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