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Daxter, more PSP games re-rated for PlayStation Certified devices
The ESRB has rated Daxter, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror, eight tables worth of Pinball Heroes and flOw for release on PlayStation Certified devices, including the Xperia Play and Sony Tablet series. It's unclear whether flOw is a port of the PSP version or the original PS3 version, but we feel safe in assuming that it's the former, considering the PlayStation Suite's track record with repurposing PSP titles.We can't imagine that playing a Syphon Filter game on a capacitive touch screen would be a rewarding experience, but flOw and Pinball Heroes sound like they'd translate well to the tactile interface of the Sony Tablet. We'll keep our ears to the ground for pricing and release information as it becomes available.
Grand Theft Auto 3 and GTA: Vice City rated by ESRB for PS3
The ESRB has rated crime epics Grand Theft Auto 3 and Vice City for the PlayStation 3. Considering the blockbuster third entry in the series is available on iOS and Android, word of it coming to the PS3 isn't the craziest news we've heard about the classic title in recent memory.The third entry in the GTA3 series, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, still doesn't have a PS3 listing from the ESRB, so we aren't sure if it's just cruisin' in later for a drive-by or part of what's likely Rockstar adding the two other games to PSN for digital distribution. Of course, if you own a first-gen PS3, your system is backwards-compatible and should have no issue playing the original PlayStation 2 discs (chances are you already own them).
ESRB rates Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet for PC
PC owners will soon be able to explore the Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, according to the ESRB. The organization has posted a PC rating for the title, which was then noted in an article on ExtraGuy. Said article was subsequently tweeted by the Shadow Planet account with a "hmmmmmm" and a winky-face. A winky-face. Yeah, we'd say Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is definitely headed to PC. We've contacted developer Fuelcell Games just in case.
SWTOR's Daniel Erickson on pulling players' moral strings
BioWare's Daniel Erickson said that for the writing team, the crunch time came way ahead of everyone else since the script for the game had to be done first. As such, the team has had plenty of time to reflect on how the game's developed while it's moved on to future content. In speaking with GameSpy, the Star Wars: The Old Republic head writer opened up about the difficulties and fun of penning a game with so many personalities, choices, and plot twists. Probably the most revealing is how Erickson admits that the writers are trying to pull players in multiple directions through a series of moral influences: the game's own light and dark side system, players' own morality, companions' own likes and dislikes, and multiplayer dialogue. Ideally, he said, one of the goals of the writing team was to make quests that would challenge players' set paths to make them want to change. "It's interesting to watch all those dynamic forces affect the player, see how they interact with the storytelling method," he said. Erickson also says that the project got initial pushback over the notion of centering it on story, because of the past limitations of MMOs and "the expected norm" that had grown over the years: "It was clear, when you played the early MMOs, that they were trying to put as much as they could in for what was there. There were people on each one of these projects that clearly cared passionately about the lore, and were really trying to get it across to the players. So we knew that that was there and we knew from the single-player games what did it." The interview continues to cover a wide range of writing challenges, including coming up with the script for Huttball, quests that the team was sure would get cut by the ESRB, and how the team enjoyed coming up with intricate stories, connections, and romances for companion characters.
Apple, Google opt out of app-rating system
Bloomberg reports that Apple and Google have opted out of an app-rating system announced by the CTIA-The Wireless Association. The system, which was developed and will be run by the Entertainment Software Rating Board, will bring a rating system to apps, similar to what currently exists for video games. Ratings range from from appropriate for all ages to mature content intended for adults only. Apple and Google already have review guidelines in place. Apple's can be seen through the Developer's site and Google's developer site holds guidelines for the Google Apps Marketplace. In early 2010, TUAW took a look at a report weighing if the ESRB should be in the App Store, and I agree with fellow blogger Mike Schramm's opinion that Apple's current vetting system is more than adequate.
Apple and Google just say no to ESRB mobile app ratings
You're familiar with the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB), right? They're the lot who help moms and dads ensure that their kiddies only get their grubby mitts on age-appropriate content. Recently, the ESRB's reach extended into the mobile space, but it turns out that Apple and Google aren't down with the ESRB's handy dandy ratings system. Despite being invited to the party, the two tech behemoths with matching app purchasing portals are quite content with their existing controls, thank you very much. Of course, the fact that the ESRB relies on developers to complete a detailed questionnaire instead of reviewing every app itself (not unlike existing Android Market and App Store protocols) might have something to do with Cupertino and Mountain View's reluctance to jump on the bandwagon. Looks like parents wanting to keep their kid's devices free from inappropriate content will have to remain vigilant without the ESRB's help.
CTIA and ESRB team up on new rating system for mobile applications
Details are fairly light at the moment, but the CTIA has put out a press release today announcing that it has partnered with the Entertainment Software Rating Board (or ESRB) on a new rating system for mobile applications. That's the same ESRB that is responsible for the ratings on video games. Unfortunately, any word on the ratings themselves or their possible acceptance by app makers or distributors will have to wait until the press event on November 29th, but it sounds like there will be a fairly big push behind them when they are announced -- the presidents of both industry groups, along with US Senators Mark Pryor and Kelly Ayotte are slated to be on hand for the announcement.
ESRB: Darkstalkers stalking PSOne Classics release
Here's some super spooky pre-Halloween news for you: a (haunted?) ESRB rating reveals plans to re-release the monster-mash fighting game, Darkstalkers: The Night Warrior, on PS3 and PSP, as a PSOne Classic. Unfortunately, there's no way the game will hit in time for our scariest holiday, as there's no announced release date and the next PSN update will occur after Halloween. Not that there's anything wrong with playing this game for its own merits instead of its seasonality. If you've never played it before, this will be an excellent (cheap) opportunity to check out one of Capcom's lost fighting game series. A $6 emulated version isn't exactly a "revival" of the series that has been mostly absent from Capcom's renewed fighter output, but might lead to one. Oh, who are we kidding -- Capcom released Cyberbots on PSN too.
I Am Alive rated by ESRB
Ubisoft's I Am Alive, a game that exists mostly as whispers and shadows, has been rated "Mature" by the ESRB. The last official bit of news on the spectral entity came three months ago when it was classified by the Australians, while the last sighting was an "unreleased" teaser trailer that made a quick appearance in late August. The ESRB description notes that I Am Alive is a third-person action game where "players traverse through city ruins and use a machete to kill human enemies in melee-style-combat." The latest launch window we had was Ubisoft's fiscal 2011–12 (April 2011 – March 2012). The good news is the game is being rated by international classification boards; the fact that almost nobody outside of Ubisoft can confirm the game's existence is just weird. We've never seen it in the three years since its announcement, like, ever.
Chrono Cross, Final Fantasy Origins rated for PSN
Oh, Chrono Cross? And Final Fantasy Origins, which includes the franchise's first two NES installments? You mean those games that have been available in other territories' PlayStation Stores for a few months now, leaving us to stew in a bog of our own jealousy? You're telling us that they were recently rated to be released on the North American PlayStation Network? Well, guess what -- we don't care anymore. We don't care that we'll be able to play Chrono Cross on our PSP, taking the magical adventures of Serge, Kid (and a third party to be named later) on the bus with us. Maybe if you'd gotten to us a few months ago, our hearts wouldn't be so cold and calloused.
ESRB rates Devil May Cry 1, 2 and 3 for Xbox, PS3
We suspected as much earlier this year, and now the ESRB seems to think the first three Devil May Cry games are headed to Xbox and PS3. All three have been rated by the organization and, incidentally, have received an "M for Mature." HD collections are all the rage these days, and Capcom is certainly no stranger to rereleasing its older products. And, with the impending Devil May Cry reboot, it only makes sense that the publisher would want to cash in on both series veterans and newcomers alike. We contacted Capcom and were told that the company hasn't "made any announcements." Well we knew that. Sheesh.
Slavery the Game isn't a real game, is a real website, is really uncool
Slavery the Game isn't a game -- at least, we really hope it's not -- but it is a wonderful example of just how warped the Internet's sense of humor and decency is. Slavery the Game's website is horrifyingly legit at first glance, boasting a trailer, contact information, share buttons, the insignia for Xbox 360, PS3, PC and an ESRB rating of AO (Adults Only). These are lined up at the bottom of the site, right next to the overwhelming sense of relief we felt when we realized neither 360 nor PS3 release AO titles. Further, the ESRB doesn't list a rating for anything called Slavery the Game and the proposed developer, Javelin Reds Gaming, doesn't exist. One YouTube version of the trailer credits The Creative Assembly with making Slavery the Game, but it isn't mentioned anywhere on The Creative Assembly's site. We've contacted The Creative Assembly for clarification. [Update: The Creative Assembly has clarified it has nothing to do with this project.] We do wonder, if Slavery the Game isn't a game (and it's not; notice the lack of italics here), does it have a larger goal, or is this it; a mysterious website with a gruesome reminder that society can be a more powerful force than individual morality? We thought we already had one of those.
Mega Man X2 receives rating for Wii Virtual Console
The ESRB has rated Mega Man X2 for Wii, meaning it's coming to the Virtual Console in North America at some unknown time. Traditionally, Mega Man releases hit the North American Virtual Console after releasing in Japan, but surprisingly there's been no word yet on a release there. Even more surprising, the ESRB rated Mega Man X2 an "E" for "Everyone" -- how that game got away with anything less than "M" for "Man Shooting Enemies with a Giant Arm Cannon and Shoryuken" is beyond us.
ESRB dreams up Klonoa: Door to Phantomile on PS3 and PSP
When we saw this news, our giant wing-like ears flapped in excitement and we exclaimed in a nonsensical language. Klonoa: Door to Phantomile, one of the PlayStation's best (and only) side-scrollers, is going to be released on PSN via PSOne Classics. That is, of course, assuming that's why the ESRB rated the game for PS3 and PSP. It's a pretty safe assumption. If you don't want to wait for the Wind Bulleting, enemy-grabbing action to hit PS3 and PSP, Door to Phantomile is also available in a more modern form -- it was remade for Wii.
Aliens: Infestation is a side-scrolling action game
Aliens: Infestation, the long-gestating xenomorph game for the Nintendo DS, has been rated by the ESRB. The classification board describes the teen-rated title as an action game, in which "players run and jump through side-scrolling levels, they use rifles, pistols, flamethrowers, and explosives to kill enemy soldiers and aliens (i.e., 'xenomorphs')." There are also the obligatory scenes of chest bursting and some "briefly exposed" male buttocks in a locker room. That one's less obligatory, but still edgy. Infestation, which has still not been officially announced by Sega, must be close to exploding out of the company's marketing abdomen by now. After a long period of silence, the game was classified by the Australians in May, with WayForward Technologies (Bloodrayne: Betrayal, A Boy and His Blob) indicated as developer.
Parasite Eve 2 rated for PS3 and PSP by ESRB
The first Parasite Eve was released on PSN as a PSOne Classic on March 15, two weeks before The 3rd Birthday continued the series on PSP. Now, long after any hype for The 3rd Birthday has evaporated, Parasite Eve 2 is set to appear on PSN. The ESRB has rated Parasite Eve 2 for PSP and PS3, indicating an intent to re-release the game on those two platforms at some point in the future. Whoever did the new rating decided to alter the content warnings from "animated blood and gore" and "animated violence" to just "blood and gore" and "violence." Regardless of the wording, the "mature" rating holds.
Supreme Court's Brown v. EMA opinions: A digest
Between the majority, concurring and dissenting opinions published in today's Supreme Court decision on Brown v. EMA, there's a good 92 pages of legalese for enthusiastic gaming activists to pore over. If you don't feel like flipping through a novella of legal documents in search of relevant, easily digestible bits, feel free to check out some highlights from each opinion, which we've compiled after the jump!
Worms Crazy Golf rating squirms out of ESRB
Worms Crazy Golf was rated by the German USK during the madness of E3, and then by the ESRB for PC and PlayStation 3. Originally made for Java phones several years ago, Worms Crazy Golf is hopefully getting a massive graphics and gameplay overhaul by Team 17 before it winds up on high-definition systems. It appears Team 17 is hitting the Worms well hard again, having recently submitted Worms: Ultimate Mayhem to the Australian Classification Board as well. Now we play the waiting game to see when these unannounced invertebrate titles become "official."
Alleyway rated for 3DS
Alleyway, a name some may recall as one of the original Game Boy's launch titles, has been rated by the ESRB. Although this may give the impression that it'll involve in-your-face Breakout-style action, the rating could very well be for the 3DS's Virtual Console. In that case, it'll be pretty rudimentary paddle bouncing 2D action. Our theory as to why this isn't an update, but rather a Virtual Console download: "3D" is missing from the title. If Nintendo was going to make a 3D version of the game, it would simply add the telltale two-letter descriptor to the end of the title, right?
Is Zelda about to hit the MMO space?
The land of Hyrule may be invading your computer very soon -- or maybe you will be invading it. Nintendo, creator of the console hit the Legend of Zelda, has just registered for an ESRB rating for a game called Zelda Universe. According to the ESRB website, this mysterious game has received an "E" rating with "violence" as the only descriptive text, but the game is listed as "online." Although all other Nintendo games have a console listed along with the rating, this particular title does not. This could very well mean that everyone's favorite adventurer will appear in an MMORPG. The official website for the Legend of Zelda games is called Zelda Universe, but the Entertainment Software Rating Board is not in the habit of handing out ratings to online content unless that content is also a game. Perhaps this is one of the big announcements Nintendo will reveal in its presentation at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in less than 12 days.
