are underage and it is enforced in my experience. If your child still plays the game without your knowledge then it is your responsibility to talk to them and it is your chance to be an actual parent to your child! If you lack the foresight to understand something before you buy it for a child then you are at fault. These parents/groups should educate themselves on the products they buy/expose their children to beforehand. I suppose that clueless individuals that complain about these "issues" should be subject to this ->

[DigitalSpace]

I actually heard a co-worker bitching yesterday that she was mortified when she took her kids (ages 8 and 10) to Watchmen over the weekend. Never mind the movie is rated R and based on one of the most sex/violence-laden comics ever produced. She was mad that this was supposed to be a "superhero" movie and - you know - superheroes appeal to kids.

[Ed Oscuro]

Where were these shmucks when Killer7 was released for the GC? Or all the rest of Capcom's horror games, for that matter? If anything, they coulda said this years ago.

In any case, Nintendo is still going to advertise in the direction of the market. They ain't going for blood 'n' guts 'cuz that's not the market they think is growing fastest. And if a kid and their family doesn't see an ad for Madworld, they're probably less likely to pick it up in the store.

[Sonicwolf]

They ain't going for blood 'n' guts 'cuz that's not the market they think is growing fastest.

A person is only a kid for a short time. A person is an adult for the majority of ones average lifespan. Nintendo isnt pushing for the kiddy and family friendly market penetration as they once did. As I said before, they realised this is the right way to go when they got creamed by the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 respectivley.

Singular marketing crashes companies. Diversify or Die.

[j_factor]

Since we're talking about the ESRB... I think there have been a few cases when the ESRB really dropped the ball. Twice they have bumped a released game's rating up due to content that is only accessible via an unauthorized third-party product. Stupid. The BBFC doesn't do that.

I do think their rating system is flawed. The AO rating -- much like the MPAA's NC-17 -- is too prohibitive. It's more of a threat that is used to compel game companies to limit their content, than it is a serious rating. Is there really a big difference between "suitable for ages 17+" and "suitable for ages 18+"? Obviously not -- it's the perception of what the rating stands for, more than anything.

[OldSchoolGamer]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/...-quot-/1295531

Really? And nobody cares that GTA is going to be on the DS which has freakin' 7 year olds playing pokemon on them? Rubbish. Ugh. Get a ******* life.

Uhm really what is the problem? You want kiddy games then buy them, you don't want younf kids playing more mature games then it's simple, FREAKIN PARENT YOUR CHILDREN!!!!!!!!! Choice and options are a GOOD THING, the addition of mature games on nintendo platforms only broadens the audience and appeal, it's about time!

[Icarus Moonsight]

...FREAKIN PARENT YOUR CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!...

100% yes, this. However, the harsh reality is we now live in a society where the majority will dictates that third parties and government handle these responsibilities. Yes, even when it comes to the grown-ups too. I suppose the reason is that it is easier that way and if shit goes wrong then you have someone to blame other than yourself. It's a win/win in their fucked up world. Children are just a bit hotter of a button in the 'nanny me please' dept. That's all.

[TonyTheTiger]

I do think their rating system is flawed. The AO rating -- much like the MPAA's NC-17 -- is too prohibitive. It's more of a threat that is used to compel game companies to limit their content, than it is a serious rating. Is there really a big difference between "suitable for ages 17+" and "suitable for ages 18+"? Obviously not -- it's the perception of what the rating stands for, more than anything.

That's why I think what they should do is create a T-15 or T-16 rating and get rid of the AO rating altogether. Then bump up the M rating from 17+ to 18+. Then you have all your bases covered. And they can keep doing the little breakdown of content "mature language/realistic violence/etc." to paint a clearer picture than the single rating normally would allow.

The ESRB's biggest problem was that they tried to mimic the MPAA. But the MPAA is a completely different beast with its own problems. I'd say the ESRB is superior at what they do than the MPAA. Yet they're only gradually distancing themselves from the G/PG/PG-13/R/NC-17 rating system. I guess they feel uncomfortable adding too many new ratings because they don't want to confuse people. But how confusing is a T-13 and a T-15 or T-16 rating? You already have an E-10. Go the distance.

[punkoffgirl]

Gonna move this one over to Modern Gaming..

[heybtbm]

If you do not want your child playing GTA on their DS then do not buy it for them.

Thread over. Concise and wise...I like it.

Thankfully, most parents understand this and don't buy "M" rated games for their kids. There are exceptions (of course), but the majority of parents "get it".

[j_factor]

That's why I think what they should do is create a T-15 or T-16 rating and get rid of the AO rating altogether. Then bump up the M rating from 17+ to 18+. Then you have all your bases covered. And they can keep doing the little breakdown of content "mature language/realistic violence/etc." to paint a clearer picture than the single rating normally would allow.

The ESRB's biggest problem was that they tried to mimic the MPAA. But the MPAA is a completely different beast with its own problems. I'd say the ESRB is superior at what they do than the MPAA. Yet they're only gradually distancing themselves from the G/PG/PG-13/R/NC-17 rating system. I guess they feel uncomfortable adding too many new ratings because they don't want to confuse people. But how confusing is a T-13 and a T-15 or T-16 rating? You already have an E-10. Go the distance.

I'm not really a fan of E10. I would prefer something like a PG, which tells you it's one step up in terms of content, but doesn't specify an age. I would like something similar to the way the BBFC rates:

U - Universal; appropriate for all ages
PG - Parental Guidance; parents advised that some content may be unsuitable for younger children
12 - Suitable for ages 12 and up
15 - Suitable for ages 15 and up
18 - Suitable for ages 18 and up
18R - "18 Restricted", for porn

I think it's useful to have something like an AO if it signifies pornography. Not that many porn games come out here, but I think a separate classification is useful. I do think the ESRB has done a good job with the content descriptors, with a few exceptions ("realistic violence" in FF7? wtf?).

[TonyTheTiger]

The problem I have with the AO rating is that it has bizarre rules. Or at least has bizarre results when those rules are applied. Just look at Hot Coffee vs. many other situations in games that are far more flagrant yet still get an M.

The ESRB has said where the line is drawn between M and AO and it's surprising how far the M rating actually extends. You can show pubic hair and still be within the boundaries of the M rating. You can sort of show sex and still be within the M rating. It really does sort of mimic the R rating rather well. The easiest and most common way to cross the line is to graphically depict sexual acts. If that's the case, why make a distinction at all? There are so few AO games specifically because you more or less have to try to get the rating. Most of the time, it doesn't happen by accident where you're like "oops, we didn't expect to get the AO." It's just so limited in scope that it doesn't serve much of a purpose. Then you get something like Hot Coffee, which is far sillier than it is offensive, and yet because it satisfies the technical specifications, that justifies the AO. This is why I think the MPAA has some problems with the R/NC-17 thing and why I don't think the ESRB should really try to jack that system.

[Rob2600]

Didn't Resident Evil 4 come out on the GameCube *and* the Wii? What about Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles? The House of the Dead: Overkill? The Godfather: Blackhand Edition? Manhunt 2?

What about games like Contra, Jackal, Commando, Metal Gear, Golgo 13, Castlevania, Ninja Gaiden, and Double Dragon on the NES?

What about games like Final Fight, Mortal Kombat II, Killer Instinct, Super Castlevania IV, Doom, and Wolfenstein 3D on the SNES?

What about games like Goldeneye 007, Perfect Dark, Conker's Bad Fur Day, Bio FREAKS, Mortal Kombat 4, Rainbow Six, Carmaggedon, Shadow Man, Resident Evil II, and Quake II on the N64?

All of those were family-friendly/child-appropriate games?? I don't think so. What's so new and different about MadWorld all of a sudden?

EDIT: By the way, this isn't the first time I've had a problem with one of Ben Silverman's video game "articles." He's like the Fox News of the video game industry, always twisting and slanting the facts to try to create some sort of reaction or outrage. He's a joke.

[HYB]

I hate douchebags who complain and make others not get something they want just because they're too lazy to parent their kids. It's totally useless to blame developers and such. Also, I think the rating should stop at the 18+, if I can go out and get piss drunk I can damn well play any game I want. The porn in games thing is absolutely absurd as well, I could just go out and buy some porn, let alone have sex so my gaming shouldn't suffer just because the raters decide the content is unsuitable. It's like, I should be able to do what I want just because I'm not hurting anyone else in the process and I know what I'm doing, yet they're going to say that I can't and decide what's "best" for me. I really takes my piss to a boil.

Also, I think stores should ask for id when selling the games. Usually when traveling they try to sell me a 15 year old's ticket yet I got Dead Space on thursday without showing any id. It isn't the first time I got a 18+ game from the same store either, and that was years ago.

Also, I can't speak for ESRB, but europe suffered to because of Germany (Castlevania: TNG anyone?). Also, they're trying to install some kind of buttons in games so parents can stop their kids playing games with unsuitable content in here, which is absolute bullshit. I tought modern consoles had the parent control settings anyway.

I'm just really angry about this, I'm just saying the same things as everone basically. Also, sorry if I offended any germans.

[TonyTheTiger]

I hate douchebags who complain and make others not get something they want just because they're too lazy to parent their kids. It's totally useless to blame developers and such. Also, I think the rating should stop at the 18+, if I can go out and get piss drunk I can damn well play any game I want. The porn in games thing is absolutely absurd as well, I could just go out and buy some porn, let alone have sex so my gaming shouldn't suffer just because the raters decide the content is unsuitable. It's like, I should be able to do what I want just because I'm not hurting anyone else in the process and I know what I'm doing, yet they're going to say that I can't and decide what's "best" for me. I really takes my piss to a boil.

I'm sorry. I couldn't resist.

[Graham Mitchell]

A person is only a kid for a short time. A person is an adult for the majority of ones average lifespan. Nintendo isnt pushing for the kiddy and family friendly market penetration as they once did. As I said before, they realised this is the right way to go when they got creamed by the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 respectivley.

Singular marketing crashes companies. Diversify or Die.

Nintendo lifted their intense censorship during the SNES era. The SNES version of Mortal Kombat II has all the blood and gore of the arcade version. MK Trilogy on the N64 does as well. This is decades old news.

[Sonicwolf]

Nintendo lifted their intense censorship during the SNES era. The SNES version of Mortal Kombat II has all the blood and gore of the arcade version. MK Trilogy on the N64 does as well. This is decades old news.

They may have lifted the major censorship but the damage was done with their popular image as seen by developers and consumers. Nintendo was still considered the maker of kiddy/family friendly consoles a decade after MK2. Some pretty good evidence would be the GameCube.

[j_factor]

Nintendo lifted their intense censorship during the SNES era. The SNES version of Mortal Kombat II has all the blood and gore of the arcade version. MK Trilogy on the N64 does as well. This is decades old news.

Except they still censored some games on the N64. Duke Nukem for example.

[HYB]

I'm sorry. I couldn't resist.

Best_reply_ever. You sir have my respect, this made my day .

[Graham Mitchell]

Except they still censored some games on the N64. Duke Nukem for example.

Was it the stripper girls in Duke Nukem that they axed? I haven't played the N64 version. Sex is much scarier in America than violence for some reason, so I totally believe Nintendo would be more selective in that regard.