GameStop Considering Selling AO-Rated Games

zekrahminator · Sep 23, 2007

In the past, since the ESRB devised the AO (adult only) rating for video games, it has been a mark of death for the video game in question. Parent groups go ballistic, retail chains refuse to sell them, and some console manufacturers (namely, Sony and Nintendo) do not even allow AO content on their machines. In the past, AO ratings have caused game makers to do whatever it took to get rid of it, going for the much more popular M rating. It seems as though times are changing, however. GameStop recently questioned its policy banning AO games. GameStop recently underwent a campaign to raise awareness of the ESRB ratings, and as a result of this, is considering letting AO games back on the shelves. Gamestop would of course not sell these games to anyone under the age of 18.

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wazzledoozle · Sep 23, 2007

Gamestop doesnt allow anyone <18 to buy M rated games so whats the point?

They dont enforce the correct rules in the first place so AO isn't even needed. The ESRB and game ratings are a mess.

zekrahminator · Sep 23, 2007

I don't buy from them anyways

.

killatia · Sep 23, 2007

you forgot to put microsoft in the artical sine they also will not allow AO rated games on there counsel. just because the 360 isn;t getting manhunt 2 dosen't mean they're off the hook.

Deleted member 24505 · Sep 23, 2007

kids just get their parents to buy them for them,i've seen it in a shop in hull.the shop assistant refused to sell the game to the kid,so he blatently gave it to his mum who bought it.

Helvetica · Sep 23, 2007

How about we learn to keep our own kids safe rather than spoiling everything for everyone - including adults.

PVTCaboose1337 · Sep 23, 2007

Well another issue... I could buy an M game right? I just go on the internet and buy... easy as that.

LonGun · Sep 23, 2007

PVTCaboose1337 said:
Well another issue... I could buy an M game right? I just go on the internet and buy... easy as that.

lol yea good point. As long as you check the box "I am over 18+ and bow to the policy crap", you're all set clicking on "Submit"

FreedomEclipse · Sep 23, 2007

LonGun said:
lol yea good point. As long as you check the box "I am over 18+ and bow to the policy crap", you're all set clicking on "Submit"

well they maybe be able to get your information from the bank your debit/credit card belongs to. paypal will possibly do the same.

i dont think your bank will hold back on sharing your details as the seller has the right to know as you are buying something off them.

so there are always methods in place to check your age.

as for this AO rating i dont think anybody will be arsed to enforce it. unless the AO section is in a seprate room where they have their own checkout tills & all I.D's are checked upon entry & perchase of a game. I doubt anybody would make that sort of an effort. I mean - they only want your money after all. who do they care if your a paying customer. if you got the cash for it, they wont ask any questions.

bassmasta · Sep 23, 2007

i remember someone {i think sony} doing a study on this. they found that girls could usually buy leisure suit larry : magna cum loade right away, and boys just had to bother the sales guy a few times. considering the fact that they paid kids to go into stores and buy the game to test this, i dont see how it can be falsified.

Azn Tr14dZ · Sep 23, 2007

wazzledoozle said:
Gamestop doesnt allow anyone <18 to buy M rated games so whats the point?

They dont enforce the correct rules in the first place so AO isn't even needed. The ESRB and game ratings are a mess.

Depends who your seller is...trust me. There are many people from GameStop/EB Games that will let kids under 18 buy M games...

JrRacinFan · Sep 23, 2007

FreedomEclipse said:
well they maybe be able to get your information from the bank your debit/credit card belongs to. paypal will possibly do the same.

i dont think your bank will hold back on sharing your details as the seller has the right to know as you are buying something off them.

so there are always methods in place to check your age.

What about Visa Greendot cards and Paypal virtual debit cards?

While we are on the subject of AO, another statement to bring up about Manhunt 2. Sorry for going off-topic here but, since MS will not publish it to the 360 does this mean they will refuse to let developers code it for use with Windows Vista/XP?

LonGun · Sep 24, 2007

Azn Tr14dZ said:
Depends who your seller is...trust me. There are many people from GameStop/EB Games that will let kids under 18 buy M games...

My friend was one of them. He sold the God of War 2 to my lil sister.

Ketxxx · Sep 24, 2007

tigger69 said:
kids just get their parents to buy them for them,i've seen it in a shop in hull.the shop assistant refused to sell the game to the kid,so he blatently gave it to his mum who bought it.

I used to do that

Thermopylae_480 · Sep 24, 2007

I've done that, too. Perfectly legal. They're allowed to posses it, just not buy it.

WarEagleAU · Sep 24, 2007

ESRB seems more and more like a PR move to make them look like they are complying. Most parents dont seem to care what games their kids play anyways.

Azn Tr14dZ · Sep 24, 2007

Thermopylae_480 said:
I've done that, too. Perfectly legal. They're allowed to posses it, just not buy it.

Yeah, so they can't say "NO" to you when you buy an M game if your parents are there.

I just saw the Best Buy ads, and they said "We Check ID's. Must be 17 or older to purchase." But they didn't say "Or with a parent".

Weer · Sep 24, 2007

Who even makes AO-rated games? There must be less thatn 20.

FreedomEclipse · Sep 24, 2007

JrRacinFan said:
What about Visa Greendot cards and Paypal virtual debit cards?

Ive done a light bit of research (am short of time but really wanted to get this in) aparantly both these services still require that you hold a debit account with a bank. all these 2 services have really done is just made buying stuff online a lot lot safer.

as far as I know & as ive read (correct me if im wrong) Greendot exists only on visa/debit type cards so u cant simply walk into a post office & buy a green dot card like a fone top up. but at the same time - greendot is its own account where you can either transfer funds from your debit account or buy topups from shop.

as for paypal virtual debit - i think it is also more or less the same it states that

"If paypal does not have enough credit to complete the transaction it will draw funds from your bank account to compete it"

Its a long time since i botherd with paypal at all (i tried to sign up but it wouldnt work) if my memory serves me correctly there is also an option where you can choose to debit/transfer cash into your paypal account via cheque (or postal order most possibly)

but yeah - the possibllity of having paypal as 'standalone' with no links to a bank account (not sure if this is possible) then you can probably get away with it. unless paypal decides to trace the origins of the cheque - if you have supplied fake names then good for you but if not then f**k knows what could happen

DaMulta · Sep 24, 2007

Doom 3 and Fear should of been AO IMO...

JrRacinFan · Sep 24, 2007

Not necessarily true that you need a bank account for a Greendot card.

The local thrift and drug shop do not require a bank account nor do they do an age check to purchase one.

Sorry to go a little off topic guys.

effmaster · Sep 24, 2007

Azn Tr14dZ said:
Depends who your seller is...trust me. There are many people from GameStop/EB Games that will let kids under 18 buy M games...

You only have to be 17 to buy an M rated game.

Last I checked since thats what it says on the ESRB label am I right? :laugh:

wazzledoozle · Sep 24, 2007

effmaster said:
You only have to be 17 to buy an M rated game.

Last I checked since thats what it says on the ESRB label am I right?

Around here you have to be 18... when you point out that M says "17 or older" they say its just company policy.

effmaster · Oct 1, 2007

wazzledoozle said:
Around here you have to be 18... when you point out that M says "17 or older" they say its just company policy.

Well then they should all be slapped in the face for this idiocy if they claim they follow the ESRB's rules :slap:

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GameStop Considering Selling AO-Rated Games

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