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Google starts reviewing apps before they reach the Play Store
Although Google has tightened app policies on the Play Store over the years, the company thinks it can do more to protect users. One way to do that is to crack down on the amount of malware and bad apps on its marketplace, so it's begun reviewing apps before they become available to download. The new policy, which is similar to Apple's approach on the App Store, has been in effect for a couple of months and uses a mix of algorithms and human intervention to weed out rogue apps.
Limbo limbering up for PlayStation 4, according to PEGI
It's GOTY Season here at Joystiq, so it's apt timing for Limbo to bend its way back into the news. 2010's #8 game looks set to make its debut on PS4 - yes, yet another system - following a new PEGI listing at the turn of the year. The European ratings board is rarely misleading on these things, but for now we're waiting on official confirmation. We approached developer Playdead this morning about the PEGI rating, but CEO Dino Patti said the company wasn't able to comment.
EU ratings board lists Stick It To The Man as Xbox One release
The Pan European Game Information group (the European analogue to America's ESRB) appears to have broken the news that oddball adventure Stick It To The Man will soon appear on Microsoft's Xbox One. A search for the game's title on the PEGI website lists the Xbox One game as suitable for ages 12 and up, while stating that it features "[n]on realistic looking violence towards human characters" and "[m]ild bad language." That certainly sounds like Stick It To The Man, a game that centers on an unassuming fellow who wakes up one day to find that he has telekinetic powers thanks to a pink, noodly appendage that has inexplicably sprouted from his head. On a bizarre note, the listing claims that Stick It To The Man will be released on Xbox One on June 27 - today - though the game remains absent from the Xbox Live Marketplace. This wouldn't be the first time PEGI has revealed a game's appearance prior to an official publisher announcement. The ratings board recently outed an Xbox One version of Warframe prior to its official unveiling, and did much the same for the Xbox 360 version of Peggle 2. That latter example is especially notable as PEGI had a similarly incorrect release date listed alongside PopCap's casual hit. [Image: Ripstone]
Peggle 2 receives PEGI rating for Xbox 360
Peggle 2 has received a PEGI rating of 3 for Xbox 360, alongside a release date of February 12, 2014 – today. Peggle 2 hit Xbox One on December 9 in the US and Europe, and it's yet to be officially announced for other platforms, though it was previously rated for Xbox 360 and PS4 in South Korea. Slow your roll on that PEGI release date, though. Some of PEGI's purported release dates represent the day those games launched in Europe (Grand Theft Auto 5), while others are incorrect (Call of Duty: Ghosts and Battlefiled 4 next-gen, Peggle 2 on Xbox One). Still, another rating for Peggle 2 on Xbox 360 is a good sign for non-Xbox One puzzle fiends.
Windows Store starts accepting PEGI 18-rated games, gives Europeans a deeper catalog
If Europeans are irked by the Wii U's odd time-based shopping rules for mature content, they'll at least have Windows 8 as their refuge. As of today, Microsoft is accepting Windows Store submissions for PEGI 18-rated games: the move will let Grand Theft Auto IV, The Witcher and future adult-focused titles come to Windows' official shop in countries where PEGI holds sway. European players undoubtedly reap short-term rewards by getting quick access to the releases they'd previously had to locate in other channels. We're more interested in the long run, however -- when developers no longer have to guess at whether or not games will pass Microsoft's certification gauntlet in Europe, they're more likely to welcome Windows 8 with open arms instead of running in the opposite direction.
Nintendo Wii U eShop sells 18+ games only between 11PM and 3AM in Europe (update)
Nintendo's Wii U console doesn't trust you, Europe. At least not with your digital purchases, as European Wii U owners are reporting that various "Mature" titles (18+ per Europe's PEGI ratings) are unable to be purchased outside of a late-night window (11PM to 3AM). Trailers for said titles can't even be watched. Of course, Nintendo's not known for publishing many "Mature" first-party titles -- it leaves that to its third-party support -- meaning this issue seemingly only affects Nintendo's partners. Blockbuster multiplatform game Assassin's Creed 3, for instance, is only purchasable during the aforementioned four hour window, as is Wii U-exclusive ZombiU. The Wii U does have parental controls, and separate user accounts (tied to passwords if you so choose), and the eShop can be cut off entirely from any one particular user, so it's a bit baffling why this extra barrier is necessary. Update: Nintendo of America tells us, "This is a European policy and does not impact Nintendo of America." Update 2: Nintendo of Europe confirms the restriction, saying it affects the entire European Union, but it's Germany's restrictive USK guidelines that are steering this mess. Nintendo's European branch is based out of Germany. "At Nintendo we always aim to provide a safe gaming experience for fans of all ages and ensure that we comply with applicable legal age restriction requirements across Europe," Nintendo customer service reps are saying. "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 blocking EU eShop access to 18+ content during the day [update]
Nintendo has begun blocking access to Wii U eShop content rated PEGI 18+ between the hours of 3 a.m. and 11 p.m. in European territories, Eurogamer reports. This means the four-hour window from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. is the only time during which games like Assassin's Creed 3 or ZombiU can be purchased, or even have their trailers viewed.We've checked with a fictional panel of experts, and the general consensus is that this a totally weird thing for a company to do, especially considering that the Wii U already has parental controls implemented in its operating system. The block appears to apply to all accounts and it's uncertain whether it's possible to opt out of the restriction in any way.What we do know: if we were given a Wii U but had to wait until just before midnight to download the game we wanted, we'd just go to the damn store and buy it. We've reached out to Nintendo of Europe and Nintendo of America for more information; perhaps there's some other logic at play here that isn't apparent.Update: Nintendo of America tells Joystiq "This is a European policy and does not impact Nintendo of America."
Sony streamlining ratings for PlayStation Mobile
Publishing a game on PlayStation Mobile will be easier than usual, thanks to an initiative by Sony. Developer relations exec Shane Bettenhausen revealed during a Fantastic Arcade panel that Sony has collaborated with ratings boards for a simpler method of ratings. "ESRB lite, PEGI lite, CERO lite," he called it.Under the new system, developers are able to self-report content by checking spaces on a form. That saves time and overhead required for ratings boards to check the content manually. It also means that games on PS Mobile are subject to the same content restrictions as console games – and not, say, at the mercy of Apple.
UK adopts PEGI rating system, can prosecute for underage sales
The UK now officially uses the PEGI system for rating video games, dropping its separate British Board of Film Classification ratings guide. This removes the voluntary dual-classification system previously in place, and makes the sale of games to underage customers illegal in a real way.In the UK, retail workers can face prosecution for selling games with a PEGI rating of 12, 16 or 18 to underage customers, with a maximum sentence of six years. PEGI ratings include icons denoting bad language, discrimination, gambling, drugs, sex, violence, fear and online play. Those two may as well be one icon – the Internet is a terrifying place.
PEGI: Dragon's Lair coming to XBLA
Sure, you can buy Dragon's Lair for many, many (many) platforms, but Xbox 360 is not one of them. Unless you count buying a DVD version and playing it through the Xbox's DVD player. That embarrassing omission is now being corrected: a PEGI rating has been spotted for an XBLA version of the FMV game. We're shocked ... that it took this long for Dragon's Lair to end up on Xbox.Being a rating and not an official announcement, there's no actual release date associated with this newly discovered XBLA release. We're checking in with Digital Leisure, who will probably tell us about a couple more upcoming ports of Dragon's Lair in the process of answering.
PEGI: Silent Hill 2 and 3 separated from HD Collection on XBLA and PSN
The Silent Hill HD Collection is set to launch for retailers on March 6, containing remastered versions of Silent Hill 2 and 3 on a single disc, in the same distribution pattern as the Metal Gear Solid and Zone of the Enders collections -- that much we knew. But new PEGI ratings suggest Konami also plans to release Silent Hill 2 HD and Silent Hill 3 HD separately, most likely through XBLA and PSN, just as it did with the previous collections.March is Silent Hill madness month, with the HD Collection hitting March 6, Silent Hill: Downpour on March 13, and the Vita's Book of Memories on March 27.
Trials Evolution rated by PEGI
Europe's PEGI ratings board has classified RedLynx's Trials Evolution, giving rise to the hope of a launch announcement for the tricky motorcycle title that'll launch "when it's done." Trials Evolution would be the second high-profile XBLA game rated by PEGI and noticed by XBLAfans this week, with Fez's classification reported yesterday. Hmmm, Fez, Trials Evolution and Alan Wake's American Nightmare are all stirring at the same time, with two of the titles pegged as early 2012 launches. Could Microsoft have another House Party ("Winter of Arcade") in the works? If so, and if history is any indication, an announcement should occur in the next couple weeks.
Fez rated in Europe, the four-year wait is almost over
Fez is finally showing signs of imminent birth, with this being the equivalent of "water breaking," as Europe's PEGI board recently classified the game for Xbox Live. XBLAfans took note of the rating, a step which has yet to occur with the Australian Board or the States' ESRB. The unreleased -- yet award-winning -- game currently has a release window of "early 2012." Now, if we all eat our vegetables and wash behind our ears every night, that launch window may actually stick.
Tamer version of Heavy Rain to be re-released in Europe [update]
PEGI, the European video games rating board, recently published an evaluation for Heavy Rain Edition Modifiée, an apparently toned-down version of Quantic Dream's interactive drama which will carry a PEGI 16 rating (marked down from the original's PEGI 18 rating). Little is known about the content or reasoning behind the new, minor-friendly version of the game, but as the PEGI rating mentions an August 3 release date, it'll probably start showing up on European store shelves soon. So, what's getting cut in the Edition Modifiée? According to the PEGI ratings, the original's "extreme violence" and "violence towards defenceless people" have been downgraded to "realistic-looking violence." We can't wait to see how this changes the game's more intense sequences. For instance, there's that one scene, during which you have five minutes to improvise a tool which you can use to cut your fingernails. Update: Looks like the tamer edition isn't releasing Europe-wide -- a Sony representative confirmed to Eurogamer that the new version "is just a small initiative for France only."
PEGI spanks Ubisoft, demands it pull We Dare ads from internet
Ubisoft no doubt intended for its kinky We Dare ad campaign to turn some heads and, in one way or another, it has definitely succeeded. Despite the fact that that the game will now sport a parental warning sticker and will not be released in the UK or US, European ratings board PEGI is now asking Ubisoft to remove We Dare ads from the internet entirely. Gamasutra reports that PEGI's imposing-sounding "Enforcement Committee" has demanded that Ubisoft pull the ads from the internet within three working days or risk a fine. According to PEGI, the ads do not "accurately reflect the nature and content of the product and it misleads consumers as to its true nature." Alas, whether Ubisoft pulls the ads or not, the damage is done. You can't stop the signal, PEGI. It's basic science.
PEGI defends We Dare rating, Ubisoft adding parental warning sticker
The Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) rating board is defending its "PEGI 12" rating for the controversial We Dare, stating that the board considers the content of the game for a rating, not the context. Cubed3 has the organization's statement, which notes the game was rated PEGI 12 because "it contains mild swearing, minor assault on a human-like character and words/activities that amount to obvious sexual innuendo, explicit sexual descriptions or images and sexual posturing." Ubisoft reiterated that the game is "intended for mature audiences," as evidenced by the game's ad campaign. The company also plans to add a "Parental Discretion Advised" sticker to the box, advising parents of the "potential sensitive nature of the game content." If you've got kids, best to keep this game in the locked nightstand drawer with the other... unmentionables.
Europe's new PEGI game ratings delayed
The Video Standards Council's new and improved and legally enforceable video games rating system was formerly set to launch this April across Europe, but as you could probably tell by our headline (and the strategic use of the word "formerly" earlier in this sentence), it's going to miss that window. UK Minister for Culture Ed Vaizey has confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that the new ratings will now be formally approved by July of this year and are expected to roll out after that decision. "There's been some technical delays to iron out a few kinks," Vaizey explained, "nothing fundamental, nothing serious." An anonymous source clarified the hang-up to GI.biz, claiming, "What goes on the front of the box is fine. It's what goes on the back of the box that's still being discussed." The back of the box? Who still looks at the back of the box?
Revamped PEGI ratings enforceable in UK April 1, 2011 (no joke!)
The Video Standards Council, the UK government body that adjudicates the content of games and sticks them with a PEGI rating, has announced that revamped rating labels will go into effect April 1, 2011. At that time, the ratings -- which were recently rendered inert by a legal loophole -- will actually be able to be enforced. Which, as we understand it, is pretty important for government-issued regulations. Though the VSC and ELSPA hoped to have the new ratings out by October in time for the holiday shopping season, their plans were pushed back due to the introduction of the Digital Economy Act, which regulates electronic media, including video games. This new legislation also goes into effect April 1. Unless, of course, this is just an elaborate prank. Given UK politicians' proclivity for pulling the ol' switcheroo on the gaming industry, that actually wouldn't surprise us too much.
Proposed Swiss game ban detailed, won't target all violent games
Until very recently, there had been a massive void in our knowledge about the violent game-banning bill which was recently ratified by Switzerland's National Council. With language stating it would outlaw the sale of games featuring "cruel acts of violence against humans and human-like creatures for in-game success," we feared it would constitute a ban on, like, everything. Fortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case -- Swiss politician Evi Allemann recently explained in an interview with Swiss news site 20 Minutes (via GamePolitics) that the bill would only affect around 12 "individual games" with extremely graphic content, such as Manhunt and Mortal Kombat. Allemann commented that PEGI is "not enough," stating that Switzerland or even Europe needs its own body for video game ratings. Apparently, not everyone agrees -- the 20 Minutes article includes a link to a petition against the bill, as well as its adjoining measure which would outlaw the sale of PEGI 16 or 18 games to minors. We'd like to remind these petitioners that Swiss 16-year-olds can legally drink beer, so hey, let's not get greedy.
PEGI: Moonwalker throwing a magical hat into Virtual Console
Somehow, Sega has done the impossible: reacquired Michael Jackson's likeness rights for a digital re-release of Michael Jackson's Moonwalker. At least, that appears to be the case, because the game has been re-rated by PEGI for release on Virtual Console. To give you an idea of the ridiculousness of that feat, Q? Entertainment has yet to release its PSP game Lumines for download on the same system because it has yet to acquire a license for digital release of its music. We don't know if this will be the Genesis version or the very different arcade game -- or even, we suppose, the Master System port of the Genesis game. We're contacting Sega for those and other details. Right after we catch a shooting star and turn into robotic, missile-firing versions of ourselves. Ow! [Via Nintendo Life, image by Orioto]
