[Mod edit - WSD - if something gets you banned in the SF dont come here and post it. ]
There is no official list, but a good reference point are the sponsorship rules from the Forza Racing Championship.
I’ve copied the rules below, and highlighted the ones you should avoid at all costs when creating designs in Forza.
“No alcohol” what about those Martini paintjobs? There’s a lot of them.
“No political campaigns” does the “Imagine all the people living in peace” on many cars count?
“No religious content” what about that Iron-Cross as mentioned?
“Imagine all the people living in peace” is the lyrics to a famous song, and also a motto of sorts for Liberty Walk, which is a manufacturer present in the game. It’s also hard to argue that it makes for a controversial statement; how many people actually want people to live in war and torment? Likewise, the Iron Cross may have been a religious symbol at some point, but it’s also the symbol of the German Armed Forces; crosses in general have been greatly mundanized. I imagine if you started to post verses of the Bible as liveries someone may raise an eyebrow, but it seems this particular rule is not strongly enforced in the day-to-day moderation of the Storefront.
As for the “swastika vs. Rising Sun flag” argument, it should be noted that the Kyokujitsu-ki was used by the forces of the Japanese Empire long before the era of Hirohito, that the Emperor himself greatly contributed to the process of turning Japan into a democracy after the war, that the flag is still used by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (and ironically, by several USAF units stationed in Japan), and its display is not outlawed by any country on Earth (that I know of). None of this applies to this particular version of the swastika, which was adopted when Adolf Hitler rose to power and abandoned (and outlawed) after the end of the Second World War, in a painful process of building a new democratic order on the ashes of the old one. It is very likely that if MS allowed the display of swastikas (even historically accurate ones, as some of the cars depicted in the game did indeed race with the then-German flag painted on them in international races), that’d land them in hot water with German authorities. I personally think it’s understandable that they’d want to avoid that, and that we can all live without swastikas on our cars.
Finally, alcohol/tobacco/adult product sponsors are seemingly allowed on the Storefront, but will never be selected by T10, which is apparently trying to elegantly tread the fine line between “allowing” and “endorsing” content that may get the attention of content rating boards. Many of us have liveries with “forbidden” sponsors up, but when was the last time a Martini livery won a contest?
I don’t make or enforce the rules, I just try and follow them.
I wasn’t talking about you making the rules.
I was asking about if they apply to these rules.
They’re in a grey area.
Those designs typically don’t get reported, but if one tries to enter them into an official livery contest they’ll have zero chance of winning, as Turn 10 don’t want to be seen to promote designs with those brands on them.
I create all of my designs with the intention of getting them featured, so I tend to follow these guidelines fairly closely.
Well is there like a list for forbidden sponsors? or just the rules?
also not trying to win any contests I am only making them for fun and realism
There is no list that will be shared publicly.
The game is rated E for Everybody/Pegi 3+, which means the game and the content created within it should be suitable or at the very least non-threatening and non-offensive to even the youngest children.
Painters who bear that in mind when designing should have no difficulty in avoiding trouble.
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This is the ONLY advice you should listen to as other “advice” will lead you astray any further clarification should be sought via PM from a moderator, staff or via the forzafb@microsoft.com
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Okay but then I should be on the safe side for sharing BBS/H&R/brembo and all those logos as mentioned right?
Normal motorsport-related brands (tyre suppliers, brake manufacturers, suspension components etc.) are fair game.
Anything outside of that, use your best judgment.
A quick tip: if you see a sponsor on a default livery of an in-game racing car, you know it’s considered “safe to use” in your designs as Turn 10 have put it on to said car already. If a sponsor is “missing” (like the Marlboro logo on the McLaren Formula 1 cars) then you know that it is either {a} unsuitable or {b} Turn 10 couldn’t reach an agreement with said sponsor or racing team to allow it to be used.