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Nintendo Wii U eShop restricts 18+ game sales to 11 PM to 3 AM
Posted by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 12/11/2012 08:52 AM | 20 comment(s) ]
In new weird news today we noticed that Nintendo blocks access to 18+ rated content on the Wii U eShop outside the 11 pm - 3 am time window. The restriction means that European gamers are unable to buy games like ZombiU and Assassin's Creed III outside this awkward time window.
The issue first came to light after a NeoGAF user experienced the issue and contacted Nintendo of Italy's customer support.
"Dear customer," a Nintendo representative replied, "we would like to let you know that Nintendo has always aimed to offer gameplay experiences suited to all age groups, observing carefully all the relevant regulations regarding content access that are present in the various European countries.
"We have thus decided to restrict the access to content which is unsuitable to minors (PEGI) to the 11pm - 3am time window."
Eurogamer has just tested this and it appears to be true. We were unable to access Assassin's Creed 3 information or buy ZombiU digitally.
"You cannot view this content," a message reads. "The times during which this content can be viewed have been restricted."
VG247 asked Nintendo for clarification and got to hear that the restriction of mature content is due to Germany's hard stand on mature game content. Nintendo of Europe is based in Frankfurt, so the company is bound by German law on the matter.
“Legal age restriction requirements vary across a number of European countries. Since Nintendo of Europe is based in Germany, Nintendo eShop is complying with German youth protection regulation which therefore applies to all our European markets. Under German law, content rated 18+ must be made available only at night.
“Therefore the accessibility of 18+ content in Nintendo eShop is limited to [USK: 22:00 UTC until 4:00 UTC] [PEGI: 23:00 UTC until 3:00 UTC].”
Nintendo Wii U eShop restricts 18+ game sales to 11 PM to 3 AM
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schmidtbag
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Member Guru
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#4476853 Posted on: 12/11/2012 03:31 PM
Wouldn't it make more sense to just simply restrict a player from buying a game if their user account says the person is under 18?
Wouldn't it make more sense to just simply restrict a player from buying a game if their user account says the person is under 18?
CronoGraal
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Ancient Guru
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#4476880 Posted on: 12/11/2012 04:14 PM
dont know why they feel the need to care so much
was playing mortal kombat in 2nd grade, lol
dont know why they feel the need to care so much
was playing mortal kombat in 2nd grade, lol
Ghosty
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Maha Guru
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#4476881 Posted on: 12/11/2012 04:19 PM
Nintendo have always been kid friendly. I remember in the SNES days there were quite a few games that had blood and gore removed, Mortal Kombat being one game that springs to mind.
Nintendo have always been kid friendly. I remember in the SNES days there were quite a few games that had blood and gore removed, Mortal Kombat being one game that springs to mind.
naike
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Maha Guru
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#4476889 Posted on: 12/11/2012 04:34 PM
Simple, move from Germany, restrict sales there and go somewhere where business is welcome.
Simple, move from Germany, restrict sales there and go somewhere where business is welcome.
CronoGraal
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#4476893 Posted on: 12/11/2012 04:41 PM
ratings didnt exist until mortal kombat, that's why mortal kombat 2 and 3 weren't censored on the SNES
Nintendo have always been kid friendly. I remember in the SNES days there were quite a few games that had blood and gore removed, Mortal Kombat being one game that springs to mind.
ratings didnt exist until mortal kombat, that's why mortal kombat 2 and 3 weren't censored on the SNES
General Stalin
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Master Guru
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#4476902 Posted on: 12/11/2012 04:50 PM
This, for sure.
Wouldn't it make more sense to just simply restrict a player from buying a game if their user account says the person is under 18?
This, for sure.
naike
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Maha Guru
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#4476906 Posted on: 12/11/2012 04:54 PM
Idd haha.
This, for sure.
Idd haha.
Ghosty
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#4476911 Posted on: 12/11/2012 05:00 PM
The Megadrive version was uncensored.
ratings didnt exist until mortal kombat, that's why mortal kombat 2 and 3 weren't censored on the SNES
The Megadrive version was uncensored.
WhiteLightning
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Ancient Guru
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#4476921 Posted on: 12/11/2012 05:06 PM
no it wasnt. you would need to enter a hidden cheat code
The Megadrive version was uncensored.
no it wasnt. you would need to enter a hidden cheat code
CronoGraal
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#4476927 Posted on: 12/11/2012 05:09 PM
i think you needed a code, and what's your point with this particular post anyway? after mortal kombat pushed for a rating system, on the SNES anyway, following releases were uncensored.
The Megadrive version was uncensored.
i think you needed a code, and what's your point with this particular post anyway? after mortal kombat pushed for a rating system, on the SNES anyway, following releases were uncensored.
Ghosty
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#4476935 Posted on: 12/11/2012 05:14 PM
Didn't read the thread correctly... This is for Germany only.
i think you needed a code, and what's your point with this particular post anyway? after mortal kombat pushed for a rating system, on the SNES anyway, following releases were uncensored.
Didn't read the thread correctly... This is for Germany only.
WhiteLightning
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#4476938 Posted on: 12/11/2012 05:15 PM
its for europe , not for just germany
Didn't read the thread correctly... This is for Germany only.
its for europe , not for just germany
Legal age restriction requirements vary across a number of European countries. Since Nintendo of Europe is based in Germany, Nintendo eShop is complying with German youth protection regulation which therefore applies to all our European markets. Under German law, content rated 18+ must be made available only at night.
Ghosty
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#4476942 Posted on: 12/11/2012 05:18 PM
Germany has some strange gaming laws. This could hurt sales in the long run.
its for europe , not for just germany
Germany has some strange gaming laws. This could hurt sales in the long run.
StewieTech
Chuck Norris
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Chuck Norris
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#4476961 Posted on: 12/11/2012 05:52 PM
It´s a fair enough move, although if i didn´t play carmageddon at age 10 and onwards i would have been a lame kid.
It´s a fair enough move, although if i didn´t play carmageddon at age 10 and onwards i would have been a lame kid.
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german laws suck. nintendo still seems to be stuck in the 80's also.