Revolution to use play control system

[TomO]

Nintendo has announced that the Revolution will use a play control system to prevent young gamers from playing unsuitable games.

Using a password-controlled setting, the person responsible for a child's gaming habits can easily set what age rated games will be accessible. In Europe Nintendo games are rated using the PEGI age rating system with the bands 3+, 7+, 12+, 16+ or 18+. These age bands will be used by the revolution to determine which games the system will allow younger gamers to play. The system will also allow older gamers to play games with no restrictions.

Full story (http://www.pro-g.co.uk/news/nid/1853/)

[Varsity]

Funny thing is, I expect most of the replies to this post to be overwhelmingly negative.

[DigitalFirefly]

There's no reason this shouldn't be in all systems.

[mister_slim]

*something witty about the pointless of Nintendo systems blocking nonexistent Mature games*

[Nite_Moogle]

There's no reason this shouldn't be in all systems.
For truth
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[Paranoia]

Funny thing is, I expect most of the replies to this post to be overwhelmingly negative.

But why is it even a problem?

[Deathbane27]

This is definately a Good Thing (tm).

[darkwarrior]

Its a bit lame but at least these lawsuits can stop. If theres a built in system to prevent adult games and the parentsdont utilise it then its their fault (It was always their fault but this makes it more blatantly theirs).

[Murtaug]

You know, I think that this is a good thing, but it really is nothing new. 360 features a pretty comprehensive parental control scheme, and I would expect the Playstation 3 will as well.

Now, it is basically useless if parents do not know it is there, and thus never enable it, and that will probably be the case in 99% of situations. Little 'Jimmy' will get his nice new Revolution and prompty run upstairs with it to hook it up to his television he has in his room. So in the end it really comes down to the argument that has been going on all along; it is up to the parents to monitor what their kids play and do not play. It's nice of Nintendo (and others) to include these features, it shows that they do have some concern over kids playing inappropriate games, but it still does not stop ten year old Jimmy from playing the new Grand Theft Auto or such.

[Draft]

Booooooooooooring.

[Varsity]

But why is it even a problem?It isn't, that was my point. Looks like I was wrong though, or else pulled off some reverse phsycology without knowing. ;)

[m0nk3yb0y]

Now, it is basically useless if parents do not know it is there, and thus never enable it, and that will probably be the case in 99% of situations.

It's their fault for not researching the product and knowing that it's there. Ignorance is not an excuse. I know before I spend a couple hundred bucks on something I make sure it's worth the money by finding reviews, info, etc.

[Dabombpizza]

Well, this is good news. Does the 360 have parental control over game content? If every system adopts this it'll definetly slow down the Thompson types. And I wouldn't call it lame as it has no effect on someone who isn't going to use it.

[total]

Good for Nintendo.

This is going to let them keep the gamers they seem to have been shooting for since the arrival of the N64 (think young gamers, Pokemon, etc). At the same time they are giving 3rd party game creators the freedom to fill their games with as much and gore as they want.

Good move Nintendo, keep going and you might actually pull me back as a customer.

[Dabombpizza]

*something witty about the pointless of Nintendo systems blocking nonexistent Mature games*
Nintendo's going to do GTA: Mushroom Kingdom, cept with Mario characters. Toadstools dressed like princesses will be the hookers.

[Roc Ingersol]

Yeah, I believe the 360 has similar parental controls.

[Citizen Philip]

This is nice and all, but when will they include stupid parents who need to take responsibility for their children controls?

[emperordahc]

Good thing, but it'd only be used by a handful of parents. The kids who go and kill people are the ones the parents aren't paying attention to, anyway.

[Bone]

If they do this right, that means the Revolution could feasibly support more robust multiplayer features (voice chat with strangers) while still allowing parents to lock it down. I'm pretty disappointed with the limitations on DS wi-fi in that regard.

[Paltry]

news like this will be good when im old and broken and the babies that ive made are bogarting my consoles

till then i couldnt give a shit

[Kelegacy]

YES! This is a good thing. It’s like the V-chip, and in theory it should stop parents from complaining about how videogames are ruining their children. A parent must fuck up twice now. First, a child must get a mature rated game in his hands, so that usually means a parent must buy it for them, or someone older. If the kid STILL gets ahold of the game, like from a crack dealer on the street, then if he attempts to play it at home, he’ll have to play it on an unlocked system that his PARENT decided not to lock. Not foolproof, but it takes more of a scapegoat burden off from the industry. Parents will still need to do their jobs, and this makes it a bit easier. In theory.

[Tennistoad]

Did someone say Revolution Control?

http://filehost.to/files/2005-09-19_02/093636_Ninfatty2.gif

[automaton]

YES! This is a good thing. It’s like the V-chip, and in theory it should stop parents from complaining about how videogames are ruining their children.

Yes, in theory, that is how it is supposed to work. HOWEVER we've had the v-chip around for several years and it hasn't stopped any bitching and whining about the sex and violence on TV.

I don't expect parental controls to make any difference in the current war against video games. Most of these groups don't want "parental" controls. They just want controls. It is sickening.

[Wonka]

Yes this is a good thing, if for no other reason than to stop all the parental bitching.

Of course there will still be bitching but hey at least it will be completely unwarranted.

Xbox had this feature, Xbox360 is just about to have it and now Revolution will have it too. Will Sony have it? I am going to guess "yes" since otherwise they would be the only console manufacturer that could still be sued...

[Dabombpizza]

Xbox had this feature, Xbox360 is just about to have it and now Revolution will have it too.
I don't remember Xbox having content control over videogames...dvds, yes, but not vgs. Did I miss this completely? Or was this in a dashboard upgrade?

[cppcrusader]

I don't remember Xbox having content control over videogames...dvds, yes, but not vgs. Did I miss this completely? Or was this in a dashboard upgrade?

Its right there in the dashboard. I didn't know about it myself until I accidentally discovered it about 6 or 7 months ago.

[Rommel]

I am fully in favor of this being in all video game systems. More, I want this highly advertised and explained. Get the real media to help spreading the word out. I am tired of people feigning ignorance about protections they can opt to have.

[Kyle Jones]

This has been in TV's for how long now?

[El-Rodente]

Now, it is basically useless if parents do not know it is there, and thus never enable it, and that will probably be the case in 99% of situations. Little 'Jimmy' will get his nice new Revolution and prompty run upstairs with it to hook it up to his television he has in his room. So in the end it really comes down to the argument that has been going on all along; it is up to the parents to monitor what their kids play and do not play. It's nice of Nintendo (and others) to include these features, it shows that they do have some concern over kids playing inappropriate games, but it still does not stop ten year old Jimmy from playing the new Grand Theft Auto or such.

yeah, but this time they only have to pay attention once, instead of all the time... makes it easier to blame the ones who don't, and harder for them to blame the gaming industry

[Chimpbot]

If they do this right, that means the Revolution could feasibly support more robust multiplayer features (voice chat with strangers) while still allowing parents to lock it down. I'm pretty disappointed with the limitations on DS wi-fi in that regard.


To their credit, the DS's wi-fi features will vary on a game-to-game basis. Mario Kart doesn't support voice chat, but Animal Crossing will support text.


Personally, I think this is a good thing. They're openly advertising this feature, meaning more people will know about it. Plus, it does seemingly allow developers to make more mature games. The Gamecube had a few, but it looks like the Revolution will have far more.
It appears that Nintendo is really trying to build a console that literally the entire family can enjoy.

[Captain Awesome]

Ah, very very cool. :)

[mkelehan]

To their credit, the DS's wi-fi features will vary on a game-to-game basis. Mario Kart doesn't support voice chat, but Animal Crossing will support text.


Personally, I think this is a good thing. They're openly advertising this feature, meaning more people will know about it. Plus, it does seemingly allow developers to make more mature games. The Gamecube had a few, but it looks like the Revolution will have far more.
It appears that Nintendo is really trying to build a console that literally the entire family can enjoy.

According to the Nintendo WiFi website, they will vary from game to game, but at most, you'll only be able to "open chat" with registered friends. You can "closed chat" in some games with strangers, meaning you can use canned RE Outbreak style phrases.

[The Iron Weasel]

you can do this with the xbox....

[The Iron Weasel]

*something witty about the pointless of Nintendo systems blocking nonexistent Mature games*

NICE ONE!

The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters.

[Meatgortex]

As many have said, the original xbox had this and that didn't stop the parent groups from complaining.
http://news.softpedia.com/images/news2/Xbox-360-va-implementa-un-sistem-de-control-parental-2.jpg

There is no reason to believe that the 360 and revolution having it will change anything. It's nice that they include the feature though.

[KDups]

Yeah the people who complain about sex and violence in games and TV don't just want the ability to block it from their kids, they want it eliminated completely. This is a nice gesture, but it surely won't eliminate the complaints.

[Achilles]

The Xbox had this as well. I wonder how many parents actually used it. Of course it’s a good thing that it’s in there even if only a small percent did.

There was a question about when the Xbox first had it, and the answer is right when it shipped. Most people never knew about it unless they read the manual, and who does that? They should really put in a tutorial or something when you first boot your Revolution up.As many have said, the original xbox had this and that didn't stop the parent groups from complaining.It may not have, but if a lawsuit over this was directed at MS all they'd have to do is point out the parents could have locked the kids out of playing their murder simulator and that would be the end of it.

[Varsity]

There is no reason to believe that the 360 and revolution having it will change anything. It's nice that they include the feature though.
Unless they make people aware of it, of course.

[Mason]

I'm just surprised that Nintendo is planning to have 18+ rated games on the Revolution. That's effectively AO territory.

But yeah, this is a good thing for everyone.

[Zanzibar]

Nintendo's going to do GTA: Mushroom Kingdom, cept with Mario characters. Toadstools dressed like princesses will be the hookers.

Hot Coffee, anyone?
http://webpages.charter.net/toxicned/images/mario_hit_it.gif

[ChaosDent]

I'm just surprised that Nintendo is planning to have 18+ rated games on the Revolution. That's effectively AO territory.

But yeah, this is a good thing for everyone.

That's Europe's system. Obviously the US version will include a filter for the ESRB ratings, almost certainly including AO. Whether or not an AO game is made is up to Nintendo and their third parties.

Settings like these are really nothing but good for people all around. Of course having them in the system is one step, educating the general public to its presence, and making it acessable is the next. I had an Xbox for two years, and I didn't know it had this feature.

[dr_wily]

Hot Coffee, anyone?
http://webpages.charter.net/toxicned/images/mario_hit_it.gif

Awesome gif.. paper mario 2 style too.

[MajSheppard]

Very good idea, oh wait don't all tv's already have that?
Parents are the root of this, I mean I do not know how many times I sold a GTA game to a kid who dragged in his parents and they have come back pissed. I mean I told you morons this game is bad, I would say. They won't use the feature because American parents do not know enough to be good parents.

[Kefkataran]

I dig this.

[mister_slim]

I love how Kefkataran's sig goes with MajSheppard's post.
Hot Coffee, anyone?
http://webpages.charter.net/toxicned/images/mario_hit_it.gif
That just made me think. How did the 'people' in Flatland reproduce?

[Kelegacy]

I love how Kefkataran's sig goes with MajSheppard's post.

That just made me think. How did the 'people' in Flatland reproduce?

Paper men ejaculate those confetti dots from hole punchers. The white ones.

[LilAbner]

Xbox had this feature, Xbox360 is just about to have it and now Revolution will have it too.

Amazing that this new Nintendo console is being called "Revolution" when Xbox 1 had it back in 2001.

[The Iron Weasel]

Yeah, but the original xbox didn't make you get exercise.

[Kefkataran]

Amazing that this new Nintendo console is being called "Revolution" when Xbox 1 had it back in 2001.

Yeah, cause this is totally the future they had in mind when naming the console.

Holy fuck what a dumb thing to say.

[lost]

Amazing that this new Nintendo console is being called "Revolution" when Xbox 1 had it back in 2001.

Hahahaha

I'm surprised the parental control settings arguement has never come up before when we get full of "stupid parents blaming video games". Just shows we'd forgotten about it. Better awareness of these features is a must.

You know if GTA came out on the Revolution Mario would be an unlockable character and the go-kart would have a large mushroom on the front.

[Kefkataran]

You know if GTA came out on the Revolution Mario would be an unlockable character and the go-kart would have a large mushroom on the front.

And don't you dare try saying that wouldn't kick ass.