Think of the Children
Apparently, Midway decided to submit their entire 2008 PC lineup to be rated, as the ESRB posted 14 PC titles this week. What is interesting is that several are the same (or offshoot) games that have been found on Xbox Live and Playstation Network. Included are Robotron: 2084 and Joust. Could this be more of the Games for Windows Live product that was promised back at CES 2007 and again touted at CES 2008? Probably not, seeing as how UNO (which we saw a working PC/360 connection in January 2007 and was announced as coming later in 2007) has never been released. Other PC titles from Midway were Gauntlet II, Primal Rage, 3 Peak Deluxe, 5 Star Generals, Crystal Balls, Gemslide, Go Wild, Mahjongg Pairs, MAHKI, PowerCell, Solitaire Classic and Target 21.
What can only be considered a string week for the next-gen platforms saw several anticipated games along with a steady stream of Xbox Live Arcade titles come down the pipeline. Both the Xbox 360 and PS3 saw Silent Hill: Homecoming, Baja, Madden NFL 09, EA SPORTS Fantasy Football Live Draft Tracker and the heavy hitter SOULCALIBUR IV. A pretty good lineup of retail titles that don’t included any movie tie-ins. In addition, the Xbox 360 also had Cribbage, Rocket Riot and Ticket to Ride (one of this week’s XBLA title) all rated. Overall, it was a very strong week for the first time in a while.
The weekly title of shame goes to EA feeling the need to bring Madden 09 to the original Xbox platform. Since I started this article last year, only a handful of times has the platform seen a title (let alone a non-sports title) get rated. The last non-sports title was Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Lockdown, along with the 2K8 basketball (NBA and NCAA) and EA football (Madden and NCAA 08) titles from last year. That’s five titles in two years. I would think at some point (seeing as how Microsoft has already buried the thing) EA and 2K would abandon the original Xbox, as even the ESRB lists the thing under “older platforms”. So I am calling out EA to quit wasting resources on a platform that has essentially been retired and focus on the here and now.
| Title | Publisher | Rating | Platforms |
| Crystal Balls | Midway | Everyone | PC |
| Gemslide | Midway | Everyone | PC |
| Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility | Natsume Inc | Everyone | Wii |
| Joust | Midway | Everyone | PC |
| Madden NFL 09 | Electronic Arts | Everyone | 360, PS3, PSP, PS2, Xbox |
| Order Up! | Destination Software, Inc. (Zoo Games) | Everyone | Wii |
| Robotron: 2084 | Midway | Everyone | PC |
| Rocket Riot | ValuSoft | Everyone | 360 |
| Stargate Online Trading Card Game: Rise of the Ori | Sony Online Entertainment | Teen | PC |
| The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria | Turbine, Inc. | Teen | PC |
| The Sims 2 Apartment Pets | Electronic Arts | Everyone | DS |
| Wild West Guns | Game Loft | Teen | Wii |
| WWE SmackDown vs RAW 2009 | THQ | Teen | DS |
| Zoo Hospital | Majesco Entertainment | Everyone | Wii |
| Tinker | Microsoft | Everyone | PC |
| The Golden Horde | DreamCatcher Interactive Inc. | Teen | PC |
| Target 21 | Midway | Everyone | PC |
| Solitaire Classic | Midway | Everyone | PC |
| PowerCell | Midway | Everyone | PC |
| Madden NFL 09 All-Play | Electronic Arts | Everyone | Wii |
| Mahjongg Pairs | Midway | Everyone | PC |
| MAHKI | Midway | Everyone | PC |
| Jewel Quest Solitaire | Activision Value Publishing | Everyone | DS |
| Imagine: Fashion Designer New York | Ubisoft | Everyone | DS |
| Imagine: Teacher | Ubisoft | Everyone | DS |
| Go Wild | Midway | Everyone | PC |
| Flip Words 2 | Brighter Minds Media | Everyone | PC, Web Browser |
| Fate: Undiscovered Realms | Wild Tangent | Everyone 10+ | PC |
| 3 Peak Deluxe | Midway | Everyone | PC |
| 5 Star Generals | Midway | Everyone | PC |
| EnerG: Horse Rider | Ubisoft | Everyone | DS |
| Dream Chronicles 2: The Eternal Maze | Encore, Inc. | Everyone | Macintosh, PC |
| Cribbage | Vivendi Games | Everyone | 360 |
| SOULCALIBUR IV | Namco Bandai | Teen | 360, PS3 |
| Wonder World Amusement Park | Majesco Entertainment | Everyone | Wii |
| The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar | Turbine, Inc. | Teen | PC |
| Ticket to Ride | Next Level Games | Everyone | 360 |
| Penny Racers Party: Turbo-Q Speedway | TOMY Corporation | Everyone | Wii |
| Scholastic Animal Genius | Scholastic Inc. | Everyone | Macintosh, PC |
| Hide & Secret: Cliffhanger Castle | Activision Value | Everyone | PC |
| Hot Wheels Turbo Driver™ Race the World™ | Mattel Inc. | Everyone | PC |
| Legend: Hand of God | ValuSoft | Mature | PC |
| Gauntlet II | Midway Home Entertainment | Everyone | PC |
| Little League World Series Baseball 2008 | Activision Value | Everyone | DS |
| Ninja Commando | SNK Playmore USA | Everyone 10+ | Wii |
| EA SPORTS Fantasy Football Live Draft Tracker | Electronic Arts | Everyone | 360, PS3 |
| Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties | Destineer | Teen | Macintosh |
| Baja | THQ | Everyone | 360, PS3 |
| Safari Adventures: Africa | Conspiracy Entertainment Corporation | Everyone | PS2, DS, Wii |
| Red Bull BC One | Ignition Entertainment | Everyone | DS |
| Silent Hill: Homecoming | Konami Digital Entertainment | Mature | PC, 360, PS3 |
| PDC World Championship Darts 2008 | Oxygen Games | Everyone 10+ | PS2, PSP, Wii |
| Primal Rage | Midway Home Entertainment | Teen | PC |
| The Great Tree | Merscom | Everyone | PC |
| Target Toss Pro: Bags | Incredible Technologies | Everyone | Wii |
| World Heroes 2 | SNK Playmore USA | Teen | Wii |
Here is the final tally on who, what and where everything was rated for the last two weeks. There were 56 rated titles on 10 platforms. PC (28), Wii (12), DS (9), 360 (8) and PS3 (5) had the most games rated. There were 44 of the 56 titles rated at E10+ or lower, 10 rated at T for Teen and just two (Legend: Hand of God and Silent Hill: Homecoming) rated at M for Mature.
Got a comment on the article or a rated games, put it in the section below or send me an e-mail. Until next week, make sure you know what your kids are playing……
*The weekly Title of Shame (and any game that is tossed in that paragraph) is done so based on several factors, including which games were rated that week, how does the game concept stack up, is it a re-hashed sequel, lame movie tie-in, rip off of another game, etc…
* 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.
