Nintendo Company Limited has announced that its upcoming home console, currently going by the codename Revolution, will have a parental content control scheme, an emerging standard in the hardware market. As to why Nintendo has announced this remains unclear.
The concept, from what can gather, is that the age-rating awarding to each game, ESRB in the US, PEGI across Europe and CERO for Japan, will be encoded into the software and can be locked on a per-rating basis by worried God-fearing adults.
The problem we have with this is understanding why Nintendo has made this decision. It seems that it’s something of a blind following of Microsoft and Sony’s lead and, as such, is unlikely to progress the Revolution campaign as the console nears launch. SPOnG would assert that even in today’s climate of tabloid headlines bashing any new piece of interactive software, parents will - in the main - simply buy their offspring their console of choice and throw it at them wrapped in paper, and not examine the user interface for content controls. Then of course, this public assurance by Nintendo to parents - which will be viewed by younger gamers as the firm going over the head of the purchase sponsor - has a great chance of positioning the Revolution as a machine on which certain desirable content may be unplayable.
SPOnG isn’t advocating that children should have access to inappropriate content and regular readers will know that we have been amongst the most vocal when discussing the negative aspects of socially irresponsible games content and its impact on younger users. From a business point of view however, it seems somewhat misguided to make parental lock-out functionality a high-profile selling point when in general, the message will be ignored by parents and viewed with hostility by potential end-users.
Of course, due to heightened game realism, parental lock-out options should be included in a new games console. But they should just be included, not announced, to a gaming community likely to perceive itself as a victim of such technology being used.
“Even though many Nintendo games are rated E, E10+ or T, we believe this kind of feature should be included in the hardware. It's the right thing to do”, explained Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales and marketing. 'Game ratings are on the front and back of every game package, so families can easily make a decision about whether a game is right for them”.
The concept, from what can gather, is that the age-rating awarding to each game, ESRB in the US, PEGI across Europe and CERO for Japan, will be encoded into the software and can be locked on a per-rating basis by worried God-fearing adults.
The problem we have with this is understanding why Nintendo has made this decision. It seems that it’s something of a blind following of Microsoft and Sony’s lead and, as such, is unlikely to progress the Revolution campaign as the console nears launch. SPOnG would assert that even in today’s climate of tabloid headlines bashing any new piece of interactive software, parents will - in the main - simply buy their offspring their console of choice and throw it at them wrapped in paper, and not examine the user interface for content controls. Then of course, this public assurance by Nintendo to parents - which will be viewed by younger gamers as the firm going over the head of the purchase sponsor - has a great chance of positioning the Revolution as a machine on which certain desirable content may be unplayable.
SPOnG isn’t advocating that children should have access to inappropriate content and regular readers will know that we have been amongst the most vocal when discussing the negative aspects of socially irresponsible games content and its impact on younger users. From a business point of view however, it seems somewhat misguided to make parental lock-out functionality a high-profile selling point when in general, the message will be ignored by parents and viewed with hostility by potential end-users.
Of course, due to heightened game realism, parental lock-out options should be included in a new games console. But they should just be included, not announced, to a gaming community likely to perceive itself as a victim of such technology being used.
“Even though many Nintendo games are rated E, E10+ or T, we believe this kind of feature should be included in the hardware. It's the right thing to do”, explained Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales and marketing. 'Game ratings are on the front and back of every game package, so families can easily make a decision about whether a game is right for them”.
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Comments
soanso 17 Nov 2005 15:08
1/11
Could be viewed as a limiting feature or as liberation, depends how devs use it.
Before there were age ratings, there was those stupid rules nintendo usa had,, no blood and all that crap. The best thing to happen WAS age ratings. Without it there would stunted versions of all those games. (mortal kombat 2, doom, KI..etc)
Imagine if Resi Evil 4 had been made under those rules.
Nope.
Neither can I.
Before there were age ratings, there was those stupid rules nintendo usa had,, no blood and all that crap. The best thing to happen WAS age ratings. Without it there would stunted versions of all those games. (mortal kombat 2, doom, KI..etc)
Imagine if Resi Evil 4 had been made under those rules.
Nope.
Neither can I.
majin dboy 17 Nov 2005 15:37
2/11
so how actually could this be implemented?
would the revo not let kiddies play certian games?
im 18 so should i really give a s**t?
would the revo not let kiddies play certian games?
im 18 so should i really give a s**t?
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jonno394 17 Nov 2005 17:08
3/11
What has to be remembered is that this feature was announced a while back for the PS3 and Xbox360 also.
tyrion 17 Nov 2005 17:38
4/11
majin dboy wrote:
so how actually could this be implemented?
would the revo not let kiddies play certian games?
would the revo not let kiddies play certian games?
Same as Sky, I would imagine. You as parent would establish a code to play games of a certain rating level and above. Any game at that level or above won't play until the code has been entered.
Actually, thinking about it, a separate code per rating level would make more sense to cater for households with various ages. Let the young-uns know the codes up to PEGI 7+, let the older ones know the codes up to 15+ and let the eldest and parents know the BBFC 18 code.
majin dboy 17 Nov 2005 17:58
5/11
but as i said i am 18,and im gona buy my revolution with MY money(well student loan or claim for getting bottled)so will i have any worrys???
Ditto 17 Nov 2005 18:44
6/11
Well, not unless you give your Revo to your parents and they put you in as a 5-year-old before handing it back to you.
realvictory 17 Nov 2005 19:19
7/11
majin dboy wrote:
so how actually could this be implemented?
would the revo not let kiddies play certian games?
im 18 so should i really give a s**t?
would the revo not let kiddies play certian games?
im 18 so should i really give a s**t?
Exactly. I think it's a sensible feature, because Nintendo is aiming at a wide audience.
If you buy it for yourself, you will be in control. It just means parents will have more trust in the Revolution, which is a benefit if it's being aimed at families. The reason I totally agree is because I can't wait to see whole families playing games together!
However, if you don't want to play games with your families, buy yourself a Revolution and play what you want. It's not like it's saying it can't play adult games.
I just hope developers and publishers won't take it the wrong way and choose not to develop mature games.
Then again, how important is it really, to have blood and violence in a game? I suppose Resident Evil is a good example, however many of the best games such as Zelda aren't childish, yet aren't considered a bad influence on children.
Greg2k 17 Nov 2005 22:01
8/11
Man, trust Spong to start freaking out over the dumbest of things.
If we lived in a world where all age ratings were followed, and no kid ever played a GTA game, then there would be no need for this. However, since it's been proved on countless occasions, this isn't the case. Kids are playing games they shouldn't, and parents don't give a flying f**k about it. What's wrong with including a feature that limits this situation?
If a parent is out to buy a console, even though their son may have specifically asked for the PlayThing, they will be looking at all the options. If they find a console which is cheaper, more family-oriented, and boasts a parental control feature, they will surely buy that one instead of the one they've seen advertised on TV with some non kid-friendly footage and some chick with huge breasts promoting some polygon count or something.
Spong, who gives a f**k? It's not like it's going to spoil the system. It's not like it's going to make it kiddier. It's just Nintendo using a feature that can be easily implemented, in order to give them a better image. How's that wrong?
If we lived in a world where all age ratings were followed, and no kid ever played a GTA game, then there would be no need for this. However, since it's been proved on countless occasions, this isn't the case. Kids are playing games they shouldn't, and parents don't give a flying f**k about it. What's wrong with including a feature that limits this situation?
If a parent is out to buy a console, even though their son may have specifically asked for the PlayThing, they will be looking at all the options. If they find a console which is cheaper, more family-oriented, and boasts a parental control feature, they will surely buy that one instead of the one they've seen advertised on TV with some non kid-friendly footage and some chick with huge breasts promoting some polygon count or something.
Spong, who gives a f**k? It's not like it's going to spoil the system. It's not like it's going to make it kiddier. It's just Nintendo using a feature that can be easily implemented, in order to give them a better image. How's that wrong?
majin dboy 17 Nov 2005 23:14
9/11
"parents dont give flying f**k"
its different with each family.some parents dont mind their children practicing anal sex yet others freak out about the thot of kissing-same with games-kinda.
ther was this guy in my school that i left early this year and he was 18 and little bro was 16.they wernt allowed to sit in the front seat of the car.
also,they were only allowed to play in the back garden,supervised.
and there treat each was a bag of skitilles.
its different with each family.some parents dont mind their children practicing anal sex yet others freak out about the thot of kissing-same with games-kinda.
ther was this guy in my school that i left early this year and he was 18 and little bro was 16.they wernt allowed to sit in the front seat of the car.
also,they were only allowed to play in the back garden,supervised.
and there treat each was a bag of skitilles.
jmm36 29 Nov 2005 18:32
10/11
I think this article is misguided. Who cares what gamers think--all three consoles will be equally limiting in this regard. On the other hand, game content is a huge issue in Japan right now, and voluntary policing by hardware manufacturers is an important political move in Japan, the US, and probably other regions. Gamers don't want additional governing bodies telling us what we can and cannot play. I see no one more fit to make that decision than the gamer and/or their parents.
Nintendo is not following Sony on this point. Sony is following Nintendo and Microsoft. They only made their announcement this week...
If Nintendo did not include the feature, a few people would probably note that it is because all games on Nintendo systems are for kids, which shows how little they know and how much fun they are not having in their home gaming. Hopefully this will open the way for more grown up content as well. (And I don't mean Playboy Mansion or Extreme Beach Volleyball, which to me are juvenile, immature, and reflect very poor taste!)
Nintendo is not following Sony on this point. Sony is following Nintendo and Microsoft. They only made their announcement this week...
If Nintendo did not include the feature, a few people would probably note that it is because all games on Nintendo systems are for kids, which shows how little they know and how much fun they are not having in their home gaming. Hopefully this will open the way for more grown up content as well. (And I don't mean Playboy Mansion or Extreme Beach Volleyball, which to me are juvenile, immature, and reflect very poor taste!)
Joji 29 Nov 2005 19:42
11/11
I think it's not such a bad thing for this to happen. I'd rather Sony MS and Nintendo take steps to police their systems and cover themselves from any future crap lawsuits by overzealous parents or wird oraganisaions we've never heard of.
I'm sure even that weirdo righteous chap Jack Thompson would see this as a positive note of progress for the industry. Indeed if it works for Sky for so long then why not Nintendo etc? It's better this way because then the parents can never claim ''Hey I never knew this was an adult game, it's all my fault my son is playing this as I should have locked the P.C on it, damn''.
I know I won't be using it personally, but I'm sure many wil appreciate and use it wisely. Nothing worth worrying about folks. We can still enjoy our violent games they might just require a pin number or something as standard to access to gore, kind of like gore cheats once did.
I'm sure even that weirdo righteous chap Jack Thompson would see this as a positive note of progress for the industry. Indeed if it works for Sky for so long then why not Nintendo etc? It's better this way because then the parents can never claim ''Hey I never knew this was an adult game, it's all my fault my son is playing this as I should have locked the P.C on it, damn''.
I know I won't be using it personally, but I'm sure many wil appreciate and use it wisely. Nothing worth worrying about folks. We can still enjoy our violent games they might just require a pin number or something as standard to access to gore, kind of like gore cheats once did.