We're looking for new writers to join us!

Think of the Children for Sept 5th

Think of the Children for Sept 5th

Written by Dan Keener on 9/5/2007 for MOB   DS   PC   PS2   PS3   PSP   Wii   360  
More On: Think of the Children
If I thought the previous week was busy, the ESRB must have been trying to get ahead due to Labor Day weekend approaching as there were 64 submissions that were rated (with very little dupes.) After scanning the list a couple times, it was pretty evident that the DS is getting ready to take over the world. There were so many entries for the DS platform that it makes you wonder if they are just cranking out crap, or if the games are really that good. I also noticed an inordinate amount of kid centric games that were rated, right along side several gambling titles for people to get their fix. And once again, the true next-gen platforms simply don’t have much quantity (and very little quality) coming out, but expect that to change over the next several weeks.
 
This week was a stellar week for the DS.  Not only are the hardware sales leading the pack, but games are getting pushed through at an unbelievable clip with another 21 being rated this week. However, a lot of this may just be fluff and crap, or crappy fluff, and geared towards the younger players and the puzzle people. Regardless, Nintendo has got a good thing going and the third party publishers are all lining up for the chance to sell people their wares…
 
I would guess the holidays must be approaching, otherwise we wouldn’t see over 10 titles geared towards kids (mainly on DS) that are getting rated. A couple of Petz games (Dogs and Cats 2), a Dora the Explorer and Diego game and some “Let’s Ride”. Also seen were a Hannah Montana (can’t believe that is Billy Ray Cyrus’ daughter, I’m getting old) and a Hot Wheels offerings among others. The only thing missing was Barbie Horse Adventures for the Xbox 360!
 
Gambling games are also getting some new blood, with Vegas Stakes for Wii, World Series of Poker 2008 on multiple platforms and Hoyle Casino 2008 on the Mac and PC.
 
And that brings us to the true next-gen platforms, namely the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.  This was a pretty slow week for the PS3 and 360.  This week’s offerings on the Xbox 360 are kinda week (other than Ace Combat 6) and leave me wanting more. They were Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, Bee Movie Game, World Series of Poker 2008: Battle for the Bracelets, Cabela’s Trophy Bucks and WWE SmackDown vs RAW 2008. At least the PlayStation 3 had a couple worthy titles (kinda, maybe?), including Folklore, LocoRoco Cocoreccho!, Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection Online, World Series of Poker 2008: Battle for the Bracelets and WWE SmackDown vs RAW 2008.

Title Platforms Publisher Rating
Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation Xbox 360 Namco Bandai Games America T
Bee Movie Game Wii Activision E
Diary Girl Nintendo DS Konami Digital Entertainment E
Folklore PlayStation 3 Sony Computer Entertainment T
Freddi Fish Kelp Seed Mystery Windows PC Humongous, Inc. E
Hot Wheels: Beat That! Nintendo DS Activision Value E
Hoyle Puzzle & Board Games 2008 Macintosh, Windows PC Encore, Inc., A Navarre Corporation Company E
Microsoft® Flight Simulator X: Acceleration Expansion Pack Windows PC Microsoft E10+
Neves Nintendo DS Yukes Company of America E
Orcs & Elves Nintendo DS Electronic Arts T
Pearl Harbor Macintosh, Windows PC GameMill Entertainment E
Tarr Chronicles Windows PC CDV Software Entertainment USA T
The History Channel Great Battles of Rome Windows PC CDV Software Entertainment USA T
Word Jong Nintendo DS Destineer E
Bee Movie Game Windows PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 Activision E
DI-GATA Defenders Nintendo DS The Game Factory ApS E
Dora The Explorer: Dora Saves The Mermaids Nintendo DS Global Star Software E
Fish Tycoon Nintendo DS Majesco Entertainment E
Go, Diego, Go!: Safari Rescue Nintendo DS Global Star Software E
Hoyle Casino 2008 Macintosh, Windows PC Encore, Inc., A Navarre Corporation Company T
LocoRoco Cocoreccho! PlayStation 3 SCEA E
MegaMan ZX Advent Nintendo DS Capcom Entertainment E10+
Prison Tycoon 3: Lockdown Windows PC ValuSoft T
Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection Online PlayStation 3 Namco Bandai Games America T
The Golden Compass Nintendo DS Sega of America E10+
Prison Tycoon 3: Lockdown Windows PC ValuSoft T
Bee Movie Game Nintendo DS Activision E
Caillou Ready to Read Macintosh, Windows PC Brighter Minds Media E
Are You Smarter than a 5TH Grader Windows PC, Nintendo DS ValuSoft E
Dream Chronicles Macintosh, Windows PC Brighter Minds Media E
Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness PSP NIS America, Inc. T
Geometry Wars: Galaxies Nintendo DS, Wii Vivendi Games E
Hannah Montana: Music Jam Nintendo DS Disney Interactive Studios E
Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow PSP Sony Computer Entertainment America T
Let's Ride: Horse Club The Saddle Show Mystery Windows PC ValuSoft E
Let's Ride Sunshine Stables Windows PC ValuSoft E
Petz Catz 2 PlayStation 2, Wii Ubisoft E
Richard Garriot's Tabula Rasa Windows PC NC Soft T
River King: Mystic Valley Nintendo DS Natsume Inc E
World Series of Poker 2008: Battle for the Bracelets Windows PC, PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 Activision Value Publishing, Inc. T
Avatar The Last Airbender: The Burning Earth Nintendo DS THQ E
Age of Empires 3: The Asian Dynasties Windows PC Microsoft T
Buzz!: The Mega Quiz PlayStation 2 SCEA E10+
Cabela's Trophy Bucks Windows PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 Activision Value T
G.H.O.S.T. Hunters: The Haunting of Majesty Manor Windows PC eGames Inc E
Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day Nintendo DS Nintendo of America E
Ducati World Championship Windows PC Strategy First E10+
Elements of Destruction Nintendo DS ValuSoft E10+
Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers Wii Capcom T
The Amazing Spider-Man in the Villian Round-Up Plug-and-Play JAKKS Pacific Inc. E10+
SPY Fox:In Dry Cereal Windows PC Humongous, Inc. E
The Sims™ 2 Castaway PlayStation 2, Wii Electronic Arts T
Touch Detective 2 1/2 Nintendo DS Atlus USA, Inc. E
Vegas Stakes Wii Nintendo of America E
Wave Race 64 Wii Nintendo of America E
Metroid Wii Nintendo of America E
Neverwinter Nights 2 Mask of The Betrayer Windows PC Atari, Inc. T
Sally's Salon Macintosh, Windows PC, Web Browser GamesCafe Inc. E
Petz Dogz 2 PlayStation 2, Wii Ubisoft E
Pet Luv Spa and Resort Tycoon Windows PC GameMill Entertainment E
Putt Putt Saves the Zoo! Windows PC Humongous, Inc. E
Puzzle de Harvest Moon Nintendo DS Natsume Inc E
WWE SmackDown vs RAW 2008 PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 THQ T
Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals Windows PC Microsoft E10+

Here is the final tally on who, what and where everything was rated. There were 64 rated entries on 10 platforms (Browser and Plug & Play debut this week). Windows PC (27), Nintendo DS (21), Wii (9) and Playstation 2 (8) 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……

* 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