Sat, Dec 08, 2012 | 03:13 GMT

Nintendo Europe blocking 18+ Wii U content until 11pm

Nintendo is blocking Wii U content in Europe which is rated 18+, regardless of how users have set up the console’s parental controls.

According to a post on NeoGAF, and confirmed by Eurogamer, any 18-rated games available on the system for purchase are only able to be viewed or downloaded from 11pm – 3am.

When the GAF user contacted Nintendo Italy customer service on the matter, he was met with the following reply:

“Dear customer, 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 tested the claim, and found it was unable to digitally purchase or view information pertaining to Assassin’s Creed 3 or ZombiU.

“You cannot view this content,” a message read. “The times during which this content can be viewed have been restricted.”

Of course, the same cannot be said for Xbox 360 or PS3, as users can view any and all content at any time of the day unless parental settings are in place.

We don’t own a Wii U, so we are unable to test if this is also the case in North America, so we’ll send a mail and ask.

In the US, content is governed by the FCC, which prohibits airing “indecent” material over the air between 6am- 10pm. Premium cable channels, such as HBO, Showtime, etc., are exempt.

99 comment-trail-alt Posted in: Europe, Nintendo, Wii U, eShop
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99 comments

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#1

G1GAHURTZ
07/12/12, 3:26 pm

Oh dear…

#2

absolutezero
07/12/12, 3:27 pm

That is bizarre.

Really really stupid. Mine is sitting on right now, I’ll test it :

Yep just checked the ZombiU page on the eShop and it just opens a pop-up with the mentioned text. How fucking weird.

Im off to draw a penis on the Miiverse in protest.

#3

Old MacDonald
07/12/12, 3:32 pm

How does Ubisoft feel about this? Can’t be great for business.

#4

SnowyFack
07/12/12, 3:34 pm

i’m an european over 18 user. we can’t view rated 18+ contents untill 11 unfortunately, like zombiu video and so on. Nintendo is very restrictive respect these things.

#5

Arnvidr
07/12/12, 3:35 pm

Heh, so it’s only available when most adults are sleeping? Well done Nintendo!

#6

The_Red
07/12/12, 3:35 pm

Wait, what? I don’t get it. Maybe I’m getting this wrong but IF what I am thinking is right then Nintendo is FUCKING STUPID. Sorry but that’s it.

#7

Cobra951
07/12/12, 3:36 pm

Wow. Nintendo are more out of touch with the connected world than I thought. This is truly shocking.

Imagine if they could restrict the hours that you *play* your games, based on such criteria. That’s the kind of control forced online connections would give them, or any of the other console makers.

#8

ManuOtaku
07/12/12, 3:46 pm

Iam confused is this only for the online store acess of the games?, or some sort of locking or restriction to the games i play, i mean i would not play zombie u unless i play it in an specific time?, iam confused if it is the former i dont have to much trouble, if it is the later i do, and big time.

#9

absolutezero
07/12/12, 3:48 pm

Its just on the store Manu.

The little store icons are still present on the store home page but as soon as you select and choose “More Information” you get the pop up with the “Not Available At This Time” text.

I was playing ZombiU about 45 minutes ago and its 1546 right now in the UK so theres no need to worry about that.

#10

bitsnark
07/12/12, 3:49 pm

Totally silly this.

Nintendo have all of the enthusiasm and boundless joy of an infant when it comes to making games, its just a shame that they have the intellect of one when it comes to designing acceptable delivery platforms for those gaming experiences.

#11

Mike W
07/12/12, 4:05 pm

Grow up Nintendo

#12

TheDarkWeapon
07/12/12, 4:05 pm

Wow, what a retarded choice.

#13

Da Man
07/12/12, 4:16 pm

Outrageous, teh deprived hardcore demand teh art.

For once, a good decision on Nintendo’s part. if only MS and Sony would follow.

#14

SplatteredHouse
07/12/12, 4:17 pm

“Wow. Nintendo are more out of touch with the connected world than I thought. This is truly shocking.”

So much truth. It started that they offered the choice, as a convenience, to lock stuff out – and why not? But this is just daft. Nintendo: (Lest we forget) Their priorities, in truth, lie somewhere else other than the end-user experience. :( Why the heck are they so backwards…

How long until the dutiful apology for this gaffe?
@10: nicely put.

#15

Fin
07/12/12, 4:24 pm

This is absolutely ridiculous.

*waits for people to defend Nintendo*

@13
You’re not serious are you?

#16

Dragon246
07/12/12, 4:29 pm

@15
Me too. Waiting for the ‘positive spin’.

This is the reason many people don’t view ninty as a ‘mature games’ company. They try too much to keep their ‘family friendly’ image intact.

#17

foofly
07/12/12, 4:33 pm

Isn’t this what parental controls are for?

#18

Ireland Michael
07/12/12, 4:40 pm

@15 I think it’s called “trolling”.

This has got to be some sort of temporary measure. If not, this is one console I will be passing on. This makes me absolutely no sense whatsoever.

#19

absolutezero
07/12/12, 4:41 pm

@16 See this is why people think you might be special.

#20

Dragon246
07/12/12, 4:44 pm

@19
You didn’t know it yet? :)

#21

Da Man
07/12/12, 4:51 pm

I think Lolconneur is a tool. I also think he’s a neurotic.

If lolcons can have all the ‘opinions’ they regularly post, I might very well applaud N for trying to maintain a kids frendly image in the dark times of sex mini games.

#22

deathm00n
07/12/12, 4:54 pm

This is horrible for me if I had one, I work all day and go to college at night, so my free hours, to browse content and buy, is at lunch and before leaving home to go to college.

#23

polygem
07/12/12, 5:00 pm

no problem. i will do the job for you dragon n fin. miiverse is so much more fun than xblpsn has ever been. i dont give a fkuc about this. it’s good that nintendo cares about child protection. why that a bad thing you hardcore sissy complainer kids? i am getting so sick of the prototype of the modern ”gamer”. such a bunch of spoiled whining brats pretending they’re mature…

#24

monkeygourmet
07/12/12, 5:02 pm

So, this is only for shop purchases right?

E.g. If I wanted to buy Zombie U before 11pm it wouldn’t let me?

It doesn’t make much sense because I could access the Zombie U community at 4pm, before my Wii U broke.

So it’s alright to look at images of Zombies having there heads caved in and blood spraying everywhere but not to download the game?

Very strange. This smacks of something that will be rectified by the morning, and everyone is blowing out of proportion again.

I don’t know how they can maintain this stance realistically.

#25

monkeygourmet
07/12/12, 5:05 pm

@23

Complains about E-shop prices being to high…

Gets angry when can’t log into E-shop earlier…

??? :D

#26

absolutezero
07/12/12, 5:08 pm

You can’t even view trailers. They have no problem with having the icon with the Beefeater zombie but as soon as you request any sort of further information but it just gives you the pop up and sends you on your way.

Theres no problem with playing the game, or looking through the Miiverse community for the game. Screenshots, drawings etc are all there and fine.

#27

monkeygourmet
07/12/12, 5:10 pm

@26

But can I still draw Penis’s?!!!! :D

#28

absolutezero
07/12/12, 5:11 pm

Oh God yes.

#29

Fin
07/12/12, 5:12 pm

@23

You’re a fucking moron.
All 18-rated games are blocked from purchase untill 11pm. There is absolutely no upside to this.
Oh yay, little Timmy can’t purchase 18 rated games (unless he stays up past 11!), but neither can adults who have bought the console

So, in order to buy a game I want, from Nintendo directly, and being legally allowed to buy it, I have to wait until 11pm.

That is fucking insane and there is absolutely no justification for it.
Having to sign in with an adult account, having to have a credit card on the account, having a password, all that is fine. Blocking the content completely? Fuck. Off.

Your comparison between XBLA/PSN and Miiverse is totally irrelevant. This isn’t about community, this is about purposely stopping people buying content they’re entitled to because WON’T SOMEONE THING OF THE CHILDREN. CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF CHILDREN WERE EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE*?

*Not sex, pretty sure Nintendo don’t allow that on their systems.

#30

Old MacDonald
07/12/12, 5:13 pm

Maybe this is a small hint of what the cloud gaming future might look like?

#31

monkeygourmet
07/12/12, 5:17 pm

@30

Exactly,

Nintendo aren’t even that good at it and they’ve managed this, wait to you see what MS have up their sleeves! :)

On topic:

I bet this will be fixed by next week, then everyone can wash all that sand out of their vagina’s…

#32

Fin
07/12/12, 5:17 pm

@30

Only for Nintendo. Nobody else is stupid enough to do this.

#33

monkeygourmet
07/12/12, 5:17 pm

@29

Loving the rage, keep up! That vein in your forehead isn’t throbbing enough.

#34

Fin
07/12/12, 5:19 pm

@33

Thanks bro!

I’m glad you see this as a problem for everyone over the 18. People like you make sure mature gaming stays in the picture.

#36

monkeygourmet
07/12/12, 5:19 pm

I love all this shit.

It’s why sticking to one brand is the most stupid shit ever.

Ill just be enjoying Far Cry 3 on my 360 while this blows over.

It’s like all those Sony bots when the PS3 network shit happened… Boo boo, what will I play on now?!

Remember ladies, games not consoles…

#37

Da Man
07/12/12, 5:20 pm

I have a TV at home I bought, but they don’t show horror movies until 11 pm or something.

Already own the videogame? You can play it. Don’t own the game? Wait until appropriate hours. That attempts to ensure minors can’t purchase anything inappropriate.

#38

Fin
07/12/12, 5:23 pm

@37

TV watershed is 9pm.

#39

absolutezero
07/12/12, 5:25 pm

Mature games

HA

#40

polygem
07/12/12, 5:25 pm

@Fin:

it has to do with Miiverse too, because it is an attitude of Nintendo…the way they handle things. this article from ign (please, i know, they also suck i know i know) – 100% reflects my thoughts about all this:

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/12/05/wii-u-revolutionizes-social-gaming

really do recommend reading it. it´s good.

found another link for you wii u haters :)

you really should take 5 minutes and watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rBS7p_mNJY

now all i wanted to say about this is said.

#41

Fin
07/12/12, 5:27 pm

@40

No, it’s nothing to do with Miiverse.

I want to buy an 18-rated game from the eShop before 11pm. I can’t.

Where does Miiverse come into that sentence.

#42

SplatteredHouse
07/12/12, 5:29 pm

“Already own the videogame? You can play it. Don’t own the game? Wait until appropriate hours. That attempts to ensure minors can’t purchase anything inappropriate.”

As does adults ensuring that they know what information they’ve left on their machine, and if desired, maintaining the security of their authorisation information. Responsibility! A scary concept, perhaps, but don’t let that usher you from your podium.
There is no justification to explain what benefit this move conveys – UNLESS Nintendo were to reveal the measures it’s using to get to the point they can tell who is actually playing the 18+ purchased content.

#43

absolutezero
07/12/12, 5:29 pm

Lets play the hypotheicals here.

If you could buy something 18+ from the eShop and pay roughly around £20 more than it costs to buy it online or from an actual shop at around 4pm would you?

If you answer yes to that then I can see why it might be a bit irritating. Its not worth getting rumpled about though, its more than likely just a fault with detecting the parental controls on the system.

#44

Fin
07/12/12, 5:33 pm

@43

Did you read the article? Nintendo responded saying they’ve deliberately restricted purchasing hours.

#45

polygem
07/12/12, 5:34 pm

@41:

A T T I T U D E

for you everything spells

I G N O R A N C E

#46

Da Man
07/12/12, 5:37 pm

#42

You don’t own the system, you own the rights to use the service, provided by it. They aren’t going to consider whether every single individual has some ‘responsibility’ or not. They are going to make it easier to maintain.

Don’t like it? Play another console.

They block the service from selling mature rated content during hours easily accessible to minors. This makes perfect sense.

UNLESS Nintendo were to reveal the measures it’s using to get to the point they can tell who is actually playing the 18+ purchased content.
Nonsense.

Exactly at this point your so called responsibility should take control.

You want it to be easy for you? Oh too bad, sorry about that, they also want it to be easily maintainable.

#47

Bomba Luigi
07/12/12, 5:45 pm

I really like the WiiU, but Dude… My Bones are Old and I need my Sleep. And 11pm to 3am is Sleeptime. Let me make some confirmation that I am over 18 or whatever.

#48

xxJPRACERxx
07/12/12, 5:45 pm

I’m glad I’m not supporting this stupid company anymore!

#49

polygem
07/12/12, 5:49 pm

@48: i am glad about that too. i want my miiverse cool and all.

#50

Joe Musashi
07/12/12, 5:49 pm

First it was green blood in Mortal Kombat and now this?!?!!?

JM

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