Gears of War escapes media watchdog's blacklist, appears kid-safe

As the National Institute on Media and the Family puts the finishing touches on its 11th annual Video Game Report Card*, rating parents', retailers', manufacturers' and the ESRB's efforts to keep M-rated content out of children's hands, we get an sneak peek at the media watchdog's holiday blacklist:

• Dead Rising
• Gangs of London
• The Godfather: Mob Wars
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
• Just Cause
• Mortal Kombat: Unchained
• Reservoir Dogs
• Saints Row
• Scarface: The World is Yours
• The Sopranos

It's unclear how high-profile shooter Gears of War escaped damnation -- perhaps sawing apart aliens isn't as distasteful as bludgeoning has-been humans (you know, zombies). Why the National Institute on Media and the Family chooses to single out the titles it does remains a mystery. All of the games listed above already carry M-ratings, as do countless others not on the list. Wanna protect your kids? Just go with the rating on the box.

*The "report card" presentation is scheduled to conclude at noon today.

See also:
(Don't) BUY these 10 violent games
Game industry receives a D+, deemed "beyond repair"