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ESRB rates 'Best of PSN' collection, with Sound Shapes, Tokyo Jungle, Fat Princess
A new ESRB rating suggests that Sony's going to bottle some of its PSN magic for sale on retail shelves. The rating is for " Best of Playstation®Network Vol. 1," which compiles action strategy game Fat Princess, Tokyo Jungle, Sound Shapes, and When Vikings Attack."Sony has yet to officially announce the collection. We've asked SCEA for more details on this intriguingly diverse, seemingly appropriately titled collection.
ESRB relaxes rules for trailers and demos of M-rated games
Good news for people who hate age gates. The ESRB has released revised rules for the marketing of games rated M for Mature (or games likely to be), reported by Giant Bomb, allowing trailers and demos of such games to be released on websites without age gates – as long as those trailers are designed for "general" audiences and approved by the ESRB. Such trailers will include green headers noting that they have been approved for a general audience, much like those in front of movie trailers.The ESRB also allows M-rated games to be promoted via demos included in other games, even if those games have a more permissive rating. This requires ESRB approval, however, and research suggesting that the two games have the same intended audience.Other new rules include removing the mandatory 4-second ESRB logo in front of demos, as long as the rating is shown on the download page, and a removal of a restriction on placing multiple regional ratings next to each other on websites.
MMO Family: Lessons learned from parenting and gaming
If you look at the past two decades, it's really amazing how fast technology has improved. Not that long ago, dialup was common, 3.5" disks were all the rage (so much better than those archaic 8" floppies!), and people were excited to be able to take digital photos (that also used those flashy 3.5 disks with a camera that was as large as a truck). Kids are growing up in a completely different world than their parents did, and that means there's a tabula rasa feel to the rules on parenting and video games. Parenting sites are great at general parenting advice, and gaming sites are great at gaming write-ups, but there aren't too many sites that juggle both. As a result, parents are left with advice that usually falls into one camp or another, and absolutes really don't work well in this challenging area. So this week in MMO Family, I'd like to toss out a few lessons about raising kids in a digital age.
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment rated for PS3, PSP
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, the original PlayStation game and second chapter in the Persona 2 saga, has a new ESRB rating for the PS3 and PSP, suggesting a launch on PSN.The first Persona 2 installment, Innocent Sin, made the trek to PSP in 2011, with nary a word on Eternal Punishment following suit. An ESRB rating, however, is a fairly solid indication of an impending launch. Eternal Punishment received the same rating on PS3 and PSP as it did on PS1 all those years ago, T for Teen. Eternal Punishment on PS3 and PSP is published by SCEA, rather than Atlus, which published the PS1 version and Innocent Sin's iterations.
House bill proposes fines on retail games without ESRB ratings, prohibition of some sales to minors
Bill H.R.287, or the "Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act" as it will likely be more widely known, seeks to accomplish three goals: To make illegal the act of selling or renting video games that have not been evaluated by the ESRB, to legally prohibit the sale of Adults Only/Mature games to anyone under the age of 18/17 respectively, and to institute a fine not in excess of $5,000 in the event of noncompliance.The bill's second and third provisions aside, mandating that all games be rated doesn't sound too wildly outside the scope of reason, save for the fact that the industry's current architecture supports that already. Granted, indie games that end up on Steam or other PC/Mac distribution platforms may not seek out ESRB evaluation, but any game released for any console must have an ESRB rating, as Nintendo/Sony/Microsoft will refuse licensing otherwise.If the rest of what VGREA is attempting to accomplish sounds familiar, it's because the Supreme Court of the United States already declared such legislation unconstitutional way back in June of 2011. So, unless time is cyclical and this bill is actually what the court ruled on in 2011, the chances of this new one getting off the ground are pretty slim.
Cave Story dev's Guxt rated for 3DS, will include vertical display mode
As Cave Story designer Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya told us in an interview last March, he's been working on a version of his vertical scrolling shmup Guxt for the 3DS, and Nicalis, who's publishing the game, has just tweeted recently that it's been rated by the ESRB and is ready to go. You can download and play the game online for free on the PC right now, though the game will be updated for Nintendo's handheld for sure.One of the game's producers has tweeted that the title will have a "vertical display mode", so players will be able to tilt the 3DS to hold it vertically, and see the game on a correctly-aligned screen, rather than having a bar running through the middle of the action. Unfortunately, there's no word on exactly when the game will arrive, but considering it's been in development for a while., "soon" is probably the answer you're looking for. Stay tuned.
Cave Story pre-emptively rated for additional platforms
Last week, Cave Story's ESRB rating was updated to include new platforms: PS2, PS3, Vita, and Xbox 360 in addition to the existing 3DS, DSi, Wii, and PSP ratings. We contacted developer and publisher Nicalis to determine whether to expect Cave Story on even more platforms than it's already on.In short, no. The ESRB ratings are not indication of definite plans. "We submitted all the consoles so that we wouldn't have to resubmit in the future," producer Tyrone Rodriguez told Joystiq, "IF [emphasis his] we ever decided to bring to those consoles."The good news is that you are very likely to already have a platform to play Cave Story on.
ESRB now supports Windows 8, introduces cost-free questionnaire for rating digital games
The Entertainment Software Ratings Board has a huge responsibility -- to rate and regulate the entire medium of video games -- but only has so many resources with which to do so. With the rise of digital delivery, it's become increasingly difficult to fulfill the task of rating every single title that comes out, but the ESRB is betting on a new initiative that'll help streamline that process. The new "Digital Rating Service" employs an online questionnaire to determine a wide variety of criteria, beyond just age-appropriateness: content, interactivity, and privacy settings (whether or not it shares your data). As the name implies, the DRS specifically applies to digital delivery services: Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network (on PS3 and Vita), PlayStation Certified devices, Nintendo's eShop (on the Wii, DS, and 3DS), and Windows 8. That last one sounds new because it is -- Windows 8 games are now part of the ESRB's rating system. In addition to the new initiative and new platform, the ESRB is also adding more guidance to its game ratings. "Shares Info," "Shares Locations," and "Users Interact" are all now part of ESRB guidance, per the changing nature of digital, portable games. The ESRB says its new system will help to streamline its rating process for both itself and game creators, and this will resultant in faster ratings for consumers.
ESRB introduces streamlined, free rating system for downloads
The Entertainment Software Rating Board is attempting to streamline the release of downloadable games, announcing a new rating service specifically targeted at XBLA, PSN, eShop, WiiWare, and Windows 8 downloads. The no-cost (!) service relies on a brief online questionnaire through which developers self-identify the adult content.Most relevant to the digital market, the new questionnaire also rates games in terms of their information sharing and user-generated content, with the ESRB introducing the new content descriptor images above. "Shares info" means that the game sends some user information to a third party; "Shares Location" means that your physical location is visible to others (or can be), and "Users Interact" means that the player may communicate with other people in the game, or interact with user-created content.Sony may be ahead of the curve on this initiative. These self-reported ratings closely resemble the system that Sony is already using for PlayStation Mobile games, as detailed in a Fantastic Arcade presentation. Sony has already worked out similar programs with Japan's CERO and Europe's PEGI in addition to the ESRB.
Sony streamlining ratings for PlayStation Mobile
Publishing a game on PlayStation Mobile will be easier than usual, thanks to an initiative by Sony. Developer relations exec Shane Bettenhausen revealed during a Fantastic Arcade panel that Sony has collaborated with ratings boards for a simpler method of ratings. "ESRB lite, PEGI lite, CERO lite," he called it.Under the new system, developers are able to self-report content by checking spaces on a form. That saves time and overhead required for ratings boards to check the content manually. It also means that games on PS Mobile are subject to the same content restrictions as console games – and not, say, at the mercy of Apple.
ESRB: Machinarium also coming to Vita
Amanita Design's lovely robot-themed adventure game, Machinarium, will occupy another beautiful screen, that of the PlayStation Vita. Machinarium's ESRB rating has been updated recently to add Vita to the list of platforms. However, designer Jakub Dvorsky told Joystiq that though Amanita would "like to bring the game to Vita," it couldn't confirm that version.Also on the list is PS3, reminding us that the downloadable release for that platform is due sometime this summer as an "ultimate version" (following long delays). Dvorsky confirmed that summer release window to us as well. Perhaps one of the features of this version will be Vita crossplay.
MMO Family: How helpful are those ESRB ratings?
Quick, what's the ESRB rating symbol of your favorite MMO of choice? And if you know that, what are the content descriptors that account for your game's rating? If you got them right, bravo! According to the ESRB's official poll, 85% of parents with children who play video games are aware of the ratings system. For those not familiar, here's the deal: The Entertainment Software Rating Board began in 1994 with the goal of providing a standard set of ratings and descriptors to help adults choose appropriate games for children. But the real question is, are ESRB ratings accurate when it comes to MMOs? The poll also claims that 65% of parents regularly check a game's rating before making a purchase, but are those ratings as helpful when choosing an MMO for your children? Read on for a look at why the E, T, and AO symbols might actually deserve an F.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution still coming to Mac, ESRB reassures
Square Enix has a little less than a month to meet the planned "winter 2011/2012" release date for Deus Ex: Human Revolution on Mac. There's no cybernetic implant that can foresee the future but, thanks to the ESRB, we do have at least one sign that Deus Ex is still on the way to Apple machines.The organization has posted a rating for an "Ultimate Edition" of the game for Mac, which is presumably even more ultimate than the Augmented Edition released on other platforms last year. The game has been rated M for egregious pheromone usage. Or killing. Probably killing.
ESRB rating for Darkstalkers 3 points to PSN release
Capcom's classic Darkstalkers 3 will soon save vampires via the PlayStation Network, assuming that we're correctly inferring the ESRB's recently administered Teen rating for PlayStation 3 and Vita versions of the title. We suppose it's not a physical impossibility that Capcom would rerelease boxed versions of a 14 year old fighter, but we're hedging our bets on digital distribution.Originally released in 1998, Darkstalkers 3 (or Vampire Savior: EX Edition in Japan) is the third title in the Darkstalkers series, after Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors (also available on PSN) and Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge. While it may not be the contemporary series reboot we pray for every night, we suppose a PSN rerelease is better than no brand movement at all. Still, we can't help but sigh wistfully whenever we see Morrigan in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. So close, and yet, so far.
ESRB and Penny Arcade team up on new ratings campaign
Once again, the Entertainment Software Ratings Board is joining forces with Penny Arcade to create a new series of advertisements about the game industry's rating system. The print and online campaign offers up three public service announcements featuring Penny Arcade's familiar artwork. This marks the second partnership between the ESRB and Penny Arcade, which first created a campaign back in 2006.The new campaign is based on real individuals, who were chosen via a "micro-essay" contest held by the ESRB on Facebook. Each ad highlights a different service provided by the ESRB. The campaign will begin appearing in "parent-focused and game enthusiast media outlets" this spring, but you can check them out right now in the gallery below.%Gallery-147910%
ESRB rates Game Gear games for 3DS
Despite using more electricity than a Lady Gaga performance and being the size of a small cathedral, the Game Gear was a pioneering handheld system than did many things better than its contemporaries. Twenty-two years later, the heart and soul of Sega's plucky little handheld lives on in the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console.Shinobi and Sonic Triple Trouble have both been rated by the ESRB for the 3DS, which indicates that the ports are close to, if not entirely ready for release. If you had told us 22 years ago that someday we'd be playing Sega games on a Nintendo handheld, we'd have pushed you off the monkey bars.
ESRB warning might reveal new characters for Street Fighter X Tekken
Street Fighter X Tekken has been officially listed by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (T for Teen, if you're wondering), and some details in the listing may have revealed a few more characters for the game. The description of possibly objectionable content in the game mentions both a character that uses "chainsaws," as well as the fact that "one wobbly character uses 'drunken' fighting moves."Neither of those descriptions matches any of the announced characters thus far, and fans have jumped to the conclusion that Tekken's Alisa Bosconovitch (who wields chainsaw arms) and drunken fighter Lei Wulong may be making an appearance in the crossover. It certainly seems possible, and this wouldn't be the first time ESRB has mentioned information in its warnings that was supposed to be secret. With the game due out next month, we'll know the truth before long.
It's getting there: Fez rated by ESRB
Phil Fish's Fez contractions continue, with the game finally being rated by the ESRB. It was also rated by Europe's PEGI board in December, but has yet to hit the Australian boards. So, expect labor to last for a little while longer.The long-in-development (yet award-winning) game now has a release window of "early 2012." If you order cigars from Cuba for the birth, feel free to go with the cheap shipping option.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 rated by ESRB for consoles, PC
The ESRB has granted Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 an "E for Everyone" rating on the PC, 360, PS3 and Windows Phone platforms, thankfully without dyeing its sideburns in the process. Usually, an ESRB rating is indicative of an impending release date announcement or, in the case of badly promoted games, an impending release.Android, iOS and Wii classifications are missing from the ESRB's breakdown of the title, which isn't to say that those version don't or won't exist, but it is a good sign that they may not be among the first batch of platforms to receive Sonic 4: Episode 2. Still, it's at least reassuring to know that the game exists, which is more than some people can say.
PSP games get ESRB rating for PlayStation certified devices, coming soon to Sony phones and tablets?
It looks like Sony's been reading our daily email missives, bemoaning the state of its PlayStation certified gaming selection. The message appears to be getting through, with several PSP titles getting spotted over at the Entertainment Software Rating Board with PlayStation certification. Ahead of any official fanfare, there's no big hitters here just yet, but titles like Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror and Daxter are likely to be more resonant with gamers than the pitiful offering we've seen so far from its PS Store app. Alongside Syphon Filter and Daxter, PS3 port Fl0w and Pinball Heroes were also spotted getting their contents okayed by the ESRB. Unsurprisingly, there's no detail here on release dates or technical requirements -- something that we reckon could be important, given the technical gap between the Xperia Play and the dual-cored innards of Sony's tablets. It's also worth noting that Pinball Heroes is already available on the Tablet P. Sorry Sony, but we'd still trade all of what's been leaked here for a portable version of the original Metal Gear Solid -- without hesitation.
