Nintendo has announced that every Revolution will have a 'play control system' that will allow parents to decide what type of games their children can play.
The password-controlled function can be set to any of the Pan European Games Information (PEGI) ratings: 3+, 7+, 12+, 16+ or 18+. The actual game software will include a code indicating the rating that PEGI has awarded, which will unlock or lock Revolution accordingly.
So if the control system was set to 12+, no 16+ or 18+ games would be playable on that Revolution until a password was entered and the setting was changed.
Of course, this function can be left completely alone enabling Revolution to play all software but, as Jim Merrick, Nintendo Europe's senior marketing director explains, "This added feature encourages parents to take responsibility for the games their children play."
Nintendo has stated that it is planning for Revolution to be the console for 'everyone' and that this child safe capability fits in with this plan perfectly - although it throws up some questions as to what type of games Nintendo is planning for its next-gen console if a child lock system is required.