PS3 Fanboy

Classic Sega games are coming to the PlayStation Network, if leaked ESRB ratings are to be believed. Streets of Rage 2, Golden Axe and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 can all be seen with new ratings from the board. These games are already available as re-released on Xbox LIVE Arcade, so it makes sense that the PlayStation Network should get them as well.

Fans of Sega compilations may also want to look into the upcoming Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, which houses a number of classic 16-bit games.

The ESRB spills the beans yet again. The ratings board has listed Street Fighter Alpha II and III for release on the PS3 and PSP. So expect to see both games appear on the PSN Store at some point in the future. This might all be moot though, considering Street Fighter II HD is on its way "soon" and Street Fighter IV will be arriving next year. Honestly, how many different Street Fighter games do you need?

If all this news of imminent Street Fighter goodness has you itching to play, you can always grab Street Fighter Alpha from the US PSN Store right now.

Linger in Shadows is quite mysterious. We know that it's going to be a rather experimental release on the PSN -- a daring piece of "interactive art," according to PSN producer Rusty Buchart. But, what the experience be like? We're still unsure, but the ESRB has just rated the title -- and has claimed it A-OK for Everyone.

Early trailers of Linger in Shadows give off a very strange, creepy vibe. Looks like whatever this becomes, it will stay safely in PG territory. Don't expect any excessive violence or gore in this one, folks.

[Thanks, grief!]

We still don't know what The Last Guy is. We do know that it's a game coming from Sony Computer Entertainment, and thanks to the ESRB, we know that it contains alcohol references, mild suggestive themes and mild violence. Given its E10 rating, it can't be too violent. Popular theories around the web suggest that this will be a downloadable title. It shouldn't be too long (E3, perhaps?) before we find out more about this mysterious game.

ESRB listings are always a fun way to hunt for upcoming hidden gems; today's rummaging uncovers a new PS3 game called NovaStrike. The game, according to onAXIS, is a top-down arcade-type shooter that should arrive on the PlayStation Network sometime soon.

NovaStrike, made by Tiki Games (makers of the PSP-exclusive RTS, Galaxy's End), lets you take control of an advanced Scythe fighter ... which you ultimately use to blow up aliens. Aliens of all kinds really, including groundlings, enemy fighters, capital ships and bosses.

We can't reveal more about the game quite yet. However, rest assured that you'll see much more of this upcoming PSN title in the coming weeks.

[Thanks Joe! Via onAXIS]

Video games and violence -- a hot topic in any month of the year. Since the "hot coffee mod", we guess we should add sex to the list, too. Violent sex language drugs, er, violence, sex, foul language, and drug usage have begun to plague the world of gaming just like it does in movies. So, many studies have been conducted to see how the ESRB is being used -- initially, these studies proved that parents have no idea what the ratings are for the most part and very few use them to restrict their kids' playing.

In fact, a bill is in circulation in the U.S. Senate to try to get a different rating system by an independant company with no stakes in the industry. But the latest studies show that nearly all parents are taking heed of the ratings. Here's a few examples:

• 90% of parents are aware of the ESRB system, 85% use the system when they're out buying games for their kids.
• 60% of parents surveyed said they never allow their kids to play M-rated games, 34% say they sometimes do. The other 6% probably said "yeah, of course!"
• 90% of parents rated the ESRB very/somewhat important for when they buy games. Really, 55% said "very" and 35% said "somewhat".

So, we've got to ask, for the parents out there in our readership, what's your take on the ESRB? Do you use it, or do you not really care so long as you're with the kid, making sure they understand it's just a game, or could you not care less? How about those not-parents in our readership? Do you think the ESRB is important, has it prevented you from getting any games? Let us know.

If you've had a potato smothered in applesauce, then disregard the attempt at two very different things that would not seem to mesh together in the subject line. If not, you know what you're in for: more ignorant crap from the old people in Congress who know nothing about the culture of gaming. Let's talk about the "Truth in Video Game Rating Act". This act, if passed, would require the ESRB or any other game-rating agency to play through all content in a game before issuing a rating. It also punishes developers for hiding or misrepresenting content.

This is inherently stupid because the bill doesn't understand modern games and how they differ from a movie or TV show. How many of us have played through every single ounce of content in our games? Very few. It's a difficult task -- time consuming like nothing else (imagine having to do every single little thing in World of Warcraft from every angle, getting every item... talk about hell). Besides, online gaming has made rating the content of a game increasingly difficult, since other players like to curse and be quite rude (well, it is easier to put others down when no consequences are presented). Home-brew added content is also to be considered... that changes the experience significantly. What do you guys think? Is this a terrible, terrible idea by Congress or what?

Live in Georgia? Watch TV? Soon you will be subject to the exciting Public Service Announcements brought to you by celebrities in their decline. Or rolling text. These PSA's will try to explain the extremely complicated video game rating system to parents and children, encouraging the former to check the ratings for every game they purchase for the latter. Oh, and you can't escape by not watching the TV. It's on the radio too.

Don't worry about the research the ESRB team had done that revealed more than 80% of parents are aware of the ESRB system and take it into consideration when they purchase games. Georgia tax dollars are still going to get used and it may be for the best. This all relates back to the bill being proposed to challenge the effectiveness of the independant rating system. If people aren't exposed and aware of the rating system and if the ESRB doesn't stop getting in trouble (Hot Coffee Mod, Oblivion getting changed from a T to M rating), then we might get a government enforced rating system. Would you rather have the government establish a standard rating system (which would probably coincide closer to the MPAA just for convenience), or keep the current system?

Something called the Safe Games Illinois Act was shot down in, you guessed it, Illinois, recently. The Act would have banned the sale of violent videogames in the state. Re-read that sentence and check your nose. Is it bleeding from the affliction "mind-numbingly ignorant and stupid"? Not only was the proposition denied, but it was deemed unconstitutional. Here's the kicker: the state of Illinois has to pay the Electronics Software Association over half a million dollars in attorny fees. If you live in Illinois -- that's your tax money being tossed around. That sucks.

Other pieces of the proposal were also denied but weren't quite as laughable. Posting an explanatory ESRB table in stores isn't too extreme, but forcing retailers to do it is. No one would look at it anyway, really. The judge held back his own laughter and sad that, ultimately, "If controlling access to allegedly 'dangerous' speech is important in promoting the positive psychological development of children, in our society that role is properly accorded to parents and families, not the State."

If Illinois did pass the act into law and violent videogames were banned, what's to stop violent movies? Angry music? Cursing? Tripping old people? Okay, maybe not that. But it seriously was a very unfair thing to do, State of Illinois, and making the taxpayers (and violent game players) pay for the cost of the trial is really, really lame.

While not the freshest news, it still slipped under PS3fanboy's radar and needs to be brought to light for those of us who may not know. It's called the "Truth in Video Game Rating Act" and it's coming to a legislation near you! Basically, this is a new bill that intends to "direct the Federal Trade Commission to prescribe rules to prohibit deceptive conduct in the rating of video and computer games." So, if something like the Hot Coffee Mod happens again and it's not listed on the game's content properly (even though it's a mod... or assuming this is the case), there will be criminal penalties against the game publishers and developers.

There's a second part to the bill that plans to monitor the ESRB more closely. It will decide if using the independant, voluntary rating system is enough, how marketing the game to certain demographics contradicts the rating the game receives, and finally whether a universal system should be adopted across all media. A universal system? That would be nice, since in some countries a movie rated R and a game rated Mature have different age restrictions, but essentially the same content. Anyone disagree? Agree?

Good news to all of us living in Minnesota. A state judge recently delivered a backhanded smack of aggravation to a video game regulation law enacted the previous year. What was the law? Minors caught purchasing a game rated M (for Mature... not that we don't know, but the one letter always seems to come with "for mature" afterwards. Why not just say "rated Mature?" Why "M for Mature?" ...V for Vendetta! Ahem.) would have to pay a fine of $25 big ones. How appropriate?

Does anyone remember another post that included this quote about the ESRB ratings system: "the video game rating system is purely voluntary and carries no force of law"? Needless to say, the Entertainment Software Association knew this and filed suit against the state of Minnesota unless the ridiculous law was shot down. It was. Besides, Minnesota Judge Rosenbaum said, there wasn't enough evidence to say M-rated games hurt children. Awesome. So little kiddies, go out and buy those crazy M-games! You only have to pay around $50 for them now -- not $75. Try God of War, you get a nice version of the birds and the bees. Two birds and one bee, even.

Before we begin, let's outline the best quote: "It all boils down to parental responsibility." We're of course talking about the ESRB rating system and its enforcement. A new initiative was enacted recently involving a seal of approval for participating stores (imagine a "GameStop recommends this title!" sticker... or something.) and a mystery shopper program (which are always fun).

In the article from Rocky Mountain News, a 15-year-old was sent into a set of different stores in attempt to purchase GTA: San Andreas. Every store prevented him from purchasing it. What does this portend? Stores selling games seem to know that a young kid shouldn't have something like GTA in his hands. This brings us back to the quote about parental responsibility, because a majority of the young gamers getting M-rated games come down to the parents who buy the games initially. Check out the article for more info on that, but we're here to talk about the PS3 and next-gen gaming.

There's such a push for realism in the next-gen race that the ESRB has really grown inconsistent. Look back at the PSX and some of the MA games. Resident Evil, for example. Violent? Sure. Bloody? Pixelated, but sure. Mature themes? Campy zombie movies/games aren't really mature, but let's say yes. Back in the day, yes, it was bad but not really anymore. In the next generation, it's entirely possible to shoot off pieces of a zombie's face. Unless a game involves some type of animals, it seems the next-gen is going to be riddled with MA-rated games. And really, some Teen games are sitting on the edge (look at the language in Final Fantasy 7... if they didn't have the #@%#$!@ all the time, it would have been MA). But is this bad? Not for the aged gamer. However, the market seems to be narrowing its demographic, and the poor 13-16 year old audience may not get to play some of the "great" games coming out because the ESRB is tightening its hold on stores. For what? It's given that "the video game rating system is purely voluntary and carries no force of law". So why is it really that important to enforce? It's up to the parents to say what's right for their child, not the stores. Let us game!