Europe - Mature Wii U eShop content only available at night

[robometal cowboy]

Europe - Mature Wii U eShop content only available at night
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"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." - Nintendo customer service

I understand that Nintendo wants to be safe, but this is a bit overboard. I really hope we see Nintendo do away with this kind of protection. Sometimes the Big N can be two steps forward, one step back...

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[geogaither]

This is an atrocity. The bad PR coming out of this will hopefully get it resolved in a matter of days.

[JGreenhill]

Yeah, go to hell nintendo. This is beyond stupid.

[SuperNictendo]

Lol what is this? Cinemax?

[yanya]

This is just a joke, right? No way Nintendo would be that stupid.

[Hyawatta]

This would make a lot of sence if they were selling AO rated games. But, they're not, so it doesn't make much sence.

[Mirr0rR3flection]

LOL WHA?

Nintendo this is ridiculous… seriously!

[t27duck]

You'd think Nintendo would want to shake the "Nintendo's for little kids" issue they have with the hardcore... guess not.

[jlatimer11]

This would make a lot of sence if they were selling AO rated games. But, they're not, so it doesn't make much sence.

PEGI 16 is equivalent to a M rated game in the US and can't be sold to minors.

It's not a great way to do it, but I kinda understand.

I think it's more of a shame that Nintendo has to parent the children because a lot of actual parents can't be trusted to.

[Frank]

Absolutely ridiculous. I know Nintendo worries a lot about their reputation as a child friendly company but this is really beyond the pale. I mean, for a start, surely you need a credit card to pay for these games anyway? And any kid savvy enough to get their parents credit card number would be able to circumvent this. Then there's the whole issue of this being how we find out, rather than a notice on the eshop. And y'know what? Those of us with 9-5 jobs tend to not want to be dealing with that sort of thing at 11 at night.

That was all kinds of tl;dr rant, but this really is one step too far.

[Yezhik]

I have more better mesage from N.
"Thank you for your inquiry. 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.

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].

Thank you for your understanding"

So... It's Germany, baby.

[JGreenhill]

I have more better mesage from N.
"Thank you for your inquiry. 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.

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].

Thank you for your understanding"

So... It's Germany, baby.

someone should inform nintendo that germany doesn't rule europe.

[Mirr0rR3flection]

@Yezhik
So is mature content only available at night for those in Europe who own PS3/Xbox360 as well?

Just curious to know.

[DrRocketGenius]

I'm not going to lie... I find this hilarious.

[austrian]

I have more better mesage from N.
"Thank you for your inquiry. 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.

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].

Thank you for your understanding"

So... It's Germany, baby.

someone should inform nintendo that germany doesn't rule europe.

but Nintendo EU headquarters are (sadly) based in germany and, I asume, so are the Wii U servers. Therefor they have to follow the ridiculous german laws.

come over to austria Nintendo. we don't give a sh*t about youth protection regulation and stuff

[StarStabbedMoon]

Lol this is so ridiculous it's hilarious.

Glad it's not like this in the states.

[BlueRangerVegeta]

It'd be funny if it weren't so pathetic.......


Oh what the hell, I'll laugh anyways....

[JGreenhill]

@Yezhik
So is mature content only available at night for those in Europe who own PS3/Xbox360 as well?

Just curious to know.

Yeah exactly, this plus them excluding Europe from upscaling Wii games, maybe one step too far. Nintendo's laziness is gonna bite them in the ass sooner, rather than later.

[Morgan Lamia]

Yeah, I noticed this the other day when I tried to watch the video in the eShop for Ninja Gaiden 3. It was after 10pm (UK time) that I tried and I got the message below, so I figured it was just some kind of technical problem on Nintendo's end.

...I guess not.

[Sammet]

Yeah, I noticed this the other day when I tried to watch the video in the eShop for Ninja Gaiden 3. It was after 10pm (UK time) that I tried and I got the message below, so I figured it was just some kind of technical problem on Nintendo's end.

...I guess not.

I got the same the other night too and thought the same thing..... but 11PM to 3AM is unbelievably ridiculous. WTF Nintendo?

How about 9pm like the television watershed? 11 is too late.

[Gamingboy]

As stated before, this more has to do with the many arcane rules in Europe, and Germany in particular.

Of course, I'm sure that somebody will pick it up and say that this is true in North America, Australia and Japan as well, when it isn't.

[austrian]

@Yezhik
So is mature content only available at night for those in Europe who own PS3/Xbox360 as well?

Just curious to know.

Yeah exactly, this plus them excluding Europe from upscaling Wii games, maybe one step too far. Nintendo's laziness is gonna bite them in the ass sooner, rather than later.

yeah but it should be noted that this only happens over component.

[Sisibakbak]

Haha, wow Nintendo. Why aren't parental controls enough?

[Chosenoneknuckles]

Insane.

I swear Nintendo forgot it ever put Parental Controls in the Wii - and now they have again...

[Reynard]

The holy hell are the parental controls for then? This is ludicrous on so many levels.

You're supposed to be trying to shake the 'Nintendo is for kids' stigma, not reinforce it.