Games Consoles With Ratings Readers?

[Benji]

Nintendo puts the power in parents' hands

Revolution will utilize password system to let parents decide which ratings are appropriate for their kids.

Ever since Nintendo insisted that Acclaim "sanitize" Mortal Kombat for the Super Nintendo, the company has had an image as a family-friendly gaming company, despite occasional evidence to the contrary (Conker's Bad Fur Day, the temporary GameCube exclusive Resident Evil 4, the blood-rich Super Nintendo Mortal Kombat II).

While the company's upcoming Revolution console is certain to change a few things at The Big N, don't expect that family-friendly tag to be one of them. Nintendo today announced that the Revolution will institute a play-control system not unlike that of modern V-Chip-equipped TVs.

The password-protected system will let parents set which rating categories are acceptable for their children, and prevent the system from running any software outside the approved range. The system is based on the Entertainment Software Ratings Board's industry standard ratings, and each game's rating will be encoded on each Revolution disc. Nintendo says the system will be instituted on every Revolution console worldwide, presumably utilizing the local ratings system of each region.

"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," said Nintendo of America executive vice president of sales and marketing Reggie Fils-Aime. "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 Xbox and Xbox 360 already incorporate such controls for games and DVDs, and the PlayStation 2 lets parents control access to DVDs.

This will be one of the most significant changes to the whole 'violent video games' arguments, parents will have no excuses (bar a terrible ratings system) to have their kids playing the games they bitch and moan about.

Edited November 17, 2005 by Benjirino~!

[triplexpac]

Until those super smart internet savvy kids find a way to hack around the ratings guard.

[Benji]

Until those super smart internet savvy kids find a way to hack around the ratings guard.

But then its the kids to blame, not the computer companies, and the parents for not regularly checking the safety guard.

[Guest Grapehead]

Until those super smart internet savvy kids find a way to hack around the ratings guard.

But then its the kids to blame, not the computer companies, and the parents for not regularly checking the safety guard.

[Benji]

Until those super smart internet savvy kids find a way to hack around the ratings guard.

But then its the kids to blame, not the computer companies, and the parents for not regularly checking the safety guard.

Are you really that naive? Let's not forget Take Two was still held acountable despite the fact people had to infringe laws to unlock the hot coffee mod. It will always be the comapnies to blame.

It's now more responsiblity on to the parents than ever, it may not be perfect but it's another strike against retarded parents who blame their lack of parenting for kids re-enacting violent games. I'm not naive, I know how it works, but the fact of the matter is, courts are going to find far less reason to go in the favour of some faggots who should pay more attention to their kids.