banned
November 19th, 2009 at 03:01pm
Under Xbox 360
Boutique law firm AbingtonIP is “investigating” what it considers the “convenient” recent Xbox Live bannings. The firm posits that the “tens of thousands” of banned Xbox Live subscribers who used modded consoles deserve recompense due to the timing of the action. The firm believes that said timing — i.e., after Halo 3: ODST and shortly before Modern Warfare 2’s releases — was executed to net Microsoft as much money as possible out of potential Xbox Live subscribers before banning the modded devices. The class action lawsuit would attempt to obtain a refund for the prorated sums left on the banned Xbox Live subscriptions.
According to Joystiq legal columnist Mark Methenitis’ analysis: “To me, this certainly sounds a lot like a cash grab directed at a company with deep pockets, but perhaps there are more facts than they are letting on.” He explains that a user savvy enough to have a modded console would also know not to connect it to Live without “serious risk.” Methenitis concludes, “If, in fact, Microsoft is inducing people to buy a service only to terminate them, then there’s certainly a deceptive business practice concern. But this seems far more cut and dry than that.”
[Thanks, C. Carl Carlston]
Firm considers class action over Xbox Live bannings originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: abingtonip, banned, banning, class-action, law, lawsuit, mark-methenitis, xbl, xbox-live, xbox-live-bannings
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Firm considers class action over Xbox Live bannings
September 25th, 2009 at 06:00am
Under Xbox 360
In the wake of its Australian “banning,” Valve has seen fit to send out an update of Left 4 Dead 2’s ratings across this zombie smorgasbord we call a planet. We knew that Valve was “bummed” about the ban, but the letter that the company sent out could be interpreted as it saying, “Hey, wait up, places like Germany and Japan gave us ‘18+’ ratings … and you know how sensitive they are about violence.”
Valve is still awaiting a rating in the UK (BBFC) and New Zealand, and submitted its appeal regarding Left 4 Dead 2’s non-classified status in the land down under on September 23. With any luck, Aussies will be able to play the game — with some edits, perhaps — when the zombie sequel launches November 17.
L4D2 rated in other violence sensitive regions, Valve appeals Aussie ban originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: australia, banned, false, left-4-dead-2, oflc, valve
By Mister-X
Continue Reading L4D2 rated in other violence sensitive regions, Valve appeals Aussie ban
August 11th, 2009 at 07:30pm
Under Xbox 360
RPG Risen has been refused classification by Australia’s OFLC, meaning it can’t be sold at retail on the continent. Kotaku was informed by the game’s Aussie distributor that the board was concerned by “sexual activity and drug use related to incentives or rewards.” Ignore the fact that both of those concepts are directly related to teaching children how to succeed in business.
Why are we talking about children? Well, it’s because Australia only rates games that are appropriate for children 15-years-old and younger. The US’s ESRB summary of Risen notes that sex is implied but never depicted, while “wood reefer” can be bought, sold and used. That sounds a lot like high school.
Risen banned in Australia for incentivizing sex and drugs originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: australia, banned, oflc, politics, risen
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Risen banned in Australia for incentivizing sex and drugs
