We're looking for new writers to join us!

Think of the Children for December 12

Think of the Children for December 12

Written by Dan Keener on 12/12/2007 for DS   PC   PS2   PS3   PSP   Wii   360  
More On: Think of the Children
After taking a break over the Thanksgiving Holiday (and a lingering illness), we are back with all the games rated by the ESRB the last couple of weeks. It still continues to be a slow period, as only a total of 53 games over two weeks were rated and published.

The Macintosh gets back on the board this week, but only with some casual games. Dominoes, Super Dominoes, First to Fight and Gem Shop highlight their week’s totals. Maybe someday the Mac will become a viable gaming platform, but as it looks, that may not become a reality for a few more years.

¡Bienvenido a la exposición! That is for Electronic Arts, which had the Spanish version of Madden 08 (Madden NFL 08 en Español) rated for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 2. First time I have seen a foreign language title rated through the ESRB that wasn’t for self-help or language learning.

The Next-Gen consoles had quite a few titles this week, with the Xbox 360 (8) and PS3 (4) having 13 total between them. Besides Karaoke Revolution (see below), March Madness 08 and Frontlines: Fuel of War were rated for both platforms. Unreal Tournament 3 was a PS3 title only, while the Xbox 360 had a couple of Xbox Live Arcade titles in Chessmaster LIVE, Bliss Island, Poker Smash and Spongebob SquarePants. Again, kind of a weak crop except Unreal Tournament 3.

The Nintendo platforms are whoring games out at an amazing clip. Still. Another week and another 20 of 53 titles belong to the Wii, DS or GBA. Frankly, I am getting sick of the junk they keep trotting out. Sequels, lame kid titles and the obscure seem to be the norm. The old quantity over quality seems to really be taking hold here. I guess keeping the handheld titles sub $30 means they have to produce twice as many to earn the same dollar as the consoles. Oh well, enjoy Puyo Puyo 2, Baseball Stars 2, Homie Rollerz, Puppy Palace and Paws & Claws Pet Vet 2 on your weak Nintendo platforms.

There were a couple of titles I don’t remember hearing about, including Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore (Please, shoot me now!), Bliss Island from Codemasters and Rock & Roll Jeopardy! (Based on the short-lived show and hosted by future Survivor face man Jeff Probst). Unreal Tournament 3 for the PS3 and PC also went live (garnering an ‘M’).

Here is the final tally on who, what and where everything was rated for the last two weeks. There were 53 rated entries on seven platforms. Windows PC (22), Nintendo DS (15) and Xbox 360 (9) had the most games rated. There were 44 of the 53 games were rated at E10+ or lower, seven rated at T for Teen and two rated at M for Mature.

Until next week, make sure you know what your kids are playing……

Title Rating Content Platforms
Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore E  Mild Lyrics, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Neptune's Secret E  No Descriptors Windows PC
RACE Official WTCC Game E  No Descriptors Windows PC
Buzz Jr.! Monster Rally E  Comic Mischief PlayStation 2
Dominoes E  No Descriptors Macintosh, Windows PC
Paws & Claws Pet Vet 2 E  No Descriptors Nintendo DS
Super Dominoes E  No Descriptors Macintosh, Windows PC
Blitzkrieg 2 Liberation T  Mild Language, Violence Windows PC
Chessmaster LIVE E  No Descriptors Xbox 360
Frontlines: Fuel of War T  Blood, Language, Violence Windows PC, Xbox 360, PS3
Jewel Quest Solitaire 2 E  Alcohol and Tobacco Reference Windows PC
Paws and Claws Pet Resort E  No Descriptors Windows PC, Nintendo DS
Puppy Palace E  No Descriptors Nintendo DS
Spitfire Heroes: Tales of the RAF E10+  Violence Nintendo DS
Advance Wars: Days of Ruin E10+  Language, Mild Violence Nintendo DS
Anno 1701 E  Mild Violence Nintendo DS
Baseball Stars 2 E  No Descriptors Wii
Bliss Island E  Comic Mischief Xbox 360
Brain Assist E  No Descriptors Nintendo DS
Daycare Nightmare E  Animated Blood, Comic Mischief Windows PC
Deal or No Deal; Secret Vault Games E  No Descriptors Windows PC
Drake and Josh Talent Showdown E  Mild Cartoon Violence Nintendo DS
Homie Rollerz E  Mild Cartoon Violence, Nintendo DS
Madden NFL 08 en Español E  No Descriptors PlayStation 2
Madden NFL 08 en Español E  No Descriptors Xbox 360
Magic Ball 3 E10+  Alcohol Reference, Windows PC
Puyo Puyo 2 E  No Descriptors Wii
Rock & Roll JEOPARDY! E  No Descriptors Windows PC
Plushees E  No Descriptors Nintendo DS
NCAA March Madness 08 E  No Descriptors PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, PS3
Next Life T  Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Windows PC
Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power T  Alcohol Reference, PlayStation 2
Blackbeard's Revenge E10+  Mild Violence Windows PC
SpongeBob SquarePants Underpants Slam! E  Comic Mischief, Xbox 360
Sprint Cars: Showdown at Eldora E  No Descriptors PlayStation 2
Kidz Sports Basketball E  No Descriptors Wii
Poker Smash E  Mild Language Xbox 360
Brain Challenge E  Mild Cartoon Violence, Nintendo DS
Chromadrome 2 E  Mild Cartoon Violence Windows PC
Bases Loaded E  No Descriptors Wii
DARKNESS WITHIN: In Pursuit of Loath Nolder T  Mild Blood, Violent References Windows PC
Fritz Chess Grandmaster Challenge III E  No Descriptors Windows PC
First to Fight T  Blood, Violence Macintosh, Windows PC
Galaxy of Mahjongg E  No Descriptors Windows PC
Gem Shop E  No Descriptors Macintosh, Windows PC
Eco Creatures: Save the Forest E  Mild Cartoon Violence, Nintendo DS
Starship Troopers M  Blood and Gore, Windows PC
The Dynastic Hero E  Comic Mischief Wii
Power Golf E  No Descriptors Wii
NEOGEO Battle Coliseum T  Animated Blood, PlayStation 2
Pet Pals: Animal Doctor E  Mild Blood Nintendo DS
Paws & Claws Dogs & Cats Best Friends E  No Descriptors GBA, Nintendo DS
Unreal Tournament 3 M  Blood and Gore, Windows PC, PlayStation 3

* The product in this article was sent to us by the developer/company.


About Author

Like many gamers in their 40's, I developed my love of gaming from my Commodore 64 after we wore out our Intellivision. I spent countless hours wandering around the streets of Skara Brae, as my life was immersed in The Bard's Tale series on the C-64, D&D Titles and any/all Epyx titles (California Summer and Winter Games) and sports titles.  After taking the early 90's off from gaming (college years) minus the occasional Bill Walsh College Football on Sega, I was re-introduced to PC games in the mid 1990's with a couple of little games called DOOM II and Diablo. I went all-in with the last generation of consoles, getting an Xbox 360 on launch weekend as well as adding a PS3 and Wii in subsequent years.  I now am into the current-generation (latest?) of consoles with the WiiU and Xbox One.  Recently, I was able to get back into PC gaming and have enjoyed it very much, spending most of my time going solo or playing with my fellow GamingNexus staffers in controlled multiplayer action.

While my byline is on many reviews, articles and countless news stories, I have a passion for and spent the last several years at GamingNexus focusing on audio & video and accessories as they relate to gaming. Having over 20 years of Home Theater consulting and sales under my belt, it is quite enjoyable to spend some of my time viewing gaming through the A/V perspective. While I haven't yet made it to one of the major gaming conventions (PAX or E3), I have represented GamingNexus at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in nine of the last ten years.

Personally, I have been a staff member at GamingNexus since 2006 and am in my third tour of duty after taking off the last year and a half.


 

View Profile