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ESRB rates Metal Slug XX for US release
Hey, look, it's Metal Slug ... er ... oh, right, Double X. (Sorry, had to study the sprites.) Anyway, earlier this month we brought you first word of the game -- now it's been rated by the ESRB (T for "Teen," specifically) which, as we all know, is a prelude to games being announced for domestic release.The game's publisher is listed as SNK Corporation of America itself, seemingly indicating a digital download-only future for the title. That's fine by us -- as long as it doesn't go the way of the M.I.A. PSP minis. Seriously, where are they? Metal Slug XX hits Japan in December, so we'd expect it to roll ashore here in early 2010.%Gallery-74833%
PSP minis developer surprised by cost of ESRB ratings [Update]
Here's one reason why PSP minis are more expensive than their iPhone counterparts: the ESRB. Sony doesn't enforce any control over the pricing of minis, but they do mandate getting approval from the ESRB ratings board. That, apparently, has been a significant hidden cost some developers didn't expect. "You have to invest some money into dev kits and into getting ratings for your game. The costs of ratings such us ESRB is significantly more then we had realized," Fieldrunners developer Sergei Gourski told Gamasutra. According to a posting at GameDev.net, the cost of getting an approval is $2,500. [Update: The ESRB responded to our story, correcting the price. "ESRB has a reduced fee of $800 for games that have development costs under $250,000, which would likely apply to virtually all PSP Minis."] Content developed for the iPhone doesn't need to go through the ratings board, an oversight which, surprisingly, has yet to attract a media call-to-arms. Should the ESRB succeed in courting Apple as the defacto ratings system for the iPhone, the high cost of approval should curtail one of the largest problems facing the iPhone store today: having too much content, a sentiment shared by Minigore developer Kimmo Vihola. Vihola noted that "[Apple's] process is starting to crack from the seams," and pointed out that Sony's turnaround time on minis is much faster than Apple's store. Sony takes three to five days for approval, while Apple varies "from a couple of days to up to six weeks."
PSP Go launches with interactive ESRB guide
The PSP Go may not be able to play UMD games, but it will be able to ... um, tell you more about ESRB ratings? SCEA is doing its part to educate consumers about the video games ratings board by including an ESRB app on each and every PSP Go system. Considering most of us are already familiar with the ratings system, this move is simply to target ignorant parents. "If you don't need it, you can delete it," SCEA's Jeff Rubenstein reminded readers of the PlayStation.blog.While this small gesture won't sell any systems, it is a good step in the right direction. If all future consoles come with more information about the ESRB, it further cements the organization's credibility, and avoids potentially messy government regulation (as evidenced by Australia's latest debacle). However, we're sure that many of you will join us in deleting the app from the system on day one.
ESRB: Dragon Quest Wars draws near
Right above Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth (!!!) on the ESRB ratings page, a listing for Dragon Quest Wars reveals that Square Enix is considering a North American release for the DSiWare game.Dragon Quest Wars is a simplistic strategy game in which players control teams of four monsters, each trying to destroy the other teams or invade their bases (represented by a goal line). It's developed by Intelligent Systems, which makes it sort of a Nintendo/Square Enix collaboration. And it's got online multiplayer! It seems like a nice diversion while we wait to hear anything at all about Dragon Quest IX.
ESRB: Sing about urine and unprotected sex in SingStar Latino
Looks like Sony is expanding its SingStar library once again with SingStar Latino, an upcoming Spanish-language karaoke collection for PS2 and PS3. The ESRB description reads like a Harlequin novel at times, referencing "tight pants, bikini tops, bra-like tops, shirts/dresses that expose deep cleavage" and even more scandalous -- "touching breasts and crotch, grinding and gyrating hips." Is it getting warm in here?The ESRB also highlights some lyrics that are simply bizarre when taken out of context. One song seemingly encourages unprotected sex, according to the ESRB's translations: "Y no me hables de sexo seguro" [And don't talk to me about safe sex.] The full song -- Chenoa's "Cuando tu vas" -- is about love over sex.As for this lyric? "Mi agüita amarilla...Mo ja las ca lles...Y la empie zo a mear." [My little yellow water...It wets the streets...And I start to pee.] We can't even fathom how to explain that one. Watch both music videos after the break.
ESRB reveals Data East arcade collection on Wii and more
A bit of a news roundup from the ESRB today. First off, the ratings board revealed a collection of Data East arcade games for Wii, called Data East Arcade Classics, containing Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja (!), Burger Time, Caveman Ninja, Street Slam, Secret Agent, Magical Drop III, and more, published by Majesco. It would appear that Data East (or G-mode, the company that holds the rights to Data East's games) doesn't feel like charging 8 bucks for each game on the Virtual Console Arcade.Other surprises include Crash 'N The Boyz: Street Challenge (which was known as Crash 'N The Boys: Street Challenge on the NES), the Kunio (River City Ransom) sports game, and Tomena Sanner, the intriguingly quirky-looking one-button WiiWare running game from Konami! [Image credit]
ESRB rates Oddworld, Blood Omen and others for PSN
The ESRB has proven to be the unacknowledged PR firm for the announcement of Sony's PSOne Classics -- today, the ratings board released its biggest onslaught of upcoming PSN titles to date, including such gems as: Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain Cool Boarders 3 International Track & Field Oddworld: Abe's Exodus Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee Pandemonium! Syphon Filter 2 Um Jammer Lammy Some of these ratings are new -- however, Um Jammer Lammy has already been released in Japan, and Blood Omen and Pandemonium! were actually given ratings last March before mysteriously disappearing from the ESRB site. Hopefully, their resurfacing is indicative of their swift arrival -- we're jonesing for some old fashioned, Silicon Knights-branded Vampiolence.[Via CVG]
FCC considering universal game ratings, ESA unimpressed
According to a Bloomberg report, the FCC will soon begin looking into the development of a universal rating system that would span television, games and mobile phone content. Unsurprisingly, the move comes in response to a Congressional call to see whether inappropriate content is harming children and if the current laws are adequate to protect them. The Entertainment Software Association, according to the report, has previously stated that the FCC has no jurisdiction over video games. In a statement given to GameSpot, ESA senior vice president for communications and industry affairs Rich Taylor stated that the current ESRB rating system is "considered by parents, family advocates, the Federal Trade Commission, and elected officials as the gold standard in providing caregivers with the information they need to make the right choices for their families." He added further that a new universal system would "confuse consumers, violate the Constitution's first amendment, and are a solution in search of a problem." We might also add that television, video games and mobile phone content are -- with few exceptions -- different forms of media. After all, it doesn't really make sense to use the same scale to judge both Batman: Arkham Asylum and your "Yakety Sax" ringtone. Or does it? Source - Bloomberg Source - GameSpot
ESRB rates 'AO' version of Manhunt 2 for PC
Violent game poster child Manhunt 2 is headed to Windows PC according to the Entertainment Software Rating Board's online database. It appears to contain slightly different content from that found in 2008's M-rated console releases, as the PC entry has been rated "AO - Adults Only." Manhunt 2 initially had an AO rating in the States, but it was later changed to Mature (thus allowing it onto store shelves). Will the PC game feature all of the stuff that was deemed too mature for consoles? We've put in word to Rockstar for clarification and will update the story when we hear something.
ESRB: 2K Games making point-and-click 'Axel and Pixel' for Xbox 360 [update]
An OFLC listing spotted by superannuation and a similar ESRB listing (pictured above) point to a new point-and-click adventure called "Axel and Pixel" being developed by 2K Czech, the studio behind Mafia II [Update: 2K was kind enough to clarify that the game is being made by another Czech dev called Silver Wish Games.] According to the ESRB (which rates the game "E for Everyone"), players will "guide an artist and his dog through surreal and abstract environments." The game apparently presents environment puzzles that involve "redirecting a ray of light, throwing rocks at birds, and spraying water at a creature." Unlike the OFLC listing, the ESRB entry indicates only the Xbox 360 as a platform, so it would seem that the game is exclusive to Microsoft's console (and a potential candidate for XBLA), at least for the moment.
Square reboot Thexder NEO revealed by ESRB listing
Square Enix has its finger in a whole lot of pies right now -- but if a recent ESRB listing is any indication, the developer might be preparing to sully its digits in yet another pastry. Said listing is for a PS3 and PSP title called Thexder NEO -- a new entry in a classic Square-developed franchise, which first appeared on the prehistoric NEC PC-8801 platform before making its way to PC and NES. Considering Square held the reins of this IP back in 1985, we're assuming the company will develop this new title -- but until we get more details, there's no way to be sure.According to the ESRB listing, Thexder NEO is "a side-scrolling action game in which players control a transforming robot through a series of maze-like levels." Stop right there, ESRB listing. You had us at "robot."
ESRB rates new DS Assassin's Creed
The ESRB has revealed that, in addition to the PSP spin-off, another handheld Assassin's Creed game is on the way -- a DS Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles follow-up called Assassin's Creed II: Discovery. Could this be one of the "elements concerning the Assassin's Creed license" to which Yves Guillemot referred?It sounds less like a direct sequel to the first Assassin's Creed DS game and more like a companion piece to the console Assassin's Creed II, a belief based only on the fact that the ESRB content description notes that it is "set during the Renaissance." The only other useful information in the content description is that it's a "side-scrolling action game," which could mean the same kind of mostly side-scrolling play found in Altair's Chronicles.We're not surprised that Ubisoft hasn't said or shown anything related to this game. The company was similarly reticent about the first DS Assassin's Creed game -- after announcing it in October 2007, we didn't see a single screenshot until January, a month before its release.[Via GoNintendo]
Red Alert 3 'Commander's Challenge' costs $10, coming to 360 / PS3 this fall [update]
Update: To be clear, the Commander's Challenge content does not require a Red Alert 3 disc and will be sold as a standalone product. We're sorry for any confusion this may have caused. Though Command & Conquer Red Alert 3's Uprising expansion landed on PCs months ago, it seems a port of at least some of the expansion's content is heading to consoles this fall. The "Commander's Challenge" DLC standalone game is set to run you $10 and offers "50 intense challenges against a set of nine different commanders, including 16-time world champion "Nature Boy" Ric Flair." Sound familiar? That's because the ESRB let slip the first news of the DLC a little over a month ago. EA's official confirmation of the DLC game also speaks of "giant Soviet war bears" and an "army of psionic Japanese school girls," but that's all old hat for you Red Alert 3 players out there. Given the price and relative lateness of it, we're curious if anyone other than the most hardcore of RA3 fans will bother picking it up. Well, casual Red Alert 3 players?
ESRB rates 'Puzzle League Express' for DSi
We sometimes wonder just how upset publishers get when the ESRB spills their secrets. Case in point: the ratings organization has listed (and rated!) Puzzle League Express on its site as a Nintendo DSi title. (It's classified "Everyone," FYI.)Given that it's a DSi title with "Express" in its name, the logical conclusion (what other kind could you use when talking about a puzzle game?) is that this is an upcoming DSiWare take on the classic Nintendo puzzler last seen on DS as Planet Puzzle League. After all, we've already gotten Dr. Mario Express and Brain Age Express. Of course, Nintendo could always be releasing a highly illogical Puzzle League themed train sim, but we doubt it.[Via GoNintendo]
ESRB reveals localization plan for Let's Hitchhike
Let's Hitchhike from NIS (actually, Let's Zenryoku Hitchhike!!!!!!!!!, but we'll stick to Let's Hitchhike) is one of the weirdest games on WiiWare -- a board game with a hitchhiking mechanic and an angry restaurant owner as the primary antagonist. It might not be Muscle March weird, but it's quirky enough to get our attention.According to a new ESRB listing, NIS is planning to localize Let's Hitchhike as Full Blast Hitchhike. The content description offers two examples of the English version's "tongue in cheek humor": "What are the two sexiest farm animals? Brownchickenbrowncow!" and "Japanese girls are great! W-well...not as great as YOU, my pet." If you enjoyed those, be sure to give Full Blast Hitchhike a ride whenever it actually, you know, is announced and released for real.Also found via ESRB: the Wii version of Geon, now published by UFO Interactive and called Geon Cube -- not to be confused with Technos's Geom Cube.[Via GoNintendo]
Happy 15th Birthday, ESRB
Not only did this catch us off guard ... it makes us feel kind of old. Fifteen years ago today, the game industry got on the same page for one shining moment to propose the video game ratings organization, the ESRB, to Congress. It was a moving spirit of cooperation not seen again in the industry until everyone simultaneously decided to start charging $60 for games.There have been a lot of good times with the ESRB since, but we think we'll always most remember when it tried to stop leaking the existence of games a year ago. How adorable.
ESRB rating explains Dragon Age: Origins' sexual exploits
Our brief E3 demo of BioWare's upcoming massively-offline RPG Dragon Age: Origins left us fairly concerned. It seemed too much focus had been put on making the game a tawdry simulator for erotic rendezvous -- however, the game's recently released ESRB rating has assuaged our fears somewhat. According to the listing, the game features no nudity -- save for a pair of female demon breasts, which clearly don't count.While you can still shack up with your traveling cohorts, it appears any and all sweet love-making will take place off-screen. That's sorta classy, we guess -- though said class is somewhat canceled out by a brothel featured in the game that lets you hook up with "a woman, a man, a transsexual, or an animal." We're fairly certain that even implied in-game bestiality is enough to make it on Fox News for a week or two. Classiness rebuked![Via VG247]
The Scribblenauts ESRB listing is hilarious
Above, you can see the actual ESRB listing for the upcoming DS write-em-up, Scribblenauts. We've taken the liberty of blurring out the most boring bits. Left behind is just a tiny sampling of the truly wondrous things that Scribblenauts is capable of. Trust us, developer 5th Cell did its homework. We know, we checked. Seriously, any game that allows you to attach a steak to a baby in order to attract lions ... that's at least a rental, right? Scribblenauts drops this September. [Via NeoGAF]
John Morrissey's 'Video Game Timer' is made of pure evil
Look folks, we'll admit it -- it's been kind of awhile since we had nagging overlords demanding we shut off the game system and finish our homework. We can, however, understand the plight of our younger readers, worried their elders may find out about the built-in parental controls on Xbox 360 and simply flip a switch rather than engage their kids in spirited debate. Unfortunately, you guys may be in a bit of trouble, as John Morrissey, a man in Edina, Mn. recently took it upon himself to assist in the neverending War on Fun by inventing a device specifically meant to limit time spent playing games on, well, any electricity-based device. It's called the "Video Game Timer" (distributed by Digital Innovations).From the looks of the thing, you plug whatever electric device you'd like to limit access to into the VGT, set an amount of time, and that's that. Star Tribune says that the device emits "some warning beeps" before automatically shutting off the power, though we're wary of anything instantly cutting off the power to the games we're playing. If anything, the interaction between parent and child every time they want to play a game as a result of this will help to act as punishment for any parents out there thinking about purchasing such a game console chastity belt. For those parents out there trying to avoid such ... less than pleasant interactions with their kids, we humbly suggest the Entertainment Software Ratings Board.
Ed Boon: Next Mortal Kombat to be rated 'M'
If the uncharacteristic lack of over-the-top gore in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe was an issue for you, series co-creator Ed Boon has some good news for you. Now (very clearly) heading up development of the ninth MK game, the designer has been tweeting about its content, recently saying that, "People want an M-rated MK....dammit we will give them an M-rated MK."Boon also addressed a tweet he received asking what it would take to make an AO-rated MK, saying, "I dont know where the line is to make MK an AO rated game. But we definitely dont want to kross it." "KROSS" it? Oh Ed, you krazy klown. That never gets old![Via IndustryGamers]
