Steam Store - Age Verification

[Kyouto42]

I understand it's required. However, can it please be an option to add to my profile and just auto check it there instead of having to fill it out every bloody time I go to check out a game's page in the store? It's so annoying, for no real reason.

[Peewi]

I'm pretty sure Valve have said in the past that they have to ask once every session for legal reasons.

[L.o.D.]

If you are referring to our steam community profile, the forums are not linked to them.
If you mean our forum profiles, then I don't know.

[Toto pectore]

Not Steam Community profile, simple Steam account - the same you use for account log in and store log in.

[hazencruz]

How about just using the age on our profiles if we browse with the steam client instead of making us manually type in a fake birthday every single time we view and "M" rated game?

It's really annoying that I can't see this week's specials because I accidentally just hit "ok" when asked to verify my age, even when I own "M" rated games and have a credit card on file.

I didn't buy any of the specials this weekend because of this annoyance [mostly due to the fact that I couldn't see any details about them].

Please fix this.

[WON]

How about just using the age on our profiles if we browse with the steam client instead of making us manually type in a fake birthday every single time we view and "M" rated game?

It's really annoying that I can't see this week's specials because I accidentally just hit "ok" when asked to verify my age, even when I own "M" rated games and have a credit card on file.

I didn't buy any of the specials this weekend because of this annoyance [mostly due to the fact that I couldn't see any details about them].

Please fix this.I think there is some kind of legality behind it but I also find it beyond annoying, I'm 25 years old and I want to be able to lock that in.

[Fish-E]

Delete the cookie? Surely that would fix it (or if you tried to view it in steam, view it in your internet browser).

And apparently they have to do this for legal reasons, because the account owner might not be the person viewing the store item.

[deneb]

I agreed with you,there must be a better age verification system.A system that sorts Kids out of the Store, and makes finally possible that Peopel like me in Germany can buy online legal and uncut.
All games in German store from Steam is europeean PG system caled Pegi 16,exspezialy cut for german only,less Publisher ,some of the games are not availble for germans account with a german IP.that c....................
Sorry for my english,it could be better.

[JamesMichael]

I agreed with you,there must be a better age verification system.A system that sorts Kids out of the Store, and makes finally possible that Peopel like me in Germany can buy online legal and uncut.
All games in German store from Steam is europeean PG system caled Pegi 16,exspezialy cut for german only,less Publisher ,some of the games are not availble for germans account with a german IP.that c....................
Sorry for my english,it could be better.

thats an issue with Germany, they decided you cant have uncut video games. They also decide you cant show things like swastikas and thus high violence or na-zism games have to be cut. Age has nothing to do with it.

-- MOVING BACK ON TOPIC --

It's not against the law in most countries to give someone in settings to set their age and then use that globally in the store. Thus solving the issue. They just haven't seen enough people complaining about it. A lot of the support has been swamped with mac issues but if anyone saw the beta they are getting closer to giving us what we want.

[deneb]

I knew the laws about German politic,but it can be a system that verificate someone thats old enough .
in german is this 18,most of this games are only on index,that means you can buy it but you cannot make comersecial with it.
my thoughh was ,lets make a tool, that needs a driver license or the New german onlinepass.new thing.
Or change the saa and make a credit card and a pass check,as a needed things.
The client can be fixed for that,real easy with a code in a ssl string.and with a credit card information.
All is saved in the server where the account is.2 or 3 more data.that should not hurt.and the gouverment sleeps again.
Hopefully someone can read it,bytheway is somewhere a german section.

do steam take it seriously with a steamgroup about this or a collection of complains ,a vote or anything else.
or must I make a law way or first change the politics in germany,the developers should been jarateed off too,more cost,more time and a danger of index with every release in germany.I knew EA has a lawsuit with that.because of medal of honour,it's seem that goes to index.
One thing is a Spezial weird ,Steam look like to proof the law.The game Prototype in gern never released is availble and the game is on index in Germany.
Last thing that make me mad,why activision can I cannot activate a copy of Black ops uk version or EU in Germany.the swatiska signs didn't interessed me,but the Price.
The AT with only german language is a unreasonable demand for me.I love to play in english or mixed language.Better atmosphere.

[levi989]

I'm right there with you guys/gals, way annoying to have to type your birthday in every session while viewing games... Even while your already logged in...

Gaw, legal stuff, making living life a pain in the (you know what, haha) since, well almost the beginning of time it seems, haha...

Guess this birthday thing is not that bad, but still a annoyance...

[Fung]

This. If the Steam client is going to be a client, I'd like it to at least remember things like my age and use it.

[nabokovfan87]

I think there is some kind of legality behind it but I also find it beyond annoying, I'm 25 years old and I want to be able to lock that in.

Yes, it is EXTREMELY annoying.

[SiMMENS]

I agree, I'm signed in so this shouldn't be that hard

[damaged]

I'm not sure what you think posting this here will do, it's a legal thing, it's stupid, useless and outdated, but Valve's hands are tied. Write your local congress person.

For the browser, you can use this if it supports grease monkey: http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/53863

[hazencruz]

And again it happens today.

And don't worry deneb, you're english is fine. Have you ever thought of using a proxy IP to activate your games?

[GPFontaine]

Once a user logs to the Steam client or directly into the website it would be nice if the store's Age Check system could reference the user's profile for a date of birth and bypass the prompt.

The prompt breaks the flow of the Steam store interface. By requiring multiple clicks and scrolling, the age check interrupts the process of obtaining game information.

[stinkfinger]

By requiring multiple clicks and scrolling, the age check interrupts the process of obtaining game information.


LOL don't break a sweat now! (http://images.sodahead.com/polls/000492515/polls_Web_2BI_27m_2BLovin_2BItMcDs_Print_4021_5012 52_poll_xlarge.jpeg)

Slows down by...3 seconds, all you have to do is flip the year.

It took you more time to post on the forums.

Seriously though, it is strictly a legal necessity that is going nowhere.

[Dirtman73]

It's annoying, but as stinkfinger stated, it's a legal requirement. A really stupid, shortsighted, and ineffective legal requirement, but a requirement nonetheless.

[Majesty of War]

At least Valve doesn't age block forum access. That's when the XXXX really hits the fan with me.

[.:Splak| Wyatt]

im so sick of putting in my b day when i look for games to buy every time i look at a different game yet when you put the wrong date in you cant look at any games with a age check till you restart steam doesn't make sense why cant it just be in your setting or something have a age thing when you set it up steam it would be so much e z'er

[gf113]

Its accusaly not the law, its more of a formality.

I support this idea, to the max!

[Honkbalpet]

I'm almost sure that sales of some games will drop instantly when that happens. There must be tons of people who lie about their age. If anyone ever listened to games which has a voice chat, you will know what i mean.

[mrcass]

Maybe they could just do a "Verify your age to see this content by clicking here" and then take actual date from account details?

I agree it can get a lil cumbersome, but the extra check is useful towards the very much younger Steam users. ;)

[harmor]

Maybe they could just do a "Verify your age to see this content by clicking here" and then take actual date from account details?

I agree it can get a lil cumbersome, but the extra check is useful towards the very much younger Steam users. ;)

Yeah, because people under 18 would never lie about their birthday to view content.

[mrcass]

Yeah, because people under 18 would never lie about their birthday to view content.

Tell me how that differs from manually entering a claimed birthdate each time.

[harmor]

Tell me how that differs from manually entering a claimed birthdate each time.

You said "I agree it can get a lil cumbersome, but the extra check is useful towards the very much younger Steam users."

How is the extra step useful for young Steam users?

[mrcass]

How is the extra step useful for young Steam users?

Ahh, you meant it that way. I agree the kids will always just enter smth to view the content anyways. What I meant was that if they insist on having this extra check then simply grabbing the birthdate from our accounts instead and letting us just verify it another time with a click would be less cumbersome. ;)

[JediMastr80]

It should check your Steam Account's Age (Birthday you put) and just go off that.
If your 18 or older, it won't ever ask you then.

I can see how it gets annoying.
I'm 20, and tired of seeing them appear.

FYI, you just need to change the year, and not set your birthday each time.

[GPFontaine]

If starting a car required both turning a key and pressing a start button, wouldn’t it be worth asking if that process could be made more efficient. Innovating and improving how things work is a worthy effort.

For the majority of those that browse the Steam store and arrive at a current age check, only flipping the year would be lying. This point isn’t brought up due to moral or ethical issues, but rather logical ones. If the majority of people are lying about their age, why use that particular system?

An age check that would most likely generate fewer liars and still offer the same verification could be a question such as:
Were you born before XX/XX/XXXX? Yes / No

However, if Valve is able to verify a person's age based on their logged in credentials, why are subsequent age checks legally required? It seems as though they would have already met their legal requisites.

[DarkLite123]

The particularly irritating part is when you typo your age and it then won't let you re-enter it.

[thejuice027]

Its accusaly not the law, its more of a formality.

I support this idea, to the max!

I just looked it up, and all the sources say that you are correct. I don't know who told me it was the law, but I will stop telling others that it is. I really should challenge the things people tell me. Thanks +rep.

[harmor]

Its accusaly not the law, its more of a formality.

I support this idea, to the max!

I think I read somewhere that it's there to protect the company.
If a parent catches their child looking at mature content they may try to sue the company providing the mature content.
The company can defend themselves by showing the parent or even court that users must verify they are at least 18 years old.

[stinkfinger]

I can't believe people ask this daily, and really can't understand why it is implemented.

[.:Splak| Wyatt]

ya but why cant they just have it in the settings if a person lies about their age its on them if having to put it in on the store page no reason to enter it time after time even on the same game over and over agine

[kolbywolby]

I want to bump this because I think this is necessary. Steam remembers my credit card. Why can't it remember my birthday? It can see the games I've purchased already which I couldn't purchase if I were < 18.

It's annoying, and once you have an account it should be tied to that. Please steam, for the love of god remember my birthday. I play games they can't even see in Australia. Let me give you money faster so I can play faster.

Thank you for your attention. Now please fix this?

[VXL-RF]

It would be very useful to add in account settings and user data entry date of birth (with the possibility to hide her for some groups and users).

This would help solve several problems:

It would help get rid of the constant input of date of birth in the store Staem for viewing and purchase games with higher age limit.
It will help parents to add restrictions to view some "adult" games for the minor child. But here it is necessary that the child did not know the password to enter his age and its change.
It will be a great opportunity to remind my friends that will soon have another birthday. It would be nice and pleasant for everyone if for some period before the birth to give them some discount for a gift to a friend :) But to avoid fraud is necessary to limit the possibility of changing the date of birth (example: at one time), and if necessary change the dates of birth indicate an important reason (for example: input error, etc.).
It will help to recommend games in the store for a specific target audience.


Sorry for my English.

[Χάρης]

It would be cool if you could only play some games only if you 're over 18 to avoid mic-spamming kids.

[gf113]

I approve.

[Gone'Postal]

ya but why cant they just have it in the settings if a person lies about their age its on them if having to put it in on the store page no reason to enter it time after time even on the same game over and over agine



Because people only look at the steam powered website from without the steam application.:rolleyes:

[fussel]

Because people only look at the steam powered website from without the steam application.:rolleyes:

The steam app can identify the user to the store with his account, your argument is void.

[Gone'Postal]

The steam app can identify the user to the store with his account, your argument is void.

And if there not logged on?
They don't have a steam account?
Steam isn't installed on that machine?

My argument is fine, yours however...

[Aces-B2]

Honestly, I have like 10-15 M rated games in my steam account, I should not be having to bypass multiple age gate checks to look for new games or buy them. I can understand why they are there, I am only suggesting, to add a birthdate, or remove them from the steamclients that have 18+ rated games already purchased.

Just my 2 cents.

[SCBTripWire]

I agree.

[Pheonix Wright]

agreed

[scotland372]

They have to ask by law.

simples.

[Majesty of War]

They have to ask by law.

simples.

No they don't there is no law. It isn't a crime to show video games to people. ESRB is a self regulatory industry concept nothing more. Valve could easily change their practices in regards to how utterly annoying their implementation of age gates are. Hell, they could simply not have age gates at all. They wouldn't be breaking any law either.

[scotland372]

No they don't there is no law. It isn't a crime to show video games to people. ESRB is a self regulatory industry concept nothing more. Valve could easily change their practices in regards to how utterly annoying their implementation of age gates are. Hell, they could simply not have age gates at all. They wouldn't be breaking any law either.

Stop talking nonsense.

They have to ask by law.

simples.

[weegie]

No they don't there is no law. It isn't a crime to show video games to people. ESRB is a self regulatory industry concept nothing more. Valve could easily change their practices in regards to how utterly annoying their implementation of age gates are. Hell, they could simply not have age gates at all. They wouldn't be breaking any law either.

no, but there are regulations that could mean that Valve get in trouble for showing content to underage people. Be thankful that its just an age gate, thats the very minimum they ahve to do to avoid any problems. If someone underage then lies at the age gate, Valve are not responsible.

I don't mind the age gate tbh. I understand why its there, and its a whole 2 seconds extra to get to the content. Its not a major issue, when it gets down to it

[weegie]

Stop talking nonsense.

They have to ask by law.

simples.

Its the law in the UK, not the US. We have the BBFC, they dont. But the ESRB is voluntary, and almost all game developers follow it. People just like to complain because 'OMG its like a whole 3 seconds longer to look at this, I want that time back!!!!'

[scotland372]

Its the law in the UK, not the US. We have the BBFC, they dont. But the ESRB is voluntary, and almost all game developers follow it. People just like to complain because 'OMG its like a whole 3 seconds longer to look at this, I want that time back!!!!'

That's the problem, Majesty doesn't seem to realise that there are gamers all over the world. The fact he mentioned the ESRB only shows he hasn't even thought about the rest of the world.

[Darundo]

Regulation or not, if your steam account kept a steady birth date, you wouldn't need to be asked every time you go into a rated game.

[Aces-B2]

That's the problem, Majesty doesn't seem to realise that there are gamers all over the world. The fact he mentioned the ESRB only shows he hasn't even thought about the rest of the world.

Neither did you apparantly when you said its required by law. ESRB =/= government.

Its also not illegal under the Federal government to sell M rated games to minors. State laws might be different, but that doesn't matter.

Either way, its bloody annoying to wait for counters for new games and having to bypass gate checks every refresh.

[Kelaos]

I would like it if it saved that you'd put in your age already.
By this point I simply scroll to a random (early enough) year as I'm tired of scrolling to my actual birthdate >.>

Regarding the law issue, why doesn't it just detect your region then? Default to show, but areas where it is known to be okay to skip it can be added to the list, such as the US (and hopefully Canada!)

[scotland372]

Neither did you apparantly when you said its required by law. ESRB =/= government.

You were talking specifically about your country (seemingly disregarding others) while Steam is used all over the world so I thought I'd do the same.


Its also not illegal under the Federal government to sell M rated games to minors. State laws might be different, but that doesn't matter.

Of course it matters if it's against state law.


Either way, its bloody annoying to wait for counters for new games and having to bypass gate checks every refresh.


It takes a few seconds to do it, what's the problem?

[WardDragon]

Regulation or not, if your steam account kept a steady birth date, you wouldn't need to be asked every time you go into a rated game.

I like this idea :) The only reason I can think why they wouldn't do this was if they were concerned about a child using a parent's account (and therefore bypassing the age requirement). But if it's legal for them to have us put our birthday once and then skip all further age requests, I'd definitely do that. It's not all that big of a deal but it's still a bit annoying having to enter a birthday every time even if I'm logged into Steam already.

[slayvus]

Valve is a US based company. Valve does things like pron sites do. Pron sites ask if your 18 years old after that they don't care if you are or aren't because they just covered their ♥♥♥ in case someone tried to sue them for like allowing their child to see that filth.

Valve does it to cover their ♥♥♥, nothing more.

[AndrewXios]

how about just asking are you 18? if not leave this site.
that would make everyone happy ^^

[Z Overlord]

I support removing it.

[eddiecsilva]

The Valve - through our records we already know the exact age and date of birth. It is not necessary in any way obligate us to provide these information again.
It could simply be validated with a single click.
Much simpler and equally valid for the level of control that currently exists.

[Aces-B2]

You were talking specifically about your country (seemingly disregarding others) while Steam is used all over the world so I thought I'd do the same.
Does it really make a difference? Removing this feature will remove it for everyone, your just arguing for the sake of trolling it looks like.

Of course it matters if it's against state law.
How? So if my state does not require 18+, why am I subject to it. Its the internet, Steam does not operate in my area.

It takes a few seconds to do it, what's the problem? Because I shouldn't have to do it for every single game, let alone the same game, if I want to watch trailers for several products, I should not have to go through the age gate for every game. I mean if I view 18+ content on youtube, I sign in and I am gold. Why can't steam do it?

Unless you have something constructive to say, stop trolling here.

[slayvus]

It's kind of like pron people. They want to check your age every time you go to it. They want to over their ***es.

They don't want an adult to come along and sue them for letting a minor see graphic material. They are doing it to cover their ***es. Yes it could be better, but it could also be a LOT worse. They could be like the Social Security Administration and ask for 20 forms of identification.

[anelaidlives]

Why not just have you list your age in your profile, not forcing you to set your date of birth in every instance?

[slayvus]

Because you may not be who you say you are. Your kid could be on your computer. Valve doesn't want to take legal chances on getting sued for letting a kid view graphic material, even if it is the parents fault.

It is all legal, it has NO business benefit.

[JediMastr80]

The Age Check is a joke anyway.

I don't know why it's only on "Selective" M rated games.
For about 10 M rates Games i viewed in the Store, i was only asked for Age for like 1 or 2 of them.

Everybody knows just to put the Year as 1991 to get past it. And i see how it's annoying.
I'm 20 and can buy then anyway and seeing The Age Check when checking games in the store does get very annoying, even if it takes only a few seconds to get past.

[Bakhtosh]

Even porn sites don't ask your age if you're logged into an account verified by a credit card. That's the hang-up here. Maybe if you have a verified account you can bypass the age check.

[stranger_danger]

Recently an idea occurred to me about the age verification page that appears when you attempt to view Mature rated games in the store page. I personally find that annoying and wish it saved my birth date. However I understand that would complicate things legally speaking in regards to the esrb and other similar ratings systems.

My solution to this issue to have it save the birthday, but have a conformation window pop up. Basically in practice the user would be prompted for their birthday, it would then save it in the steam database. The next time they logged on and viewed a mature rated game instead of asked for their birthday, a prompt saying something along the lines of "On X date you entered your birthday as xx/xx/xx. Is this correct?" then the option of yes or no would be provided.

Although not a complete solution to the annoyance of having to enter the birth date every time, it does streamline it to just one click. It may also keep things in line with the ratings people. Anyways just a brain storm.

[KocRkoB]

I suggest to make date birthday in STEAM and to do what нибудь a gift to the player, in birthday!!!

As idea put comments!!!

[lmdemasi]

Are you saying that you want steam to give players a free gift for their birthday?

[unserene]

Until someone makes 365 accounts.

Nope, not going to happen.

[Eriako]

Instead of a free game, maybe a 10% discount or something would be a more realistic goal.

[kakkerlak]

maybe he wants his friends to see hid bday and shower him with gifts.

[masni]

I like idea but on steam is to many people that mean many birthdays so free games i dont think it will happen but like Eriako say some sort of discount will be nice and more realistic goal

[TheBomfy]

Like Eriako said, a one shot coupon would be cool. I also wouldn't mind a one shot at priority downloads. Then we'd all sit on them until the sale and we'd all still get the super low download speeds.

[JK_DA_KILLA]

The birthday discount seems like a good and valid idea.
Valve could just team up with developers, and agree that all who have birthday during a specific time (Month?) would get discounts on one or several chosen games.

As it is now, you only choose your birthday when you're going to a adult (Don't know what rating) games' store page, so this would need a change.
Either you'd have to permanently set the birthday in stone, or let it be changed (As of now), but with only 1 available birthday discount each year.
(Guess it'd be help a few people, if they were desperate after the games on birthday sales :))

However, the discount choices could be in several ways. Either a showcase of games on birthday discount during that time period would be available, or you'd get notification on a single game (Several birthday discounts for all times, but one randomly chosen?)

-Epiphany-
Just realized this could in cases, let the birthdayee (Yup, I said it, deal with it), gift games to friends, if they've been waiting for a offer on that / those games. One way to go, could be to let friends gift those games for the one with birthday also, thus promoting Steam's gift feature.

I'm on a thought roll this night! :p

[ReDucTor]

I think having steam show the birthday in the community page would be a good way for people to get birthday gifts, I'd probably gift people on their b'day that I know on steam.

[KocRkoB]

Eriako

Instead of free game, it is possible 10 %-s' discount or something would be more realistic purpose.

Good idea to give a discount at that user at whom put a birth!!!!

[Seth.Sekhmet]

Alternative idea:

on Bday receive a 5$ credit to our steam wallet PLUS 1$ more for each 10 games we own PLUS 1$ for each year we've had the steam account in good standing PLUS 1$ more for any game with all achievements completed.

[KocRkoB]

Set. Sekhmet

Alternative idea:

On Bday obtain the credit at a rate of 5$ to our steam wallet PLUS of 1$ more for each 10 games which we have PLUS of 1$ within each year, we had a steam account in good position PLUS of 1$ more for any game with all finished achievements.

Not Actual idea!!!!!

[JK_DA_KILLA]

Alternative idea:

on Bday receive a 5$ credit to our steam wallet PLUS 1$ more for each 10 games we own PLUS 1$ for each year we've had the steam account in good standing PLUS 1$ more for any game with all achievements completed.

So, they should pay me 25$ a year?
Somehow, I don't see that happening :p

[Seth.Sekhmet]

So, they should pay me 25$ a year?
Somehow, I don't see that happening :p

Well, not pay you, rather *gift* you :)

I don't see this happening anytime soon either, but would be something great if it did :D

[Jerkface]

Could you please "cloud" my birthdate the way you do with my other information. I log into Steam, and Steam knows my birthdate. Why am I entering it every time I want to view a game or video? If you are tired of inputting your birthdate, over and over again, please respond to this message. FIX THIS STEAM!!!

[0ddity]

Not really under their control. All gaming sites do it, probably required by their insurance or legal department.

[B33 ENN]

It's an ESRB/PEGI requirement and a standard internet convention.

[Jerkface]

UNACCEPTABLE!

[0ddity]

UNACCEPTABLE!

Then don't use Steam. Problem solved, next?

[B33 ENN]

UNACCEPTABLE!

:eek: In my head I heard that Family Fortunes X buzzer sound when I read that! :D

[Jerkface]

HAHAHA!

[Jerkface]

I still think they can work it out. Shouldn't be too difficult, especially since it's just Steam checking to fulfill the obligation, not the game site or publisher. Since Steam accounts have an age associated with each username/password, the check is done, every time we log in. A little re-wording of a document should do the trick.

[Gone'Postal]

It might not be you using the account, it does have to ask that way it's getting the person viewing the content directly.

[praetorian42]

I feel like since we're signed into our steam account it should be saved. I could sign into steam client and leave my computer running for days letting whatever kids play any game...but they'd have to enter their birthday before looking at the game's store page right after playing that very game?

I know sharing steam account is a no-no but they let you save password, auto-login and stay logged in until you actively sign out. All that's okay but birthday must be entered constantly?

[Jerkface]

@Gone'Postal
By your logic, each adult email would need age verification to view, not just signing in, as well as each movie on your netflix account, each game you put in your console, ad infinitum.

[B33 ENN]

I still think they can work it out. Shouldn't be too difficult...

From a thread about this the other day:

...about the age thing, I believe the verification thing is part of the player (Flash) and run of the web page. So technically I don't think Steam can get rid of it, Adobe might have to be consulted... I think.

no. It's a simple Javascript that sets a cookie when you verify your age, and that clears itself after browser closes. Best way to get rid of it? Firefox (or Chrome :<) with Greasemonkey installed, and then to install this script:

http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/76483

I asked if it was possible to implement for the Steam Client itself, but go no answer.

[Jerkface]

Hrm...

[Jerkface]

Example "http://store.steampowered.com/agecheck/app/33230/"
Assassin's Creed II. This page contains no Flash. I will fool around with it and get back to you.

[jzzmatic2000]

I found this thread while looking to complain about age verification.

So I saw the Penny Arcade bundle for this weekend's sale, and, although I already own both episodes, I wanted to check out the store pages and watch the trailers. Oops! I misclicked and stated my birthday was January, 2011. That's fine, I'll just reenter my birth date as 1900, per usual. Nope. I can't look at the store page for a game that I own. I'm nearly 32, Steam. Stop it.

Like others have said, Steam should know my birthday. Hell, give me a check box saying I waive my legal right to sue over shocking content. I don't care. Just don't make put in my birthdate over and over and over again. Certainly don't keep me from viewing the store pages of games that I own.

Although my mistake says otherwise, I wasn't born yesterday.

[MADDOGGE]

Not only no, but Hell no.

[real4xor]

If I mail my birth certificate to Valve, and all my user details, or mail a copy to support, will you guys fix it for me so I don`t have to re-enter birth all the time?

^^ I mean, in that case there`s absolutely nothing illegit about showing me whatever content you have without constantly nagging me about my age.


-snip(cuz ur post=right there)-

If you remove your internet cookies, you should be able to get back there again. :/ somewhere around the internet options... delete browsing history something...

[Matt]

If I mail my birth certificate to Valve, and all my user details, or mail a copy to support, will you guys fix it for me so I don`t have to re-enter birth all the time?
nope.

[thejuice027]

nope.

So you're Valves new spokesperson? NICE!

[Matt]

So you're Valves new spokesperson?
nope.

[Jagged Tooth]

If I mail my birth certificate to Valve, and all my user details, or mail a copy to support, will you guys fix it for me so I don`t have to re-enter birth all the time?

Or you could just use this.
http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/53863

[awmperry]

It shouldn't need third-party scripts and things - age data should be saved for the user account. Other sites manage it; it should be perfectly acceptable to say "If you are logged in, we will assume you are who you say you are". After all, it's easier to just knock a few years off the age verification screen than to sneak into someone's account.

So I agree. Steam, this is definitely a change that should be implemented.

[Gone'Postal]

@Gone'Postal
By your logic, each adult email would need age verification to view, not just signing in, as well as each movie on your netflix account, each game you put in your console, ad infinitum.

Why, it checks once per access session, as most things do.
Also,

- You are not responsible for what E-mails you get.
- You can't access netfix films without an account.
- Your aged checked when you buy//rent the game.

[Austin007]

Bump to approve.

[CrazY HorzE]

Yes. I totally agree on this subject. And if its hard to verify age by user information why not just tie it to the credit card logged with the account? If the name on the credit card matches the name on the account it should be easy to see if it is a young punk or an adult looking!
And if parents let kids use their credit card they kind of aprove of them seeing all content.
I know its a shame for those who doesn't have a credit card but for them is the age verification check! I'm living in a European country that isn't that strict with all the pegi ratings. It really bothers me that I have to verify every time there is a little blood, tobacco, and other "very" bad things in the game.
Tha HorzE

[schnitzeljaeger]

They HAVE to ask you everytime. It's the LAW! They don't ask you by choice. Send suggestion to CONGRESS!

Maybe in the USA but not where many others live. If they are able to limit access to games on ip, they probably can change the behavior of the age check depending on region.

[ILoveVista]

What law is this following?

[ILoveVista]

Another good question is why only some games?
Killing Floor, Borderlands, & Unreal 3- Age check, TF2, LFD, & LFD2 - No Age Check all rated mature.

LFD2 and Killing Floor both about killing zombies in a graphical manner. Both released within 2 months so similar graphics quality. Could it be because Valve makes LFD, LFD2, and Team Fortress 2?

[pixelante15]

For the record,

There is ABSOLUTELY NO LAW that requires valve to perform an age check on those web pages. Such a law would in fact be unconstitutional in that it would be applying the force of law behind a private rating system.

Johnny 6-year-old can walk into any game store and legally purchase GTA4 if it weren't for retailers VOLUNTARILY imposing the industries SELF-CREATED ratings system.

So the reason valve implements the age check is because their lawyers tell them to. They tell them to so they can cover themselves against frivolous lawsuits regarding some kid accessing "violent content".

Edit: removed your quote, thejuice027

[thejuice027]

Maybe in the USA but not where many others live. If they are able to limit access to games on ip, they probably can change the behavior of the age check depending on region.

I hate you for quoting me. I already was corrected once. When I saw this thread got bumped, I deleted that comment, but at the VERY same time you quoted me.

[Gone'Postal]

Johnny 6-year-old can walk into any game store and legally purchase GTA4 if it weren't for retailers VOLUNTARILY imposing the industries SELF-CREATED ratings system.


GTA4 has a 18 by the ESRB in the UK.
It is a crime in the UK to sell that game to anyone under 18.
Please feel free to try it.

[miX_]

GTA4 has a 18 by the ESRB in the UK.
It is a crime in the UK to sell that game to anyone under 18.
Please feel free to try it.

He's not talking about selling it. Just displaying it. Block out the buy link if the account it's under is less than the viewing age.

[pixelante15]

GTA4 has a 18 by the ESRB in the UK.
It is a crime in the UK to sell that game to anyone under 18.
Please feel free to try it.

Sorry, should have been more specific. In the USA, my statement is perfectly valid..

As I understand it, the UK has a government body that does the ratings. If the US instituted such a system (and it passed the inevitable lawsuit), they could conceivably regulate games like that.

[novafaen]

I second this, if logged in stop keep asking for age verification.

Just out of curiosity if statistics are kept, how many are born first of January 1970?

[kristhim]

Would love to be able to set the date of birth in setting somewhere so you don't have to enter it every single time you try to access the page for M rated games.

Minor inconvenience, but one that gets bothersome after a while and is easy to remedy.

[Aces-B2]

Porn sites have an enter now button, not an age gate. I would be contempt with a enter now.

Anyway, just bumping this.

[DoctorWeeTodd]

Signed, once you've authenticated it once you've already proven this is an adult account.

[44grim]

Is wearing on me. I have to re-enter my date of birth for EVERY M-rated game video that I watch while I'm logged in to Steam. Why? I have a credit card on file and own several M-rated games, why do I have to re-enter my date of birth? Can't we set something up so that when we're logged in, Steam knows our age and doesn't pester us when we want to watch a new video for ARMA or Operation Flashpoint.

And adding Steam Guard is frustrating. Nearly to the point where I'll disable it. Every new browser (even Steam's browser), new PC I have to find the 'new code' to be able to log in.

Maybe I'm just whining, but why can't I just play my games?

[mikeloeven]

Can we have some sort of system that saves your birthday perminatly so when you access a mature rated game it will check to see if your logged in and check your account's birthday rather than forcing you to validate on every single ♥♥♥♥ing gamepage.

second life did this thing where you could perminatly validate your age to your account so why cant steam. make your steam account your age verication

[Matt]

nope

They have reasons for asking rather than saving.

[real4xor]

Somewhere in the far future, when internet will lose it`s anonimity.

[Moes]

Can we have some sort of system that saves your birthday perminatly so when you access a mature rated game it will check to see if your logged in and check your account's birthday rather than forcing you to validate on every single ♥♥♥♥ing gamepage.

second life did this thing where you could perminatly validate your age to your account so why cant steam. make your steam account your age verication

Yeah when it works and when there 3rd party does not poke through it for resell. I've been in SL for 4 years and did the beta verify and then the main verify and hell it still does not protect us if somebody ar's us for being underage, as they require us to send them id's and crap.

Rather steam not do that personally.

[Slinden]

I always just choose January 1 1992.

[richei]

nope

They have reasons for asking rather than saving.

yep, because all know how honest people are about their age. so even though its a complete waste of time to use, they still insist on using it. Hell, i'm way over age, but even i just change year to 1950, don't bother with the month or day.

sad thing is that there's no better way of doing it.

[Nikolas Dudecek]

This exact thought has crossed my mind, but I guess Steam/Valve have their reasons for not allowing it. In an idealistic world, we wouldn't need passwords or any such measures, but we are far far from an idealistic world.

And really, it's not that hard to submit your date of birth each time anyway, in my opinion that is.

[bon3sko]

tell me how many ppl under 18 would click their real age, if they wanna look at/buy exact game. I bet, that ppl usually click 1/1/1900 - 1990, but I understand, there are some rules you have to follow.

[Nikolas Dudecek]

tell me how many ppl under 18 would click their real age, if they wanna look at/buy exact game. I bet, that ppl usually click 1/1/1900 - 1990, but I understand, there are some rules you have to follow.

If a minor lies about their age, they are in the wrong. Steam/Valve has put in the necessary precautions so the parents can't hold Steam/Valve responsible for the minors actions as he/she has lied about his/her age.

[The_Flash2019]

I'm 32 and this doesn't bother me at all. Of course I still buy retail/manufactured games and rarely buy any current games on Steam.

[richei]

Its not the game, its the websites that do it. The Homefront site doesn't even bother with it, just enter anything over 18 you're good :)

[Azralynn]

Why yes....I was born January 1, 1900...

[richei]

lol, funny isn't it :) you'd think by now that someone would have created an intellengent age script.

[Agent 1337]

I too wish we didn't have to enter the age verification thing all the time.

[blackmercury15]

There are many games within the Steam Marketplace that require you to enter your date of birth in order to view the content. A minor nuisance, but it gets annoying having to enter the information repeatedly, and lets be honest with each other here - everyone lies in order to get through and view the content we want to see.

When you make a Steam account, you're required to enter your date of birth anyways, so why not have Steam give you access to that content without prompting you to enter your date of birth. Problem solved.

What's to stop people from lying when they enter that info when they make a Steam account? Well, nothing, but there's nothing stopping them as it stands now anyways. Anyone who doesn't meet the required age limit would still be prompted to input their date of birth, since it's not really Steams job to play the parent here and stop minors from viewing the restricted content.

Like I said, minor inconvenience, but I find it quite redundant to have to enter this information multiple times when it's already available on my account. :cool:

[JGTP]

I agree though I am certain it has been suggested before. It would also be nice if we didn't have to log into the forums and support separately too.

[Gone'Postal]

but I find it quite redundant to have to enter this information multiple times

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1835787

So do a number of people, but people still hit new post, rather then search.

[Airwolf_swe]

I agree, I found so many threads I just wrote in the oldest one.

Its a old issue. Remember the age steam. The card verification should be way enough.
Asking to enter any number is just annoying and wont block any underaged anyway.

[real4xor]

The whole age verification system is outdated. Not really Valve to blame for that tho. This nonsense is all over the net.

It would be awesome if they could cook up something revolutionary.
But rather unlikely. It`s the anonimity of the web...

Perhaps they could link some kind of age verification on the accounts, and put this in the steam application, but who`s going to verify it? globally? :/ it probably needs a 3rd party somewhere.

[Frigid]

Just click on year 1991 or whatever the oldest year is without scrolling down... takes like 1 second?

[misanthrope74]

Just click on year 1991 or whatever the oldest year is without scrolling down... takes like 1 second?
Pretty sure that's what the suggestion is for. No one actually puts their real date of birth in, they just pick a random year to get by the check.

Since anyone and everyone can and does lie about the check, why have it? Then you come back to the legal garbage again.

I wonder if it would be "allowed" to have it default to the age in our profile so we can at least avoid having to use the dropdown every time.

[Liko]

If it's going to require us every time, I just say it be a "how old are you?" field instead of 3 pull down menus. I've seen plenty of gaming sites do that.

[Richm246]

I wonder if it would be "allowed" to have it default to the age in our profile so we can at least avoid having to use the dropdown every time.

This makes sense.

I just say it be a "how old are you?" field instead of 3 pull down menus

I don't see this happening because people under the legal age can just put a fake number that would make them legal.

[zodiac]

I don't see this happening because people under the legal age can just put a fake number that would make them legal.


Oh yes, like they really put in their real date of birth if they aren't of legal age :rolleyes:

[Gone'Postal]

I wonder if it would be "allowed" to have it default to the age in our profile so we can at least avoid having to use the drop down every time.


No, you have to manually enter it.

[Zefar]

This is required by law to have. Yes a silly law that demand companies online to have a "Are you over 18?" question if your content is deemed to be unsafe for minors. Doesn't matter how easily it is to bypass.

Adult sites have the same thing as well. It's just not gonna go away unless that law goes away.

[pluppen1]

but cant they just ad a "how old are you" thingy to your profile and that way the only have to ask onse?

[kojk6]

but cant they just ad a "how old are you" thingy to your profile and that way the only have to ask onse?

This is the same thing when doing fake date of birth just to bypass a page , anyone can put 24 while they are like ..14 years old .

it won't make a good change anyway so its pointless .

[cylon]

They should keep records of what people choose.

Im sure Steam would think i was born on January 1st in 1940, 1971, 1966, 1937, 1967, etc :P Just depends how far my mouse wheel spins on that go :D

[misanthrope74]

Im sure Steam would think i was born on January 1st
I saw an article about that last month.. http://www.thenobleeskimo.com/steamusers.html

[SorenBC]

This is required by law to have. Yes a silly law that demand companies online to have a "Are you over 18?" question if your content is deemed to be unsafe for minors. Doesn't matter how easily it is to bypass.

Adult sites have the same thing as well. It's just not gonna go away unless that law goes away.

But there is no such law where I live... Couldn't they just limit the feature to accounts from countries with that law and leave me alone? :)

[Zefar]

But there is no such law where I live... Couldn't they just limit the feature to accounts from countries with that law and leave me alone? :)

To much of a hassle to fine tune it to every country.

All you guys need to do when it pops up is to scroll down on the year button. Doesn't take that long.

[Dr.Herbert West]

I am so tired of the age verification on steam, they do nothing at all except annoy and irritate. When the wrong fake year is chosen to see a game on steam and you get locked out from the website.

For the love of god just make a tab in the account options to set a date that permanently applies to these ridiculous age verifiers.

Problem solved.

[Gone'Postal]

As is the search function apparently.

[King-Martin]

really the age verification is worthless as any kid can lie and buy mature games so it is and epic fail

[DarkLite123]

really the age verification is worthless as any kid can lie and buy mature games so it is and epic fail

It's a legal requirement.

[Temar]

It's a legal requirement.

Then the law is an epic fail.

[Gone'Postal]

Then the law is an epic fail.

Tell us something we don't know.. lol.

[djsamuraisam]

I wish the age verification was stronger. I dream of a world where there are no more 12 year olds on the microphone.

[pizzahut]

AFAIK the age query for games that aren't 18+ is voluntary by the games industry. Of course, nothing is verified, so this isn't an age verification.

[ClintDrums]

This has been an issue for years, and not just for Steam. The verification request is a legal requirement for displaying mature content. Although it is primarily used to keep a site legal, it also serves other purposes. Not everyone wants to be exposed to graphic content, no matter their age. It can also be used with some parental control applications that will disallow viewing of sites that require such verifications.

I will definitely agree that, while in the Steam UI, it seems redundant to have to input your age for most game pages. But in Steam's defense, the required age limit to use Steam is only 13 years. That said, I wish there were an option to permanently verify your birth date, bypassing this verification in the future.

[Leinad177]

I wish the age verification was stronger. I dream of a world where there are no more 12 year olds on the microphone.

Then Halo would lose 90% of its sales.

[Gone'Postal]

Then Halo would lose 90% of its sales.

That's not a bad thing.

[Exha]

That's not a bad thing.

Halo is a good game... Without the kids...

[real4xor]

I will definitely agree that, while in the Steam UI, it seems redundant to have to input your age for most game pages. But in Steam's defense, the required age limit to use Steam is only 13 years. That said, I wish there were an option to permanently verify your birth date, bypassing this verification in the future.

I agree.

I think it`s kind of annoying I`d have to answer a stupid age query on a page from a game I own.
I don`t mind if it does so in a random browser. But it`s kind of annoying if the Steam client does that while you`re logged in.

They could link an age verification service to it.
Some banks have it, credit card companies have it, there`s even some private companies for it.

And if you buy your games for your kids, then they can always add a settings option to ignore the age verification, so the query will pop up again on each page.
(that way them kids can`t abuse the age stamped on your CC)

[Matra]

Obviously, this is not a huge issue, but I have been checking out the Steam page for Brink rather frequently, and it seems silly that each time I do, I have to enter a date of birth.

It seems like if you just enter your DOB and save it under settings or whatever, it would be a lot more efficient. Steam has no problem saving credit card information and billing addresses, so it is doubtfully much of an issue to have one more saved field.

Plus, then 99.5% of people visiting "mature" pages wouldn't have been born on January 1st.

[Jagged Tooth]

It's a legal requirement.

[Matra]

The question becomes, then, whether you can fill the requirement the same way that forums do it; you enter your age, or state you are above a certain age, when you sign up. Because if they are required to check whether you are over seventeen or eighteen or whatever to view a page, that can be accomplished by filling in your birth date each time, or simply having it on file and compared to the required date.

[thejuice027]

It's a legal requirement.

actually it's not.

[waoh]

It would sure be nice to not have to enter my birth date on a regular basis to peruse games.

[boomman37]

I have no problem with steam knowing that I'm legally able to play AO-rated games.
Please store my age in profile to bypass this annoying screen.

[Portal 2]

How is it a legal requirement, that is logical fallacy based on how Steam runs.

What I mean by this is simple, only ONE person is allowed to use an account, verify age once and legality is out the door. With what they are suggesting and the reason it needs to be verified multiple times is a paradox in terms of the SSA.

[Gone'Postal]

How is it a legal requirement, that is logical fallacy based on how Steam runs.

What I mean by this is simple, only ONE person is allowed to use an account, verify age once and legality is out the door. With what they are suggesting and the reason it needs to be verified multiple times is a paradox in terms of the SSA.



You can access the pages without the client installed, it's easyer to have one default page then lots of nested statements to check if you have software installed and running.

[ClintDrums]

The problem everyone faces with an ever "connected" world/culture is that the laws put in place, surrounding such, are based on outdated technology and practices. The internet functions much differently than it once did and serves many more services other than access to websites. The internet has evolved into more than a collection of articles or websites and is used as more of a service platform today. That said, not much can be done about the issue at hand until laws are revised.

It makes perfect since that one should be able to input their age once and not be verified further, but there is a characteristic of internet use that currently prevents such ease, anonymity. Without the ability to truly know who it is that's accessing content, it's hard to work around the issue.

While this subject is both hard to explain and understand, it is a big issue today for companies that distribute certain types of content. Although Steam most likely could implement such a feature to link a birth date to a single user, I still believe there are surrounding issues that may hold them back from doing such.

I could be completely wrong in the case of Steam accounts, but this is a major issue for many internet based companies and services.

[hoilst]

At least change it to "ARE YOU OVER 18? Y/N" to save time.

[ClintDrums]

Another thing to consider guys is that the Steam UI only pulls the Store website. To allow for no verification, they'd have to either have a duplicate site specific for the client or force all visitors to login with Steam credentials at the website.

[Portal 2]

Another thing to consider guys is that the Steam UI only pulls the Store website. To allow for no verification, they'd have to either have a duplicate site specific for the client or force all visitors to login with Steam credentials at the website.

Well they should, it's dumb that we have to deal with it for every game with a T/M rating. One of the biggest things that jaratees me off is we get locked out for hours and hours if we accidentally hit an age under 18. I have been an adult since Steam came out, this is honestly getting old having to enter this for nearly everything.

[Gone'Postal]

One of the biggest things that jaratees me off is we get locked out for hours and hours if we accidentally hit an age under 18.


If you use a browser, clear the cookies.
If it's the client, restart it.

Both will clear the wrong date entered lock out.

[Brokunn]

I'm also putting in my vote for this absurd and pointless feature to be removed. I completely understand if Steam needs to keep this up for non-logged in users... otherwise it's just insulting.

To add to that, it's flawed. In Steam (not IE or Firefox), tab though the drop downs and type a year to select it. Then click the "ENTER" button. Wooops! Fail.

So, this happened to me just now, and I was going to drop $150 on 3 copies of a new game for myself, my wife, and a friend. Now I'm going to pre-order it from Best Buy just to spite Steam. Maybe if this hits their bottom line a little, they'll re-consider their approach.

[Matt]

Maybe if this hits their bottom line a little, they'll re-consider their approach.

Unlikely. Asking DOB is basically CYA on their part.

[ILoveVista]

I second this, if logged in stop keep asking for age verification.

Just out of curiosity if statistics are kept, how many are born first of January 1970?

No, I'm more curious how many were born on 1/1 of any year. 80% or more? I can't remember ever putting in anything but 1/1 and I try to use 1/1/1900 just to see if steam thinks it's games are really popular with 111 year olds.

[JTShadow]

I was going to start a new thread about this but looked in one of the stickys and I was surprised to see it was already listed.

This has seriously been annoying me lately.

I just turned 30 years old. I've been having to deal with stupid age verification for at least the past 15 years, half of my lifetime. For the first 3 years before I turned 18 I was inputting a fake birthday anyways, which I can only assume anyone in their right mind would do if they wanted to see what they clicked on.

Countless times on steam do I have to enter my birthday, and I'm still using the same account. It should be something thats bound to my login, and for the defense that the person clicking on it might not be the person who's logged in, isn't it against the terms of use to let someone else on your account anyways in the first place? Then again thats something else people just skip past without paying attention isn't it?

With a system that you can just lie to get past, is it worth really having there in the first place? But regardless, all I'm saying is at the very least, tie it to our steam accounts.

[Reverend]

When I am looking at a game with "mature content" in the steam store, why do I have to input my birth date every time? Couldn't I just do it once in the options menu and never have to do it again?

I just -- for the third time this week -- accidentally clicked "ok" before changing the year in which I was born. Therefore Steam now thinks I am a 4 month year old trying to looking at Duke Nukem Forever content. This is really irritating and annoying. Something needs to be done about this.

[MrNeutrino]

:) good if admin reads it and conveys it further :D

[LesMoore]

Zefar answered this question in another thread. Check it out:

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showpost.php?p=22044334&postcount=13

[AsuraRevenge]

If this is the law, why doesn't Microsoft ask you when you're signed in?

[real4xor]

The only thing possible to avoid it is to tie this bit of personal information to your account. In that case, the Steam app will fill in your age for you.
However, for that to work, they`d need a ways of verifying your ID somehow.
Usually doesn`t come cheap.

Or get rid of that law. Start some demonstratin` or sumthing.

[DarkHayze]

I think I read somewhere that it's there to protect the company.
If a parent catches their child looking at mature content they may try to sue the company providing the mature content.
The company can defend themselves by showing the parent or even court that users must verify they are at least 18 years old.

Then its even more to their benefit to check your age in your profile, do like myb does and give you a one time change in case you entered it wrong

[Cyberbooster]

Zefar answered this question in another thread. Check it out:

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showpost.php?p=22044334&postcount=13

Yes, but Steam works in many different countries, so it's possible that some countries doesn't need this requirements. Would it be possible to implement it in those country which doesn't require constant verification?

[Reverend]

Zefar answered this question in another thread. Check it out:

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showpost.php?p=22044334&postcount=13

I actually had the wherewithal to look this subject matter up immediately after I posted it realizing post facto that this probably came up before. I apologize for rehashing an old subject.

I realize this is a minor annoyance and as such probably won't be looked at until the other thousand or so more important priorities have been addressed, but it would be nice if something could be arranged at some point in the future.

Thank you for the replies.

[LesMoore]

No worries bro. Maybe something in the future can take care of the issue.

[jetah]

Just want an option to save my birth date. i hate having to always enter it to view games.

[Etherfast]

For legal purposes, they're obliged to ask for your birth date every session, and not store it once and for all.

[unserene]

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showpost.php?p=22044334&postcount=13

@OP, you've had an account here since 2009, surely you must know where the search button is by now.

[Bilateralrope]

I guess Valve likes seeing lots of people claim they were born on January 1, while not being able to make up their mind about the year.

[Ethan Hunt]

I like it best if as little personal info is saved as possible.

[Richm246]

This feature is probably as requested and wanted as Half Life 2: Episode 3 or Half Life 3.... Also like those 2 games this feature is never/more than likely not ever gonna see Steam.

[CTRL ALT DEL !]

This feature is probably as requested and wanted as Half Life 2: Episode 3 or Half Life 3.... Also like those 2 games this feature is never/more than likely not ever gonna see Steam. No, Valve has never confirmed this feature.

[Me2nice]

I like it best if as little personal info is saved as possible.

Then don't enter it. As for the rest of us...

[Roxor]

I like it best if as little personal info is saved as possible.

Keep in mind that there are people here who would willingly let certain pieces of their personal information be stored for the sake of their own convenience. Why not indulge that fraction of the userbase? At the very least, it would put an end to threads asking for this feature.

[DGMurdock]

i cant believe after all this time it this hasn't been done

[beigbeider]

In a profile of user Steam to add a field "Date of birth" with possibility of switching-off of visibility for all users. The idea would consist in that that at calling on game page in shop there was no each time an entry field of date of birth, and automatically took away the information from a profile.

[lifeforce4]

I contacted Steam about this and hopefully I'll hear a reasoning why they don't do this. We create an account that has our age and I wouldn't let someone minor use my account with out my permission (don't want them buying just any game). I don't see how using an account would cause legal issues. They could say that the owner of the account is the one legally responsible since they allowed the minor to access their account (which could have those games installed anyways).

I can't remember but didn't we agree that we were over 13 when creating a steam account? Why not have an option to say over 18 as well and enter our birthdays there? Then accounts that are 18+ don't need to have the age verification while those that are 13-18 do?

LF4

[snapjak]

*sigh (http://www.esrb.org/ratings/downloads/ewc_code.pdf)*

[FreemanForPrez]

What I find hilarious is that in an internet world where the most heinously derogatory pr0n imaginable is easily just a click away for anyone who knows how to use Google, that anybody would be concerned about a simple game trailer.

Come on Valve - flip 'em the bird, stand your ground, don't cave in to the Decency Police! Just remove that age thingy entirely. I would. And I'd *gladly* go court about it if I had to, to try to reverse that silly law.
Mr. Newell, you can afford it. Don't just be known as the guy who created Half Life and Steam, become a champion of civil liberties and fight the prudes in the highest courts. Would generate some great free publicity too.

For now though, I'm simply always born on January 1st, and am anywhere from 80-100 years old, depending on where my mouse lands. ;)

[gjork]

Some game I selected the oldest age verification possible and then it told me I selected an invalid choice. WTF have a possible age selection if it is invalid?

[FreemanForPrez]

Some game I selected the oldest age verification possible and then it told me I selected an invalid choice. WTF have a possible age selection if it is invalid?

You probably need to clear your browser cookies before you can do it again, or at least whichever one is responsible for the age thingy.

Speaking of filters, I think they should have a Stupidity Verification.
Warning: This trailer has been rated DS for Dangerously Stupid, and unless your IQ is below 50, viewing it may cause permanent damage to your intelligence.

[rsnl86]

Since in Steam you pretty much stay logged in I find it very annoying that I have to keep entering my D.O.B. whenever I browse random games. I'm at the point if the age verification screen pops up I won't even look at the games details unless I really want the game.

I was wondering if their could be a patch to stop the verification if you have logged with an account with the D.O.B. over 18 or 21 or whatever.

[cylon]

Hmm I'm surprised no-ones mentioned this before! ;)

Legal requirement! Won't change anytime soon - have a search for the other 318 topics on the subject.

[manicminer]

ESRB (http://www.esrb.org/ratings/downloads/ewc_code.pdf) (PDF)

[DarthPsymon]

Is there a reason why steam doesn't take your date of birth for permanent storage?
I fully understand it being implemented when a non-registered user is browsing the store through a typical browser, but when you're signed into your own account, for it to still ask every time and no option of storing or assigning a DOB to an account...

[Teh_Guy]

Hmm I'm surprised no-ones mentioned this before! ;)

they have... millions of times, just use the search function.

[cylon]

they have... millions of times, just use the search function.

Sarcasm really is a lost art these days.....

[DarthPsymon]

Sarcasm really is a lost art these days.....

I believe it is strongly dependant on the country one is raised in.

[Teh_Guy]

Sarcasm really is a lost art these days.....

unfortunately, I wasn't being sarcastic :|

[Prophecey]

Doesn't the ESRB require us to?

[DarthPsymon]

unfortunately, I wasn't being sarcastic :|
*facepalm*

[Verminus]

Do the age gates Actually bother anyone that much?

I just breeze through them on automatic when ever I come across one, apparently I was born on the 1st of January somewhere between 1900 and 1990.

[DarthPsymon]

It's easy to bypass but it's a nuisance. Especially when it needs to be done every time even though we're signed into an account that you'd expect to remember something like date of birth.

[b0rgm1nd]

Please add this functionality into the client. I would like to "carry my age around with me" when I go to view things I am old enough to see and buy.

[b0rgm1nd]

Please add this functionality into the client. I would like to "carry my age around with me" when I go to view things I am old enough to see and buy.

[Drag0nZorD!]

what the heck people. why is this so hard to understand? valve has it implemented so they cannot be held liable.

its simply for valves protection although valve COULD just have a "yes, i am 18 years of age or older" button but im sure people will still complain.

"why cant steam just remember my age?"

A) you dont need to be 18 to create a steam account
B) someone else who is under 18 can still purchase games on a steam account that was created by an adult

if valve wanted they could implement a credit card age verification check which would make it an actual pain in the butt to purchase games

it takes 2 freakin seconds to put in ur damn birthdate, get over it.

[FreemanForPrez]

what the heck people. why is this so hard to understand? valve has it implemented so they cannot be held liable.



I don't see anything in this thread that implies that people in this thread don't understand it.
Actually, I see several references to the fact that people do in fact know the reasoning behind it.
I do however, see evidence that you, ironically, don't seem to have understood the bulk of this thread. ;)

[Drag0nZorD!]

I don't see anything in this thread that implies that people in this thread don't understand it.
Actually, I see several references to the fact that people do in fact know the reasoning behind it.
I do however, see evidence that you, ironically, don't seem to have understood the bulk of this thread. ;)

well im more so replying to all the posts i have seen regarding this topic i have seen everyday for the last few weeks.

and the fact that they are complaining about it and want valve to get rid of it in the first place implies that they dont understand why it needs to be there.

[FreemanForPrez]

well im more so replying to all the posts i have seen regarding this topic i have seen everyday for the last few weeks.

and the fact that they are complaining about it and want valve to get rid of it in the first place implies that they dont understand why it needs to be there.

Well if you were replying to other threads and other people it might have been better to do so towards other people in other threads. ;)

At any rate, the internet age verification field is one of the silliest wastes of time ever invented. Does anyone really think eleven-year-old Johnny Gamer is going to let a thing like the age verification stop him from seeing the Duke Nukem trailer if he wants to see it?
No, he's going to lie about his age like everyone else does.
I even lie about my age, just because it's easier and quicker to select something random rather than my real birth date and I'm almost 3 times over the age requirement. ;)

Yeah, they "have to" do it for legal reasons, but therein lay the silliness of it. It's along the same lines as putting a warning on a plastic bag that you shouldn't put it over your head or a warning that your coffee is hot. Lawyers and fear of lawsuits...

[Internet_Zombie]

Yeah, they "have to" do it for legal reasons, but therein lay the silliness of it. It's along the same lines as putting a warning on a plastic bag that you shouldn't put it over your head or a warning that your coffee is hot. Lawyers and fear of lawsuits...

Well the reason those warning labels are on there is because someone was stupid enough to A) do it and then B) sue the company that made the product....I used to work at a grocery store and on bags of peanuts it would say "warning may contain peanuts" I'd certainly hope that my bag of peanuts would have nothing but peanuts in them.

We all know it's stupid but there are certian laws that people have to follow. When I went to gamestop and bought Demon's Soul's they didn't ID me, technically I could have sued them, but I'm not a duche.

People like to make a quick buck, and trust me if Steam got rid of the age verification then within a week there would be someone somewhere sueing Value because there son saw some ♥♥♥♥ in a video game trailer, it's not that they actually give a ♥♥♥♥, it's the fact that they can make some money from it.

Are we next going to ♥♥♥♥♥ because we have to take out our wallets and show ID when buying cigaretes? come on people Valve is following the rules (they're dumb I agree but w/e it's a whole 2 seconds to say you were born in 1950)

Edit: forgot to mention that minors can also lie about there age when making a steam acount.

[dolph1n]

And why is it necessary?

[FreemanForPrez]

Are we next going to ♥♥♥♥♥ because we have to take out our wallets and show ID when buying cigaretes? come on people Valve is following the rules (they're dumb I agree but w/e it's a whole 2 seconds to say you were born in 1950)



No, I'm going to ♥♥♥♥♥ about stupid silly stuff when I see it because I think it cheapens our society and insults our intelligence.
I'm also opposed to giving in to the lawyers and the lawsuits. If anything, it's the lawyers and the lawsuits that have to go, and we shouldn't be treated like idiots because the moral minority has a stick up its *** and thinks we need someone else to protect us and our kids.
As I wrote earlier, I would defy the law and take it all the way to the friggin' Supreme Court if I were in the position and could afford it.
That probably wouldn't do any good, but it would be great publicity and it would also make me feel better about it - that I had stuck up for my convictions at least. ;)
Of course that's just me and Valve may not have a problem with it. Tipper Gore may be Gabe's best friend for all I know. ;)

[Internet_Zombie]

No, I'm going to ♥♥♥♥♥ about stupid silly stuff when I see it because I think it cheapens our society and insults our intelligence.
I'm also opposed to giving in to the lawyers and the lawsuits. If anything, it's the lawyers and the lawsuits that have to go, and we shouldn't be treated like idiots because the moral minority has a stick up its *** and thinks we need someone else to protect us and our kids.
As I wrote earlier, I would defy the law and take it all the way to the friggin' Supreme Court if I were in the position and could afford it.
That probably wouldn't do any good, but it would be great publicity and it would also make me feel better about it - that I had stuck up for my convictions at least. ;)
Of course that's just me and Valve may not have a problem with it. Tipper Gore may be Gabe's best friend for all I know. ;)

And I quite agree with you, at least the part about how stupid it is. But lets be honest, taking something to the supreme court because you didn't want to take 2 seconds to click something? Your just as bad as those ♥♥♥♥♥♥bags who sue Walmart because an employee forgot to put up the "employees only" sign on a mobile stair case and there kid fell off and so they decide to sue

[FreemanForPrez]

And I quite agree with you, at least the part about how stupid it is. But lets be honest, taking something to the supreme court because you didn't want to take 2 seconds to click something? Your just as bad as those ♥♥♥♥♥♥bags who sue Walmart because an employee forgot to put up the "employees only" sign on a mobile stair case and there kid fell off and so they decide to sue

Obvuiously you didn't understand what I wrote.
I'm not talking about as a *consumer*.
I'm saying if I owned a company such as Valve, I would defy the law and fight it if I had to. I thought that was pretty obvious and I find it hard to believe I'm having to explain that.

And no, you obviously don't know me at all. Again, your inabilty to follow what I wrote surprises me.
I would be the guy sending nasty letters to the guy at Wal Mart who wanted to sue for some stupid sh*t like that.

[Internet_Zombie]

Obvuiously you didn't understand what I wrote.
I'm not talking about as a *consumer*.
I'm saying if I owned a company such as Valve, I would defy the law and fight it if I had to. I thought that was pretty obvious and I find it hard to believe I'm having to explain that.

And no, you obviously don't know me at all. Again, your inabilty to follow what I wrote surprises me.
I would be the guy sending nasty letters to the guy at Wal Mart who wanted to sue for some stupid sh*t like that.

And therin lies your stupidity, if you owned a company such as Valve you wouldn't need to fight it. You just go with it, it's not like Valve has a huge problem with this, they follow the rules that they have been given.

In fact EVERY company that sells games is bound by the ESRB, so for one company to say "hey you know what ♥♥♥♥ you were not going to follow the rules" would get you shut down pretty damn fast.

That probably wouldn't do any good, but it would be great publicity and it would also make me feel better about it

Publicity = people going to said site or place and checking it out witch increases reveue.....so once again your PROFITING OFF IT, therefore you are just as bad as those ♥♥♥♥wits.

Suck it up it takes 2 whole seconds, as you said before
because I think it cheapens our society and insults our intelligence.
♥♥♥♥♥ing over something that takes 2 seconds cheapens our society

[FreemanForPrez]

blah blah blah


Oh look, I got you all upset by pointing out your inability to follow what I was saying.
And everything you wrote that I removed simply proves that even further.
It should be apparent that I think differently and I would be more interested in changing things than simply conforming.
But obviously you're not getting that, so, you know, whatever. :D

[Internet_Zombie]

Oh look you cant come back with anything other than to try and insult me.

[FreemanForPrez]

Oh look you cant come back with anything other than to try and insult me.

That's pretty funny, really.
We were doing just fine until you said:

Your just as bad as those ♥♥♥♥♥♥bags who sue Walmart because an employee forgot to put up the "employees only" sign on a mobile stair case and there kid fell off and so they decide to sue

(post #28)
That reply was based on your complete misunderstanding of what I had written previously.
Looks like you're the one who started with the insults, I just followed through. :D

[Payday]

For a quality of life thing they could just make it tied to our accounts, especially adults who buy their steam games with credit cards.

But it's not that huge a deal, just a bit annoying to have to enter it every single time.

[thejuice027]

Its accusaly not the law, its more of a formality.

I support this idea, to the max!

I just looked it up, and all the sources say that you are correct. I don't know who told me it was the law, but I will stop telling others that it is. I really should challenge the things people tell me. Thanks +rep.

omg, I just looked harder and found this (http://www.michigan.gov/granholm/0,1607,7-168-23442_21974-126123--,00.html). It actually IS against the law (well in Michigan).

[Zefar]

omg, I just looked harder and found this (http://www.michigan.gov/granholm/0,1607,7-168-23442_21974-126123--,00.html). It actually IS against the law (well in Michigan).

Odds are this law just spread out all over the states as well. To make the states go "Oh we've done a wonderful thing to protect our children, now we'll be safe" *Sigh* As if.

It's actually as if they think that children will either get their parents or put that they where born on a year which blocks them. It's amazing how it actually went through.
Then they might think that their parents will always be there checking what the kid does too.

I'd love to ask the people who agreed on this if they think it actually protects them. I want to hear their reasons.

[thejuice027]

It's kinda funny because it says "kids 17 and younger", yet I know gamestops that will sell M games to 17 year olds.

[mikeloeven]

nope

They have reasons for asking rather than saving.


not quite sure you understood the type of age verification i was suggesting.

if you have ever played a game called second life they have both everyone and mature content areas. an account is age validated by entering a drivers liscense or valid creditcard. therefor if a system such as this was implimented than there would be no isses with allowing saved verification because anyone who is verified in this way has provided legal proof that they are of age and anyone sharing their steam account with a minor is in violation of the TOS anyway so therefor you have no liability.

[PwrUsr]

Please. Age verification is beyond useless, any 12 year old kid knows all too well that its in his best interest to claim he was born August 15th 1980 if he wants to watch. Age verification is not preventing any minor from viewing inappropriate material, and FACKING annoying the rest of us.

[Z Overlord]

Who isn't born in 1992 xD?

I just select that since it's the easiest one.

[Bilateralrope]

Who isn't born on January 1 in 1992 xD?


Fixed that for you;)

[richei]

I don't even bother changing the month and date anymore. I just change the year and hit enter.

[crack0dile]

Fixed that for you;)

you'd be surprised

[real4xor]

I simply say I`m born in 1900 in the age query. Because that`s how archaic this system feels to me.

But I guess it`s not easy to get a world wide age verification system either. It`s not like everyone in the world uses a credit card.

Sure they could also save the first date you put in, but that`s not verifying anything. That`s just blindly assuming, same thing the age query does.

I think it`s kind of odd there`s very little about the subject on the internet tho. :/ Seems there`s simply nothing around to get a good verification system that would actually verify something and is available to everyone.

[Graeystone]

Steam/Valve have to cover themselves this way because of inattentive parents who aren't paying attention to what their minor kids are doing on the computer.

Parent - "My kid did something violent because they saw something on Valve/Steam they shouldn't have!"
Valve/Steam - "You mean that violent game 'XXXXX' that's rated M."
Parent - "That's the one!"
Valve/Steam - "We do ask people to put their date of birth in first before going to the store pages that have M Rated games. So its apparent your kid is a minor. . .just out of curiosity, just how old is your kid?"
Parent - "12."
Valve/Steam - "Interesting. . .did you the adult personally set up the account your child uses?"
Parent - "No. He did that all on his own."
Valve/Steam - "Your child lied to us, not once, but twice. On a new account, a person agreeing to the Terms must be 13(I believe that's the age in the US. Don't know about elsewhere) or older. Otherwise the parent or guardian of the child must agree to the Terms. In other words not only is your complaint invalid so is the account your child set up which can be in many ways an act of fraud and that is both a civil AND criminal act."

[skippy72294]

Steam/Valve have to cover them this way because of inattentive parents who aren't paying attention to what their minor kids are doing on the computer.

My parents deem me mature enough to basically do as I please on the internet. I also have my own savings and checking account, and car, at 16 years old.

[DarkLite123]

not quite sure you understood the type of age verification i was suggesting.

if you have ever played a game called second life they have both everyone and mature content areas. an account is age validated by entering a drivers liscense or valid creditcard. therefor if a system such as this was implimented than there would be no isses with allowing saved verification because anyone who is verified in this way has provided legal proof that they are of age and anyone sharing their steam account with a minor is in violation of the TOS anyway so therefor you have no liability.

What if you don't have a credit card or driver's license? How are Valve supposed to validate driver's licenses from all over the world?

[Axcalibur]

I'm relatively new to Steam, and it blows my mind that they ask for age verification every time I view a "mature" item in store. I'm logged in, they know my age and have my credit card - stop wasting my time with age verification.

I notice this thread was started almost a year ago and Steam still hasn't addressed the issue. Very disappointing.

[Mutilator7]

It's kinda funny because it says "kids 17 and younger", yet I know gamestops that will sell M games to 17 year olds.

Yes they do.
Because "17 and under" includes 17 year olds.

[thejuice027]

Yes they do.
Because "17 and under" includes 17 year olds.

bro, you misunderstood, the law says it's illegal to sell to kids 17 AND under, that includes 17 year olds.