Ahh… Windows 8. Has an operating system ever before been written off so thoroughly as a failure before launch? It seems Microsoft is taking every possible step to alienate enterprise and gamers alike with their heavily tablet-influenced OS, leaving many wondering who exactly the target audience is for this… bold experiment…?
Stoking the flames of hate even further, a Microsoft representative confirmed today that software sold via the Windows 8 store will have to adhere to strict age restrictions, specifically the rule that no software rated higher than “Mature” could be sold in the marketplace. While some speculated that these restrictions would not apply to games, the MS rep’s comments remove all doubt:
“…apps with a rating over PEGI 16, ESRB MATURE, or a corresponding rating under other ratings systems… are not allowed.”
This policy would have little impact on the US market, where pretty much all games that aren’t straight up pornographic manage to get a Mature rating or below from the ESRB. The situation with European markets is a bit different however, where numerous games, many of them recent, receive a PEGI 18, disqualifying them from Microsoft’s shop. A few examples of games that could not be sold there are as follows:
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Witcher II
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Max Payne 3
The Walking Dead
Sleeping Dogs
Dishonored
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 3
LA Noire
Spec Ops: The Line
Fallout: New Vegas
Deus Ex
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations
Yowch. Of course, software can still be installed outside of what’s sold in the Windows 8 store. Software that doesn’t go through Microsoft’s certification will still function, though it will lack integration with some of Windows 8′s features. How tragic.
Thankfully, with the numerous other options for purchasing PC games online, nobody in their right mind will be buying games through Microsoft’s store… Or switching to Windows 8 for that matter.
i didn’t know microsoft hated money
Is there any aspect of Windows 8 that isn’t some kind of nightmarish clusterfuck?
CLOSED PLATFORMS, CLOSED PLATFORMS!
What a terrible idea.
Having used Win8 for almost a month now I’ve only seen the built-in store twice, once just to see what it was like and another to install Solitaire. I don’t think these rules will affect most users at all.
I find this article a bit exaggerated.
Nobody in my enviroment buys games from the Windows store.
They rather buy their games on Steam or the local store. So I think this will hardly affect anyone.
Steam has to pay a percentage of what it makes to microshit to run on 8. So possibly higher prices if 8 takes off.
Uh, no. Steam doesn’t, and this whole thing is being exaggerated to hell.
All of these “closed platform” cries are pointless. It’s just Win 7 with Metro, I’ve found almost no difference other than that.
On top of that, this only applies to the Microsoft Store, and theres absolutely nothing that requires you to use it.
You have to go through the Windows store if you want to make a metro ‘app’. Ergo, you also have to go through the Windows store if you want your ‘app’ to run on WinRT devices (eg most tablets). Bear in mind that the whole OS is almost explicitly targeted at tables. So, yes, it is a closed platform, yes, it is a big deal, no, you don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.
Im running Windows 8 right now, so kindly screw off. I don’t know how it differs on a tablet, but I’ve had none of these problems that everyone keeps whining about.
You also never personally had the plague, but that doesn’t mean a bunch of people didn’t die from it.
I couldn’t come up with a poorer analogy, even if I tried. There’s nothing wrong with Win 8 other than some poor control/design choices.
every second operating system
that’s the rule
you forgot to put there own fable and halo series
the only thing i would get off that stupid shop is halo CE or a fixed halo 2 vista and unfortunately microsoft decided to shoot themselves in the foot on that one
WIN 7 4 LYFE MOTHAF*CKAAA
Well, it’s good to know what age group they are aiming for.
So no chances of my Chinese porn games being put on the Windows store? Sad day.
That’s it, I’m switching to moebuntu!
Moebuntu is pretty good. (At) Least I can play my chinese reading games there.