Xbox 360 Age Restriction Feature

[Justin Buser]

Parents are going to be able to screen out games their children play on the Xbox 360. The software for the Xbox 360 comes with a built in rating, and so if the minimum age of the software is above that provided for on the console, it will simply not work. This should come as a welcome feature, especially after the GTA: San Adreas debacle.

The Xbox 360, a next-generation game console that Microsoft plans to release worldwide at the end of this year, will come equipped with an age restriction feature, it has been learned.

If the age of children using the console is entered in advance, software that has an age restriction above that age cannot be viewed. The Xbox 360 is reportedly the first home game console to provide such a feature.

Microsoft officials said the console reads data from the DVD when the software is loaded, including the age restriction for that software. The age restrictions on the console follow the four categories classified by the Computer Entertainment Rating Organization -- age 12 and up, age 15 and up, and age 18 and up, and all ages.

In addition to being able to restrict the viewing of DVD software, the Xbox 360 can also be programmed in advance to control access to voice-chat sites.

Restrictions will also reportedly be introduced in consoles in Europe and the United States to match specific areas. Recent moves have been made in Japan to control certain software, with the controversial game "Grand Theft Auto" being deemed by the Kanagawa Prefectural Government as a "harmful product."

Source: MSN Japan (http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20050721p2a00m0na009000c.html)

[Grumpy Old Fart]

It's good to finally see a console manufacturer implementing something like this. It's just a shame game retailers and parents don't do this in the first place. Unfortunatley due to all the law suits and media pressure it ends up the games developer/publisher or the console manufacturers having to do something instead :shot:

[Blank]

This is a really good idea, so parents will have full control over what their child plays. But whether they'll bother with this feature or not is another matter entirely.

[Justin Buser]

Yeah, informing parents about this is the next step...

This is a really good idea, so parents will have full control over what their child plays. But whether they'll bother with this feature or not is another matter entirely.

[Grindstone]

I know a few families that are multi-generation players (i.e., the son and the father play). Will there be a code word that the "dad" has to insert to play his games, or will there be different login accounts?

I do appreciate the ability to control what an underage player can particpate in. Sometimes, regardless of child rearing (and FYI, I am not a "dad" so far as I know), kids will disobey parents "just because", so this Xbox 360 function is a good idea. It will stop rated 'R' movies from playing as well, right? (Damn kids again, can't stop watching Se7en and the Crying Game.)

[pApA SmerF01]

I know a few families that are multi-generation players (i.e., the son and the father play). Will there be a code word that the "dad" has to insert to play his games, or will there be different login accounts?

I do appreciate the ability to control what an underage player can particpate in. Sometimes, regardless of child rearing (and FYI, I am not a "dad" so far as I know), kids will disobey parents "just because", so this Xbox 360 function is a good idea. It will stop rated 'R' movies from playing as well, right? (Damn kids again, can't stop watching Se7en and the Crying Game.)

i think this is good because there are so many kids who aren't capable of distinguishing game from reality in some aspects.

i'm 18 and my parents haven't really cared about what i do in my entertainment life, whether it be watching R movies when i was 4 or playing M games when i was 14. the thing is though, i was and still am able to distinguish what's real and what's not.

kids see stuff nowadays in games and apply it to their everyday life. why? because they lack the guidance to tell them otherwise. i'm just glad i'm not one of them. and i am definitely happy about this control on the 360.

[Darkvillain]

Hi guys,

Ive just heard of this new age restriction tool. As a parent i have now banned my kids from playing GTA after the recent information about sex minni games found on the game itself. My kids however still manage to get around me because my 18 yr old son brings it into the house :stupido3:
My kids are all lined out to get the next xbox and being a fan of xbox myself i plan to get one. Does this new tool mean i as the parent will have to insert the age limit of my kids so they cannot view over-age material. The thing i was wondering, is if they were to manage to get on it anyway knowing more about the xbox than me, is it possible i can stop them from finding out how to change the age limit. Will i have to put a passcode on? Plz post your answers as it will help me a great deal. Thanks :)

[Grumpy Old Fart]

Hi guys,

Ive just heard of this new age restriction tool. As a parent i have now banned my kids from playing GTA after the recent information about sex minni games found on the game itself. My kids however still manage to get around me because my 18 yr old son brings it into the house :stupido3:
My kids are all lined out to get the next xbox and being a fan of xbox myself i plan to get one. Does this new tool mean i as the parent will have to insert the age limit of my kids so they cannot view over-age material. The thing i was wondering, is if they were to manage to get on it anyway knowing more about the xbox than me, is it possible i can stop them from finding out how to change the age limit. Will i have to put a passcode on? Plz post your answers as it will help me a great deal. Thanks :)

Unfortunately I've not seen anymore details on this other than the announcement posted on the home page. Maybe one of the other guys has a bit more information, PaPa SmerF is usually good for this kind of thing :) .

I was also told today that the current Xbox has some kind of parental control facility as well. Although looking through my instruction booklet I can't find any information. I'm not sure if it is a regional feature and maybe it only came with the Japanese Xbox, then again the guy who gave me the information may just of been talking rubbish.

[Blank]

As a parent i have now banned my kids from playing GTA after the recent information about sex minni games found on the game itself.

The sex mini-game was only accessable through a hack, so unless the version of GTA is the PC version I'd have nothing to worry about. But on the other hand San Andreas is kinda crap, so your kids should be thankful in a few years :tongue:

Back on topic, maybe there will be some sort of password needed or the age-limit thing will be pernament.

[pApA SmerF01]

Unfortunately I've not seen anymore details on this other than the announcement posted on the home page. Maybe one of the other guys has a bit more information, PaPa SmerF is usually good for this kind of thing :) .

I was also told today that the current Xbox has some kind of parental control facility as well. Although looking through my instruction booklet I can't find any information. I'm not sure if it is a regional feature and maybe it only came with the Japanese Xbox, then again the guy who gave me the information may just of been talking rubbish.

there should be parental control options, because there were some xbox's in europe and asia that had the parental control and parental lock features.

don't see why there would be a problem bringing that onto the 360 with more control.

[Grindstone]

The sex mini-game was only accessable through a hack, so unless the version of GTA is the PC version I'd have nothing to worry about. But on the other hand San Andreas is kinda crap, so your kids should be thankful in a few years :tongue:

Back on topic, maybe there will be some sort of password needed or the age-limit thing will be pernament.


Actually, check the front page of cnn.com, scroll down to technology, click on the articlea bout GTA:SA. They say it is on the PC, PS2 & Xbox. Edit: here's a link-

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/fun.games/07/20/video.game.sex.ap/index.html

Hmm, how do I make a link while under the "editing" mode...

Rockstar has admitted to putting it on there and that it is unlockable. Why would they do that? The whole concept seems like the ol' "we market cigarettes for kids" sort of ploy. Of course, now that it is out there, kids are going to be looking for it.

[pApA SmerF01]

Actually, check the front page of cnn.con, scroll down to technology, click on the articlea bout GTA:SA. They say it is on the PC, PS2 & Xbox. Rockstar has admitted to putting it on there and that it is unlockable. Why would they do that? The whole concept seems like the ol' "we market cigarettes for kids" sort of ploy. Of course, now that it is out there, kids are going to be looking for it.

i think politicians need to understand that they don't help anything when they bring this much media attention to something as sensitive as this. they only make it worse.

[Grindstone]

i think politicians need to understand that they don't help anything when they bring this much media attention to something as sensitive as this. they only make it worse.

Kinda... it was politicians who prompted the original rating system that apparently failed to catch this porn friendly version of GTA:SA. The fact that so many kids have this game, and now they can access it without alerting their parents to it, makes this situation a bit more ugly.

But, at least the rating system will hopefully be a little more vigilant with the ratings, although in truth, I see it as the movie industry; where today's PG-13 is actually an R rating by older standards.

[Blank]

Actually, check the front page of cnn.com, scroll down to technology, click on the articlea bout GTA:SA. They say it is on the PC, PS2 & Xbox. Edit: here's a link-

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/fun.games/07/20/video.game.sex.ap/index.html

Hmm, how do I make a link while under the "editing" mode...

Rockstar has admitted to putting it on there and that it is unlockable. Why would they do that? The whole concept seems like the ol' "we market cigarettes for kids" sort of ploy. Of course, now that it is out there, kids are going to be looking for it.

Well, in that case I'm suprised that it hasn't been accessed in the console versions. Unless they already have been found...

[MH_prophet]

Actually, yes hot coffee has been found to access that content in the console versions as well. Here's the full story. http://gc.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=5420

[Grindstone]

Hey, good link MH prophet.

Again, this rant does not necessarily pertain to the topic at hand, but- what was Rockstar thinking? They just really hurt the gaming industry. This is going to piss parents (and wives) off a lot. They already harass "us" for playing games now, with this new development, it's just gonna get uglier. Lawsuits, anyone?

Thankfully (and this bridges the rant to the topic) Xbox 360 will come with parental guidance options. Unfortunately, if some other software company decides to trick the ESRB system like Rockstar [Take Two], it'll render the option useless.

[MH_prophet]

Yeah, I mean, is there ANY point in putting hidden porn in a game? Either put it in up front and let it get whatever rating it gets, or don't include it all. I hope Rockstar realizes what sh*t they have started.

[Superior Grant]

Hi guys,

Ive just heard of this new age restriction tool. As a parent i have now banned my kids from playing GTA after the recent information about sex minni games found on the game itself. My kids however still manage to get around me because my 18 yr old son brings it into the house :stupido3:
My kids are all lined out to get the next xbox and being a fan of xbox myself i plan to get one. Does this new tool mean i as the parent will have to insert the age limit of my kids so they cannot view over-age material. The thing i was wondering, is if they were to manage to get on it anyway knowing more about the xbox than me, is it possible i can stop them from finding out how to change the age limit. Will i have to put a passcode on? Plz post your answers as it will help me a great deal. Thanks :)

you do know the sex thing isnt in the game, it has to be unlocked by a mod
so they wouldnt come across it accidentally, theyd have to actually go out their way to get it

[Darkvillain]

you do know the sex thing isnt in the game, it has to be unlocked by a mod
so they wouldnt come across it accidentally, theyd have to actually go out their way to get it

Dude, you dont know my kids, with my 18 year old in charge of everything that my other boys do they will seek for it. So i banned it before they could even try!!

[Grumpy Old Fart]

Dude, you dont know my kids, with my 18 year old in charge of everything that my other boys do they will seek for it. So i banned it before they could even try!!

Good move Darkvillain, and is probably the best thing you could do to keep control over the situation.

I have a young daughter and at the moment she's not old enough to play games, but it is a concern for the future as to what she'll have access to when she does start gaming. With an age restriction facility that I can control, it certainly will help things when she does start. Although at her young age I don't think the 360 will have the type of games suitable for a youngster anyway, and she'll probably start out on the Revolution or one of Nintendo's older consoles I have.

It's funny how gaming has changes since the Playstation was introduced, gaming used to be about fun, simplistic but addictive gameplay, it was pick up and play entertainment for the family. So in all honesty do we really need games like GTA, Manhunt etc on the market?

[Blank]

It's funny how gaming has changes since the Playstation was introduced, gaming used to be about fun, simplistic but addictive gameplay, it was pick up and play entertainment for the family. So in all honesty do we really need games like GTA, Manhunt etc on the market?

I was thinking that too. It seems to only be Nintendo that stick to the classic rules of gaming.

Violent games are only going to get more popular thanks to controversy. Bully is bound to get a hell of alot of it on it's release. It makes you think whether Rockstar want to make games or just cause controversy.

[bennyboo03]

i have freinds and their little brothers which are usually around 10, play GTA fr no reason, just to act cool

[Grumpy Old Fart]

What I find ironic about games such as GTA, Manhunts is they are rated 18, but they seem to appeal more to gamers under that age than it does for those aged over the rating :bird:

[bennyboo03]

i never noticed that. so sad

[Superior Grant]

Dude, you dont know my kids, with my 18 year old in charge of everything that my other boys do they will seek for it. So i banned it before they could even try!!

ok, fair enough

just im below 18 but my parents know i wouldnt look for something like that, and theyre right i wouldnt

but if you have a doubt about yours, its certainly the right thing to do :)