Content Policy and Ratings Inconsistency

Question

Regarding what is mentioned here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh694083.aspx

It states how no ESRB-AO titles, or presumably something that would warrant it, and equivalent from other foreign agencies--PEGI-18, CERO-Z, USK ab 18--are allowed.  The issue is: whose criteria do you follow?

For example:

- virtually all ESRB-M titles in the US are PEGI-18, CERO-Z, USK ab 18 in Europe, Japan, and Germany respectively

- the reverse is also true: Lula 3D is USK ab 16 but ESRB-AO in the US

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lula_3D

This is not merely a difference in ratings.  This determines whether you can publish your app or not.

Answer 1

Hello npcompletion,

To answer your question: whose criteria do you follow?

Each app will have to be reviewed under each guideline.  The app will need to conform to the region specifics you wish to sell to. While one may allow X content and the other does not, you will need to adjust accordingly in order to use in both regions. 

For the link you pointed to regarding ratings, anything that meets the following section 5.1 of the Metro style apps:

Your app must not contain adult content Apps with a rating over PEGI 16, ESRB MATURE, or that contain content that would warrant such a
rating, are not allowed.

The suggested game you showed would not be approved according to the listed ratings.

Answer 2

Thanks.

Do you mean to say that the content must be acceptable to ALL regions?

Or that we can have region specific apps?  That is, either:

- region A with content X, region B with it removed.

- app with content X limited to region A only

As an example of the later, when you say "The suggested game you showed would not be approved according to the listed ratings" but would it be allowed in Germany for example, since it is USK ab 16 there.

Or an app with content like Skyrim--or just about every US title--would that then be limited to the US only?  It is ESRB-M but is PEGI-18, CERO-Z, USK ab 18 everywhere else.

Or would it simply not be allowed at all since it doesn't satisfy the threshold globally.