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Microsoft Reverses 'Mature' Game Ban On Windows 8
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.
Skyrim is fine as a Mature Violent game, but Dragon Age has the equivalent of soft core porn in it. Does that get it into the Adult bucket or is it still gray enough for Mature?
Does anybody plan to use it?
Between Mint and Android, all my computing needs are covered.
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.
The typical: "Its ok if there's killing, beheading and any kind of gore as long as nobody fucks."
Windows 8 took an arrow to the knee.
... mature porn? How do the wiseguys at Microsoft box that? Eh? Huh?
Who cares. :)
Steam Store
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.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Windows 8 is an absolute failure. Microsoft, what in the hell were you thinking?
There's as much evidence that censorship is bad for children as there is that "adult" and "mature" themes are. That is, none.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
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...
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.
So (once again) here's the message: sex = bad, violence = OK.
http://alternatives.rzero.com/
Who in their right mind would use the Windows Store anyway?
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?
Has anyone here ever bought software on a Microsoft Windows store or would intend to buy it? What a slashdot strawman marketing!
Didn't anyone else read the original guideline that said games couldn't be in the store if they were *over* M or PEGI? Even the original source article (but not the blog posted here) updated with emphasis from MS on the "over" part.
Won't somebody please think of the Adult games?
if you have win8 you can't surf porn? not that i would of course.... just saying
also horrible heading FTFA
Wait until December to flip the switch? Why not flip the switch now? Is this what we are to expect from this platform?
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?
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.
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.
I mean, do what you want with the rest but attempt no landing here!
So what you are saying is that you are willing to accept censorship about what apps you can run, in turn for a working operating system, even if alternatives are available? That must be some operating system then, that you are willing to trade.
I was promised a flying car. Where is my flying car?
I'm assuming that's the excuse again: age-tag, or nudity-level-tag them (boobs, sex, short pants, no boerka ;) )
And allow the end-user to filter on that, and maybe send a default per country.
That should solve most if not all border cases.
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.
When did my operating system become my or my children's babysitter? Besides there is already plenty software out there to lock down your kids computer, Microsoft doesn't need to be in that business. Especially since I want my porn. I'm glad they backed away from a stupid decision.
It's not a windows 8 ban, its a policy for their app store. Stupid title.