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360 Avatar rules revealed: No sex, booze

Avatar development rules given to XNA Creators Club
The development rules behind using Xbox 360 Avatars in games have emerged, via Microsoft's XNA Creators Club website.

The guidelines give some interesting insight into the hurdles developers face when sticking our little Xbox people in their games. These include making sure Avatars don't talk, glamorise crime, be seen near of around alcohol and "no sexual or bodily fluids" come from the Avatar. Right...

According to Microsoft, every Xbox Live Indie Game that uses Avatars must be reviewed to make sure that the game "doesn't let the Avatar commit the following acts, have the act occur to them, or is a spectator to them".

Here they are (in Microsoft's words):

Player interacts with their avatar as if it's a separate character
A player's avatar does not have an autonomous personality or instinct. The avatar is under the control of the owning player. It can have idle animations and can respond appropriately to game events but it should not interact with the user as if it is separate from the player, try to get the player's attention in an annoying manner.

Violence which causes blood, gore, dismemberment, decapitation, maiming, or mutilation
Cartoon violence is allowed. Violence is allowed as long as there is no blood, gore, dismemberment, decapitation, maiming, or mutilation. An example of allowable injuries includes injuries that might befall an avatar in a sporting event such as American football. Avatars can die temporarily to depict failure.

Player's avatar talks
The player's avatar should not have their own voice. They are allowed to make individual sounds, such as laughing and crying but otherwise cannot use a voice.

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Acts of sexual innuendo or mildly explicit sexual descriptions or images or sexual posturing
Sexual acts or terminology cannot be insinuated or enacted.

Excretes obscene bodily fluids or substances
No sexual or bodily fluids or substances can come from the avatar.

Glamorized criminal act
Criminal activities need to be relevant to the story and are presented unfavourably.

Acts of an aggressive or threatening manner
Gratuitous insults, bullying, intimidation or otherwise violent or emotional abuse of a position of power are not allowed. Avatars may leave innocents or bystanders slightly injured, but not dead.

Vulgar or profane act
Game-controlled avatars cannot use profane, racist, or discriminatory language, nor can they make obscene gestures.

Use of controlled substances
An avatar is not allowed to hold, be seen around or partake in any controlled substances or paraphernalia including, but not limited to, alcohol, tobacco and drugs.

Replace Avatar features
The features of an avatar cannot be hidden or in obscured and cannot be replaced with alternative items. Items such as, but not limited to, masks, hats and alternative clothing, are not allowed.

Avatars proportions are not modified
The proportions of an Avatar cannot be modified form their original settings. An Avatar can be resized as long as the proportions don't change.

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Posted by Squall5005
It's official. Xbox avatars are Mormons. Brilliant.
Posted by svd_grasshopper
they are a bit uptight.
Posted by Parky92
"Avatars may leave innocents or bystanders slightly injured, but not dead". LOL I can see it now all the 12 year olds running about beating people up :lol:
Posted by ps3rubbish
8) HAHA XBOX AVATERS ARE THE BEST! WII IS 2ND BEST. PS-CRAP IS LAST, SO BORING I NEED SLEEPY TIM. MICROSOFT 1, SONY (PS-CRAP) 0 8)

IF SOME1 GAVE ME A PS-CRAP, ID THROW IT IN THE BIN
Posted by Black Mantis
The Warriors: Avatar Edition!

I'd buy it. :D
Posted by Shin_Kojima
People who type in all caps should have their fingertips filed off.
Posted by dorian2011
lol im looking forward to that karting game thats coming out for the avatars hopefully it will be as good as mario kart lol well one can pray haha, im still waiting on premiership football tops :( i want my avatar in a fulham strip lol :P
Posted by svd_grasshopper
my inbox has been brimming with hate mail recently, this ps3rubbish writes...

IV REED THE NONSENSE YOU RITE ABOUT PS-CRAP, OMG, YOU ARE LIVING IN FANTASY LAND CHUMP. WHY DONT U SHUTTY THE MOTH AND GO PLAY HALO, OH I FORGOT U DONT HAV HALO HAHA OWNED LOLZ U LOOSE


have you nothing better to do than send secret messages to people? loser!! there are others..

its people of this age that cause microsoft to censor avatars and even usernames from their beady, childish eyes.
Posted by altitude2k
Did they actually send that to you via PM? :roll:
Posted by dorian2011
lol that ps3rubbish guy makes me laugh :lol: he shud learn to spell instead of talking about halo lol :lol: but one funny guy lol BIG UP THE XBOX THATS THE WORD OF THE MOTH I MEAN MOUTH LOL :lol: :lol: :lol:
Posted by svd_grasshopper
afraid so.
Posted by altitude2k
I'm convinced it's a second account by someone who has had enough of all the blatant PS3 fanboyism and is just trying to make a point.

Still, PM'ing is still a bit low.
Posted by StonecoldMC
A Fanboy is a Fanboy is a Fanboy.

It doesnt matter which 'Team' their on, they all spout the same drivel and rubbish.

I can sense the Ban Hammer being brought out, Gav where are you :D ?
Posted by CVG Gav
Don't worry I'm here...
Posted by Squall5005
I see just as much Xbox fanboyism on these threads if not more.
But I do agree with you. It's definitely a second account of some xbot that is to scared to speak his mind on his real account.

I do actually enjoy reading his over the top piss take comments. The PS-CRAP. You can't beat the originality of witty comments like that.
Posted by china
I hope GAV bans you. :twisted:
Posted by Black Mantis
Give it up Crimbo. :roll:
Posted by china
»

Sorry mate but I am not Crimbo.
Posted by StonecoldMC
So do my employers, I might actually get some work done then :D .
Posted by TaYLoRMaDE
yo grasshopper nobody wants to know about how many ppl hate you....your a sap.
Posted by china
»

you have a job :shock:
Posted by Squall5005
»»

:lol:
Posted by StonecoldMC
»»

Suprisingly yes, and quite well paid it is too (dont know how ive got away with it this long though?).

Is that it?
Posted by dark_gamer
So basically they can only be used for family friendly games pretty much then. I think the worst thing is that you can't give them alternate clothing, so say you couldn't dress up your avatar in a cowboy suit if you did a western style game.
Posted by svd_grasshopper
TaYLoRMaDE's PM to me...

have you played mgs rising???....NO so shut it u soar sony owner..rising is an action game lightning bolt action actually,sounds alot more interesting than stealth to me! what u got killzone 2 oooo hahah.halo 2's better than that sad excuse for a shooter.

as if the spasticated alternation between caps and lower case wasnt enough indication to his age, his PM's should be telling. of which there are at least four. :roll:
Posted by MrMoobs
Boring!! If I cant decapitate my mates avatar in a friendly game of Samurai Sword Swinging I'm not interested in yet another gimmicky game. Oh yeah, and stick your Joyride game aswell!
Posted by Black Mantis
Whilst I agree these guys are idiots, I think you bring it on yourself.
Posted by svd_grasshopper
»

i also got a congratulatory one saying 'keep up the good work'.
Posted by Burney123456789
fanboys make me lol
Posted by altitude2k
»»

From crimbo, or one of his aliases?
Posted by svd_grasshopper
nope, just someone who agrees MGS is better than splinter cell. which should be any sane person really.
Posted by Conkers
I think Splinter Cell is better, I am most certainly not insane. I'm having a Freebird gourmet burrito for lunch on Friday, they are amazing. AMAZING.
Posted by altitude2k
I had a burrito once - at Union Station in Washington. Wasn't the best way to welcome me to the USA.
Posted by flash501
Pah that's nothing, you should see the PM that BRUTALGAMER sent me the other day, one nasty individual.
Posted by KMakawa
First off, why in hell are we discussing Splinter Cell against Metal Gear Solid, in a news article that is based around Avatar rules?

Secondly, those rules are way too solid and tight to actually get any good games. I wanted the blood and gore, and voices. That way we can make a sodding FPS. darnit, looks like its just going to be kiddy games from these then.
Posted by berelain
those seem quite harsh, but I suppose it makes sense when the Avatars have a public, kiddie-friendly image to uphold. Cue lots of 'fan art' of avatars being dismembered while smoking hash and shagging someone...

Mind you, I wonder what the guidelines for the use of Mii's are? I imagine, given Nintendo's rep, they are much more strict. Are non-Nintendo developed titles even allowed to use them in their games?
Posted by sas0875
What are you doing in here?

TROLL
Posted by voodoo341
You're right, he really shud.
Posted by BRUTALGANGSTA
HI MY NAME IS WHAT MY NAME IS JIG JIGA JIGA BRUTALGANGSTA

YEA THATS RIGHTS *****S IM BAK WID A BANG TING YOU CANT BAN ME IM BLACK YOU WHITE ARSEHOLES **** BNP YOU ****S DONT EVEN KNOW THE WORDS TO GOD SAVE THE QUEEN AND I BET YOU EAT CURRY YOU HIPOCRITICAL ****S IM A POLITITION CATCH ME ON FRIDAYS AFTER I COLLECT DULL MONEY AND MY WEEKLY HALO FIGURE CRUTCH SNIFFING AND KIKIN THE **** OUT OF HELPLESS KIDS WOMEN AND OLD ****S THAT EVEN LOOK AT A SONY PRODUCT I PUT A MEAT HOOK IN THE OLD WOMENS **** AND RIP HER WOMB OUT AND HANG HER UP BY HER SHITY COLON AFTER THAT I GO TO SPEAKERS CORNER AND CHAT SHIT LIKE THIS AND CATCH THE MINDS OF CHANNELS SUCH AS CBBEBIES AND CARTOON NETWORK THEY UNDERSTAND WAT IM TRYIN TO SAY

NOW BACK ON THIS STORY ITS OBVIOUS SOMTHING SONY AND NINTENDO HAVE DONE TO TRY AND RUIN THE 360 COZ ITS TOO GOOD THAN THERE SHIT I CUM ON THEM ****S HARD IT BURNS THERE SKIN LIKE EGG MAYO HANGING OUT THE END OF MY DICK AND CHICKEN JOE FRAZIER CURRY FIRE OUT MY ANUS

I KNOW BILL GATES HE SAID TO ME THAT ITS A ****IN DISGRACE THAT THIS ****S ARE PULLING THIS SICK TRICK

I WANT A WAR BETWEEN US BUNCH OF WASTE MAN GAMING ****S GUNZ BLADEZ SHANKZ WANKZ ****Z TREVOR MUNTZ TO FINSIH THIS BRUTAL WAR I THINK IT WILL BE EVEN BETTER THAN WW1 AND 2 (PART 3 WAS OVERRATED) NO LONG TING OUR GRAND KIDS WILL PLAY IT AS A GAME AND THANK OUR OLD CRIPLED FACES FOR THIS SHIT

I WAS HOPING THERE WOULD BE A GAME WERE ME AND MY MATES COULD ALL RAPE EACH OTHERS AVATARS AND BLAZE THE SKENG AFTER LIKE NOTHIN HAPPENED WE COULD OF SNORTED YAYO OFF OF A DEAD TORSO OF IAN HUNTLEY CUM BUSTER THEN PULLED OUT THE NEEDLE FOR HEROIN OVERDOSE

**** PS3
**** WII

HOLD TIGHT GAMEBOY 1

RIP MADDIE MCCAN THEY FOUND THE ROTTING CORPSE NOW JUST SAW THAT SHIT ON SKY SPORT NEWS , SETANTA HASNT PIKED UP ON THAT SHIT YET
Posted by StonecoldMC
@BRUTALGANGSTA

Wow! Was that your first post? What a way to introduce yourself!

This place is actually getting worse, where are all the loons coming from (or is it really just the same 1 or 2 people)?

Tomorrow should be fun :lol: !
Posted by BRUTALGANGSTA
HI FRINED WE ARE THE SAME 2 PEOPLE (BRUTALGAMER AND OMEGA UK V1) THAT PS3rubbish GEEZA IS A FUKIN WANA BE THAT IS WHY WE ARE BACK HES SHIT SAW OUR POSTS AND WANTS TO BE 1 OF THE MANS BUT HE AINT HES A **** PEADO

UNTILL GRASSHOPPER MAKES A POST TITLES "SORRY MY YOUTS " WE WILL BE HEAR UNTILL WE BOTH DIE OF CANCER AND COK ROT (DR SAYS WE GOT 3 MONTHS EACH)

**** PS3
**** WII

HOLD TIGHT GAMEBOY 1
Posted by dorian2011
cn the cvg administarors please ban people like brutal gamer, what he said about maddie mcann is twisted :x u are a sick **** seriously
Posted by OMEGA GANGSTER
You little ****ing arse licker. Bring your boys ill suck all their cocks. **** the police. What kind of name is dorian? You would never make it as a gangster where im from.
Posted by spam23
But I want to burn and mutilate my avatar! I want to get him drunk, make him wee and shag a fatty! Like in fable 2.

Shame on you microsoft.

edit: also, wow this thread is full of disgusting brainless people.
Posted by dorian2011
haha what a ganster of gayness :lol: u cudnt take me if u tried blud, stop prentending ur a ganster and grow up :lol:
Posted by Parky92
BRUTALGANGSTA LOL :P
Posted by r35gtr
Why the hell do people become fanboys when xbox 360 ps3 and pc do the same thing i just dont get it and wii are for hospitals
Posted by joe
I think the Mods need to dust off the old banhammer, as this place is very quickly going down the shitter as far as constructive comments are concerned.
Posted by Mappman
If all those rules apply to XNA users, how come that Madballs game on XBLA that's just been announced has the option to completely modify your avatar by removing its body, and attaching large weapons to the side of the subsequently disembodied head?

Plus on the video for the same game, your floating head avatar appears to be constantly making daft in-game comments.

Personally, I haven't got any problems with having my avatars limbs hacked off in the name of entertainment, but surely this amounts to one rule for the "proper" developers and another for the rest of us?
Posted by Black Mantis
Damn straight. We obviously can't be trusted. 8)
Posted by FlimFlam
This is the funniest thread of have ever read.

SVD... Man I have ripped on you a couple times, probably didn't notice, I'm not a prolific poster, only when I have something I feel strongly about... Anyway, I take it all back.

Now can someone tell me when the sunshine bus arrived? Cos there are some real 'tards that just rocked up to the party.

Oh, and what the f**k is going on with the gay gangsters who have 'cancer and cok rot'. I would spend less time attempting to... Er... Ah hell, I haven't got a clue what your point was or what you were trying to say, but... I would go see someone. Firstly about the rot. Then the issues.

Still, thanks, I haven't laughed so hard in ages. That's probably wrong, you know, to laugh at those less fortunate, but damn, that was funny.
Posted by xboxrulez
8) thats rite, me back to defend y'all from this brutal gangsta! it may - shhhh (drop ur c0ck from ur hand, silly, its tim to clap!) and guess when? may als dont type in caps! loloz 8)
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