NeoGAF

Phreaker · 04:54 PM

Really?!?

According to Epic Games Community Manager "raczilla":

Lancer and Hammerburst avatar items no longer available on Marketplace on 1/1/2012

"Heads up! Starting on Jan. 1, 2012, the Lancer and Hammerburst avatar items will no longer be available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. If you’ve purchased the items prior to Jan. 1, you will be able to keep them. A new policy goes into effect for all gun-like avatar items on the Marketplace, so get them while they’re hot."

Lancer:

Gold Lancer:

Hammerburst:

Gold Hammerburst

Unknown if this will be removed, but it looks pretty "gun-like" to me and the avatar animation is of the shooting variety:

Brush Launher:

Apparnetly attack helicotpers, stealth bombers and tanks are fine though.

SteveWinwood · (12-23-2011, 08:27 PM)

Can you trade avatar items? Might wanna horde some.

GotEmRunnin · (12-23-2011, 08:29 PM)

so it's official. MSFT pushing for the kid friendly family focused image on all cylinders.

TangoAlphaLima · (12-23-2011, 08:29 PM)

Originally Posted by SteveWinwood:

Can you trade avatar items? Might wanna horde some.

I see what you did there.

Alternatively, you're a bad speller.

DarknessTear · (12-23-2011, 08:29 PM)

I'm not all that surprised. That's the kind of image I got from avatars from the start.

bigtroyjon · (12-23-2011, 08:30 PM)

gun avatars to be xbox 720 exclusive confirmed.

Wario64 · (12-23-2011, 08:30 PM)

Nothing of value is lost. If anything this is a ploy to get people to buy avatar items.

Emitan · (12-23-2011, 08:31 PM)

Nintendoes with Microsoft can't.

Grisby · (12-23-2011, 08:32 PM)

A silly crackdown.

BigNastyCurve · (12-23-2011, 08:32 PM)

Originally Posted by TangoAlphaLima:

I see what you did there.

Alternatively, you're a bad speller.

Are you serious?

Live Free or Die · (12-23-2011, 08:32 PM)

Taking away our gun rights even in video games. Smh.

bengraven · (12-23-2011, 08:33 PM)

Good. Let's get rid of scary and gritty avatar items next. They don't vibe with the family avatar feel.

TheSeks · (12-23-2011, 08:34 PM)

Well, I guess my "Man on Fire"/BF3 avatar item I got from the Dr. Pepper promotion will go bye bye soon since it features guns in the art.

alr1ght · (12-23-2011, 08:35 PM)

Shooter box is no longer shooter box.

At least I get to keep my Portal gun.

TangoAlphaLima · (12-23-2011, 08:35 PM)

Originally Posted by BigNastyCurve:

Are you serious?

Yes. He either made a joke, or he's a bad speller.

Why. So. Serious?

Fallout-NL · (12-23-2011, 08:37 PM)

What a crock of shit.

Bunch of hypocrites.

EXGN · (12-23-2011, 08:39 PM)

Swords are next, get them light sabers!

Totobeni · (12-23-2011, 08:46 PM)

Originally Posted by GotEmRunnin:

so it's official. MSFT pushing for the kid friendly family focused image on all cylinders.

I'll welcome green blood in all of my Xbox games with open arms and exposed tits.

CadetMahoney · (12-23-2011, 08:48 PM)

It was either "the pump" dance or guns.

They should allow cross-dressing.

Jive Turkey · (12-23-2011, 08:48 PM)

Originally Posted by Live Free or Die:

Taking away our gun rights even in video games. Smh.

Admit it. You just wanted someone to quote your avatar.

Darklord · (12-23-2011, 08:48 PM)

This makes no sense.

Osietra · (12-23-2011, 08:48 PM)

I need to hear Steptos thoughts on this matter before I can comment further.

SuperSonic1305 · (12-23-2011, 08:48 PM)

They'll just put up more ads for Call of Duty map packs instead.

PsychoRaven · (12-23-2011, 08:49 PM)

Originally Posted by Fallout-NL:

What a crock of shit.

Bunch of hypocrites.

Yup. Gotta love it don't you. They push the 360 as the hardcore gamer's console that isn't for the kiddies only to turn around mid gen and go the exact opposite direction.

A Human Becoming · (12-23-2011, 08:49 PM)

Grow a vagina Microsoft.

bluemax · (12-23-2011, 08:50 PM)

They should replace them with wallow talkies.

Nerfgun · (12-23-2011, 08:51 PM)

Uh oh. A parent wrote a letter.

PixyJunket · (12-23-2011, 08:52 PM)

And yet FIFA Gold Premium Packs will remain.

Jump in!

OMG Aero · (12-23-2011, 08:52 PM)

I find it weird that they were allowed to begin with.
Didn't Microsoft always have strict rules about what avatars could and couldn't do? I remember hearing that indie games with them had to follow specific guidelines otherwise they weren't allowed on the store.

Garcia el Gringo · (12-23-2011, 08:53 PM)

Back in 2008 MS said that Avatars couldn't have any weapons. Lightsabers were pushing it. I was wondering what policy changed this year that allowed avatars to hold realistic looking guns. Guess they changed their mind back real quick.

Originally Posted by PixyJunket:

And yet FIFA Gold Premium Packs will remain.

Jump in!

lololol

Beaulieu · (12-23-2011, 08:53 PM)

good.

Catshade · (12-23-2011, 08:53 PM)

How about 'holding a banana' avatar?

maquiladora · (12-23-2011, 08:54 PM)

hahahahaha.... Xbox Loop : Nanny Console confirmed

skyfinch · (12-23-2011, 08:54 PM)

Guns are scary and make loud noises. I feel threatened whenever I see an avatar with a gun.

Zeouterlimits · (12-23-2011, 08:55 PM)

Thought this policy was in effect anyway, huh.

Kaako · (12-23-2011, 08:55 PM)

Family friendly; something for everyone.

The Faceless Master · (12-23-2011, 08:56 PM)

are there any right wing blogs that i can email this info to and stir this shit up in an effort to make MS look bad?

cluto · (12-23-2011, 08:58 PM)

This is the worst thing that has ever happened.

JesseZao · (12-23-2011, 08:58 PM)

Next they'll ban gun-like gestures...oh wait.

HylianTom · (12-23-2011, 08:59 PM)

Originally Posted by A Human Becoming:

Grow a vagina Microsoft.

Woo-Fu · (12-23-2011, 09:00 PM)

Microsoft can have my guns when they pry my ps3 from my cold, dead fingers.

well, if I still had a ps3. I still have plenty of guns on PC!

Neuromancer · (12-23-2011, 09:02 PM)

Originally Posted by DarknessTear:

I'm not all that surprised. That's the kind of image I got from avatars from the start.

Yeah I'm fact MS specifically said this a while ago, which makes me surprised these items were ever available In the first place.

Carl · (12-23-2011, 09:03 PM)

What the hell?

LQX · (12-23-2011, 09:03 PM)

I actually thought something like this was in affect already. Only weapons I have ever really seen are light sabers.

derFeef · 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by PsychoRaven:

Yup. Gotta love it don't you. They push the 360 as the hardcore gamer's console that isn't for the kiddies only to turn around mid gen and go the exact opposite direction.

It's not like they ban games where you can shoot stuff. MS simply does not want to show that kind of stuff because it IS available to everyone including kids.

Originally Posted by GotEmRunnin:

so it's official. MSFT pushing for the kid friendly family focused image on all cylinders.

Really? Where did you see the console being pushed with avatars holding guns?

Jive Turkey · (12-23-2011, 09:04 PM)

Originally Posted by The Faceless Master:

are there any right wing blogs that i can email this info to and stir this shit up in an effort to make MS look bad?

Just send it to Rush. He'll do the rest.

maquiladora · (12-23-2011, 09:04 PM)

All existing gun-like items to be replaced with Windows Phone-like items.

Nerfgun · (12-23-2011, 09:06 PM)

Thread title really ought tho have been "Microsoft coming to take your guns"

TheSeks · (12-23-2011, 09:07 PM)

Originally Posted by SteveWinwood:

Can you trade avatar items? Might wanna horde some.

Originally Posted by TangoAlphaLima:

Yes. He either made a joke, or he's a bad speller.

Why. So. Serious?

TangoAlphaLima
Yet a third one, that can't fucking spell

DominoKid · (12-23-2011, 09:10 PM)

lame. i want to go buy one just because now.