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Think of the Children for August 20th

Think of the Children for August 20th

Written by Dan Keener on 8/20/2008 for DS   PC   PS2   PS3   PSP   Wii   360  
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Another week brings another large list of rated titles from the ESRB. Much like last week, it is loaded with all kinds of titles with something for everyone. The PC, Wii and DS have many kids’ titles and casual games as usual, while the 360 and PS3 again have another week of balance. It is also interesting to note that the late summer is definitely the time of the third party, as there are very few games the last few weeks that both consoles aren’t both getting rated. As for the interesting title of the week, it is actually three of them, they aren’t games and you can only get them from one place.

There are lots of goodies for the kids this week in the land of the PC, Wii and DS. I know I say that every week, but it seemed like there was a higher concentration than normal. Titles include Back At The Barnyard: Slop Bucket Games (DS), Backyard Football '09 (DS), Disney Bolt: Be-Awesome Edition (DS), Sponge Bob Square Pants featuring NickToons Globs of Doom (DS), Ultimate I SPY (Wii), Safari Doctor (Wii), We Cheer (Wii) Little Farm (PC) and Igor: The Game (PC,Wii). There are even more than that, so check out the list below.

This week brings another solid group of rated titles for both the S3 and 360. Each console saw Madden NFL 09 en Español, ShellShock 2: Blood Trails and the highly anticipated Saints Row 2 and Rock Revolution on the list. In addition, the 360 also had Guilty Gear 2: Overture rated. It’s always nice to see console games with the ‘M’ rating come out (Saint’s Row 2 and ShellShock 2), because even if they stink, there will be lots of gore, animated blood and simulated nastiness all available in Hi Definition. I’m personally interested in Rock Revolution to see how Konami will take the Music Ensemble games to the next level.

The Intriguing Titles of the Week are the Talkman Travel series from SCEA. The intial ratings (and versions) feature the three cities of Paris, Rome and Tokyo. After doing a little research, it turns out these are mini travel guides that you can play on your PSP. Apparently, they contain common phrases and photos to help you get around these three cities. They appear to be interactive as well, allowing the unit to “speak” phrases through the PSP speakers if you just can’t get the words out of your mouth right. The nice thing is that these are DLC straight from the Playstation Network and only cost $5.99 per city. Hopefully they will continue to support these to keep them updated, otherwise they will become out-of-date and no better than a 10-year-old pamphlet found stuffed into a seat at a train station in Budapest.

Title Publisher Rating Platforms
Dairy Dash Encore Software Everyone Macintosh, Windows PC
Emma at the Farm Aspyr Media, Inc. Everyone Nintendo DS
Hoyle Enchanted Puzzles Encore Software Everyone Windows PC
Movie Party Ubisoft Everyone 10+ Wii
National Geographic Panda Namco Bandai Everyone Nintendo DS
Safari Doctor Ubisoft Everyone Wii
SpongeBob SquarePants featuring NickToons Globs of Doom THQ Inc Everyone Nintendo DS
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 THQ Inc Teen PlayStation 2, PSP
YUMMY YUMMY COOKING JAM Virtual Toys S.L. Everyone Wii
World in Conflict: Complete Vivendi Games Teen Windows PC
Wedding Dash 2: Rings around the world Encore Software Everyone Macintosh, Windows PC
Ultimate I SPY Scholastic Inc. Everyone Wii
The Incredible Maze Digital Leisure Inc. Everyone Wii
The Lord of the Rings: Conquest Electronic Arts Everyone 10+ Nintendo DS
Secret of the Silver Earring DreamCatcher Teen Windows PC
Little Farm Mumbo Jumbo Everyone Windows PC
Madden NFL 09 en Español Electronic Arts Everyone Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Marine World DreamCatcher Everyone 10+ Windows PC
Igor: The Game Southpeak Games Everyone Windows PC, Wii
Disney Bolt: Be-Awesome Edition / DGamer Disney Interactive Studios Everyone Nintendo DS
Circus Games Ubisoft Everyone Wii
Cross Fire G4Box Inc. Teen Windows PC
Doggie Dash Encore Software Everyone Macintosh, Windows PC
Emma in the Mountains Aspyr Media, Inc. Everyone Nintendo DS
EnerG: Horse Rider Ubisoft Everyone Wii
Avatar: The Last Airbender - Into the Inferno THQ Inc Everyone Nintendo DS
Back At The Barnyard: Slop Bucket Games THQ Inc Everyone Nintendo DS
Backyard Football '09 Atari Everyone Nintendo DS
MadStone RiverMan Media LLC. Everyone Wii
ShellShock 2: Blood Trails Eidos Interactive Mature Windows PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Rock Revolution Konami Teen Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii
Pet Vet: Down Under Koch Media Everyone Nintendo DS
Tak and the Guardians of Gross THQ Inc Everyone 10+ PlayStation 2, Wii
The Last Half of Darkness: Beyond the Spirit's Eye Tri Synergy Inc. Teen Windows PC
We Cheer Namco Bandai Everyone 10+ Wii
MechanicMaster Midway Home Entertainment Everyone Nintendo DS
Mystery in London Activision Value Everyone 10+ Windows PC
Guilty Gear 2: Overture Aksys Games Teen Xbox 360
Allen Carr's EASYWAY to Stop Smoking Ubisoft Everyone Nintendo DS
Fashion Boutique RealNetworks Everyone 10+ Macintosh, Windows PC
Drivers' Ed Portable DreamCatcher Everyone Nintendo DS
Monster Quest Activision Value Everyone Macintosh, Windows PC
Lost in Blue: Shipwrecked Konami Everyone 10+ Wii
Transformers Animated: The Game Activision Everyone Nintendo DS
Talkman Travel: Paris SCEA Everyone PSP
Talkman Travel: Rome SCEA Everyone PSP
Talkman Travel: Tokyo SCEA Everyone PSP
STALKER Clear Sky Koch Media Mature Windows PC
Saints Row 2 THQ Inc Mature Windows PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Here is the final tally on who, what and where everything was rated for the last two weeks. There were 49 rated titles on eight platforms. PC (17), DS (14), Wii (13), Wii (11), Xbox 360 (5) and Macintosh (5) had the most games rated. There were 39 of the 49 titles rated at E10+ or lower, seven rated at T for Teen and three (Saint’s Row 2, ShellShock 2: Blood Trails and STALKER Clear Sky) rated at M for Mature.


Got a comment on the article or a rated games, put it in the section below or send me an e-mail. Until next week, make sure you know what your kids are playing……

*The weekly Intriguing Title of the Week (and any game that is tossed in that paragraph) is identified based on a game on the list that catches the eye of the author for any number of reasons. Good, bad or otherwise, feel free to agree, disagree or add some constructive input to the discussion.

* The product in this article was sent to us by the developer/company.


About Author

Like many gamers in their 40's, I developed my love of gaming from my Commodore 64 after we wore out our Intellivision. I spent countless hours wandering around the streets of Skara Brae, as my life was immersed in The Bard's Tale series on the C-64, D&D Titles and any/all Epyx titles (California Summer and Winter Games) and sports titles.  After taking the early 90's off from gaming (college years) minus the occasional Bill Walsh College Football on Sega, I was re-introduced to PC games in the mid 1990's with a couple of little games called DOOM II and Diablo. I went all-in with the last generation of consoles, getting an Xbox 360 on launch weekend as well as adding a PS3 and Wii in subsequent years.  I now am into the current-generation (latest?) of consoles with the WiiU and Xbox One.  Recently, I was able to get back into PC gaming and have enjoyed it very much, spending most of my time going solo or playing with my fellow GamingNexus staffers in controlled multiplayer action.

While my byline is on many reviews, articles and countless news stories, I have a passion for and spent the last several years at GamingNexus focusing on audio & video and accessories as they relate to gaming. Having over 20 years of Home Theater consulting and sales under my belt, it is quite enjoyable to spend some of my time viewing gaming through the A/V perspective. While I haven't yet made it to one of the major gaming conventions (PAX or E3), I have represented GamingNexus at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in nine of the last ten years.

Personally, I have been a staff member at GamingNexus since 2006 and am in my third tour of duty after taking off the last year and a half.


 

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