Just a customer…
Since January 2008 “child accounts” on XBL have been unable to download “M” or “Pending/Unrated” content because of a little rule the ESRB set up. This is not a law enforced in any U.S. state or country internationally. Microsoft has decided to follow this rule and update the marketplace to restrict child accounts from downloading this content. This update was mandatory, there was no option to let you skip the update or change your DOB or allow your parent to give you consent to download. There is no workaround for this rule set up by the ESRB.
I called Microsoft Support and their only solution: Pay for another gold account that is registered to someone over 17. This account is supposed to be paid for out of pocket with no reimbursement of any kind, be it in the form of a game, free XBL Gold, or those magical Microsoft points. This rule is not enforced on the PlayStation Network and not enforcing this rule will not damage ties to, or limit services that the ESRB provides.
Now, because of a few lousy parents out there, all kids have to suffer (and the manager I talked to did in fact confirm that statement). Microsoft has not, since January 2008 and will not ever issue a workaround (also confirmed by the manager) regardless of the ESRB’s actual rules, which state that a child under the required age can buy content rated T or M if they are with an adult who is over the required age.
I am 16 years old and an owner of a child account. I created my account before this rule was enforced and was offered no option to be excluded for this, even though my parents allow me to play “M” rated games. I understand that this is policy, that it’s the rule, that they are trying to stop kids from being exposed to this, but they shouldn’t stop children with responsible parents from playing what they want. I’ve spent a lot of money on XBL, the 360 and games and they just screw over a loyal customer because they are too lazy or stupid to have a fix.
This rule stops me from downloading the new demo Race Driver: G.R.I.D., I’m a huge racing fan and I’m going to have to wait a couple days so I can download it on a silver account that is registered to an age of 18-plus. I guess in this case Microsoft really is M$.
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Comments
Racingfreak92 Its not Microsoft’s job to choose if its appropriate for me to play M rated games, its up to your parents and this system dosent allow them to choose whats right for you.
bennybenbenj In th UK rating are a legal system, enforced by law and the government, so it is their responsibilty to ensure child accounts can’t view adult material. Makes sense they would write this into their software worldwide, giving parents way of protecting kids from things they shouldn’t see or hear, and giving parents strict controls.
Does seem odd that ‘unrated’ content gets barred too, is GRID listed as unrated? Is that why you couldnt get it? Because thats daft all they’d need to do was tack on a 3+ rating isn’t it?
Racingfreak92 GRID is unrated, because games arent rated until the game is finished and i still cant download it on my other silver accounts. The UK might have a legal rating system but their isnt one in the US, The ESRB dosent make laws, just rules that game companies abide by. If i can go into a store with my parents and get a M rated game why cant there be a option for your parents to allow you to download M rated content? Im not saying that every kid should have unregulated access to everything on the marketplace, but for parents who allow their kids to play M/T games there should be a option for those parents to allow downloading of that content
bennybenbenj Having unrated demos is kinda stupid I’ll go with that but having a workaround to override ratings is pointless in my opinion. Devalues the whole system.
I don’t see the problem here. You’re a child, you can’t watch adult films or play adult games? Or is the beef with the fact that Unrated Content is also barred even though some of it clearly is harmless?