Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Australian government finally introduces R18+ bill, to go into effect next year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/australian-government-finally-introduces-r18-bill-to-go-into-e/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/australian-government-finally-introduces-r18-bill-to-go-into-e/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/australian-government-finally-introduces-r18-bill-to-go-into-e/#comments Australia's game rating woes are almost over. After years of debate and legal discussion about an R18+ rating for video games there (that would allow for the equivalent of the ESRB's M-rated games to be released without, you know, being illegal), the government has finally agreed to the new rating, aiming to enact it as early as next year. A bill setting up the extra rating was introduced to the Federal Parliament this week, and is expected to pass easily through the House and Senate.

The bill would go into effect sooner, but the Federal Minister for Home Affairs says the government needs time to finish all of the paperwork on the new regulation, and to allow each state and territory to draft its own laws enforcing the rating. The bill wouldn't mandate a nationwide rating, but simply allow each territory to create its own.

But that shouldn't be an issue, according to those in the know. Apparently, there's plenty of public support already. There were almost 60,000 submissions from the public responding to a discussion paper from 2010, and 98% of those were strongly in support of games rated R18+. As soon as the laws go into effect, retailers will be free to sell games as needed to anyone old enough to buy them.

JoystiqAustralian government finally introduces R18+ bill, to go into effect next year originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiachildrenfederal-parliamentgameslegislationmaturer18ratingrulingThu, 16 Feb 2012 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ESRB breakdowns say 5 percent of games were rated M in 2010]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/esrb-breakdowns-say-5-percent-of-games-were-rated-m-in-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/esrb-breakdowns-say-5-percent-of-games-were-rated-m-in-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/esrb-breakdowns-say-5-percent-of-games-were-rated-m-in-2010/#comments The Entertainment Software Ratings Board has published its annual breakdown of classifications it applied to 2010's video game releases, arranged in the delicious-looking pie chart posted above. As you can see, Mature games made up a surprisingly small sliver of the whole -- only 5 percent of the 1,638 games rated last year received an "M" rating, a drop in the bucket compared to the 55 percent of games that received an "E" designation.

These statistics haven't changed much over the past few years -- actually, Mature games actually fell by one percent year-over-year. So, you know, if anyone tries to convince you that games are solely designed to mold everyday citizens into unfeeling murderbots, feel free to drop that knowledge on them.

JoystiqESRB breakdowns say 5 percent of games were rated M in 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010esrbeveryoneindustrymatureratingsstatisticsTue, 15 Mar 2011 21:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard appeals StarCraft 2 Korean 'Adults Only' rating]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/22/blizzard-appeals-starcraft-2-korean-adults-only-rating/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/22/blizzard-appeals-starcraft-2-korean-adults-only-rating/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/22/blizzard-appeals-starcraft-2-korean-adults-only-rating/#comments Blizzard has zerg rushed an appeal together to combat South Korea's "Adults Only" rating for upcoming South Korean narcotic StarCraft 2. Shacknews reports that the rating was based on an old build of the game, and that Blizzard has already submitted a new version to petition the board for a lower rating.

Blizzard is likely taking StarCraft 2's launch and accessibility in South Korea very seriously. The original game is popular enough to support many incredibly well-paid professional players, and there's lots of money on the line -- albeit not always legally.

JoystiqBlizzard appeals StarCraft 2 Korean 'Adults Only' rating originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentkoreamatureratingssouth-koreasouth-korea-ministry-of-culture-sports-and-tourismstarcraft-2Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:25:00 EST<![CDATA[New Australian AG backpedals on R+18 rating]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/12/new-australian-ag-backpedals-on-r-18-rating/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/12/new-australian-ag-backpedals-on-r-18-rating/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/12/new-australian-ag-backpedals-on-r-18-rating/#comments Remember those fuzzy, triumphant feelings we felt when new South Australian Attorney General John Rau supposedly voiced his unswerving support for adopting an R18+ rating for violent video games in the region? Yeah, those feelings have officially been depleted -- in a recent interview with GameSpot, Rau stated that he "can neither support nor wisely argue against a position if I am not aware of the relevant factors."

No, it's not like Rau's adopted the staunch anti-violent game stance of his predecessor, controversial AG Michael Atkinson. However, considering Gamers4Croydon president Chris Prior said Rau's stance on the issue was that it would be "just common sense to introduce" the mature rating to the territory, his actual, noncommittal stance is a little disappointing. We're not sure our delicate emotions can take much more of this back-and-forth.

[Via GamePolitics]

JoystiqNew Australian AG backpedals on R+18 rating originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attorney-generalaustrailiabanjohn-raulawmaturemichael-atkinsonpoliticsr18Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Australian mature game detractor Michael Atkinson stepping down]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/21/australian-mature-game-detractor-michael-atkinson-stepping-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/21/australian-mature-game-detractor-michael-atkinson-stepping-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/21/australian-mature-game-detractor-michael-atkinson-stepping-down/#comments South Austrailian Attorney General Michael Atkinson, the gentleman almost single-handedly responsible for preventing the nation from adopting an R18+ rating for games, is stepping down from the front bench. The controversial figure will remain on the Australian parliament until the 2014 elections, but is stepping down from his position to bring in some fresh blood from the Labor party. "I think there are talented people on the Labor backbench who deserve a go," Atkinson explained.

There's no telling whether the new A.G. will share Atkinson's position on the outright banning of mature games, but judging by the cornucopia of tips we received from overjoyed Aussies last night, there's plenty of room for hope.

JoystiqAustralian mature game detractor Michael Atkinson stepping down originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 21 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attorney-generalaustraliamaturemichael-atkinsonpoliticsr18south-australiaSun, 21 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EB Games endorses R18+ rating in Australia]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/eb-games-endorses-r18-rating-in-australia/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/eb-games-endorses-r18-rating-in-australia/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/eb-games-endorses-r18-rating-in-australia/#comments Australia isn't just dangerous because of its abundance of deadly, poisonous wildlife, it's also not a great place to live if you're an adult gamer. See, the country's maximum rating for video games has long been MA 15+, meaning that a mature game must either be censored down to what the country deems is suitable for a 15 year old individual or outright banned from release in the country. This forces many gamers to navigate the seedy streets and back alleys of the importing scene. Nasty stuff, believe us.

But, there's hope. A new rating of R18+ has been a hot topic as of late. Recently, the government has been receptive to a change in the legislature, despite South Australian attorney general Michael Atkinson's vehement disapproval. The public is able to weigh in on the proposed change right now, but retailer EB Games has also decided to join the fight for more mature titles. And like anyone else trying to get something done on the internet, it's started a petition.

The "Grow Up Australia & EB Games" petition pretty much mirrors the same form found on the Aussie government's site here, so if you're a bloke or sheila who has already voiced your opinions on the government site, there's no need to fill out this new EB Games questionnaire. If not, get on it. The deadline is February 28.

[Via IGN]

JoystiqEB Games endorses R18+ rating in Australia originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiaaustralian-classification-boardeb-gamesebgamesmatureoflcozr18ratingsWed, 03 Feb 2010 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega 'probably not' making more hardcore Wii games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/04/sega-probably-not-making-more-hardcore-wii-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/04/sega-probably-not-making-more-hardcore-wii-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/04/sega-probably-not-making-more-hardcore-wii-games/#comments Sega gave it the old college try in 2009, reaching out to "mature" gamers with the likes of MadWorld, The Conduit and House of the Dead: Overkill. But after none of those made much of an NPDent, it would seem the publisher may be abandoning the practice. While speaking on the performance of those games during the 4 Guys 1UP podcast, Sega of America studio director Constantine Hantzopoulos said, "That begets the question, you know, are we gonna do more mature titles for the Wii and it's like ... probably not."

Hantzopoulos then pointed to the poor performance of Dead Space: Extraction on the Wii, saying he had been using it as a litmus test for the potential of mature titles on the platform. In other news, Sega has apparently decided on "be a little more arrogant" as its New Year's resolution.

JoystiqSega 'probably not' making more hardcore Wii games originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardcorehouse-of-the-dead-overkillmadworldmatureNintendosalessegathe-conduitWiiMon, 04 Jan 2010 09:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Zangeki no Reginleiv just assumes you don't need all those limbs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/23/zangeki-no-reginleiv-just-assumes-you-dont-need-all-those-limbs/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/23/zangeki-no-reginleiv-just-assumes-you-dont-need-all-those-limbs/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/23/zangeki-no-reginleiv-just-assumes-you-dont-need-all-those-limbs/#comments
Zangeki no Reginleiv, everybody! No, we didn't just wish you happy holidays in Russian -- that's the name of Nintendo's upcoming Japanese release (it basically means "Dynamic Slash," or "Dynamic Zan") that's not only its first Cero D-rated ("M") title ever, but also developed by Sandlot, the folks behind 2007's action gem-in-the-rough Earth Defense Force 2017. As you can see in the new trailer (posted for your viewing enjoyment after the break), the game features Norse heroes doing some MotionPlus-enabled hacking and slashing that results in screen-filling sprays of blood and dismemberment. Good, good times.

It's highly unlikely we'll ever see this one show up here in North America -- Nintendo of America and mature games don't usually mix well. But you can still grab your Wiimote, watch this trailer while waving your arms around, and dream.

Continue reading Zangeki no Reginleiv just assumes you don't need all those limbs

JoystiqZangeki no Reginleiv just assumes you don't need all those limbs originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dismembermentearth-defense-forceearth-defense-force-2017earth-defense-force-3gamesjapanmaturemotionplusnintendonorse-mythologyreleasesandlotwii-motionpluswiimotezangeki-no-regenleivzangeki-no-reginleivWed, 23 Dec 2009 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Brazilian senator hopes to ban sale of 'offensive' games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/05/brazilian-senator-hopes-to-ban-sale-of-violent-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/05/brazilian-senator-hopes-to-ban-sale-of-violent-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/05/brazilian-senator-hopes-to-ban-sale-of-violent-games/#comments
[Rondonia Digital]
Though Brazil is no stranger to banning video games, a recently proposed bill from Senator Valdir Raupp certainly seems pretty drastic. Raupp's bill, which was recently passed by the Education Commission of the Senate, and will now go to vote in the Committee on Constitution and Justice, seeks to "curb the manufacture, distribution, importation, distribution, trading and custody, storage [of] the video games that affect the customs [and] traditions of the people, their worship, creeds, religions and symbols."

According to Brazilian news site UOL, if the bill passes, folks caught violating the law could be subject to one to three years imprisonment. That's quite a bit of jail time to serve for just importing a copy of Grand Theft Auto IV, dont'cha think?

[Via GamePolitics]

JoystiqBrazilian senator hopes to ban sale of 'offensive' games originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banbillbrazillawmaturepoliticssenateviolenceSat, 05 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[FTC commends ESRB and gaming industry for self-regulation practices]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/ftc-commends-esrb-and-gaming-industry-for-self-regulation-practi/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/ftc-commends-esrb-and-gaming-industry-for-self-regulation-practi/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/ftc-commends-esrb-and-gaming-industry-for-self-regulation-practi/#comments The Federal Trade Commission recently published a report which should simultaneously flatter the video game industry and stymie adversaries of the medium's terribly corruptive properties. In the report, the FTC says the gaming industry "outpaces" all other channels of entertainment in regards to its self-regulatory policies on marketing and advertising products which feature mature content.

The report praises the ESRB's ratings system, stating that 80 percent of M-rated games sales to minors are prevented by retailers. In addition, the report found that no ads for mature games were being run before 10 p.m., adding that the Commission found little evidence of M-rated game advertisements being targeted towards minors. The only exception? That episode of Hannah Montana where Hannah traveled back in time to 15th century Italy to become a professional assassin. Admittedly, that was kind of ethically dubious.

JoystiqFTC commends ESRB and gaming industry for self-regulation practices originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingesrbFederal-Trade-CommissionftcmarketingmatureratingFri, 04 Dec 2009 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Shin Megami Tensei password system lets your demons make Strange Journeys]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/02/shin-megami-tensei-password-system-lets-your-demons-make-strange/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/02/shin-megami-tensei-password-system-lets-your-demons-make-strange/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/02/shin-megami-tensei-password-system-lets-your-demons-make-strange/#commentsAtlus revealed a password system for its upcoming Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey, through which players will be able to trade copies of their customized, leveled-up, fused demons. In addition to being able to generate your own passwords to share your awesome demons with others, Atlus will release passwords for some rare creatures.

In addition, the updated box art image shows an M rating. Clearly, demon hunting is serious business, to be left to the big kids! As Siliconera notes, there are only ten DS games with M ratings, out of 1,366 total releases.

JoystiqShin Megami Tensei password system lets your demons make Strange Journeys originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atlusesrbmaturerpgshin-megami-tenseishin-megami-tensei-strange-journeyWed, 02 Dec 2009 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Australian attorney general refuses to support 18+ game rating]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/30/australian-attorney-general-refuses-to-support-18-game-rating/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/30/australian-attorney-general-refuses-to-support-18-game-rating/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/30/australian-attorney-general-refuses-to-support-18-game-rating/#comments Australia has a long, sordid history when it comes to banning the sale of mature games. Titles which exceed the limits of the Office of Film and Literature Classification's MA15+ rating are refused classification, preventing them from being sold in the Land Down Under. Following such a ban on Valve's Left 4 Dead 2, the introduction of an R18+ rating has been feverishly debated by the nation's officials -- however, a South Australian attorney general named Michael Atkinson is holding up the proceedings by vehemently opposing the adoption of the mature rating.

Atkinson told Australian news outlet News.com.au that he's uncomfortable with the interactive nature of the medium. "People are participating and 'acting-out' violence and criminal behaviour when they are playing a video game," he explained, later adding, "it certainly does restrict choice to a small degree, but that is the price of keeping this material from children and vulnerable adults. In my view, the small sacrifice is worth it."

Rarely can governmental actions be attributed to just one person, but the OFLC's refusal to rate mature titles is a direct result of Atkinson's opposition. Remember, this is the same guy who tried to censor a public document which canvassed Australians on the issue in an attempt to better advise the nation's ratings officials. He censored the study on censorship. Consider our mind truly boggled.

[Via GamesIndustry]

JoystiqAustralian attorney general refuses to support 18+ game rating originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiabanlawleft-4-dead-2maturemichael-atkinsonMicrosoftoflcr18ratingvalveXbox-360Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Venezuela could completely ban the sale of violent video games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/26/venezuela-could-completely-ban-the-sale-of-violent-video-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/26/venezuela-could-completely-ban-the-sale-of-violent-video-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/26/venezuela-could-completely-ban-the-sale-of-violent-video-games/#comments
If a bill currently being reviewed by Venezuela's parliament is formally approved by the nation's president, then gamers living in the country may have (legally) purchased their last M-rated title. The "Bill for the Prohibition of Video Games and Toy Weapons" aims to completely ban the sale of violent video games (and, as you may have guessed, toy weapons) in the country. It was approved by the National Assembly yesterday, and now must be approved in one more debate and signed by the president to become a law.

The bill was written out of concern for the negative effect violent video games and toys are having on the nation's youth (sigh), but was also created to prevent the use of toy weapons in real crimes. We'd scoff at this, too -- but we just watched a harrowing cinematic example of this type of criminal activity. It must be stopped!

JoystiqVenezuela could completely ban the sale of violent video games originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banbillgovernmentlawmatureparliamentpoliticstoy-weaponsvenezuelaviolenceWed, 26 Aug 2009 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo 3 to include parental controls, region-specific gore edits]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/25/diablo-3-to-include-parental-controls-region-specific-edits/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/25/diablo-3-to-include-parental-controls-region-specific-edits/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/25/diablo-3-to-include-parental-controls-region-specific-edits/#comments
Diablo 3 designer Jay Wilson was on hand at the recent GamesCom, where he met up with Wired and frankly discussed the game's gore. He confirmed that the title would not only have parental controls, but could have a lot of its signature violence stripped for select regions. "Yeah, we're going to have to be able to turn off blood, change the color and things like that, because you can't have red blood in some regions, regions that we would very much like to sell the game in," Wilson said.

Though he doesn't foresee any issue in selling the game in Germany and Australia, Blizzard will have to carefully weigh its options when it comes to a release in in China. "With our relationship with NetEase, we recently got new information about what China really wants, and it's a lengthy list. It's really hard for us to cater to. We'll try. There's no reason we wouldn't want to go there, but there is a certain point where we'd have to redo so much of the game that it's not viable anymore," Wilson explained.

JoystiqDiablo 3 to include parental controls, region-specific gore edits originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzarddiablodiablo-3diablo-iiigorematureparental-controlsviolenceTue, 25 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Heavy Rain's David Cage to deliver keynote at GDC Europe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/28/heavy-rains-david-cage-to-deliver-keynote-at-gdc-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/28/heavy-rains-david-cage-to-deliver-keynote-at-gdc-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/28/heavy-rains-david-cage-to-deliver-keynote-at-gdc-europe/#comments
Administrators of the European version of the Game Developers Conference just revealed yet another keynote speaker for the event -- not at all shockingly, the speaker is Quantic Dream CEO and founder David Cage, whose company has released titles such as Omikron: The Nomad Soul and Fahrenheit (or Indigo Prophecy, as it was known in the States), and is currently hard at work on Heavy Rain. Considering said studio is based out of Paris, we suppose Cage is European enough to keynote the conference.

Cage's address sounds pretty interesting -- it's titled "Writing Interactive Narrative For A Mature Audience." Considering what we've seen of Heavy Rain, he's probably the right person to deliver such a speech. However, considering what we remember of Indigo Prophecy, the first half of the speech will likely be gripping and insightful, and the second half will be nigh-incomprehensible. We fully expect to hear Illuminati conspiracy theories spoken in Esperanto. Backwards.
[Image]
[Via Edge Online]

JoystiqHeavy Rain's David Cage to deliver keynote at GDC Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>david-cagefahrenheitgdc-europeheavy-rainindigo-prophecykeynotematurespeechTue, 28 Jul 2009 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[RE5 producer: Mature games will sell on Wii , but need an 'X-Factor' (hint: it's 'Resident Evil')]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/re5-producer-mature-games-will-sell-on-wii-but-need-an-x-fac/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/re5-producer-mature-games-will-sell-on-wii-but-need-an-x-fac/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/re5-producer-mature-games-will-sell-on-wii-but-need-an-x-fac/#comments Mature games can sell well on Wii; just ask Resident Evil 5 (and RE: The Darkside Chronicles) producer, Masachika Kawata. Speaking to VideoGamer.com, he acknowledged that it's not easy for adult-oriented titles to break out on the system, but says it's still possible given hard work and an "X-Factor."

One of the roadblocks mature games face on Wii is perception, Kawta said. "People get this perception that on Nintendo Wii all there is are cutesy games. However, when you actually try to develop a game on Wii it costs you money, it's time consuming and it's not the easiest console to deal with." So, real games (i.e. ones that aren't cute) are hard to -- wait, did he just say "cutesy" games aren't games? Well, he has been around blood and gore an awful lot lately, but still.

"There are good [mature] games that didn't sell, obviously," Kawata admitted. "You need an X-Factor." We presume he's talking about the likes of Platinum Games' excellent MadWorld, which we have to admit probably would have sold better with the "X-Factor" that's served Capcom so well on Wii: the words "Resident Evil" in the title.

JoystiqRE5 producer: Mature games will sell on Wii , but need an 'X-Factor' (hint: it's 'Resident Evil') originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>masachika-kawatamatureNintendoresident-evilresident-evil-the-darkside-chroniclessalesWiiThu, 09 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Deadly Creatures may have failed, but its tech lives on]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/01/deadly-creatures-may-have-failed-but-its-tech-lives-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/01/deadly-creatures-may-have-failed-but-its-tech-lives-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/01/deadly-creatures-may-have-failed-but-its-tech-lives-on/#commentsRainbow Studios' Deadly Creatures apparently didn't work out at retail. For whatever reason, the Wii audience just wasn't excited about a game featuring a scorpion and a tarantula having adventures and getting into fights, despite how awesome that premise is.

THQ CEO Brian Farrell, however, isn't dwelling on the sales or declaring no more Wii development. He offered a surprisingly positive outlook on the situation in an interview with G4's Feed. "... we have great Wii technology there now and so we're developing other games -- stay tuned for the announcements," he said, "but we intend to leverage that great technology on the Wii in the future."

Having a well-designed Wii engine is good news indeed, especially since Deadly Creatures was a pretty nice-looking game (well, actually it was disgusting, but in a technically impressive way).

JoystiqDeadly Creatures may have failed, but its tech lives on originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deadly-creaturesmaturerainbow-studiosthqWed, 01 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega considering more mature Wii titles, says Overkill was 'profitable']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/sega-considering-more-mature-wii-titles-says-overkill-was-prof/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/sega-considering-more-mature-wii-titles-says-overkill-was-prof/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/sega-considering-more-mature-wii-titles-says-overkill-was-prof/#comments
We loved the mother[expletive deleted] [expletive deleted] out of Sega's recent mature pair of Wii titles, House of the Dead: Overkill and MadWorld -- unfortunately, the same can't be said for the game purchasing population of the world. The two games' sales were far from stellar, but Sega isn't ready to give up on developing family unfriendly titles for Nintendo's home console.

In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Sega MD of European development, Gary Dunn, explained that the company's outlook on its two grown-up outings is far from grim -- he even claimed that "House of the Dead: Overkill was a profitable title." He went on to explain, "Whilst MadWorld commercially didn't sell what we were expecting I wouldn't say it's game over for mature Wii titles from Sega." Hopefully the company's persistence will be rewarded, if only to ensure a few dozen sequels to Overkill. (Overkill 2: Superfluous Murder, Overkill 3: The Overkillinest, etc.)

JoystiqSega considering more mature Wii titles, says Overkill was 'profitable' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>house-of-the-dead-overkillmadworldmatureNintendoplatinum-gamessegaWiiTue, 30 Jun 2009 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[House of the Dead: Overkill sells 45k in February]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/22/house-of-the-dead-overkill-sells-45k-in-february/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/22/house-of-the-dead-overkill-sells-45k-in-february/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/22/house-of-the-dead-overkill-sells-45k-in-february/#comments
Sega's latest (on rails) shooter -- and Guinness World Record holder -- The House of the Dead: Overkill sold 45,000 units in February, landing itself 50th place in the month's top 100 titles sold. According to data from the NPD Group (Via Edge), Overkill -- which released on February 10 -- joins other third-party Wii titles that have failed to capture attention at retail.

Last year, Sega of America president Simon Jeffery said Western publishers have ignored the hardcore market focusing instead on family friendly titles, in line with the Wii's mainstream image. Sega -- who recently released MadWorld -- is prepping for a June release of The Conduit, continuing a string of Mature rated titles developed for the top-selling console. Hopefully, it will fare better on store shelves.

JoystiqHouse of the Dead: Overkill sells 45k in February originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>house-of-the-deadhouse-of-the-dead-overkillmadworldmaturenpdsalessegathe-conduitSun, 22 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Oklahoma senator proposes tax incentives for devs of non-Mature games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/25/oklahoma-senator-proposes-tax-incentives-for-devs-of-non-mature/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/25/oklahoma-senator-proposes-tax-incentives-for-devs-of-non-mature/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/25/oklahoma-senator-proposes-tax-incentives-for-devs-of-non-mature/#commentsFiled under:


Oklahoma offers a surprisingly accommodating atmosphere for media producers -- the state offers tax incentives for many creators of TV shows, films and commercials, provided they do said production in-state. Now, Sen. Anthony Sykes (R) is attempting to offer the same sweet deal to creators of video games, but with one small caveat -- the incentives would only apply to developers of games that garner a Teen rating or lower from the ESRB.

It's a policy that's not exactly equal to somewhat similar restrictions placed on the other types incentive-earning media -- for instance, to be eligible, films and TV shows cannot contain child pornography or obscenity, meaning an R rated film or TV-MA show could ostensibly earn the incentive, while a video game adaptation of said film/show likely would not. It's not clear whether the bill will pick up enough momentum to get passed, though a similar bill was successfully adopted in neighboring state Texas.

JoystiqOklahoma senator proposes tax incentives for devs of non-Mature games originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>billmatureoklahomapoliticstax-incentiveSun, 25 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega: Mature-themed games the way forward]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/sega-mature-themed-games-the-way-forward/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/sega-mature-themed-games-the-way-forward/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/sega-mature-themed-games-the-way-forward/#commentsFiled under:


Click for more MATURE-THEMED imagery.

Sega, the company that put Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games in two million British homes, has seen the future on Wii -- and it's not minigame-shaped.

Rather than follow the herd, Sega intends to aim squarely at a part of the market it feels is being neglected: mature-themed Wii games. Sega's Alan Pritchard and John Clark both hope that the company can capitalize on what they perceive as a lack of "hardcore titles" on Wii, and to be fair to Sega, they're putting their money where their mouth is, by publishing House of the Dead: Overkill, The Conduit, and MadWorld.

On the subject of MadWorld, the publisher has promised that Platinum Games' bloody, stylized action game is a Wii exclusive. A small fuss was kicked up after the game was listed by the OFLC as "Multi Platform," but Sega has already reassured several sites that MadWorld isn't making eyes at other consoles.


Source: Sega on mature-themed games.
Source: MadWorld a Wii exclusive [Via Sega Nerds]

JoystiqSega: Mature-themed games the way forward originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionexclusivemadworldmatureplatinum-gamessegaMon, 19 Jan 2009 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[MadWorld producer talks mature Wii titles, sequels, minigames]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/madworld-producer-talks-mature-wii-titles-sequels-mini-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/madworld-producer-talks-mature-wii-titles-sequels-mini-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/madworld-producer-talks-mature-wii-titles-sequels-mini-games/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Despite having few ultra-violent titles in its library (most notably Manhunt 2 and No More Heroes), the Wii can't seem to shake its "kiddie" moniker. MadWorld producer Atsushi Inaba hopes to change that, telling play.tm, "It would be great if MadWorld can really kick off [a trend of mature titles]." He also opined that the console's hardware capacity is not a problem so long as you can "correctly communicate the concept or features of the game." Seeing as we're able to envision waggling the remote and producing lots of virtual blood, we think he might be onto something.

Inaba also said that they're (gasp!) considering a sequel should the game be successful. If that's not enough of a non-surprise for you, he reminds us that there will be minigames -- known here as "Blood Bath Challenges." This is a Wii title, after all.

Gallery: MadWorld

JoystiqMadWorld producer talks mature Wii titles, sequels, minigames originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atsushi-inabainabamad-worldmadworldmaturemini-gamesplatinum-gamessegaWiiWed, 14 Jan 2009 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[M-rated Tomb Raider a possibility?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/m-rated-tomb-raider-a-possibility/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/m-rated-tomb-raider-a-possibility/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/m-rated-tomb-raider-a-possibility/#commentsFiled under: ,

Eidos recently laid off 30 employees at Crystal Dynamics, including Tomb Raider: Underworld creative director Eric Lindstrom. Understandably bitter about Eidos' cost-cutting, Lindstrom is now answering fan questions on a popular Tomb Raider fan forum, giving an intriguing and frank insight into the development process (including details Eidos probably didn't want publicized).

One of the more interesting factoids to emerge from Lindstrom's open Q & A session is that Crystal Dynamics was held back by Eidos from making Underworld an M-rated title. "I wanted to do things that a Teen rating prevented," explained Lindstrom, "but I also wanted it to get the players the first unrated games, did. In the end it didn't matter because publishing wanted it to be Teen."

So far, the Tomb Raider franchise has contained only Teen-rated games, but was a Mature title still a possibility? Says Lindstrom: "The managers who said it had to be Teen left some time ago, so maybe that could change sometime." We assume such a game would either include more violence, or, as some sites have been quick to suggest, a more risqué depiction of Lara.

Though something evidently has to change after Underworld's disappointing sales, does anybody else find such a prospect depressing? We'd prefer it if Eidos concentrated on shipping games that, y'know, functioned correctly. Also, while we're discussing Underworld, we figured this would be an appropriate place to mention the Zero Punctuation review, which just popped up in our RSS feeds -- catch the video after the jump!

Continue reading M-rated Tomb Raider a possibility?

JoystiqM-rated Tomb Raider a possibility? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actioncrystal-dynamicseidoseric-lindstromesrblara-croftm-ratedmaturenuditypuzzleratingtomb-raidertomb-raider-underworldzero-punctuationWed, 14 Jan 2009 17:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Best Buy ad rerates DS games as mature]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/best-buy-ad-rerates-ds-games-as-mature/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/best-buy-ad-rerates-ds-games-as-mature/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/best-buy-ad-rerates-ds-games-as-mature/#commentsFiled under:


Today's Best Buy flyer has overridden the ESRB and given Final Fantasy IV, Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 and MYST all "Mature" ratings. We have no idea how this happened, as the box images from the publishers should have the proper ratings. It's not like Best Buy's flyer design team adds the ratings to each box (and if they do, we feel bad for them). In the online version of the ad, hovering over the games with the pointer does display the proper ratings.

We're amused, but just to be clear, Trauma Center is rated T for Teen, while Myst and FF IV are rated E for everyone.

[Thanks MGS0LID]

JoystiqBest Buy ad rerates DS games as mature originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-buyerrorflyermatureSun, 20 Jul 2008 11:43:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Daily: How about GTA, then?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/ds-daily-how-about-gta-then/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/ds-daily-how-about-gta-then/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/ds-daily-how-about-gta-then/#commentsFiled under:

Nintendo themselves would be the first to praise DS populairty with children and kindly elderly folk -- the polar opposite target markets for anything related to Grand Theft Auto. However, Cammie smiled that big smile of hers on stage at E3, spoke about Animal Crossing, Pokemon and Wii Music -- then casually slipped in the announcement of GTA: Chinatown Wars.

Does the DS have a place for GTA? Or, more accurately, should the DS have a place for GTA? With such a family-friendly system, are you at all surprised that Nintendo has opted to include such adult material?

JoystiqDS Daily: How about GTA, then? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionchinatown-warse3e3-2008e308grand-theft-autogtamatureWed, 16 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Wii's M-rated offerings rounded up]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/13/the-wiis-m-rated-offerings-rounded-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/13/the-wiis-m-rated-offerings-rounded-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/13/the-wiis-m-rated-offerings-rounded-up/#commentsFiled under:


Did you know that there are currently 17 M-rated games on the Wii? Some of them, like Target Terror, aren't out just yet, and some, like Escape from Bug Island, have already been largely forgotten to history. OMG Nintendo has an interesting look at six of the most important M-rated titles on the system, from No More Heroes to games that aren't No More Heroes. They also delve into some violent "classics" like Time Killers.

Each game gets a short description and a score, but what's interesting to us is that there's a description of the gore content of each game. It reminds us of the bizarre fixation we as gamers (and the game developers) have with violence. If something is "made for adults," we all immediately know why, and are usually right: it's bloody.

JoystiqThe Wii's M-rated offerings rounded up originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>escape-from-bug-islandmanhunt-2matureno-more-heroesresident-evil-4Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Graphs point out Wii's immaturity]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/graphs-point-out-wiis-immaturity/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/graphs-point-out-wiis-immaturity/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/graphs-point-out-wiis-immaturity/#commentsFiled under:



Gamasutra has taken the time to compare the distribution of ESRB rated games for this and last generations' consoles. But, the best part is, they took the time to make some delicious graphs for us.

Some findings in this study are not surprising, such as the fact that the Nintendo consoles (the GBA, DS, GameCube, and Wii) have a significantly smaller percentage of mature games than their competitors. What is interesting, though, is that the Wii (so far) has a smaller percentage of mature games than its predecessor, the GameCube.

The reason we find this of note is because the GameCube was largely regarded as a "kiddie" system by many of its critics, and yet it had a larger distribution of "M" games than the GBA, DS, or Wii. The GameCube was also the least successful (in terms of sales and arguably in other areas, too) of all the consoles in the study.

As a Nintendo gamer, what is your take on the distribution of mature games for the Wii? Is it okay to be so largely outnumbered by games with other ratings, or do you wish Nintendo would find more balance? The small percentage of mature games certainly hasn't hindered the Wii's success so far, but can it alienate the "hardcore" gamers in the future?

JoystiqGraphs point out Wii's immaturity originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ESRBgamecubematurerated-mSat, 01 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TRU just says no to Dementium]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/tru-just-says-no-to-dementium/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/tru-just-says-no-to-dementium/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/tru-just-says-no-to-dementium/#commentsFiled under:

Looks like Target isn't the only one turning down titles lately -- Toys 'R' Us is getting into the game as well by not carrying either Manhunt 2 ... or Dementium! We're terribly disappointed in the retailer, but we could understand the motivation -- after all, if any store was ever aimed at children, it's TRU, and Dementium is a mature title.

However, it's not that simple. Word around the campfire is that the TRU folks made the decision not because of the game's rating, but because they didn't think it would be very popular and they didn't want to waste the space. Now, we're not sure what the gaming section is like at your local Toys 'R' Us, but we've seen some pretty questionable shovelware gracing the shelves down here. Is it an excuse to avoid any controversy, or is the retail giant planning to focus future shelf space only on release they feel are more likely to sell?

Regardless of the reason, while we can again understand a retailer aimed at children skipping mature titles (if they were consistent about it, that is), but randomly deciding what will and will not be popular is pretty lame. We remember another little game that got such treatment at first ....

JoystiqTRU just says no to Dementium originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controversydementiumhorrormaturethe-wardtoys-r-ustruFri, 09 Nov 2007 16:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Revolutionary: This Revolution Hasn't Been Televised]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/16/revolutionary-this-revolution-hasnt-been-televised/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/16/revolutionary-this-revolution-hasnt-been-televised/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/16/revolutionary-this-revolution-hasnt-been-televised/#commentsFiled under:

Every Tuesday, Mike Sylvester brings you REVOLUTIONARY, a look at the wide world of Wii possibilities.

Thought of by many as the "Disney of video gaming," Nintendo has crafted themselves an image of family-friendly entertainment. But to certain generations and classes of gamers, the term "family-friendly" is synonymous with "kiddy," and immediately sparks disinterest. But ever since publishing Rare's Killer Instinct, they've been working on broadening the public's perspective. Trying to appeal to the bloodlust of the Mortal Kombat crowd didn't give them any headway, and as generations progressed and they've garnered more "mature-themed" titles, they still haven't been able to shake the "kiddy console" stigma.

Even after snagging the exclusivity to the Resident Evil series for a generation, Nintendo was largely overlooked by the Playstation-bred gamers that were brought up on the series. How much more will it take for Wii to be regarded as a platform that can satisfy the tastes of mature gamers?

Continue reading Revolutionary: This Revolution Hasn't Been Televised

JoystiqRevolutionary: This Revolution Hasn't Been Televised originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adultConkerCooking-MamaDisasterEndless-OceanEndlessOceanjoystiqfeaturesmarketingmatureResident-EvilResidentEvilRevolutionaryScarfaceTrauma-CenterTraumaCenterTue, 16 Oct 2007 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Study: M rated games have higher scores, better sales]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/study-m-rated-games-have-higher-scores-better-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/study-m-rated-games-have-higher-scores-better-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/study-m-rated-games-have-higher-scores-better-sales/#commentsFiled under:

Two mothers are talking over a cup a tea. "I think my Billy is going to be well off," she said. "He's got the heart of a teenager. Doesn't swear or advocate violence or engage in promiscuous sex or any of that! He's going far in life."

The second mother shakes her head. "Sue Ellen, that's just not how the world works nowadays. My son John is a foul-mouthed bully who dreams about rivers of napalm and who picks fights with the local church group. In this zany world, John will be richer and more well-respected than that wuss you bore."

If that conversation makes no sense, replace the mothers with game publishers and the tea with, well, hot coffee. A recent study by the Electronic Entertainment Design and Research firm concluded that games rated Mature by the ESRB, despite being only one-tenth of the titles examined, "have both the highest average Metacritic scores and the highest average gross sales in the United States."

What does this say about the average video game consumer? It's hard to say, but we're thinking the industry is learning to grow up with its audience.

JoystiqStudy: M rated games have higher scores, better sales originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eedaresrbmatureresearchstudyTue, 11 Sep 2007 12:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Manhunt 2 trims down to Mature rating for October release]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/24/manhunt-2-trims-down-to-mature-rating-for-october-release/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/24/manhunt-2-trims-down-to-mature-rating-for-october-release/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/24/manhunt-2-trims-down-to-mature-rating-for-october-release/#commentsFiled under:


The New York Times called this one -- a slimmer, sleeker, and we can only guess happier Manhunt 2 will hit shelves, appropriately enough, on Halloween. The ESRB issued a new rating for the game, lowering the Adults Only tag to Mature, which clears the game for release.

The game's fate in Europe, where it was banned in several countries, is as yet unknown, but we expect to hear some news on that front soon.

The entire debacle, though cleared up, is still disheartening. With the number of adult gamers increasing all the time, and comparisons between game and film content demonstrating the vast difference in standards, we hope that someday, something in the system will change. For now, however, it seems publishers and developers, and indeed, all of us, are at the mercy of the ESRB and the standards of Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft.

[Via Joystiq; image found here.]

JoystiqManhunt 2 trims down to Mature rating for October release originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AOcontroversyESRBHalloweenManhunt2MatureratingreleaseRockstarTake-TwoFri, 24 Aug 2007 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Taking a deeper look at mature games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/15/taking-a-deeper-look-at-mature-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/15/taking-a-deeper-look-at-mature-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/15/taking-a-deeper-look-at-mature-games/#commentsFiled under:

It's an old complaint -- Nintendo games are too "kiddie" and the systems don't feature enough mature fare. The problem is that all gamers tend to define mature games in a different way. For some, it's all about the violence and gore, while for others, deep, thoughtful gameplay is what makes a "mature" title, whatever the rating may be.

Ishaan Sahdev has an interesting little post up over at Games.net that delves into this, in which games like Super Paper Mario and Zelda titles are examined as examples of mature titles -- as are Hotel Dusk and Trace Memory for the DS. Maybe they seem like lighthearted fare, as in the case of Super Paper Mario, or feature a youthful protagonist, as with Trace Memory, but they offer a memorable gameplay experience that can pull gamers into another world. Maybe that's not something maturity has a lock on, but Sahdev is right when saying that it usually equates to an enjoyable game. Is that really the kind of mature that we need more examples of? We're not one to shun blood and gore, but a game doesn't have to be Halo to be as engrossing as Halo. Sometimes, all it takes is an Ace Attorney, quirky characters, and interesting dialogue ... blood not required.

[Via GoNintendo]

JoystiqTaking a deeper look at mature games originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>engrossingHotelDuskmatureTraceMemoryWed, 15 Aug 2007 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[NEVES of steel required to play this puzzle game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/26/neves-of-steel-required-to-play-this-puzzle-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/26/neves-of-steel-required-to-play-this-puzzle-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/26/neves-of-steel-required-to-play-this-puzzle-game/#commentsFiled under:

Yuke's Company of America announced yesterday that it will bring its grown-up puzzle game NEVES (previously mentioned here as Hamekomi Lucky Puzzle DS in Japan) to the States. According to the press release by U.S. publisher Atlus, players must "think critically as they align pieces and build figures that correspond to a silhouette. Each puzzle features seven wooden blocks, requiring the player to combine them to form specific figures ranging from simple items like a sword or key to more complicated ones such as birds or airplanes."

The concept reminds us of a tangram version of the Touch Puzzle mode on Tetris DS, and that was just a single mode in a much larger game. We commend Yuke's for creating games on the more cerebral side, but unique as the concept might be, we hope the title can pack enough variety to warrant more than a passing time investment. There is hope, however, since it will feature more than 500 puzzle pieces to manipulate and game modes including puzzle mode, time mode, versus mode, and count mode. (AH! AH! AH! One puzzle piece! TWO puzzle pieces! sorry, couldn't help it.)

Regardless, the DS is looking to be the premiere platform for the puzzle genre, and NEVES will bring a more mature tone when it arrives on American shores later this year.

Gallery: NEVES


Continue reading NEVES of steel required to play this puzzle game

JoystiqNEVES of steel required to play this puzzle game originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atlushamekomimaturenevespuzzletangramyukesThu, 26 Jul 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Naughtiness on the Nintendo DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/05/naughtiness-on-the-nintendo-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/05/naughtiness-on-the-nintendo-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/05/naughtiness-on-the-nintendo-ds/#commentsFiled under: ,



The Nintendo DS's software library is diverse enough to satisfy almost every genre craving or niche interest. If what you're looking for, however, is a game with more mature themes -- nudity and sexual content -- it's doubtful that your needs will be met. Japanese dating sims and witch fondling titles notwithstanding, the DS doesn't have any Leisure Suit Larrys, Hot Coffee mods, or even porno-Tetris clones.

But just like any other scene, the Nintendo DS has a network of people working outside of the fringe to create those illicit goods you'd never ask for at a respectable shop. They hustle their homemade software from the back-alleys of the internet, each downloaded bit transferred in a nondescript paper bag.

We're going to take you through that DS underworld, previewing a selection of homebrew games that are sure to arouse your interest. So put the kids to bed, light those candles you've been saving for a night like this, and slip into your robe and wizard hat. This feature is for adult eyes only!

Continue reading Naughtiness on the Nintendo DS

JoystiqNaughtiness on the Nintendo DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 May 2007 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adultaxeaxefeathercardsdsmaturenakednintendonintendodsnudepokerrockpaperscissorssexsexualcontentsexysrpsstripstripperstrippokerstriprockpaperscissorsteenage queenteenagequeenteenagequeenndstickleticklegirlvirusvirusdsya ya xxyaya xxyayaxxSat, 05 May 2007 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How would the ESRB rate your game collection?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/how-would-the-esrb-rate-your-game-collection/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/how-would-the-esrb-rate-your-game-collection/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/how-would-the-esrb-rate-your-game-collection/#commentsFiled under:

I'm very open to all sorts of games, be it genre or game rating. That being said, I've noticed that, more often than not, I'm buying mostly M-rated games. It's not a huge surprise to me. If given the option, I'd rather shoot someone in a game than shake their hand. It is a bit unique to a portable system though, and while I don't only love the PSP because I can play M rated games on it, I do appreciate it. Are you similar to me in this regard? If the ESRB were to give a blanket rating to your PSP game collection, what would it be? Did you get the PSP partly because of the ability to play more M rated games?

JoystiqHow would the ESRB rate your game collection? originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>esrbgame collectiongame ratingsGameCollectionGameRatingsmm ratingmatureMRatingThu, 12 Apr 2007 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: So just what do we want?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/14/wii-warm-up-so-just-what-do-we-want/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/14/wii-warm-up-so-just-what-do-we-want/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/14/wii-warm-up-so-just-what-do-we-want/#commentsFiled under:



GoNintendo's Kevin Cassidy (perhaps better known as Rawmeat Cowboy) had some interesting things to say about attitudes in the Nintendo fanboy community. Cassidy believes that we refuse to be pleased; we moan about a lack of third party titles, but decry those we have as being too kiddie, or old ports that are late to the party, or just crap. Essentially, he seems to say that while we love Nintendo and Nintendo's games, for the rest, we would maybe rather have a library that more resembles that of other consoles. And we don't want them a year later.

It's an interesting point, and over at big daddy Joystiq, Ross Miller countered with the notion that while "they" talk a lot, sales figures don't necessarily reflect this side of popular opinion. Still, Nintendo's uneven history with third party developers is a matter of record, and it's established that many people do think of Nintendo as the "kiddie" console.

It's a lot to consider this early in the morning, but it does leave us with a few questions. Are we, as a fanbase, too demanding? Are we asking too much of Nintendo ... or has the bar merely been set so high over the years that we expect nothing less than the best? Are we right to snub most third party offerings? Like any form of media, only a small percentage of releases actually shine, after all.

[Via Joystiq; image here.]

JoystiqWii Warm Up: So just what do we want? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Mar 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kiddiematureNintendothird partyThirdPartyWiiwwuWed, 14 Mar 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Jacky-boy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/27/wii-warm-up-jacky-boy/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/27/wii-warm-up-jacky-boy/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/27/wii-warm-up-jacky-boy/#commentsFiled under:

JackyboyyyyO', Jack Thompson, thou art gold for gaming journalists such as ourselves. Your wacky hijinks and unceasing, irrational behavior fill our lives with joy. But amidst his juvenile catcalling, logical fallacies, and overall rejection of sanity, we look at the upcoming Manhunt 2 and begin to wonder. This game might be, with the inclusion of the Wii controller, the most realistically violent game in the history of mankind. Though we still firmly believe that a game will never be the true cause of mental imbalances and disorders, we still have absolutely no system in place to prevent the sales of these games to minors; whatever you may think about Jack Thompson, this goal is an admirable one.

The industry is going to take heavy fire for this game regardless, but we feel as though his arguments hold a bit of water in this particular case. Do you feel strongly about the issue, and do you think we should have measures in place to prevent the acquisition of these games by kids who aren't equipped to properly process the violence in a nondestructive manner?

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Jacky-boy originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Feb 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JackLawManhuntMatureRockstarThompsonwwuTue, 27 Feb 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP: rated M for Mature]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/23/psp-rated-m-for-mature/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/23/psp-rated-m-for-mature/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/23/psp-rated-m-for-mature/#commentsFiled under:

This should come as no surprise to PSP owners, but it's interesting to see the numbers nonetheless. When looking through the ESRB database, one sees that the PSP offers a greater variety of games than Nintendo's handheld. The PSP features 30 titles with an M rating. The DS, on the other hand, only has 2.

Teen-rated games also find their home on the PSP. The DS only has 31 Teen-rated games, while the PSP has three times the number of titles, with 96 T-rated games.

While it's undeniable that the DS is selling better than the PSP, one has to wonder how many of those consoles are for adults. I'd assume not too many. Grand Theft Auto sold over a million copies on Sony's handheld, while LocoRoco went by mostly unnoticed. I think it should be pretty clear that the two portables are targeting two very different markets: and older gamers, like myself, enjoy the slightly more adult-themed games of the PSP.

JoystiqPSP: rated M for Mature originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Jan 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>esrbmatureTue, 23 Jan 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SNK's game is about witch-hunting, not girl-hunting]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/11/snk-game-is-about-witch-hunting-not-girl-hunting/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/11/snk-game-is-about-witch-hunting-not-girl-hunting/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/11/snk-game-is-about-witch-hunting-not-girl-hunting/#commentsFiled under:



Doki Doki Majo Saiban, a little game (which almost surely will go no further than Japan) from SNK that was shown at TGS is suddenly back in the news. Has it been released? Are there videos? Not so much. Instead, people have been busily photoshopping some very risqué images that are being passed off as official screens. Of course, that's nothing new -- and it wouldn't be surprising if they were actual screens. However, some of the outcry around this particular set of faked screens is that some of the "characters" look extremely young. A certain p-word has been bandied about in reference to the game, and we hate to see misinformation spread, particularly when it comes to branding something as being a part of the "rapist game demographic" (a horrific quote if ever there was one), so we looked into the rumors. And we'll warn you up front that some of the sites linked herein further link to images that are most vehemently NSFW.

Doki Doki Majo Saiban thrusts the player into the role of an intrepid young man hunting witches who appear human but are not. How can you tell the difference? By touching them. Seems innocent enough off the top, but the game is designed in a rather mature anime style. Now, this is common in Japanese media, and there's an entire genre of games (eroge) that, to non-Japanese audiences, might seem a little ... unusual. That's par for the course - what is anathema in America is acceptable in Europe and common in Japan, and vice versa, switch it around, etc. Sex and violence are handled differently in different countries and cultures. Doki Doki Majo Saiban is a Japanese game, and many Japanese gamers enjoy eroge. Until someone starts talking about releasing it elsewhere, who are we to impose our cultural sensibilities and sensitivities on it?


Continue reading SNK's game is about witch-hunting, not girl-hunting

JoystiqSNK's game is about witch-hunting, not girl-hunting originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Oct 2006 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animeDSmatureNintendoSNKWed, 11 Oct 2006 08:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Updated Heroes trailer is no less bizarre than the last]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/26/updated-heroes-trailer-is-no-less-bizarre-than-the-last/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/26/updated-heroes-trailer-is-no-less-bizarre-than-the-last/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/26/updated-heroes-trailer-is-no-less-bizarre-than-the-last/#commentsFiled under:

W00t cel-shadingBack in July, we posted a "leaked" trailer of Heroes for your viewing pleasure. The link has since been taken down, at the request of the publisher. At TGS, however, Suda 51's newest masterpiece was once again brought into the light. Anyone who's played their previous title, Killer 7, knows exactly how surrealistic these games can be, and this newer trailer does nothing but highlight the fact.

Despite the "anybody pick up and play" design Nintendo seems to love so dearly, the Wii is accruing a rather impressive collection of extremely mature games. Between Heroes, Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, Sadness, and the Orb/Thorn/Darkess combo from Crossbeam Studios, those of sounder mind and matter should be more than happy ... not to mention the ridiculous plethora of first-person shooters coming our way.

JoystiqUpdated Heroes trailer is no less bizarre than the last originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Sep 2006 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Helter SkelterHelterSkelterHeroesKiller 7Killer7MatureSuda 51Suda51TrailerTravis TouchdownTravisTouchdownTue, 26 Sep 2006 08:00:00 EST