Did I miss something?

[SackAttack]

"The pace at which the IEMA retailers reacted to the change in the ESRB rating for The Elder Scrolls(R) IV: Oblivion(TM) today stands as testament to the effectiveness and commitment to the industry's self-regulatory efforts. As evidenced by the most recent FTC study, the nation's leading retailers now require identification for the purchase of Mature-rated games at approximately the same rate as the movie theatres do for R-rated film admission. When we were notified of the game's ratings change today, we alerted our member company representatives who communicated to their stores the change in the game's rating. The effective change in sales policy was immediate. In fact, several major retailers changed the cash register prompt tied to the bar code of the game (a technology which prompts cashiers to ask for ID). Of note in this matter is the speed at which retailers reacted and parents were empowered -- ultimately that is what makes any ratings system effective in the end." - Hal Halpin, pres., IEMA.

I don't remember seeing a news story about Oblivion getting GTA'd. Anybody have more information?

[SackAttack]

Dola,

Well, not quite GTA'd, as it's an order of magnitude lower, but the same basic idea, I guess.

[SackAttack]

Double dola,

Oh for Christ's sake. (http://www.gamenikki.com/g3/inTheNews/Josh.php?id=130)

There are no words.

"Yeah, so there's this stuff in the game. Well, it's not really in the game, it's in the game but you have to use an unauthorized third-party program to GET to it. Still, M rating! Oh, yeah; the Xbox 360 can't access that stuff because it's a closed platform, so we don't care about that."

[Draft Dodger]

so, what I get out of this is...OBLIVION HAS BOOBIES!!!

[SackAttack]

so, what I get out of this is...OBLIVION HAS BOOBIES!!!

Think of it like this.

The Mona Lisa hangs in the Loeuvre.

She's got sort of that sultry smile deal going on.

The Louvre gets punished by the French government for displaying a piece of art that some 14-year-old jackass could potentially deface by drawing an erect penis protruding from the edge of the painting towards the Mona Lisa's smile.

Why? Because there was the empty space that wasn't actually displaying anything, but somebody could use unauthorized tools to cause that empty space to display something after all.

Oblivion's no Mona Lisa, but that's the best analogy I can come up with here.

I'm still shaking my head in wonder.

[stevew]

I already thought it was rated "M."

[SackAttack]

I already thought it was rated "M."

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has changed the rating assigned to the game The Elder Scrolls® IV: Oblivion™ from T (Teen 13+) to M (Mature 17+). The content causing the ESRB to change the rating involves more detailed depictions of blood and gore than were considered in the original rating, as well as tpresence of a locked-out art file or “skin” that, if accessed through a thirdparty modification to the PC version of the game, allows the user to play with topless versions of female characters.

Used to be Teen. Mature now.

[Surtt]

More to the point: where can I download this unauthorized third-party utility.

I need to know so, err...
So I don't accidentally visit the site.

[Glengoyne]

More to the point: where can I download this unauthorized third-party utility.

I need to know so, err...
So I don't accidentally visit the site.

If a bit shorter and formatted just a bit differently, this would be QOTM material.

[Draft Dodger]

ok, seriously.

I guess my issue here is not that they are rating hidden content. I can understand the motivation behind all of that, even if it might lead into slippery slope arguments (3rd party add-on makers created stuff to make the Sims do hard core porn...does that mean the Sims is a M game?).

My issue is that having artwork to allow for topless chicks makes this game a 17+ game. that just seems ridiculously ludicrous to me.

[Glengoyne]

ok, seriously.

I guess my issue here is not that they are rating hidden content. I can understand the motivation behind all of that, even if it might lead into slippery slope arguments (3rd party add-on makers created stuff to make the Sims do hard core porn...does that mean the Sims is a M game?). ...

I'd say based on this ruling....Yes.

[terpkristin]

Meanwhile, this game does no hiding about what it's about...
Naughty America The Game: hxxp://www.naughtyamericathegame.com/

Link goes to a page that asks if you're 18 or older, but I probably still wouldn't click this from work.
/tk

[Draft Dodger]

Meanwhile, this game does no hiding about what it's about...
Naughty America The Game: hxxp://www.naughtyamericathegame.com/

Link goes to a page that asks if you're 18 or older, but I probably still wouldn't click this from work.
/tk

yeah. so. um. which character are you?
just asking.
:D