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Xbox LIVE Avatars are unique and personal items you can make available to players. We have a very specific set of rules for Avatar use to prevent abuse. Any Xbox LIVE Indie Game that contains Avatars must be Peer Reviewed to check that game doesn't let the Avatar commit the following acts, have the act occur to them, or is a spectator to them:

• Player interacts with their avatar as if it’s a separate character

A player’s avatar does not have an autonomous personality or instinct.  The avatar is under the control of the owning player. It can have idle animations and can respond appropriately to game events but it should not interact with the user as if it is separate from the player, try to get the player’s attention in an annoying manner

• Violence which causes blood, gore, dismemberment, decapitation, maiming, or mutilation

Cartoon violence is allowed.  Violence is allowed as long as there is no blood, gore, dismemberment, decapitation, maiming, or mutilation.  An example of allowable injuries includes injuries that might befall an avatar in a sporting event such as American football.  Avatars can die temporarily to depict failure. 

• Player’s avatar talks

The player’s avatar should not have their own voice. They are allowed to make individual sounds, such as laughing and crying but otherwise cannot use a voice

• Acts of sexual innuendo or mildly explicit sexual descriptions or images or sexual posturing

Sexual acts or terminology cannot be insinuated or enacted

• Excretes obscene bodily fluids or substances

No sexual or bodily fluids or substances can come from the avatar

• Glamorized criminal act

Criminal activities need to be relevant to the story and are presented unfavorably

•  Acts of an aggressive or threatening manner

Gratuitous insults, bullying, intimidation or otherwise violent or emotional abuse of a position of power are not allowed. Avatars may leave innocents or bystanders slightly injured, but not dead.

• Vulgar or profane act

Game-controlled avatars cannot use profane, racist, or discriminatory language, nor can they make obscene gestures.

• Use of controlled substances

An avatar is not allowed to hold, be seen around or partake in any controlled substances or paraphernalia including, but not limited to, alcohol, tobacco and drugs

• Replace Avatar features

The features of an avatar cannot be hidden or in obscured and cannot be replaced with alternative items. Items such as, but not limited to, masks, hats and alternative clothing,  are not allowed.  In addition, no Non-Player Characters (NPC’s) can wear any Avatar items including copyrighted, trademarked or royalty based clothing.

• Avatars proportions are not modified

The proportions of an Avatar cannot be modified form their original settings. An Avatar can be resized as long as the proportions don’t change

As with the existing Peer Review Prohibited Content specific situations will come down to each Premium Creator's best judgement. Whenever there is a question the Playtest and Peer Review forums are waiting for that feedback! If you have any specific suggestions or questions you can ask them there or email us at creators@microsoft.com.