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NWR Interactive => TalkBack => Topic started by: Steel Diver on December 07, 2012, 03:28:43 PM

Title: Mature Games Only Available 'After Dark' on Euro eShop
Post by: Steel Diver on December 07, 2012, 03:28:43 PM

Why don't you play something nice and happy?

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/32745

Wii U games age rated 18+ can only be bought on the European eShop late at night.

According to an Italian NeoGAF user and confirmed by Eurogamer, the European eShop only allows the purchase of mature-oriented PEGI 18+ games between 11:00 pm and 3:00 am.

According to a Nintendo representative, this was done to "observ[e] carefully all the relevant regulations regarding content access that are present in the various European countries" and in order to "offer gameplay experiences suited to all ages." No specific regulations were mentioned.

Plan on accessing the eShop at night or buying a physical copy if you want to play or even access information on games like Zombi U and Assassin's Creed III. The games are blocked even when no parental controls are set on the console.

Title: Re: Mature Games Only Available 'After Dark' on Euro eShop
Post by: Enner on December 07, 2012, 03:44:24 PM
The Gamasutra article (European Wii U eShop restricts 18+ rated content during daytime (http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/183117/European_Wii_U_eShop_restricts_18_rated_content_during_daytime.php#.UMJU9YM0WSo)) mentions Germany being one of the countries.


Lazy of Nintendo to have this apply for the entire region.
Title: Re: Mature Games Only Available 'After Dark' on Euro eShop
Post by: broodwars on December 07, 2012, 04:25:53 PM
*shrugs*

I haven't heard of similar restrictions on XBox LIVE or PlayStation Network, so I don't know why Nintendo's finding itself having to do this now.
Title: Re: Mature Games Only Available 'After Dark' on Euro eShop
Post by: Ian Sane on December 07, 2012, 05:03:23 PM
Quote from: broodwars on December 07, 2012, 04:25:53 PM
*shrugs*

I haven't heard of similar restrictions on XBox LIVE or PlayStation Network, so I don't know why Nintendo's finding itself having to do this now.

Sony and MS also never did friend codes for our "security" or whatever.  Nintendo is just more cautious (or treats its users like babies and idiots; both work.)

Can this be bypassed by changing the clock on your system or is it at the server level?

I can sort of understand this if parental controls are on but for EVERYONE?  That's just ridiculous.  Now is 18+ the equivalent of AO, which is like a game being classified as porno in North America?  Or is it more like 'M'?  How common are 18+ games?  Will this affect a lot of titles or only a few?
Title: Re: Mature Games Only Available 'After Dark' on Euro eShop
Post by: TJ Spyke on December 07, 2012, 06:05:18 PM
Quote from: Ian Sane on December 07, 2012, 05:03:23 PM
Quote from: broodwars on December 07, 2012, 04:25:53 PM
*shrugs*

I haven't heard of similar restrictions on XBox LIVE or PlayStation Network, so I don't know why Nintendo's finding itself having to do this now.

Sony and MS also never did friend codes for our "security" or whatever.  Nintendo is just more cautious (or treats its users like babies and idiots; both work.)

Can this be bypassed by changing the clock on your system or is it at the server level?

I can sort of understand this if parental controls are on but for EVERYONE?  That's just ridiculous.  Now is 18+ the equivalent of AO, which is like a game being classified as porno in North America?  Or is it more like 'M'?  How common are 18+ games?  Will this affect a lot of titles or only a few?

PEGI 18 (they dropped the "+" in 2009) is like ESRB's AO or CERO's Z rating, their version of the M rating is 16. According to PEGI, only 4% of games have ever gotten a 18 rating from them.
Title: Re: Mature Games Only Available 'After Dark' on Euro eShop
Post by: tendoboy1984 on December 07, 2012, 07:45:19 PM
So the digital laws of Germany apply to the entirety of Europe?

I thought all the European countries used PEGI now?

And I'm pretty sure PEGI 18 is the same as ESRB's "M (Mature)". What is PEGI's "Teen" equivalent?
Title: Re: Mature Games Only Available 'After Dark' on Euro eShop
Post by: Mop it up on December 07, 2012, 07:46:23 PM
If ZombiU and Assassin's Creed III got the PEGI 18, then it isn't quite the same as the AO, as those games received an M rating, not AO.
Title: Re: Mature Games Only Available 'After Dark' on Euro eShop
Post by: TJ Spyke on December 07, 2012, 07:52:02 PM
Quote from: tendoboy1984 on December 07, 2012, 07:45:19 PM
So the digital laws of Germany apply to the entirety of Europe?

I thought all the European countries used PEGI now?

And I'm pretty sure PEGI 18 is the same as ESRB's "M (Mature)". What is PEGI's "Teen" equivalent?

PEGI 18 is the same as ESRB AO. But looser restrictions in Europe means more content is allowed. Their 16 is like our M, their 12 is like our T, their 7 is like our E, and their 3 is like our EC. Here is a good comparison chart:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_content_rating_system#Comparison
Title: Re: Mature Games Only Available 'After Dark' on Euro eShop
Post by: Tamazoid on December 07, 2012, 10:04:32 PM

Quote from: tendoboy1984 on December 07, 2012, 07:45:19 PM
So the digital laws of Germany apply to the entirety of Europe?

It's because NoE is based in Germany. Their servers are probably also based in Germany so they have to abide by local laws. They'd have to move their servers to another European country to avoid this problem.
Title: Re: Mature Games Only Available 'After Dark' on Euro eShop
Post by: joshnickerson on December 08, 2012, 03:28:03 PM
Quote from: Tamazoid on December 07, 2012, 10:04:32 PM

Quote from: tendoboy1984 on December 07, 2012, 07:45:19 PM
So the digital laws of Germany apply to the entirety of Europe?

It's because NoE is based in Germany. Their servers are probably also based in Germany so they have to abide by local laws. They'd have to move their servers to another European country to avoid this problem.


That's a rather reasonable and rational fact based conclusion... nah, Nintendo just hates its fans.
Title: Re: Mature Games Only Available 'After Dark' on Euro eShop
Post by: Discostew on December 08, 2012, 03:54:04 PM
What about going into Parental Controls, and setting it to "Let me do what I want". Does that work?
Title: Re: Mature Games Only Available 'After Dark' on Euro eShop
Post by: Pixelated Pixies on December 08, 2012, 06:40:04 PM
Isn't Sony Europe also based in Germany though?
Title: Re: Mature Games Only Available 'After Dark' on Euro eShop
Post by: TJ Spyke on December 08, 2012, 07:37:36 PM
Quote from: Pixelated Pixies on December 08, 2012, 06:40:04 PM
Isn't Sony Europe also based in Germany though?

Nope, based in the United Kingdom.
Title: Re: Mature Games Only Available 'After Dark' on Euro eShop
Post by: tendoboy1984 on December 08, 2012, 09:39:14 PM
I thought all of Europe used PEGI by now.
Title: Re: Mature Games Only Available 'After Dark' on Euro eShop
Post by: TJ Spyke on December 09, 2012, 06:00:57 PM
Quote from: tendoboy1984 on December 08, 2012, 09:39:14 PM
I thought all of Europe used PEGI by now.

Most do (not all). One exception is Germany, which uses its own rating system (USK) and that is very strict (many mature games are banned in Germany). And even so, laws vary by country.