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Think of the Children for August 29th

Think of the Children for August 29th

Written by Dan Keener on 8/29/2007 for DS   PC   PS2   PS3   PSP   Wii   360  
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The ESRB was extremely busy in the last week, with some 42 submissions getting rated (including some dupes on different platforms.) Looking over the list, we can see that a controversial title finally makes good, pro basketball season is drawing near, the PC and DS platforms are dominating the amount of games getting released and the ultimate (good or bad) corporate tie-in game has surfaced.
 
Probably the biggest item from this weeks ESRB list is the second coming of the toned down Rockstar Games offering Manhunt 2, which received a ‘M’ for Mature rating after getting the dreaded ‘AO’ for Adults Only earlier this year. Rockstar likes to push the boundaries as evidenced by their Grand Theft Auto series, but sometimes you wonder if getting a bad “rep” can sway the ratings board when it comes to future titles. Regardless, Manhunt 2 still garnered the ‘M’ rating for Sex, Drugs, Blood violence and strong language. Something for all underage kids to look forward too.
 
Well, the NBA is right around the corners as no less than six of the entries were devoted to NBA 08, NBA Live 08 and NBA 08: The Life Volume 3 on six different platforms. It will be interesting to see if SCEA actually delivers a full 1080P game with NBA 08 instead of the half-ass attempt with NBA 07. Regardless, the SCEA and EA NBA offerings are all rated ‘E’ for Exploited.
 
If anyone thought Next-Gen consoles were the dominate platforms of the here and now, they would be dead wrong. While the Xbox 360 and PS3 have sold well in recent weeks and have many games due out, the PC and Nintendo DS remain the runaway leaders in games being rated. While many are low budget, sequels or even unnecessary, they are getting cranked out at a rate of 2 to 1 versus true next-gen games over the last two weeks.
Last but not least is our weekly ESRB coming out party, and something that looks to be a pathetic corporate tie-in for the Xbox 360 (unless of course it is free.) A game rating of E10+ was issued for Yaris for the Xbox 360. Last August there was a report that a Yaris driving game would be coming to the Xbox 360 Xbox Live Arcade service. Nothing ever happened, but the ESRB may have just breathed some new life back into that.
 
Game Platforms Publisher ESRB rating
Chessmaster: The Art of Learning Nintendo DS Ubisoft E
Manhunt 2 PlayStation 2, PSP Rockstar Games M
Manhunt 2 Wii Rockstar Games M
NBA 08 The Life Volume 3 PlayStation 2 SCEA E
Spy-Q Nintendo DS Eidos E
Tony Hawk's Proving Ground Nintendo DS Activision E10+
Turok Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 Disney Interactive Studios M
Walt Disney Pictures Presents Enchanted Nintendo DS Disney Interactive Studios E
Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2008 Nintendo DS Konami Digital Entertainment E
1914-Shells of Fury Windows PC Strategy First E10+
Build-A-Bear Workshop Nintendo DS The Game Factory ApS E
Cars Mater-National Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 THQ Inc E
Clive Barker's Jericho Windows PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 Codemasters Software Co LTD M
Guilty Gear XX Accent Core PlayStation 2, Wii Aksys Games Localization, Inc. T
NBA 08 PlayStation 3 SCEA E
Petz Hamsterz Life 2 Nintendo DS Ubisoft E
Super Pickups PlayStation 2 XS Games LLC E
The Sims 2 Castaway Nintendo DS Electronic Arts E
Thrillville: Off the Rails Windows PC, PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii LucasArts E10+
Tony Hawk's Proving Ground Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 Activision T
Beautiful Katamari Xbox 360 Namco Bandai Games America E
Bleach: The Blade of Fate Nintendo DS SEGA of America T
Buzz Jr! Jungle Party PlayStation 2 SCEA E10+
Flip or Flop: Home Edition Windows PC eGames Inc E
Rubik's Cube Challenge Windows PC eGames Inc E
Soul Nomad & The World Eaters PlayStation 2 NIS America Inc. T
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Windows PC eGames Inc E
Yaris Xbox 360 Backbone Emeryville E10+
7 Wonders II Windows PC United Developers E
Bleach: Shattered Blade Wii SEGA of America T
Conan Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 THQ M
NBA Live 08 Windows PC, PlayStation 2 Electronic Arts E
NBA Live 08 Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 Electronic Arts E
NBA Live 08 Wii Electronic Arts E
NBA Live 08 PSP Electronic Arts E
Petz Catz 2 Nintendo DS Ubisoft E
Rebel Raiders: Operation Nighthawk Wii XS Games LLC E10+
Sudoku & Kakuro Mania Unlimited Windows PC Selectsoft Publishing / MPS E
Super C Wii Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. E
Syphon Filter: Combat Ops PSP Sony Computer Entertainment America T
Top Gear Downforce Nintendo DS Merscom E
Trainz Railwayz Windows PC Merscom E
 
Here is the final tally on who, what and where everything was rated. There were 42 rated entries on seven platforms. Nintendo DS (11), Windows PC (10), Xbox 360 (9) and Playstation 2 (7) had the most games rated. There were six of the 42 games at E10+ or lower, six rated at T for Teen and four rated at M for Mature (Includes Conan, Manhunt 2, Clive Barkers Jericho and Turok).
 
Until next week, make sure you know what your kids are playing……

* 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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