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Xbox LIVE

Pros and Cons

Microsoft Clarifies Harassment Policies for Halo 4, No Changes To Be Made To Xbox Live’s Code of Conduct

by Becky Chambers | 10:46 am, November 8th, 2012

Last week, I discussed a GameSpot interview with Halo 4 execs Kiki Wolfkill and Bonnie Ross, in which it was stated that discriminatory behavior in-game — specifically sexism — would result in a lifetime ban. Given Xbox Live’s high profile, the interview had done the rounds at many major tech and gaming sites, and a lively debate ensued. As I mentioned in my original article, there were a lot of questions being asked, primarily regarding whether or not this rule applied to other forms of abuse, and how this new policy would be implemented. On Tuesday, Destructoid reported that they had contacted Microsoft in order to clear things up. The verdict? Xbox Live views all types of harassment as equally reprehensible (hooray!), but they won’t be making any changes to their existing Code of Conduct (hmm).

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Essay

Halo 4 Execs Bring Out The Banhammer, Threaten Lifetime Suspensions For Sexism on Xbox Live

by Becky Chambers | 12:35 pm, November 2nd, 2012

Start a discussion about harassment in games, and two words are bound to come up: Xbox and Halo. Seeing as how the latter is one of the most successful game franchises ever, which runs on one of the world’s most popular consoles, this perhaps has to do less with the game itself and more with the fact that it represents a huge chunk of the gaming community. Heated competition undoubtedly plays a part as well, but whatever the reason for it, if you want to show someone just how bad things can get in multiplayer gaming, Halo’s the poster child.

Which is why it was a pretty big deal earlier this week when Gamespot published an interview with Kiki Wolfkill, executive producer of Halo 4, and Bonnie Ross, head of Microsoft subsidiary 343 Industries (the game’s developer). With Halo 4 poised for launch next Tuesday, they had a message for their players: Sexist language on Xbox Live will get you a permaban.

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Firsts

L’Oreal Creates First Xbox App Specifically Aimed at a Female Market, Knows What It’s Doing

by Susana Polo | 11:50 am, October 4th, 2012

AllthingsD, after they make sure we know that videogame consoles aren’t just for gaming anymore, has the scoop on a new marketing app coming to Xbox Live, from a company that you wouldn’t necessarily associate with the platform. L’Oreal. But for Jacqueline Corbelli of BrightLine, the marketing firm that built the app for L’Oreal, it makes nothing but sense.

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Things We Saw Today

Things We Saw Today: Superhero Gingerbread Men & Women

by Jill Pantozzi | 5:07 pm, December 7th, 2011

It’s that time of year. The time of year you need to think of stuff to bring to parties. Bring a batch of Superhero Men and Women and no one will ever forget you. Learn how to make them on Sugar Swings. (via GeekMom) Now what else did we see today…

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Things We Saw Today

Things We Saw Today: Japan’s Earthquake Aftermath

by Jamie Frevele | 4:09 pm, March 11th, 2011

More images at BuzzFeed.

Also: George Takei has tweeted instructions on how to donate $10 to the Red Cross via text message:

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