Think of the Children for March 6th

Written by Dan Keener on 3/6/2008 for DS   PC   PS2   PS3   PSP   Wii   360  

On again, off again. I feel like the ESRB has a switch that they keep playing with each week. Last week was one of the lowest outputs ever, yet this week was one of the highest. In fact, it took them an extra three days to post it to their website. Granted, the list is full of slugs for the DS and PC, but that is what we have come to expect. The Xbox 360 is still getting more XBLA titles rated, and is still carrying the flag for the next-gen system. Also, check out my weekly title of shame below, as it violates not one, but two of the basic codes for making a game.

PC and Nintendo came back in a big way, with 35 combined titles this week. Of course most are crap, rehashes or completely unnecessary, but that is beside the point. However, a few goodies lurked on the list, with Assassin's Creed Altair's Chronicles (DS), Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (PC) and Rondo of Swords (DS) all now rated.

The Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 had a combined seven titles this week, with the 360 having six rated and the PS3 only three. The 360 saw LOST: Via Domus, Battlezone, Warlords, Lost Cities, Hail to the Chimp and UEFA Euro 2008. The PS3 had UEFA Euro 2008 and Hot Shot’s Golf; Out of Bounds. So it appears that the XBLA titles continue to push the 360 past the PS3. One thing I am checking into is whether or not PSN titles are getting put back through the ESRB for re-rating. We have seen several PSN titles pop up on the service that are not listed in the ESRB database. While the process is voluntary, it seems as if Sony may be cutting some corners and re-using the initial rating for the titles, even though it was on a different platform.

Probably the biggest buzz this week is for the hotly anticipated Wii Fit, although people will probably put it down after the excitement wears off. A couple of surprise XBLA titles showed, with Warlords and Battlezone coming soon complete with original and updated versions. It was also nice to see Hot Shots Golf on the PS3 make its way through ratings. This series is one of my favorites on the PSP, and can only enhance the PS3 gameplay experience. I also see that Assassin's Creed Altair's Chronicles has come to the DS, providing another route for a top franchise to reach more players.

I love it when there are lots of rated games, as my weekly title of shame gets so many worthy candidates aching to have the honor bestowed. This week, we have a trio of sludge to choose from, but one clear-cut winner. Are three candidates are Let’s Yoga (DS), Soul Bubbles (DS) and M&M’s Kart Racing (DS). Notice that the platform of choice is the Nintendo DS. Still lending credence to my contention that publishers are just throwing whatever junk they can out there for consumers. As for the three choices, I ruled out Let’s Yoga despite being another of those stupid “motivational” based titles and Soul Bubbles, because it could actually entertain someone. It left us with M&M’s Kart Racing, yet another shameless corporate tie-in and Mario-Kart rip-off. There is nothing like violating two of the basic codes of game making, creating a double faux pas and earning this award. I’m guessing that when M&M’s Kart Racing (What, was Yaris not available?) hits reviewers, we may find some harshness flying from the keyboards.

Title	Publisher	Rating	Platforms
Anno 1701: Dawn of Discovery	Ubisoft Entertainment	E	DS
Assassin's Creed Altair's Chronicles	Ubisoft Entertainment	T	DS
Docomodake	Ignition Entertainment	E	DS
DoReMi Fantasy: Milon’s DokiDoki Adventure	Hudson Entertainment Inc	E	Wii
Family Game Time	eGames Inc.	E	PC
Golf Solitaire	Electronic Arts	E	Web Browser
Hidden Relics	eGames Inc.	E	PC
Journey to the Center of the Earth	THQ	E	DS
Let's Yoga	Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.	E	DS
LOST: Via Domus	Ubisoft Entertainment	T	PC, 360, PS3
Pirateville	21 Rocks, LLC	E10+	PC
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Darkness	Nintendo	E	DS
Powerboat GT	DreamCatcher	E	PC
Secrets of Great Art	Brighter Minds Media	E	PC
Silent Hunter: Wolves of the Pacific U-Boat Missions	Ubisoft Entertainment	T	PC
Soul Bubbles	Eidos Inc	E	DS
Super Pitfall	Activision	E	Wii
The Guild Gold Edition	DreamCatcher	T	PC
Tri-Peaks 2: Quest for the Ruby Ring	Electronic Arts	E10+	PC
Wii Fit	Nintendo	E	Wii
Warlords	Atari, Inc.	E	360
Battlezone	Atari, Inc.	E	360
Fatal Fury Battle Archives Vol. 2	SNK Playmore USA	T	PS2
Fever Frenzy	Legacy Interactive	E	PC
M&M'S Kart Racing	Destination Software, Inc.	E	DS
Opoona	KOEI Corporation	E10+	Wii
Wild Earth: African Safari	Majesco Entertainment	E	Wii
Toy Shop	Majesco Entertainment	E	DS
Space Invaders Extreme	Square Enix, Inc	E	DS, PSP
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES	Atlus USA, Inc.	M	PS2
Powershot Pinball Constructor	Crave Entertainment Inc.	E	DS
Puzzle Master 1,000,000	eGames Inc.	E	PC
Sprint Cars 2: Showdown at Eldora	ValuSoft	E	PS2
Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media Present The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian + DGamer	Disney Interactive Studios	E10+	DS
Pet Vet 3D Animal Hospital Down Under	Viva-Media, LLC	E	PC
Jane's Hotel	eGames Inc.	E	PC
Evolver Pre-Algebra	Tabula Digita, Inc.	E10+	Mac, PC
Billy the Wizard: Rocket Broomstick Racing	Conspiracy Entertainment Corporation	E	Wii
Blokus World Tour	United Developers	E	PC
Brainiversity	Brighter Minds Media	E	PC
Battle of the Bands	THQ	T	Wii
Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath	Electronic Arts	T	Mac, PC
UEFA Euro 2008	Electronic Arts	E	360, PS3
UEFA Euro 2008™	Electronic Arts	E	PS2
UEFA Euro 2008™	Electronic Arts	E	PSP
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory	Encore, Inc., A Navarre Corp. Co.	M	PC
Ricochet Infinity	United Developers	E	PC
Pokemon Snap	Nintendo of America	E	Wii
Seven Kingdoms: Conquest	DreamCatcher	T	PC
Rondo of Swords	Atlus USA, Inc.	E10+	DS
Spaceforce Captains	DreamCatcher	E10+	PC
Lost Cities	Vivendi Games	E	360
Lords of Thunder	Hudson Entertainment Inc	E	Wii
Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds	SCEA	E	PS3
Hail to the Chimp	Wideload Games Inc.	T	360, PS3
Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate	Activision Value Publishing	T	PC
Mercs	SEGA of America	E10+	Wii

Here is the final tally on who, what and where everything was rated for the last week. There were 57 rated entries on 10 platforms. PC (22), DS (13), Wii (10) and Xbox 360 (6) had the most games rated. There were 45 of the 57 titles rated at E10+ or lower, 10 rated at T for Teen and two rated at M for Mature.

Got a comment on the rated games, put it in the section below. Until next week, make sure you know what your kids are playing……