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[Keyser Soze]

16th November 2005 – Nintendo today announces it will include a play control system in its next home video game system, code-named Revolution, coming in 2006.

By using a password-controlled setting, adults can decide what flexibility they'll allow younger players to have in playing video games rated 3+, 7+, 12+, 16+ or 18+. The system also ensures dedicated adult gamers can opt to play without limitations.

How does it work? The actual game software will contain a code indicating the rating, which will activate the control system to remain locked or unlocked. The feature will be included in every Revolution worldwide.

"Even though most Nintendo games are appropriate for all ages and the game ratings are clearly displayed on the front of every game package, this added feature encourages parents to take responsibility for the games their children play," said Jim Merrick, Senior Marketing Director, Nintendo of Europe

Nintendo's games in Europe are rated using the Pan European Games Information (PEGI) age rating system for interactive games, which groups games into five different age bands, 3+, 7+, 12+, 16+ or 18+.

Nintendo's next console will usher in a new era of video gaming. It will feature a controller designed to be used with either one hand or two, a first in the video game industry. The position and motion of the controller itself dictates the action on the television screen. A second, plug-in expansion gives hard-core gamers additional control for more in-depth game play.

Revolution will play both new game discs, as well as Nintendo GameCube discs. It also will have access to 20 years of fan-favorite games, including those from the NintendoÆ 64, Super NESÆ and NESÆ eras.

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[Ghost]

Is this even news now? Its pretty much a standard feature on all consoles.

 

[Jonnyram]

I assume GC discs do not have age information on them so will not work in this way.
Not that I care, just wanted to mention it.

 

[Shamrock7r]

Great news.

 

[borghe]

as a father of a growing gamer (she actually changes out games on the PC, GCN, and GBA now she wants to play) I am all for this. I also use ratings limits on DirecTV though.

 

[capslock]

Finally! Hardware specs!!

 

[Diablos]

Finally! Hardware specs!!

:lol :lol

 

[Naked Snake]

Is this even news now? Its pretty much a standard feature on all consoles.

"All consoles" as in? I don't think any of the current gen consoles have password controlled age-restriction for games, does XBox360 have it?

 

[Keyser Soze]

Finally! Hardware specs!!

 

[Ristamar]

Is this even news now? Its pretty much a standard feature on all consoles.

Really? I knew the PS2 had some sort of password lock/restriction system for DVDs, but I didn't think it applied to games.

 

[Ghost]

I meant next gen consoles.

i thought Xbox and PS2 had it though, apparenlty thats just for DVDs.

 

[123rl]

I'm sure some parents will still blame the hardware makers for their kids playing violent games

 

[neptunes]

The 360 has a similar feature.

it'll probably be a standard for all 3 consoles next-gen.

Hopefully it'll combat lawsuits carried out by any mis-informed parents. (yeah right)

 

[Musashi Wins!]

This is tied to the online portion to keep the main fanbase away from the "hardcore" older element, eh?

 

[Juice]

God, Nintendo. You're not going to convince anyone that you've finally "gotten it" when you put out a press release over a feature that's pretty much a quiet standard lock for all consoles next gen.

 

[Dracos]

I wasn't aware of this system for games in any consoles. DVDs yes, but when did they start this for games?

 

[Tempy]

That's great and all, so can we now have adults-only games on consoles? Or is that still a no-go?

 

[marc^o^]

At last there's no reason for Nintendo not to lure violent game developpers on its console.

 

[impirius]

I wasn't aware of this system for games in any consoles. DVDs yes, but when did they start this for games?

Xbox has it, I think.

 

[deadhorse32]

It's a preemptive move by Nintendo because Mario is gonna kill HOES in GTA:MUSHROOM KINGDOM

 

[Viewtiful Darkness]

All three next-gen consoles are going to have this feature

PS3 Confirmation - http://www.gamesindustry.biz/news.php?aid=12465

Sony has reaffirmed its commitment to the protection of minors from the effects of violent videogames with the announcement of in-built parental controls for its next generation PS3 console.

Sony joined Japan's biggest retailers, publishers and developers in a discussion with the Tokyo government last week, designed to establish a universal approach to the issue of violent videogames and their alleged associated effects on children.

The city's government, along with several prefectural governments across Japan, is considering a wide-reaching change to its current rating system and preventing the sale of certain software to minors, in a similar fashion to European practices.

Sony appeared determined to provide self-regulatory functionality to its hardware devices, putting the decision over content firmly back in the hands of the parents and drawing the decision away from developers and retailers. The government were reminded that the Sony PSP has parental control functions built in, and Sony confirmed that a similar, more comprehensive system would be implemented in its PS3 console when it launches next year.

Xbox 360 Confirmation - http://www.gamesindustry.biz/news.php?aid=10300

The Xbox 360 will feature a parental locking system that can be used to prevent children from accessing games unsuitable for their age range, according to Japanese website Mainichi.

Parents will be able to set-up the console so it will only play games with appropriate age ratings. When users attempt to load a game, the machine will read data from the disk to determine whether it falls into the correct category.

In addition, parents will be able to programme the 360 to restrict children's access to online chatrooms.

The Mainichi article states that the new features, which have never been included in a games console before, will be built-in to US and European machines as well as Japanese units. There has recently been a storm of controversy in Japan surrounding Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto, before even the Hot Coffee scandal emerged.

Hopefully, will all three major consoles having this feature, parents will finally take responsibility instead of blaming others.

 

[AniHawk]

God, Nintendo. You're not going to convince anyone that you've finally "gotten it" when you put out a press release over a feature that's pretty much a quiet standard lock for all consoles next gen.

Yeah, but Nintendo's doing it better than everyone else.

 

[Dilbert]

"Mommy, that turtle has spikes on its back! I'm scared and going to have nightmares! Hold me!"

 

[Mama Smurf]

360 launch NULLIFIED!

 

[Farmboy]

Finally! Hardware specs!!

 

[AniHawk]

:lol

"advanced controller"

"whole lotta fun"

"fast, smooth action"

 

[Juice]

LMAO at that Virtual Boy ad.

If only I'd known those handles were for such "fast, smooth action." I would've dug mine out of the closet and loaned it to my girlfriend months ago.

 

[DrGAKMAN]

LMAO at that Virtual Boy ad.

If only I'd known those handles were for such "fast, smooth action." I would've dug mine out of the closet and loaned it to my girlfriend months ago.

Don't forget that the "low price" is on the right hand side, not the left!

 

[Zerodoppler]

Nintendo to parents: Now you can lock out all the violent third party games that aren't on our system.

Spoiler

</Troll>