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Nielsen preparing 'Digital Program Ratings' pilot program to track streaming viewers
According to the Wall Street Journal, Nielsen's TV ratings are about to get some company, with a system that covers internet watchers. A "Nielsen Digital Program Ratings" pilot program will debut with participation from NBC, Fox, ABC, Univision, Discovery and A&E, tracking the viewership of streaming video they post on their websites. AOL (parent company of Engadget) is also reported to be participating, as the networks compare the data to their internal statistics before the ratings system gets a wider rollout. Of course, even the system they're testing will only jump so far into the future -- while it will track viewing on computers, it's still leaving out phones and tablets. Networks want to track anywhere content is viewed -- one of the issues we've been told they have with tech like Aereo or TWC TV -- to sell ads against it, we'll wait for more details to see if they'll have any success extending the current model to other types of screens.
Glassdoor: Apple employees love Tim Cook
Glassdoor is a site that allows employees of various corporations to rate how they think their management is doing (while remaining anonymous), and the company has shared some info with TUAW that it says comes out of Apple's campus in Cupertino. The site works kind of like Yelp for employees, as users can come along and leave ratings and reviews for their own company. But presumably this information came from anyone who works for Apple, not just the employees that work directly with CEO Tim Cook in California. And what's the word? In short, they love him. Cook has never had anything less than a 92% approval rating since this time last year, and his current approval rating sits at 93% among employees leaving reviews on Glassdoor. During his time overseeing the company, Steve Jobs held a 97% approval rating, and Cook is a few points below that, but still -- Apple employees think he's doing a great job. Glassdoor also shared a few comments from users who identified as employees actually working in Cupertino, and they called Cook "a CEO who demands work before 6 a.m. everyday, and 'accountability without control'." Another engineer from Cupertino said that "no work/life balance is to be expected at Apple," and that management required employees to be "reachable after work hours." But despite those extra requirements, employees in general seem like enjoy Cook's management. Obviously, these reviewers are all basically self-selected, and like Yelp, this is not exactly an objective look at exactly what the entire company thinks of how things are going over there. But as far as this data goes, it seems like Cook has the support of his employees, and those choosing to report from inside Apple are happy with where the company is at.
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.
Nielsen ratings expand definition of TV households to include internet-only viewers
The Nielsen Company has monitored TV audiences since 1950, but soon it will expand that definition from solely households with antenna, cable or satellite access, but also those that have dropped those options but still get video over the internet. Reflecting the changing times, the move was first noted by The Hollywood Reporter and confirmed later by company executives to the New York Times and LA Times. Nielsen hinted at changes two years ago when TV ownership dropped for the first time in decades, which may turn around since the new definition includes viewers with internet-connected TVs, and could go further to include viewers with just a tablet or laptop. According to senior VP Pat McDonough, that means views over services like Aereo can be counted, since they still contain advertisements, which is what broadcasters rely on the ratings for, unlike ad-free Netflix or Hulu streams with different ads. Because of that, it seems unlikely the change will boost the numbers of internet darlings like Community or Arrested Development, but we can dream, right?
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.
Vimeo introduces content ratings for videos, keeps its platform in check
Vimeo's certainly made its presence felt inside multiple media-delivery mezzanines, but the video service isn't forgetting all about the basics: its own platform. As such, Vimeo today announced some more changes to its website, which will see the introduction of a content rating system for published videos. The most recent alterations, as seen in the picture above, add an assessed rating badge to a user's video, making it a requirement to brand any uploads as "All Audiences," "Mature," or "Not Yet Rated." According to Vimeo, these content ratings are "the first step along a path that will make Vimeo more accessible to more audiences," adding that sometimes it's a a good idea to let folks know "if a face is going to explode or if someone is going to take their jean shorts off."
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.
Yelp adding hygiene ratings to New York and San Francisco restaurant listings
Yelp is great for sizing up unvisited eateries, and soon some users will be able to complement review results with a side of hygiene inspection ratings. "Health Scores" will be added to listings in New York and San Francisco over the next few weeks, with Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago next in line. The most recent rating will show up on the restaurant hub, but go deeper and you'll find a history of recent inspections, including notes on any violations. A "new open data standard" called LIVES (Local Inspector Value-entry Specification) is behind the feature, allowing local authorities to add inspection outcomes straight into Yelp. We're sure users will appreciate the extra info when scoping out new places, or even checking up on old favorites -- but they might not like what they find. One example restaurant linked in Yelp's blog post has a Health Score of 92 out of 100, which sounds all good until you see one of the most recent violations was due to "Rodents / Roaches / Flies / Other Animals." Tasty!
Nielsen teams up with Twitter to create social TV ratings
Nielsen's long been the gold standard for TV ratings, and as our watching habits change, the firm's reforming its ways to keep track of what we're watching. Earlier this year it combined its online and broadcast metrics to give advertisers a more comprehensive look at a show's reach, and now its going to track how much buzz shows are getting on Twitter. Called the Nielsen Twitter TV Rating, it aims to provide a look at real-time social activity during programming, so networks can provide tailored interactive experiences and better engage with their viewers. What kind of interactive experiences, you ask? We aren't sure just yet, but you can get the full PR spiel touting the nebulous benefits of the forthcoming Twitter tracking after the break.
How a kid-friendly app leaks mature content via YouTube
With the rose-hued glasses of nostalgia firmly in place, today's tech-tangled parents may long for a simpler pre-Internet time when kids simply got into fights or stayed out too late, rather than getting tangled up in sexting mishaps or giving out inappropriate personal info on Facebook. For all technology's hazards, however, it has given moms and dads the opportunity to engage and explore our kids' preferences in media and leisure activities collaboratively with them. When we're enabled by parental controls or app ratings to help our kids make good choices, that's a win. When the rating systems or the restrictions don't encompass an edge case, unfortunately, that's a problem. Reader Chris A. emailed us to point out a subtle gap in the App Store's rating system when it comes to games and other apps aimed at kids. The example app here is the Avengers Initiative game (US$6.99 and rated 9+ for cartoon violence), but several others exhibit the same potential issue. In the settings and social content area for Avengers Initiative, there's an option to visit the "Marvel XP" microsite for supplementary content, character profiles, videos and so on. In order to get to the good stuff, you've got to register a Marvel account; in fairness to the company and to Apple, there is an age challenge during registration that requires you to say you're 13 or older in order to sign up. A parent might sign up for a child, however, on the assumption that the web content in Marvel XP would be consistent with the rest of the app. Here's where it gets dicey: the video content in Marvel XP is hosted on YouTube, so if a young person taps on the Hulk's video introduction the player window that comes up includes the YouTube player bar on the bottom. Guess what happens if you tap the YouTube logo in the bottom right corner? Indeed, the device screen is taken over with the full m.youtube.com interface, including the search button. Funky sexy adult-type videos, here we come! You can see the steps to reproduce this in the video below (hosted, un-ironically, by YouTube). Sure, it's an obscure pathway to get to the fun stuff. But this is likely reproducible in most applications with embedded YouTube content, regardless of rating or intended audience. Disabling the YouTube app (pre-iOS 6) doesn't block it, nor would putting restrictions on Safari. It's simply not considered in the ratings matrix. The good news is, there may be a simple fix for these apps that keeps the video, but without the "let me see the whole world" button. YouTube's "modestbranding" flag, applied to the embed HTML snippet, should permit developers to embed video sans logo & link which may in turn keep the tots from meandering around. If the Ghostbusters and Avengers app teams took this simple step, that would help Chris's peace of mind when it comes to his kids' iPad time. Developers who don't have the correct embedding setup should probably let parents know that the apps they're browsing include a video escape clause. Another way around the whole problem: game devs, don't host your video content for your sub-17+ apps on YouTube at all. Pony up for a paid account on Viddler or simply run your own streaming server, instead. Rating apps on content and appropriateness is never going to be a perfect system. Most apps that provide web browser functionality should technically be rated 17+, which has been a point of contention for years now. On some level, that flag makes some sense; there's no way for the iOS restrictions system to control where those apps end up on the big scary Web. Different families will have different tolerances for exposure to edgy or inappropriate content on YouTube. (I think I hit my limit this weekend when the Harry Potter videogame playthrough chosen by my eight-year-old turned out to include a rather impressive amount of profanity.) But it's harder to have the conversation about what's appropriate or allowed if you don't even know about the library of out-there videos that's hiding in plain sight, right behind the Hulk.
Ask Massively: Reviewing and re-reviewing MMOs
Back in September, Star Trek Online Producer Daniel Stahl gave an interview that proposed to tell game journalists how to do their jobs. That's only fair; we're always telling developers how to do their jobs, right? Stahl told [a]listdaily, "The whole game rating business doesn't necessarily do a great justice to MMOs. MMOs are designed to grow over time and get better with every major release. It might be better if sites like Metacritic could find a way to rate MMOs by releases instead of just the initial day one . . . There are plenty of MMOs that have made huge strides since day one and some that have even gotten worse. Until then, we will continue to offer the game for free and ask for people to try it out and decide for themselves." Quipped Massively reader Matthew12, "If only there were MMO gaming blogs and websites that keep up to date with the MMOs and their updates... oh wait; there are."
Breakfast Topic: What rating would you give your guild chat?
Here in the US, the Motion Picture Association of America assigns ratings to our movies. A quick summary of each: G Suitable for all audiences PG Parental guidance suggested PG-13 Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13 R Parent or guardian must accompany those under 17 NC-17 Too adult for 17 and under, so they aren't even admitted In It came from the Blog, the rule for guildchat is that it must be PG-13. In the Sex Talk edition of Drama Mamas, the guild's forum chat seems to be closer to NC-17. Now, I don't think that talking about sex necessarily means that the chatters are immature. Mature people can have very mature conversations. But the R to NC-17 chatter in trade chat and battlegrounds is from immature people. There is a huge difference between inappropriately sexual and maturely sexual. But I digress. Many family guilds will keep it from G to PG, but some stronger language and more mature topics are often allowed at night. It came from the Blog can't do that because we have Australians and other international folk whose days overlap with our nights. We don't want people to be wary of letting their kids play with us because of time zone prejudice. What rating would you give your guildchat?
Uncharted: Fight for Fortune rated in Brazil, Australia, listed as Vita 'casino/card game'
Uncharted: Fight for Fortune is an upcoming casino/cards-based game for Vita, according to listings on Brazilian and Australian ratings boards. The Australian classification lists One Loop Games as the developer, a studio responsible for mobile games God of War: Betrayal and Ratchet & Clank: Going Mobile. One Loop also worked on Full Spectrum Warrior and The Saboteur. The Brazilian classification details Uncharted: Fight for Fortune's platform as Vita, and the genre as "casino/card games." However, it may also be coming to PS3, as the Australian board lists it as multi-platform. One Loop's website lists the developer as working on two "secret projects," with one described as the studio's "first big game" as well as being completed.We've reached out to One Loop Games for comment.
Foursquare Explore for iOS rates places by check-in popularity, doesn't see stars
Gauging the quality of a restaurant or store through star ratings is often just slightly more reliable than picking blindfolded; one undercooked stir fry may tank the ratings for what's otherwise a stellar eatery. In that sense, Foursquare's revamped Explore for iOS users is a long-overdue replacement for an old concept. Rather than let the overly emotional guide our decisions, the update assigns ratings from a 10-point system based on how many people check in, how many are regulars and the number of tips or likes -- in short, the degree to which people actually like to visit. Imagine that. Foursquare hasn't said when Android and other platforms will see the Explore switchover, but it shouldn't be too long before everyone knows where the local hotspot is without a few exceptions spoiling the rule.
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.
Google announces simplified Zagat ratings, launches new application for Android
Avid Zagat users may or may not tell you that the Google-owned restaurant finder service hasn't exactly been offering the best rating system possible. With the most recent update, however, the hard-working devs from Mountain View are aiming to fix those woes, announcing that it's now "easier than ever" to publish reviews on the platform. The new rating system, as you can see above, will let users in on a more simplified scoring method, with the ability to simply rate as "poor-fair," "good," "very good" or "excellent." Meanwhile, Google also launched a revamped, free-of-charge Zagat app for Android, which brings all the features you love to both handsets and slates. You'll find the fresh application at the Google Play link below.
Painkiller remake hits PC on October 31, consoles January 2013
Painkiller: Hell and Damnation is set to smite up Halloween when it's unleashed October 31 on PC. Publisher Nordic Games also scribbled in a demonicon to us that those interested in the PS3 and Xbox 360 editions have to damn well wait until January 22, 2013.Nordic describes the version being released this month as "totally uncut," and that same uncut version arrives in three months' time for Xbox 360 and PS3. A cut version also releases on January 22, perhaps to satiate German regulators who didn't give the uncut version a rating, effectively prohibiting its sale in the country.Hell and Damnation is a remake of the 2004 shooter from Polish studio People Can Fly, now of Bulletstorm fame. People Can Fly's compatriots The Farm 51 are handling the remake, offering a new story that throws Daniel into purgatory once more, forced to fight through to Hell and back all over again. Curiously, the original Painkiller (and subsequent games in the series) received 18+ ratings in Germany, so we wonder what The Farm 51 added to its remake's uncut version to push regulators over the edge.The PC version comes in Standard and Collector's editions priced at $19.99 and $29.99 respectively, with the latter including plenty of hellish swag. Shell out the extra $10 and you'll get stickers, postcards, a behind-the-scenes artbook, a making-of DVD, a ten-track soundtrack, and some in-game goodies too. The PS3 and 360 versions cost $29.99%Gallery-167915%
Amazon patents online haggling system that keeps buyers, sellers on the up and up
Haggling is so popular that it's virtually mandatory in some parts of the world, and yet it's rarely an option in the online space outside of informal auctions. If Amazon ever puts its newly granted patent into practice, however, we could soon be trying for a better price without the mock drama of a face-to-face encounter. The retailer's proposed haggling system lets buyers and sellers make offers and counteroffers until they reach a happy medium, but with the kind of honesty check we only wish we could have in person. Both buyers and sellers get ratings that would account for their flexibility, typical closing prices and how likely they are to drop a deal before it's done -- a combination that hopefully excludes the cheapskates and those who'd simply keep our wheels spinning. Even if Amazon pulls the trigger on negotiated sales, though, it's a fairly safe bet that there won't be any leeway on that Kindle Fire HD.
Kaleidescape teases movie download store; brings Rotten Tomatoes, Leonard Maltin to its servers
Last year at CEDIA we were introduced to Kaleidescape's iPad control app, and this year its back and enhanced with the addition of movie ratings from Rotten Tomatoes, and content rating info from Common Sense Media. Rotten Tomatoes can help viewers tell if a particular flick in their collection is any good, while Common Sense Media is built around detailed breakdowns of what potentially objectionable content is in each title so parents can decide what their children are ready to see. Both should reach end users with the free app by the end of this year. Another tweak it's adding to its movie servers is the Leonard Maltin Recommends Collection. It's a pack of movies updated quarterly (the 17-disc Blu-ray collection is available for the low, low price of $445) that the respected film critic feels are unappreciated greats, to which he adds his own thoughts, anecdotes and behind the scenes info. A more ambitious development however, is the Kaleidescape Download Store the company was giving an "early sneak preview" of behind closed doors. While its claim to fame has always been disc servers that store user's movies, making them accessible with as little physical media interaction as possible (and antagonizing the MPAA) its next step is a full digital media distribution service, potentially tied into UltraViolet. There's not a lot in the way of specifics, but it will be interesting to see how Kaleidescape and Hollywood get along when it comes to selling downloadable content compared to the old wars of the past, whenever the new service actually arrives for its high-end customers.
Madden 13's top ten defenders, more receivers ratings revealed
With Madden NFL 13 launching in less than a week, EA Sports unleashed its latest category of player ratings for the game. The video above details the top ten overall defenders in the game to start the season.Notably missing from the top ten list are defenders from the Super Bowl champion New York Giants team, such as Jason Pierre-Paul. Even considering his offseason injury, it's a curious decision to leave the 2011 Defensive Player of the Year winner Terrell Suggs out of the top ten list as well, while putting his fellow Baltimore Ravens teammates Haloti Ngata and Ed Reed in the mix.As usual, EA Sports began casting votes for the top-rated defenders in speed, tackling, hit power, and man coverage on their Facebook page this week. Currently, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson is winning in the speed category, Patrick Willis of the 49ers has a slim lead over Ray Lewis of the Ravens in the hit power category and also is in the lead for the tackling category. Darrelle Revis, New York Jets cornerback and number one defender in the game is leading the vote for the highest man coverage rating.Lastly, EA Sports recently released a complete list of ratings for every receiver in the game. Take a look at a more thorough breakdown of the top ten wide receivers and tight ends in Madden 13 and their overall, speed, acceleration, strength, awareness, and catching ratings after the break.
