Twitch bans Adults Only games in the United States.

[wyattzx]

 

Twitch has updated its rules of conduct to disallow streaming of Adult Only games, the company announced today. That means any game classified with an AO rating by the ESRB will be banned from the service, including games such as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Manhunt 2.

"Previously, we made game-specific decisions about which games would and would not be available for broadcast – sometimes due to overtly sexual content, sometimes due to gratuitous violence," the company said in its statement.

"This is unsustainable and unclear, generating only further confusion among Twitch broadcasters. We would like to make this policy as transparent as possible."

PCGamer

 

Normally I'd find this to be a controversial topic, but currently there are only 28 published games with the AO rating, most of which are either old, or have little to no following. Games like Hatred are going to be hit by this, but I feel the impact will be relatively small among Twitch viewers and streamers. What are your guys' thoughts and opinions? Is this a good or bad move by Twitch? Or is it just.. a neutral move?

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[AlexWalters08]

I say good.

[Guest]

I can understand the reasoning behind this because a lot of kids watch Twitch, and they would have access to these sort of videos and content. I do think it's a bummer if there are any streamers out there that rely on these games to provide the community with live-stream content. Most Twitch channels usually have a 'primary' game they play whether it be Minecraft or whatever else, so I hope there aren't any channels out there that solely focus on games like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

 

On that note, happy gaming!

[Psykomantis00]

It's silly. They allow gambling and GTA5 but won't allow this game because it's just a more extreme version. 

[Trik'Stari]

Ahhhh the good old US censorship motto, "horrific deplorable violence is okay, as long as nobody is naked or says any dirty words".

 

 

 

Can we PLEASE, move out of the stoneage?

 

It's silly. They allow gambling and GTA5 but won't allow this game because it's just a more extreme version. 

 

I've played through San Andreas at least three times, NOTHING in it is more extreme than ANYTHING in GTA V. this is stupid.

 

Censorship is wrong, in just about every way. If you have children, do what you are supposed to do as a parent, don't lie to them, don't sugar coat things, EXPLAIN THEM.

 

As a parent, your job is to guide your children through life, until they can make their own way. Lying to them, and protecting them from things, handicaps them. You're not supposed to be JUST their friend, or JUST their authority figure, you're supposed to be a guide. Offering nothing more than truth, and context. The things which an individual needs to form an opinion.

[TheSLSAMG]

It's silly. They allow gambling and GTA5 but won't allow this game because it's just a more extreme version. 

I mean, the hot coffee thing with GTASA let you see the sex scenes in game, but in GTA V you can go into a strip club and hold a girl's hips while she gives you a topless lap dance. I'm not saying that banning GTASA is such a bad thing (though I don't think they should bother, it's a parent's job to teach their kids right and wrong), but doing that and not banning GTA V shows that Twitch is being a bit of a cash cow (and is also trying not to piss too many off.)

[ivan134]

Neutral. They're a private entity and they decide what image they want to be portrayed of their business.

Cue "hurr durr, freedom of speech, hurr durr, they're prudes"

[AlexGoesHigh]

ahh common, the reasoning its perfectly understandable but can't you make an exception for SA, what makes it AO isn't on by default, and its remove from pretty much every version expect the ps2 and xbox originals, all version are rated M now

http://www.esrb.org/ratings/synopsis.jsp?Certificate=33275&Title=Grand%20Theft%20Auto%3A%20San%20Andreas&searchkeyword=grand%20theft%20auto

 

edit: yeah the ps2, xbox and original pc disc are still rated AO, but not the steam version which is what almost everyone has now, also the AO rating is only valid for the original launch batch, post launch disc that don't have hot coffee are M

http://www.esrb.org/ratings/synopsis.jsp?Certificate=10562&Title=Grand%20Theft%20Auto%3A%20San%20Andreas&searchkeyword=grand%20theft%20auto

[AnnoyedShelf]

Does this include Canada? I still want my violent games.

[Mattrixx]

What are your guys' thoughts and opinions? Is this a good or bad move by Twitch? Or is it just.. a neutral move?

I can understand it, and it probably is a smart move, but it doesn't mean I'm all that happy to see something outright banned. I personally believe age restrictions would be better (am not aware if Twitch has age restrictions or not), as it'd put the responsibility for keeping an eye on what one watches squarely on the shoulders of the viewer, where it should be.

[Psykomantis00]

I mean, the hot coffee thing with GTASA let you see the sex scenes in game, but in GTA V you can go into a strip club and hold a girl's hips while she gives you a topless lap dance. I'm not saying that banning GTASA is such a bad thing (though I don't think they should bother, it's a parent's job to teach their kids right and wrong), but doing that and not banning GTA V shows that Twitch is being a bit of a cash cow (and is also trying not to piss too many off.)

It's silly, it's just a video game. 

[Trik'Stari]

Neutral. They're a private entity and they decide what image they want to be portrayed of their business.

Cue "hurr durr, freedom of speech, hurr durr, they're prudes"

Very true, although we can, as "customers" of twitch, disagree and choose to not watch anything on twitch as a result.

 

Freedom of speech entails the idea that there is no black and white right and wrong, just opinions. We can agree or disagree all we want.

 

And I for one, disagree.

[PerfectTemplar]

I say good.

Why? Violent or sexually suggestive video games have not been found to cause significant or negative behavioural changes in anyone (in fact, as with all hobbies regardless of content, all video games have proven to provide positive mental health change), this is just ridiculous. Sort of like how on American TV they are afraid of saying shit or fuck lol..

 

 

It's silly, it's just a video game. 

^This, just as books are books, TV is just TV and Movies are just Movies. It does not affect people, children don't turn into rapist because they saw a sex scene in GTA.

[Trik'Stari]

Why? Violent or sexually suggestive video games have not been found to cause significant or negative behavioural changes in anyone (in fact, as with all hobbies regardless of content, all video games have proven to provide positive mental health change), this is just ridiculous. Sort of like how on American TV they are afraid of saying shit or fuck lol..

There are studies that say opposite, as well as studies that say what you say, although both are paid for by biased parties.

 

 

Granted, I agree that violence in video games does little to no damage, although I would argue that what goes on in the news does FAR more damage.

[givingtnt]

It's silly. They allow gambling and GTA5 but won't allow this game because it's just a more extreme version. 

gta5 is not AO

but san andreas is

[AlexWalters08]

Why? Violent or sexually suggestive video games have not been found to cause significant or negative behavioural changes in anyone (in fact, as with all hobbies they have proven to provide positive mental health change), this is just ridiculous. Sort of like how on American TV they are afraid of saying shit or fuck lol..

As someone else has already stated, it is their company, and the videos that are being streamed to twitch reflect their image as a company. If you visit twitch for the first time, and most of the stuff you see is of extremely violent and sexual stuff (I know it is not currently like this), you may then view Twitch as a service for stream "that kind of stuff." I am sure that Twitch does not want people to view them as "that company." 

[_ASSASSIN_]

lol as if the Hot Chocolate mod was actually provocative. I'd say the content in GTA V is much worse in terms of how crass it is with the sex.

[Trik'Stari]

As someone else has already stated, it is their company, and the videos that are being streamed to twitch reflect their image as a company. If you visit twitch for the first time, and most of the stuff you see is of extremely violent and sexual stuff (I know it is not currently like this), you may then view Twitch as a service for stream "that kind of stuff." I am sure that Twitch does not want people to view them as "that company." 

Conversely, if the first thing you ever hear about twitch is something like this, you might think they're an advocate of censorship and thus, an "old fashioned company run by stuffy-ass old people".

[SurvivorNVL]

Twitch is within their right to do this, but then I have to wonder what is the point of them having a "Warning Mature Content" button for streams?  I mean, streamers have the capability to set that up, so that means; they had a warning before-hand.

[ofr057]

I thought when streamers are doing those games a pop up says this is for adults are you an adult?

[Psykomantis00]

gta5 is not AO

but san andreas is

It's silly that it's AO. It's silly that there is even anything other than M for mature. If you are 18 they shouldn't ban anything from you. It's like banning books or movies. It's just stupid. 

[xeromynd]

Coinciding with the upcoming release of Hatred possibly?

[Fluffinator]

well this sucks.

[Briggsy]

So I suppose Hotline Miami 1 & 2 are fine for streaming on US twitch simply because of rating. weird... don't get me wrong I love the hotline miami games and just using them as an example, but its interesting that Hatred is getting so much hatred when premise alone separates it from other violent games.

[FakezZ]

Ahhhh the good old US censorship motto, "horrific deplorable violence is okay, as long as nobody is naked or says any dirty words".

 

 

 

Can we PLEASE, move out of the stoneage?

 

 

I've played through San Andreas at least three times, NOTHING in it is more extreme than ANYTHING in GTA V. this is stupid.

 

Censorship is wrong, in just about every way. If you have children, do what you are supposed to do as a parent, don't lie to them, don't sugar coat things, EXPLAIN THEM.

 

As a parent, your job is to guide your children through life, until they can make their own way. Lying to them, and protecting them from things, handicaps them. You're not supposed to be JUST their friend, or JUST their authority figure, you're supposed to be a guide. Offering nothing more than truth, and context. The things which an individual needs to form an opinion.

Oh you don't understand. It's for the children... /s I mean come on I was playing San Andreas on my PS2 when I was like 8-10 and I have absolutely no behavioural problems. That also applies to most kids of my generation, we were all playing GTA at that time.