Microsoft Banning guns from avatars... Microsoft live now a gun free zone.

I have to admit this is a worrying sign... good lord Microsoft way to signal your feelings about a mature console for mature gamers... what is this the new wii? What next friend codes and motion controls and copycat party games.

Between Bioware watering down romances to a twilight level and Microsoft acting like everyone on live lives in Germany one has to wonder if they realise that the average gamer has kids not an actual kid.

no link, awkward wording, random comment about germany. what is this.BrunoBRS

I couldn't get the link in post there are dozens on Google news. Germany highly restricts videogame content. There is no randomness in the comment. I choose not to live in Germany I certainly don't expect to be treated like a German.

I thought they just were not making anymore, that people who already had guns got to keep them. Either way I don't buy stuff for my avatar, so I really don't care. :P

Guns are for puss**s.

Good thing they ban all the guns from avatars so I won't have to worry about that while I play my next modern military shooter :?

reminds me of this

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/397246/digitally-replaced-by-ewoks

This is stupid, but not surprising considering the big Kinect Family push, the lack of retail 1st party core games. Ironically, FPS and games with guns are a very, very strong category for the X-Brand, and this generation in general (From GeoW to Halo to COD to Mass Effect, most games these days sport a gun of some sort).

Eh, I don't buy any avatar items anyways, so I'm not too invested. :P

This is assuming this is accurate news in the first place, it would be nice to have a link you know....:P

EDIT : I dug this up. This is according to a EPIC, so it's probably legit.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/microsoft-to-eliminate-gun-like-avatar-props-on-xbox-live/

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"Beginning Jan. 1, all gun-like items will be banned from the Xbox Live Marketplace, according to Epic Games.

The Xbox may have come to popularity thanks to the success of many gun-laden games, but now that it has the top console, Microsoft is trying to shift its image. According to Epic Games, makers of the Gears of War series, all "gun-like" avatar props will be pulled from Xbox Live. Microsoft will not take away your gun prop if you purchase it before Jan 1, but after that, the market for avatar customization will get a lot nicer.

"Heads up! Starting on Jan. 1, 2012, the Lancer and Hammerburst avatar items will no longer be available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace," said Will Kinsler, community manager at Epic Games on the publisher's official forum (via TFTS). "If you've purchased the items prior to Jan. 1, you will be able to keep them. A new policy goes into effect for all gun-like avatar items on the Marketplace, so get them while they're hot.

"So why the ban on gun-like items? It's likely Microsoft's attempt to broaden the image of the Xbox 360 (As I suspected with my post above). With the Kinect and recent dashboard enhancements, it's clear that Microsoft is trying to make the 360 a family-friendlyconsole with a breadth of non-gaming entertainment options like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube. The popularity of first-person shooters like Gears of War, Halo, Bioshock, and the like still paint a male 20-something image on the console. There isn't much Microsoft can do about it without alienating its core fanbase, but eliminating small items like guns in avatars is a step the company appears willing to take.

Does it upset you that gun-like avatars will no longer be allowed on the Marketplace? Is it a smart move?"

Thar she blows, SW! :P

Link? foxhound_fox

http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/paul-thurrotts-wininfo/microsoft-clamps-virtual-guns-xbox-live-141721

Huh!?!? Is this in Germany only or something? I can't see why Microsoft would ban guns from avatars when the majority of their games are all about guns. That's just dumb. I believe some of the avatar costumes come with guns. Maybe some of the Star Wars and CoD apparrel. I don't remember. Anyway, I usually use the free stuff to dress my Avatar. I rarely by items for it.

It's the Avatar Rights Campaigners again.

Who cares? The avatars are completely stupid to begin with, and the people that spend REAL money on fake cartoon avatar clothing are even more stupid. It doesn't surprise me that MS hates guns, they own MSNBC which is extreame liberal commie land, they hate guns. But MS as a company is very fiscally conservative, they just run it to make money.

Who cares? The avatars are completely stupid to begin with, and the people that spend REAL money on fake cartoon avatar clothing are even more stupid. It doesn't surprise me that MS hates guns, they own MSNBC which is extreame liberal commie land, they hate guns. But MS as a company is very fiscally conservative, they just run it to make money.

ShadowMoses900

i don't see what the big deal is about?

[QUOTE="ShadowMoses900"]

Who cares? The avatars are completely stupid to begin with, and the people that spend REAL money on fake cartoon avatar clothing are even more stupid. It doesn't surprise me that MS hates guns, they own MSNBC which is extreame liberal commie land, they hate guns. But MS as a company is very fiscally conservative, they just run it to make money.

lawlessx

lol casual and hardcore are jokes, it's a freakin hobby. But yes they are going after a different audience now, I still don't see what the big deal is. All there exclusives are filled with guns, so what's the big deal?I don't think this means anything really.

Gotta make it a safe place for children who play nothing but Halo and CoD.

I honestly find buying stuff for avatars to be a huge waste of money anyways so I couldn't care.

Why would anyone.... care? Is it just the principle of the matter?

I'd wager that most of the parents crying THINK OF THE CHILDREN, bought their kids violent videogames.

Gotta make it a safe place for children who play nothing but Halo and CoD.

ChubbyGuy40

Quick, someone bring up the first amendment,

Quick, someone bring up the first amendment,

DraugenCP

[QUOTE="DraugenCP"]

Quick, someone bring up the first amendment,

BrunoBRS

I think it's 'murrcun.

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"][QUOTE="DraugenCP"]

Quick, someone bring up the first amendment,

DraugenCP

I think it's 'murrcun.

It's pretty fair to be honest. Sure, not everyone is a kid, but what if you are? Should young kids playing young games really be seeing colorful dancing avatars holding machine guns with chainsaws attached to them? It's not really appropriate, especially when the ability to play as your avatar is included with a lot of child-friendly games these days. Ninja-Hippo

Then it's the parents responsibility, don't punish everyone else who wants to waste their hard earned money on stupid guns for stupid cartooncharecters. Parents have to be in control, not the Xbox. Of course this is the Xbox we are talking about,it's full of racistlittle kids andparents thatdon't give a damn.

[QUOTE="Ninja-Hippo"]It's pretty fair to be honest. Sure, not everyone is a kid, but what if you are? Should young kids playing young games really be seeing colorful dancing avatars holding machine guns with chainsaws attached to them? It's not really appropriate, especially when the ability to play as your avatar is included with a lot of child-friendly games these days. ShadowMoses900

Then it's the parents responsibility, don't punish everyone else who wants to waste their hard earned money on stupid guns for stupid cartooncharecters. Parents have to be in control, not the Xbox. Of course this is the Xbox we are talking about,it's full of racistlittle kids andparents thatdon't give a damn.

We have to protect the 12-year old kids playing Saints Row 3.

One step closer to conformity and trying to not hurt peoples' feelings and respecting all of their differences and even celebrating them.

[QUOTE="Ravensmash"]And if you're that beat up about virtual gun accessories for avatars, then....yeah.Ginosaji

I don't think anyone's really that beat up over this issue in particular. It's the principle of the matter that gets under everyone's skin. The real issue is lazy parents trying to avoid taking responsibility for raising their own children.

We have to protect the 12-year old kids playing Saints Row 3.

nurnberg

First of all this is old, second, who cares?

I dunno, seeing a cute avatar with a gun would be like seeing Mario packing an AK47. Aesthetically it doesn't sound right but its probably to do with their growing family friendly image.tomarlyn

What I have to ask is what's the outlook on MS' future game output. Multiplats are a given, but a lot of their first and third party exclusives have been catering directly to the Kinect crowd. Gears of War is pretty much over (unless Epic decides to do a prequel/spinoff) so that leaves only Halo and Forza.

[QUOTE="tomarlyn"]I dunno, seeing a cute avatar with a gun would be like seeing Mario packing an AK47. Aesthetically it doesn't sound right but its probably to do with their growing family friendly image.Lionheart08

What I have to ask is what's the outlook on MS' future game output. Multiplats are a given, but a lot of their first and third party exclusives have been catering directly to the Kinect crowd. Gears of War is pretty much over (unless Epic decides to do a prequel/spinoff) so that leaves only Halo and Forza.

[QUOTE="lawlessx"][QUOTE="ShadowMoses900"]

Who cares? The avatars are completely stupid to begin with, and the people that spend REAL money on fake cartoon avatar clothing are even more stupid. It doesn't surprise me that MS hates guns, they own MSNBC which is extreame liberal commie land, they hate guns. But MS as a company is very fiscally conservative, they just run it to make money.

ShadowMoses900

lol casual and hardcore are jokes, it's a freakin hobby. But yes they are going after a different audience now, I still don't see what the big deal is. All there exclusives are filled with guns, so what's the big deal?I don't think this means anything really.

Microsoft's getting their family friendly on.

Damn wussies, next thing you know they'll ban my avatar's special Naked Fat Girl suit, made from skinned fat ladies.

Don't they have ads for violent video games, as well as loads of violent video games on the MS marketplace. Wouldn't they have to take all those down? What would be the point of just taking a way guns from avatars.. It's not like the avatars are in your face all the time. I don't get this move at all.

This is just another example of MS abandoning their core userbase and trying to get as many casual gamers on board as possible. Which is why I totally sold my XBOX360 and kept my PS3.

random comment about germany. BrunoBRS

in my eyes m$ has gone casual period. this is why playstation home is better because theres boat loads of guns to give your avatar

friends keeps getting banned because he mentions satan on this bio lmao.

It's a joke, they are catering to soccer moms. This is why I play COD on 360 only, PS3 is for my hardcore gaming needs. M$ FTL

and thus marks the next saga of the KinectBox.

MS = CWO (casual world order)