There's been a story floating around lately about the PS3 being banned from UK prisons. Well, that story is actually this one from 2007. But, all of this talk of consoles behind bars pushed INCGamers to action, and the site recently spoke with someone in the know and confirmed that UK convicts have not been able to use gaming systems with Wi-Fi capabilities for some time now.
"Prisoners in England and Wales have never been allowed access to wireless enabled technology such as that used in some games consoles," a spokesperson said. "A decision was taken some years ago that the then current generation of games consoles should be barred because the capability to send or receive radio signals is an integral part of the equipment. Future games consoles with this ability will be banned. This ban applies to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo DS." In fact, the only consoles prisoners have been able to use are the PS1 and PS2, which isn't too bad if the inmates have some copies of Oddworld: Abe's Odyssee and God Hand to go with them.
Actually, nix that first game. It could cause a riot.
[Via Videogamer]
Reader Comments (91)
Posted: Jun 17th 2009 10:21PM MystileArmor said
His avatar shows up as Mario right now on my screen, that's why I didn't get it.
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Posted: Jun 17th 2009 10:44PM (Unverified) said
Mystile clear your cache, I think that sorts it out.
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Posted: Jun 17th 2009 9:55PM Cardme said
How ironic that you choose the Xbox 360 for this picture. You know, the only current gen console that doesn't offer built-in wifi.
Also ironic: Snake Plissken in the picture holding a 360, seeing as how Metal Gear's "Snake" is strongly influenced by Snake Plissken and even refers to himself as Iroquois 'Pliskin' throughout over half of MGS2. Overall, this picture is quite a puzzle.
Also ironic: Snake Plissken in the picture holding a 360, seeing as how Metal Gear's "Snake" is strongly influenced by Snake Plissken and even refers to himself as Iroquois 'Pliskin' throughout over half of MGS2. Overall, this picture is quite a puzzle.
Posted: Jun 17th 2009 10:03PM JXCGunrunna said
Also ironic that metal gear has been on nintendo and sony but not the xbox...yet
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Posted: Jun 17th 2009 10:07PM HydrophobicFish PSN ID Hydrophob said
Also ironic is that you guys' use of the word irony.
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Posted: Jun 17th 2009 10:08PM (Unverified) said
metal gear solid 2 substence (or whatever it was called) was on the old xbox too
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Posted: Jun 17th 2009 10:01PM HDpurist said
This is seriously f*&%cked up. Prison ain't so bad after all....Crime certainly pays.
Posted: Jun 18th 2009 4:09AM Jimmyjames said
Fuck the convicts. You want entertainment in the joint? Read a damned book.
Posted: Jun 17th 2009 10:04PM DekuTree said
In Iceland, "jail" has full internet access for all inmates..
Posted: Jun 17th 2009 10:20PM Ubiquitous Oxymoron said
Don't u mean 'Icelandic natives'?
/end word Nazi mode.
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/end word Nazi mode.
Posted: Jun 17th 2009 10:07PM KaBob799 said
"the only consoles prisoners have been able to use are the PS1 and PS2"
But theres a lot of other consoles that dont have Wi-Fi?
But theres a lot of other consoles that dont have Wi-Fi?
Posted: Jun 17th 2009 10:14PM Covarr said
What's wrong with Abe's Oddysee (Note the double D and single S, Mr. Hinkle), apart from the fact that in every imaginable way it pales in comparison to Abe's Exoddus (again, a double D to keep that "odd" theme running)?
Posted: Jun 17th 2009 10:27PM ChiTownRuler23 said
Just give them old red ringed XBOX 360's with every triple A title made for it and when they discover that cant play any of them they will off themselves and then we wont have to pay taxes to keep them in jail playing fucking video games!
Posted: Jun 18th 2009 6:17PM (Unverified) said
Our prison system is fucked, no matter what people do if they just keep their head down for a bit they get released for "Good behaviour".
Total bollocks.
Total bollocks.
Posted: Jun 18th 2009 6:19PM (Unverified) said
People shouldnt be released just for being good, the whole reason they are there is because they commited a crime and they should pay the price for doing it.
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Posted: Jun 17th 2009 10:52PM Anticrawl said
I wish more prisons were like Angola. Where they put the prisoners to work in chain gangs, only place left in America does. You work hours for pennies and use that to buy and plant food. That or you can try your luck in the Angola Rodeo where honest legal citizens can gather and hoot as wild steroid filled bills gore convicts to death.
Ahhh Louisiana, I love thee.
Ahhh Louisiana, I love thee.
Posted: Jun 17th 2009 11:22PM F1 Basu Gasu Bakuhatsu said
You're the duke! A number 1
Posted: Jun 18th 2009 12:29AM Vegnagun said
Escape from LA/NY are the best things ever.
Posted: Jun 18th 2009 3:07AM Harrishun said
May I ask who cares?
Posted: Jun 18th 2009 4:03AM (Unverified) said
It's still prison. Sure, you can read books and play video games.....but you can't leave your room, and there are scary people in your room. It's like "No Exit" but with Playstation.
Posted: Jun 18th 2009 5:44AM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
Look on the bright side, with Fifa to occupy thier minds, if you went to prison, your rear would be safe :D
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Posted: Jun 18th 2009 5:35AM Azarielzx said
So, I jsut need to rape or kill someone to get a HDTV set and a PS3/360 combo? Great
Posted: Jun 18th 2009 5:43AM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
Knew this more then over a year ago, if anything was late on this site, it was this, either way, late isn't always so bad as long as it's not breaking news.
They banned PSPs, DSs, PS3s, 360s and basically anything that came out after 2004-ish.
What amazes me is the fact that half of them are in there for stabbings and stealing etc, yet they get to chill out and play a game of Fifa.
Oh dear, oh no, what if the dangerous criminals get bored, they might just start crying or something or even take the time to reflect on their wrong doings, nope, nope, we can't be having that now can we.
They banned PSPs, DSs, PS3s, 360s and basically anything that came out after 2004-ish.
What amazes me is the fact that half of them are in there for stabbings and stealing etc, yet they get to chill out and play a game of Fifa.
Oh dear, oh no, what if the dangerous criminals get bored, they might just start crying or something or even take the time to reflect on their wrong doings, nope, nope, we can't be having that now can we.
Posted: Jun 18th 2009 5:48AM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
Give them PAIN! Give them Popstation!
Posted: Jun 18th 2009 7:48AM DrunkMIffy said
Not being funny - My dad works in a prison, and he told me about this ages ago.. Why the fuck should they get a PS2, and games? They're in fucking prison, not a bloody hotel. It's ridiculous.. And they even considered getting PS3's?
God, fucking prisoners have an easier time now than a load of working people in the fucking UK.. Great example to show the kids..
God, fucking prisoners have an easier time now than a load of working people in the fucking UK.. Great example to show the kids..
Posted: Jun 18th 2009 7:59AM (Unverified) said
As video games make players murder, rape and push old women down stairs, it seems a rather bad idea to allow criminals to play them.
Posted: Jun 18th 2009 9:02AM JXCGunrunna said
or maybe they could learn something in there. they could get an education. theres books. there the shit they should have been doing when they outside that would have kept them from getting in there in the first place
Posted: Jun 18th 2009 11:45AM Butta Verses said
honestly... i always said if they would let me Play video games in jail or Prison , i would have no issue with being in one. the fights and assaults would die down or stoP haPPening after a while, then you would only have to deal with the craPPy job they give you, video games and sleeP. i did a month in military Prison and it SUCKED!! i did a day in county jail and that SUCKED TOO!!!lol but if there was even a PSone to Play with i know it would have been a whole different thing.
Posted: Jun 27th 2009 9:28AM (Unverified) said
Good! They're in there are justice and to think, not to play fucking computer games. Let's give them plasma tvs and a hot tub...oh wait..too late!
Posted: Jun 18th 2009 11:32AM Saigon said
I can't believe these prisoners were allowed to play videogames, let alone current gen consoles. These guys shouldn't even be allowed an atari.
I though Plisken would be more a MGS fan. Huh
I though Plisken would be more a MGS fan. Huh
Posted: Jun 18th 2009 6:23PM Namminamm said
you know you could just remove the wi-fi from the consoles and only give them wired USB controllers and problem solved.
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