Joystiq

ESRB warning might reveal new characters for Street Fighter X Tekken

Mike Schramm — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:45:00 EST

Street Fighter X Tekken has been officially listed by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (T for Teen, if you're wondering), and some details in the listing may have revealed a few more characters for the game. The description of possibly objectionable content in the game mentions both a character that uses "chainsaws," as well as the fact that "one wobbly character uses 'drunken' fighting moves."

Neither of those descriptions matches any of the announced characters thus far, and fans have jumped to the conclusion that Tekken's Alisa Bosconovitch (who wields chainsaw arms) and drunken fighter Lei Wulong may be making an appearance in the crossover. It certainly seems possible, and this wouldn't be the first time ESRB has mentioned information in its warnings that was supposed to be secret. With the game due out next month, we'll know the truth before long.

ESRB warning might reveal new characters for Street Fighter X Tekken originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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R18+ bill goes before Australian parliament in February

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST

A bill to allow an R18+ rating for games in Australia will be introduced to the parliament in February, Gamespot AU reports. Federal Minister for Home Affairs Jason Clare plans to introduce the bill during the first session in parliament this year, expected to commence February 7.

Once introduced, the bill has to make its way through both houses, which have shown support for the bill. Even after all that, depending on the speed of the Classification Board, the R18+ rating could take some time to be in use. The point of the R18+ rating is to create an equivalent to the United States' ESRB "M" and Europe's "PEGI 18," allowing games deemed unsuitable for those under 15 years-of-age to be sold in the country. The current classifications regularly result in the outright banning of games in Australia, or massively toned down versions being produced for the continent.

R18+ bill goes before Australian parliament in February originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Chop' and 'Mad Riders' rated in Australia

JC Fletcher — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

Two mysterious games have appeared on Australia's Ratings Board, one published by Ubisoft for PS3, and one published by Microsoft for an unspecified platform.

The PS3 game in question is called Mad Riders, and carries a G classification, suggesting that nobody is too mad. Microsoft has the Microsoft Studios-made Chop, whose violent title also belies a G rating. Chop was rated concurrently with Grasshopper Manufacture's baseball-action Kinect game Diabolical Pitch and its collaborative shmup Sine Mora, which both earned M ratings.

We've checked in with both Microsoft and Ubisoft, and we'll let you know when we find out what all the chopping and riding is about.

'Chop' and 'Mad Riders' rated in Australia originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iron Galaxy Studios' Wreckateer leaked in ratings, to be published by Microsoft

Mike Schramm — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

A game called Wreckateer has been spotted in the Australian ratings classification system, listed as being developed by Iron Galaxy and published by Microsoft.

Iron Galaxy Studios is a company that's done a lot of technical consulting for other game developers -- it recently helped Capcom bring Street Fighter 3: Third Strike Online to digital platforms, not to mention work on You Don't Know Jack.

According to its webpage, Iron Galaxy is also working on some yet-to-be-announced projects with Microsoft and Twisted Pixel, and it appears as though Wreckateer is at least one of those projects. That's all we know about the game thus far, other than that it's an original title, and it's been rated General for all audiences. Wreckateer, whatever it is, was just classified this week, so presumably we'll be hearing more about it soon.

Iron Galaxy Studios' Wreckateer leaked in ratings, to be published by Microsoft originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Diablo 3 rated in South Korea

JC Fletcher — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:20:00 EST

Diablo 3 continues its ~~sprint~~ ~~march~~ ~~stroll~~ shuffle toward release, with new evidence suggesting that the game is at least near completion: it's been rated in South Korea. Today, the Korean Game Rating Board issued a rating suggesting the dungeon crawler is suitable only for ages 18 and above.

Previously, the in-game auction house was holding up the game, as the GRB was deliberating about whether or not it constituted gambling. The explanation of the rating decision mentions only blood and violence, and not gambling, suggesting the GRB decided the auction house does not constitute gambling.

And now Korea is the first nation to issue a rating, which means everyone else on Earth is more of a holdup.

Diablo 3 rated in South Korea originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A fresh batch of XBLA titles rated around the world

Jessica Conditt — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:30:00 EST

You go to a fortune teller and ask what will happen in 2012, expecting her to repeat rejected phrases from the Panda Express fortune-cookie line in a wistful, croaking manner. Instead, she busts out this ratings list for coming XBLA titles and you tip her 200 percent, leaving with your mind blown and open to a whole new world of mental planes and spiritual awareness. Little did you know: that fortune teller was Jordan Mallory in a dress. Try excising that image with incense.

A batch of freshly rated XBLA games from around the world include titles we knew about, such as I Am Alive (MA 15+ for Australia) and Spelunky (PEGI 7 for UK), and also some unknown games, including Wreckateer, a submission from Microsoft rated for Korea. The list is provided by XBLA Fans, and can be found right here.

A fresh batch of XBLA titles rated around the world originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Australian indie: From ratings systems to a boom of small studios, how AU will survive

Jessica Conditt — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST

Australia has one of the most lenient video-game-rating systems in the world.

No, really -- despite its reputation as an ultra-conservative, mature-rating hating government, "the reality is that many more games that are restricted to 17-year-olds in the U.S. or 18-year-olds in Europe are available without edit for 15-year-olds in Australia," said Chris Wright, former marketing head for THQ's two Australian studios, Blue Tongue and Studio Australia. "On balance, Australia is probably the most lenient country in the world for access to mature games."

No, really -- Wright was the man who presented Saints Row to the Australian classification board and he prepared plenty of ratings submissions in the country, both as head of THQ Asia Pacific and its two Australian studios. He knows the system, meaning he knows what it has and what it doesn't, such as an R18+ rating.

"I believe passionately that Australia needs an R18+ rating," Wright said. "But for me the R18+ rating is not about access to games, but parity with other entertainment forms and the acknowledgement of gaming as an adult pursuit. The R18+ rating will have a net effect of greater overall restrictions on access to games -- many games that would have previously been available to 15-year-olds will now only be available for 18-year-olds and above -- but will mean that a few games at the top end of the maturity scale are allowed to be released."

Legislation in Australia recently approved the R18+ rating (though it may take a few years to be enacted) and its Law Reform Commission is attempting to revamp the country's video-game rating system to acknowledge its adult audience. But recently, Australia has had more than ratings to worry about.

Continue reading Australian indie: From ratings systems to a boom of small studios, how AU will survive

Australian indie: From ratings systems to a boom of small studios, how AU will survive originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Australian Classification Branch: R18+ not ready for 'another couple of years'

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:55:00 EST

Though Australian minister for home affairs Brendan O'Connor told press that the R18+ games rating would be available for new titles "a couple of months" after its ratification by the nation's federal government, we might have to wait just a bit longer than that. According to Australian Classification Branch Manager of Applications David Emery, "it'll probably be another couple of years before we'll be able to accept an application for an R18 game."

"It's got to go to Parliament, then there's changes that have to be made subsequent to that," Emery explained -- changes that also need to be applied to the classification systems of each state and territory, as well. Try not to get too discouraged, Australian gamers: At least your children will be able to buy Resident Evil 11. Oh, wait, they'll need to be adults, first. Okay, Resident Evil 19.

Australian Classification Branch: R18+ not ready for 'another couple of years' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Carnival Games: Wild West' called out by Australian ratings board

JC Fletcher — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST

Did they even have carnivals in the Old West days? We thought people's time was all taken up by gunfights and being thrown through bar windows back then. 2K and Cat Daddy Games are indulging in either a bit of historical revisionism or actual history (again, we're fuzzy on the details of the time period), with Carnival Games: Wild West, an upcoming game spotted on Australia's ratings board.

The game is listed as "multi platform," which is the board's generic term (and doesn't necessarily mean the game is actually multiplatform.) At the moment, then, we don't know whether you'll be controlling the old-timey minigames with Kinect, Move, or the good old-fashioned Wiimote.

Oh, hey, horseshoes! That's something that people might have played back then, maybe. People had horses, anyway.

'Carnival Games: Wild West' called out by Australian ratings board originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Limbo rating sought by Sony in Korea, could be PSN-bound

Christopher Grant — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:40:00 EST

Shortly before last summer's release of Limbo - that year's top Xbox Live Summer of Arcade title "by a long stretch" - the ESRB erroneously listed the PlayStation 3 and PC platforms in addition to the Xbox 360. Developer Playdead's Dino Patti told us, "We are only launching the title on XBLA. You won't see a PS3 or PC version this time around, sorry."

However, like other Summer of Arcade indie exclusives before it including Braid and Castle Crashers, Limbo could make an appearance on Sony's platform after a period of exclusivity ... like, say, a year or so. The Korean Game Ratings Board has a listing for Limbo filed by Sony Computer Entertainment Korea. It so happens that the GRB has a pretty strong track record, outing Xbox Live Arcade titles like Fruit Ninja Kinect and Sega Rally Online Arcade. Before you get your hopes up, we've reached out to Playdead for a comment on the listing.

Limbo rating sought by Sony in Korea, could be PSN-bound originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Elevator Action Deluxe' rated for PS3

JC Fletcher — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:49:00 EST

Another vintage Taito series is coming up again (ding!) according to an Australian classification board listing. Square Enix is preparing Elevator Action Deluxe for PS3, developed by a company called B-Project Inc.

Despite the name, there's no way this game is as deluxe as the recent arcade title Elevator Action Death Parade -- that game has real elevator doors. We would expect a new Elevator Action to build not on the light-gun gameplay of that arcade game, though, but on the side-view, floor-to-floor espionage and combat of the original and its excellent sequel. And by "expect" we mean "hope."

'Elevator Action Deluxe' rated for PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Australian gov releases R18+ guideline proposal

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 25 May 2011 18:00:00 EST

Australia's federal government has released a proposed draft of new guidelines to reform its video game classification system and introduce an R18+ rating. Meaning, the country's uncomfortably long struggle to introduce an adult-friendly classification for games may finally reach a conclusion.

The R18+ rating would allow "virtually no restrictions on the treatment of themes," allow violence to a more liberal degree than the current MA 15+ cap and give the option for sexual activity to be "realistically simulated," according to the draft.

Australia's Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor says the new rules would "bring Australia into line with comparable nations." The federal government and the attorneys-general (including those opposed to the new rating and the ones who feel the government isn't going far enough) will meet in July, when they are expected to reach a consensus to introduce the R18+ classification.

Australian gov releases R18+ guideline proposal originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Kinect Me,' 'Crimson Alliance' among new Microsoft games rated

James Ransom-Wiley — Fri, 20 May 2011 19:30:00 EST

A trio of game ratings appeared on the Australian Classification website today, perhaps spoiling some of the titles Microsoft will announce just around the corner at E3. New entries for "Crimson Alliance," "Fusion: Genesis" and "Kinect Me" all list Microsoft as publisher and run the gamut from Mature-rated to PG to G. Only the Crimson Alliance page notes a developer, Certain Affinity, which is corroborated by the game's Brazilian classification. Likewise a rating for Fusion: Genesis has also shown up in Brazil, where both titles are listed for Xbox Live Arcade.

Kinect Me remains the most mysterious of the mystery titles and could perhaps feature some connection to the kinect.me promotional site (pictured above) that's been live since last summer. A source tells Siliconera to expect an E3 announcement of "Kinect Fun Lab," which the site surmises could be a working title for Kinect Me -- both names are at least sufficiently generic-sounding to be one and the same game.

Additionally, Brazil has classified two more Xbox Live Arcade titles, Fruit Ninja Kinect and Hole in the Wall (from Ludia), supporting previous ratings of the pair of pending releases.

'Kinect Me,' 'Crimson Alliance' among new Microsoft games rated originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 May 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hudson's 'Nightmare Dinosaur' found on ratings database

JC Fletcher — Thu, 05 May 2011 12:50:00 EST

The total absorption of Hudson into Konami hasn't stopped the company from embarking on new projects with awesome titles. A new rating has popped up on the Australian classification database for something called Nightmare Dinosaur, developed by Hudson Soft in Japan and published by Konami.

Hudson hasn't released anything under this name in Japan -- or, as far as we can tell, anything for which this name could be used. And since the classification board doesn't list a platform, basically all we know about this game at this point is that it's called Nightmare Dinosaur. Which is kind of enough.

Hudson's 'Nightmare Dinosaur' found on ratings database originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 May 2011 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrono Trigger rated for PSP and PS3

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST

Square Enix's pretty-much-the-best-game-ever Super Nintendo RPG Chrono Trigger has the distinct disadvantage of being, as aforementioned, pretty much the best game ever and, simultaneously, pretty expensive in its native SNES format. Fortunately, the game's not too pricey on the DS, but that might not be the only platform to grab it on the cheap in the near future -- the ESRB has rated Chrono Trigger for release on PS3 and PSP.

The ESRB listing doesn't provide any additional details about the title, but if we were betting men, we'd say it's the PS1 re-release that was included in the Final Fantasy Chronicles collection (to be distributed through PSN as a "PSOne Classic"). If we were men who were really bad at betting, we'd say it was some kind of magical Direct X11 remake, chock-full of social networking features and support for 3D TVs.

Chrono Trigger rated for PSP and PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Hydrophobia Prophecy' pops up in Australian game rating

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 10:05:00 EST

Last we heard from Hydrophobia and the game's developer, Dark Energy Digital, the studio was doing its best to respond to fans' criticisms of the first, not-so-warmly received installment. The plan all along, however, has been a Hydrophobia trilogy, which likely explains why a listing for something called "Hydrophobia Prophecy" has popped up on the Australian Government's classification website.

Outside of noting Dark Energy Digital as the "author" and Microsoft Game Studios as the publisher, the listing provides little other information. Though it does confirm some important basics, like acknowledging that Prophecy is a video game and not, say, a line of Hydrophobia-branded sunglasses. We've reached out to Dark Energy Digital, but we're not exactly holding our breath for confirmation.

'Hydrophobia Prophecy' pops up in Australian game rating originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft takes measure to counter alleged Indie Games ratings manipulation

James Ransom-Wiley — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST

Microsoft has disabled Xbox Live "Free" members' ability to rate Marketplace content on Xbox.com in an apparent effort to curb ratings manipulation. The announcement was made on the XNA Game Studio Team Blog and was specifically addressed to the Indie Games Community.

"By implementing this change, we believe our customers will experience more consistent ratings and a significantly reduced potential for abuse across the entire Xbox catalog," said the statement. "We have also investigated rolling back suspect votes, however, we determined it will not be possible to do this."

Several weeks ago, developers of some of the top-rated Indie Games suspected foul play when their games began to slide down the Top Rated listing after receiving, by one developer's count, "hundreds of 1 star ratings" in a single week. While the XNA Team conceded that it would be unable to take away such seemingly unwarranted ratings, it did add that "we are investigating users who may have violated their user agreement during this series of events."

"Violating user agreements may result in actions up to and including banning from Xbox Live, removal of currently posted games, and loss of ability to post games in the future," the statement continued.

A few Indie Games developers have expressed gratitude, as reported by Armless Octopus, for Microsoft listening to their concerns and taking action. (Historically, it's been a somewhat rocky relationship between the two sides.) While limiting rating powers on Xbox.com to paying Gold members would seem to thwart the most egregious attacks and manipulation of content, it does not solve some of the other issues with the system; most notably that a user need not play, let alone purchase, content to rate it.

Microsoft takes measure to counter alleged Indie Games ratings manipulation originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Australian AG Clark hesitant to pass R18+ rating

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 04:00:00 EST

According to a report from The Age, the long-debated Australian R18+ games rating may be shot down again during a July meeting of the nation's Attorneys-General, despite receiving the full support of the federal government. Victoria AG Robert Clark has expressed concern over the proposed ratings adoption, saying he's worried the new classification "would legalize games with high levels of graphic, frequent and gratuitous violence, including violence against civilians and police."

Clark shares the concerns of Australian Christian Lobby director Rob Ward, who said the Classification Board was "asleep at the wheel" when it granted titles like Grand Theft Auto 4 and House of the Dead: Overkill MA15+ ratings, allowing them to be released in the territory. Ward added, "that's not a reason to create an R18+ category. That's a reason to clip them behind the ear." Whoa, there, fella. Now who's being violent?

[Thanks, Shane]

Australian AG Clark hesitant to pass R18+ rating originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Australian federal govt presses for consensus on R18 game rating creation

James Ransom-Wiley — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

"We're becoming the laughing stock of the developed world," declared Australia's Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor to ABC News, "where we're the only country that doesn't have R18 classification level for video games." Following the Australian Classification Board's final refusal to grant Mortal Kombat a rating in an appeal decision on Monday (finding the game unsuited for MA15+, the country's most mature rating for games), O'Connor all but demanded that the states and territories reach a consensus to introduce an R18+ rating into the system when the attorneys-general meet in July.

"I foreshadow that if there is not a consensus around this issue, the Commonwealth will certainly be considering other options," O'Connor vowed, "because we cannot continue to have an outdated classification system that's actually, in my view, causing harm to young people."

When pressed for what the federal government's "other options" might be, O'Connor refused to clarify, saying only that he's "seeking advice" and would not "outline all of those things" at this time. "But can I say my preference," he reiterated in the full transcript obtained by Kotaku Australia, "my very strong preference, is to have consent around the table in July."

"We're coming up to ten years of inaction," O'Connor observed, noting that the issue has been on the attorneys-general agenda since 2002. "I'm going into the [July] meeting with an optimistic air."

To those opposed to an R18+ rating, O'Connor offers: "Just because sometimes people speed on the roads, doesn't mean we shouldn't have the right speed for each particular road." He acknowledges that laws can be broken -- that children could access R18+ games -- but argues that a revised classification system is necessary to provide better guidance to parents (who should be the ones supervising their children's media usage -- sound familiar?); and to solve Australia's current issue of adult games being shoehorned into the MA15+ category.

[Thanks, Shane]

Australian federal govt presses for consensus on R18 game rating creation originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ESRB breakdowns say 5 percent of games were rated M in 2010

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:10:00 EST

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.

ESRB 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.

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Mortal Kombat classification appeal rejected in Australia, import companies rejoice

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST

Despite a contested rating by Warner Bros. Interactive, the forthcoming Mortal Kombat reboot has been permanently refused classification in Australia, effectively banning the title from official retail distribution. WB Games issued a statement regarding the ruling, stating that it's "extremely disappointed" that the game has been refused classification on the continent.

The publisher continued, praising "thousands of Mortal Kombat fans in Australia and around the world who have voiced their support during the appeal process." Mortal Kombat's latest iteration will still arrive next month in other territories, also known as "the month when a handful of hardcore Australia-based MK fans are forced to import copies."

Mortal Kombat classification appeal rejected in Australia, import companies rejoice originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mortal Kombat publisher appealing Aussie 'Refused Classification' decision

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:40:00 EST

Warner Bros. Interactive's Australian arm will appeal the RC (Refused Classification) "unrating" bestowed upon Mortal Kombat by the Australian Classification Review Board. The designation prevents the game from being sold by retailers in the country.

"After reviewing both the gameplay and the Board's original decision, WBIE Australia believe the violence in the game is on par with numerous other titles readily available for sale in the Australian market," reads the publisher's statement, obtained by IGN AU. "As such, the company wants to exhaust all options to make the game available to Mortal Kombat fans in this country. An identical version of the game will be submitted for appeal."

Two years ago, Valve resubmitted an unedited version of Left 4 Dead 2 to the Aussie classification board in an appeal to an earlier RC ruling and ... lost.

Mortal Kombat publisher appealing Aussie 'Refused Classification' decision originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Europe's new PEGI game ratings delayed

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 05:00:00 EST

The Video Standards Council's new and improved and legally enforceable video games rating system was formerly set to launch this April across Europe, but as you could probably tell by our headline (and the strategic use of the word "formerly" earlier in this sentence), it's going to miss that window. UK Minister for Culture Ed Vaizey has confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that the new ratings will now be formally approved by July of this year and are expected to roll out after that decision.

"There's been some technical delays to iron out a few kinks," Vaizey explained, "nothing fundamental, nothing serious." An anonymous source clarified the hang-up to GI.biz, claiming, "What goes on the front of the box is fine. It's what goes on the back of the box that's still being discussed." The back of the box? Who still looks at the back of the box?

Europe's new PEGI game ratings delayed originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VGA ratings fall for fourth year, but rise among younger and male viewers

David Hinkle — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:40:00 EST

The Spike VGAs may have put on a brave front this year, but the ratings have once again shown a decline, reports Variety. 627,000 people tuned in on Saturday night, a three percent drop from last year -- about 20,000 viewers. To help put that figure into context, the show's debut in 2007 enjoyed a much more substantial 921,000 viewers.

It wasn't all a total downer, though (unless you actually watched the show, we guess). The VGAs actually saw a rise in viewers within key demographics. The Neil Patrick Harris-hosted show received a 12 percent boost in adult viewers aged 18 to 49, from 370,000 last year to 450,000, while 18- to 34-year-old viewers increased in number by five percent, from 278,000 viewers last year to 292,000 this year. Men aged 18 to 34 showed the most significant rise -- 15 percent over last year, from 281,000 viewers to 251,000.

VGA ratings fall for fourth year, but rise among younger and male viewers originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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South Australian Attorney General wants to remove MA15+ games rating

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 03:00:00 EST

Australia's Standing Committee of Attorneys-General are in the process of actively discussing the implementation of a (long overdue) R18+ rating for games in the territory, following the approval of said rating by the nation's federal cabinet earlier this month. However, South Australian AG John Rau recently introduced a thought-provoking idea to the committee: Should the R18+ rating be adopted, Rau believes that the MA15+ rating currently used by the Australian Classification Board should be removed altogether.

Rau, who replaced longtime anti-R18+ advocate Michael Atkinson earlier this year, explained to Gamespot, "My reason for wanting to get rid of MA15+ if an R18+ is passed is that it will provide a crisper delineation between adults-only games and games that are for children." He later added, "if MA15+ comes out of the mix altogether, I think parents will have a clearer idea what games are for children, and what games are for adults."

Should the MA15+ rating be repealed, the next-lowest rating used by the ACB would be M, which the board applies to games which "contain material that requires a mature perspective, but is still not enough to be deemed too strong for younger viewers." There's no age restriction applied to these games at Australian retailers, making it roughly equivalent to the Teen classification used by the ESRB. Rau's got a compelling argument, here -- but it won't make much of a difference if the Committee fails to approve the R18+ rating in the first place. C'mon, guys! We believe in you!

South Australian Attorney General wants to remove MA15+ games rating originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Australian federal cabinet approves R18+ games rating, passing along to AGs

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 11:30:00 EST

Australian gamers who are also grown-ass adults are now one huge step closer to getting their hands on mature games currently deemed too perverse to be released in their homeland. Australia's federal cabinet recently approved the R18+ rating for video games which has eluded the country for many years, resulting in the outright banning of games like Aliens vs. Predator or the censoring of titles like Left 4 Dead 2.

Members of the cabinet explained to News.com.au that the new rating was actually created in response to the too-mature games that slipped under the MA15+ rating, exposing 15-year-olds to content that they really need three extra years under their belt to digest. Whatever the reason, we certainly hope the long-overdue measure will be approved by the nation's Attorneys General when the delegates meet later this week.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Australian federal cabinet approves R18+ games rating, passing along to AGs originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Revamped PEGI ratings enforceable in UK April 1, 2011 (no joke!)

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

The Video Standards Council, the UK government body that adjudicates the content of games and sticks them with a PEGI rating, has announced that revamped rating labels will go into effect April 1, 2011. At that time, the ratings -- which were recently rendered inert by a legal loophole -- will actually be able to be enforced. Which, as we understand it, is pretty important for government-issued regulations.

Though the VSC and ELSPA hoped to have the new ratings out by October in time for the holiday shopping season, their plans were pushed back due to the introduction of the Digital Economy Act, which regulates electronic media, including video games. This new legislation also goes into effect April 1. Unless, of course, this is just an elaborate prank. Given UK politicians' proclivity for pulling the ol' switcheroo on the gaming industry, that actually wouldn't surprise us too much.

Revamped PEGI ratings enforceable in UK April 1, 2011 (no joke!) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Space Invaders Infinity Gene cloned for XBLA and PSN

David Hinkle — Wed, 19 May 2010 17:02:00 EST

A trusted Joystiq source has confirmed that Taito's mobile and iPhone game Space Invaders Infinity Gene is coming to Xbox Live Arcade and PSN. Further corroborating our source's intel is Australian ratings board the OFLC, which has published a rating for an unspecified "multiplatform" release of Infinity Gene. Ubisoft, which distributes Square Enix titles in Australia is listed as the publisher. (Square Enix is the parent company of Taito.)

With some neat functionality -- the iPhone version lets players generate levels based on their stored music -- and an HD facelift, we'd be willing to bet Space Invaders Infinity Gene wouldn't find much opposition on Xbox Live Arcade and PSN. Previously, Taito released a version of its handheld series Space Invaders Extreme on XBLA to positive reception.

Rumor: Space Invaders Infinity Gene cloned for XBLA and PSN originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 May 2010 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bejeweled 2 rated for Wii

JC Fletcher — Thu, 06 May 2010 14:12:00 EST

PopCap's remarkably popular casual games have been released on just about every gaming platform on the current market, save for one notable exception: Wii. That could soon change, however, according to the USK. Germany's ratings board has listed the match-three puzzle game Bejeweled 2 for release on Wii. Now Mike Leyde can start all over again -- with a new control scheme!

If you haven't played Bejeweled 2, you can download it here or play a web version here. Oh, but first, clear your day.

[Via Gamerbytes]

Bejeweled 2 rated for Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 May 2010 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Square Enix 'Extreme Edges' is new label for publisher's violent games in Japan

JC Fletcher — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 11:30:00 EST

As Square Enix continues to expand globablly, it's starting to publish titles in Japan that aren't traditionally "Square Enix," like Modern Warfare 2 and games from its newly acquired Eidos subsidiary. According to Famitsu (via Andriasang), president Yoichi Wada has announced a new box label to be used by the publisher that will differentiate its "mature" Western games from its usual slate of more innocent fantasy products: "Square Enix Extreme Edges." Wait -- didn't Wada say he wanted Japanese gamers not to discriminate against Western games?

The "Extreme Edges" label will be used for Western-made games bearing CERO "D" (17+) or "Z" (18+) ratings, though Square Enix has yet to publish any CERO Z titles. The Z rating is legally age-restricted, and games bearing it are often not displayed in stores. Square Enix, however, will release Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days in Japan on August 26; a game that at least seems "edgy" and "extreme" enough for the new label and probably worthy of the CERO Z rating, as well.

Square Enix 'Extreme Edges' is new label for publisher's violent games in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard appeals StarCraft 2 Korean 'Adults Only' rating

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:25:00 EST

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.

Blizzard 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.

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Sims 3 expansion beats Star Trek Online in February's PC top 20

Mike Schramm — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:00:00 EST

NPD has released its monthly list of the top 20 PC games, and while Star Trek Online made a valiant showing in the month of its debut, landing at number two for the main game and number four for the collector's edition, it was beaten in the end by the Sims 3: High End Loft Stuff (yes, "Stuff") content pack. The Sims juggernaut of a brand continued to rock the top 20, claiming six spots total, and perennial favorite World of Warcraft continued to place almost all of its current editions on the list in three different spots.

Other big titles in February were Bioshock 2, the Everquest II: Sentinel's Fate expansion, and Mass Effect 2. Aliens vs. Predator appeared at a miserable number 19, below something called the Mumbo Jumbo Assortment. Full list after the break. We'll say this about PC game players: They know what they like, and they stick with it.

[via Big Download]

Continue reading Sims 3 expansion beats Star Trek Online in February's PC top 20

Sims 3 expansion beats Star Trek Online in February's PC top 20 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aussie ratings board to discuss an R 18+ rating at April meeting

Mike Schramm — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:01:00 EST

A meeting in April might bring an end to the Australian video game bans that many gamers there believe to be overly repressive. Local Aussie website Adelaide Now says that the Australian National Classification Scheme could finally take a look at the ratings issue when it meets in April of this year. One widely-supported solution would be to establish an R 18+ classification for games over there -- currently, any games that don't match up to the MA 15+ rating are automatically banned, which leads to story after story of games that are rated for 18+ instead smashed with the banhammer down under.

The one spoiler is South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson, who not only opposes the R 18+ rating, but hasn't gotten a very good impression of angry Australian gamers. He'll be at the meeting in April and will have veto power on any measures proposed, so unless he has a change of mind (or gamers who are organizing politically against Atkinson can oust him in an upcoming March election), the meeting in April could end in the same old disappointments for Australian gamers.

[Via GamePolitics]

Aussie ratings board to discuss an R 18+ rating at April meeting originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EB Games endorses R18+ rating in Australia

David Hinkle — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:00:00 EST

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]

EB 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.

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VGA 2009 viewership down 5% from 2008

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:30:00 EST

Spike TV's Video Game Awards show isn't simply about celebrating the best of the games industry. No, it plays host to numerous WORLD EXCLUSIVE trailers. But, just how many people tuned in to watch? According to a report by Variety's The Cut Scene, not too many: Roughly 647,000 viewers watched the broadcast in 2009, a 5-percent decrease from 2008's viewership, and a 30-percent decrease from 2007's. When accounting for DVR views, the total jumps to 691,000 viewers. (For comparison's sake, the most recent Golden Globe awards drew in 16.9 million viewers.)

The online numbers (via GameTrailers.com) should make it pretty clear what Spike TV is doing right -- and what it's doing wrong. The scene pictured above, featuring Mike Tyson and the cast of The Jersey Shore, got a paltry 16,000 views. The Halo: Reach trailer, on the other hand, got 584,000. Perhaps if the Video Game Awards focused on, y'know, video games, there would be more reason to stay tuned in.

VGA 2009 viewership down 5% from 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mature-themed Wii games get the black box in Japan

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:30:00 EST

Nintendo of Japan has launched a new program to better differentiate its diverse Wii software lineup. According to the company, future Wii games that earn a CERO C rating (equivalent to ESRB's Teen rating) or above will be packaged in new black boxes. Likely, this initiative was started due to the upcoming release of Zangeki no Reginleiv, Nintendo's first CERO D-rated game (ages 17 and up) in Japan.

It seems this is a platform-wide mandate, as Biohazard: The Darkside Chronicles looks to become the first third-party game to sport Nintendo's black packaging. By differentiating "hardcore" games from the rest of the Wii lineup, core gamers should have a much easier time identifying the titles they might like. As for helping "casual" folk make the quick decision, it's as yet unconfirmed if Nintendo will continue to use that striking red box for all Mario-themed games.

[Via Siliconera]

Mature-themed Wii games get the black box in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Activision survey: 82% of gamer parents aware of ESRB ratings

Mike Schramm — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:15:00 EST

That woman buying her 12-year-old a copy of Modern Warfare 2 at Gamestop right now may not know about it, but Activision says a recent survey concluded that 82% of gamer parents are well aware of the ESRB rating guidelines and what they mean. The survey also found that 75% of children who play games understand the rating system, and that 70% of parents actually pay close attention to the ratings when buying a game either for themselves or for their families. Note that it doesn't say they follow the ratings, only that they are aware of the system and pay attention to how games are rated.

Gaming families spend a lot of time playing games, too: 76% of parents agree that video games are a big part of their family activities, and among gamer parents, a majority (52%) of their gaming time is spent playing with their children. Finally, a full 59% of kids polled say that "it's a little creepy" when Jane Lynch shows up to play games with you for a Microsoft commercial. Okay, you got us, we lied about that last stat. When anyone from Glee shows up, it's 100% fun.

Activision survey: 82% of gamer parents aware of ESRB ratings originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Heavy Rain handed '15' rating, BBFC explains

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:32:00 EST

In a rather surprising act of mature judgment, the British Board of Film Classification has assigned Quantic Dream's Heavy Rain a "15" rating. Given the so-called adult themes of the western interactive novel (a genre we're classifying right here), the expectation had been that the game would receive an "18" rating, which is even reflected on retail art mock-ups. The other European ratings board, PEGI, has yet to post its classification for the game.

Speaking with IncGamers, a BBFC spokesperson explained, "These are obviously not real people, or real people acting, and it all depends on the level of blood and violence. We use the same classification for games as we do for films, and this game is suitable for a 15 audience." That's odd, we could have sworn many "real people" acted in Heavy Rain. Still, we're pleasantly surprised to see a ratings board bring equity into play by reviewing a game within the same guidelines used for movies.

Gallery: Heavy Rain

[Via Eurogamer]

Heavy Rain handed '15' rating, BBFC explains originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You too can be a ban-happy Australian politician

Justin McElroy — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 03:00:00 EST

Australians have gotten the short end of the gaming stick for some time now, with several games either receiving edits or simply being banned because of the country's lack of an adult classification. Now you can be the one doing the stick shortening thanks to the free downloadable title Ban This Game!, which lets you click on arguably offensive materials to ban them while South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson and Minister for Broadband and Communication Stephen Conroy look on approvingly. (We've got a brief video after the break if you'd like to see it in action.)

If you'd like to take your activism beyond clicking 50 Cent and giggling, there's loads of more info on the game's Facebook page.

[Via GamePolitics]

Continue reading You too can be a ban-happy Australian politician

You too can be a ban-happy Australian politician originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nielsen survey says most PSP users are female, Xbox 360 most played

Xav de Matos — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:15:00 EST

In its 2010 Media Industry Fact Sheet, the Nielsen Company tallied some interesting numbers [PDF] related to the increase of social media and how video game console usage trended in 2009. According to its survey statistics, Sony's PSP market in the United States contains a slight majority of female gamers -- 52% of the platform's owners in the region, while 49% of Nintendo Wii owners are female. Nielsen's survey statistics show that, as of 2009, 45% of all active gamers are women.

Social media has, expectantly, made a dramatic leap in usage. Nielsen's survey claims Facebook membership skyrocketing from November 2008 to 2009 with 109 million members accessing the site at the end of the the decade versus about 47.5 million the year before. Twitter saw its user base increase by 15.9 million members in the same time frame. Both social media sites have seen life on consoles.

Related to each console's individual usage -- besides what the good looking gamers enjoy -- Nielsen's survey claims the Xbox 360 is the most played console (ranked by share of total usage minutes), taking 23.1% of the measured playtime. Sony's PlayStation 2 netted second with 20.4% and the Nintendo Wii closed up the top three with 19% of the vote. While we know the previous sentence sounds like we just called all console gamers hideous beings, we just mean that ladies are pretty and smell like daffodils compared to the faint odor of Cheetos and Mountain Dew that lingers around us fellas.

[Via Edge]

Nielsen survey says most PSP users are female, Xbox 360 most played originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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