Also, we think it's a bit of a strange choice for Amazon to offer as a deal. We wonder if they'll be getting an angry letter from Jack Thompson any time soon.
Gallery: Manhunt2
Posts with tag rockstar
Murder training for cheap at Amazon
Also, we think it's a bit of a strange choice for Amazon to offer as a deal. We wonder if they'll be getting an angry letter from Jack Thompson any time soon.
Forbes states the obvious over lack of Wii GTA
Forbes writer Brian Caulfield recently had a remarkable epiphany: because Grand Theft Auto IV won't be appearing on the Wii, any success it enjoys may not be positive news for the Wii.Okay, we apologize for the sarcastic tone, but seriously, could Caulfield's observation be any more ... obvious? "[Grand Theft Auto IV] is a bust for Nintendo because not a single copy of the game will be played on the Wii," writes Caulfield with razor-sharp insight, before he loses focus entirely and starts galloping off on tangents, discussing the PlayStation 3's in-built Blu-ray player and the Xbox 360's online service.
His eventual point? That Grand Theft Auto IV would be difficult to port to the Wii (note: the fact that the Wii's biggest sellers won't be ported any time soon is ignored), and that this could benefit Nintendo's competition. Brian, color us gobsmacked.
[Via Joystiq]
GTA IV usurps Ocarina of Time
The game that everyone seems to be nutty about, Grand Theft Auto IV (or GTA IV, as most seem to be calling it), has now passed Ocarina and become the #1 rated game of all time on the site. While the game is very new (it came out yesterday), many reviews still need to come in, so we're hoping that once they do, Ocarina will be back where it belongs. Until then, sharpen those pitchforks and light your torches, it's time to become an unruly mob.
Bully ban means no virtual wedgies in Brazil
According to an Associated Press article, Judge Flavio Rabello recently ordered that Rockstar's controversial game be banned from the country. This means that Brazilian stores (both brick and mortar and online) cannot sell the software, nor can the title be imported, distributed, or promoted.
So, why Bully over other violent games? State prosecutor Alcindo Bastos commented, "The aggravating factor is that everything in the game takes place inside a school. That is not acceptable." Yet, Bully isn't first game to be prohibited in the Latin American country; earlier this year, Counter-Strike and Everquest were banned as well.
It's a shame when governments don't take the time to understand something before following a knee-jerk reaction. Perhaps bullying is a touchy subject, since the issue involves children committing violence against other children, but pretending it doesn't exist by banning media that portrays it won't solve any problems.
[Via Game Politics]
Byron calls for more BBFC action, ratings system overhaul
As you all probably know, following the whole Manhunt 2 thing, noted psychologist in the country Dr. Tanya Byron was knee-deep in an investigation into the effects of games and internet media on children in the UK. Her verdict? The BBFC should have a bigger role in rating games (right now, they only intervene on games flagged with violent, sexual and criminal content).Her solution involves a new 12+ classification, as well as the BBFC handling just about all duties involving rating games. But, as anticipated, she's also endorsed the PEGI system, as well. She hopes that the PEGI ratings can go on the back of the game's box, with the BBFC classification being displayed on the front.
This is all just the tip of the iceberg, however. Her report has lots more interesting information, so for the rest, head on over to Game Politics.
[Via Joystiq]
Many call for BBFC to step aside from games following Manhunt 2 ordeal
Darren Waters, editor of BBC News' technology index, rips apart the BBFC, stating "The grudging nature of the BBFC's statement, that it now has "no alternative" but to grant the title a certificate, coupled with the fact the body went to the High Court, twice rejected the game itself and tried to overturn the original judgment of the VAC leaves the organization with its credibility bruised."
Others have come through to voice their concerns, as well. General consensus seems to be that the new classification system will fall squarely on the shoulders of PEGI (Pan European Game Information), another games classification system that is completely voluntary on the part of the game developers.
Gallery: Manhunt2
[Via Go Nintendo]
The Manhunt is back on in the UK
Although we've really heard nothing but bad things about Manhunt 2, surely some of you in the UK are happy to hear about this new state of affairs involving the game? Not like it matters, because thanks to the Freeloader, you could have just imported the game from North America.
Gallery: Manhunt2
[Thanks, Jon!]
Wii version of Bully might be the better port
On numerous gaming forums, we've been reading about people having problems with the Xbox 360 port of Bully: Scholarship Edition. According to many owners of the game, the 360 version constantly freezes and suffers from poor framerates. There have also been some complaints about glitches and audio drops, which have led many to conclude that it's a shoddily made port.Fortunately, it seems like these issue aren't present in the Wii game, but we figured we'd check with our readers to be sure. Have any of you picked up a copy of Bully yet? If so, have you encountered any problems, or is the game running smoothly for you?
Checking out Bully: Scholarship Edition
Hitting North American shores on March 4th (the rumor was only one day off) and March 7th for the UK, Bully: Scholarship Edition will be bringing extra content to Wii gamers that skipped giving this a wedgie when it released on PS2 back in 2006. What we would like to know is if you feel like participating in this class come March when it releases?
[Via Joystiq]
More Manhunt 2 dramarama
If you're familiar with the Manhunt 2 saga, you'll know that things were looking good for Rockstar. The company recently won an appeal against the BBFC, meaning that the controversial game could finally be rated and sold in stores in the UK. The BBFC had one last trick up its sleeve, however. The board essentially appealed the appeal by bringing the Video Appeals Committee's decision under judicial review. That's where we last left off.Unfortunately for Rockstar, the High Court sided with the BBFC. The VAC must now reconsider its appeal, which for all intents and purposes probably means, "Change your decision to agree with the BBFC, or else."
During the trial, the BBFC argued that the VAC's decision undermined the board's role as the watchdogs of entertainment. This may be true, but what is the point of having a Video Appeals Committee if it's not able to uphold appeals? This is also a huge blow to Rockstar, because it gives the company little hope of ever being able to sell the game in the UK.
Rockstar is also currently dealing with criticism in the UK for its new rendition of Bully, which is coming to the Wii and Xbox 360 later this year.
[Via Games Industry]
Bully stirs up controversy in Britain ... again
Poor Rockstar -- the games publisher and developer just can't get any love in the U.K. Britain not only bullied Bully the first time around, forcing the game to change its name to Canis Canem Edit, but The Telegraph is now criticizing the new Wii and Xbox 360 versions. The latest gripe comes fresh after the Manhunt 2 controversy, which has yet to be resolved completely.The Telegraph disapproves of the game because it "features a shaven-headed pupil who torments fellow students and teachers at his school." Like many video game critiques, this opinion is mostly inaccurate and also alarmist. An organization known as BeatBullying is also unhappy with the new Bully, claiming that Rockstar tried to bribe them for their support with a donation. Certain retailers like PC World and Currys refuse to even carry the game.
Rockstar is known for pushing the envelope with edgy games, but we have to imagine that they're tired of all these headaches by now. We know we certainly are.
Get in here and check out these Bully screens
Gallery: Bully
Rumor: Bully giving out swirlies from March 3rd
Over the years, the games industry has developed the irritating habit of cramming all of its best software into the last three months of the calendar year. The inevitable result of this is the dreaded post-Christmas lull, whereby the first quarter of the following year is severely lacking in noteworthy titles.Despite this trend, Q1 2008 content on the Wii looks good. Like, really good. And as if No More Heroes, SEGA Superstar Tennis, The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return, Harvest Moon Heroes, SEGA Bass Fishing, and some Nintendo fighting game you may have heard something about weren't enough to placate the Wiimote-wielding masses, now GameStop has Rockstar's Bully: Scholarship Edition listed for a U.S. release on March 3rd.
Which is awesome news, if it turns out to be true. Now all we need to do is convince Take-Two that the Wii is worthy of receiving some GTA lovin'.
[Via Go Nintendo]
Man with awesome name rules out GTA on Wii
As we've seen throughout the first year of its existence, the Wii isn't exactly lacking system-selling software. There is one big-selling franchise that looks highly unlikely to appear on Nintendo's all-conquering platform, however: Take-Two and Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto.Admittedly, we always suspected a Wii version of the epic crime series was highly unlikely, but now Take-Two chief Strauss Zelnick has seen fit to bang the final nail into the coffin, and altogether rule out bringing GTA to the Wii. Speaking in a conference call earlier today, Zelnick concluded that "there are other titles better suited to the Wii than Grand Theft Auto." You know, like Carnival Games.
We're curious about Zelnick's statement, simply because we think GTA could work on the Wii. If the PlayStation 2 had the technical muscle to support numerous GTA games, then the Wii would surely cope just fine. It's not a question of audience taste, either -- let's not forget how Resident Evil 4 shifted a cool million copies earlier this year. Honestly, Strauss, if you didn't have such a rad name, we'd be pretty miffed.
And the Manhunt 2 saga continues
Although Rockstar won the appeal to get the controversial Manhunt 2 rated in the UK, the battle is far from over. The BBFC is now challenging the verdict by applying for a judicial review of the Video Appeals Committee's decision. The BBFC is adamant about its course of action, stating, "The VAC judgment, if allowed to stand, would have fundamental implications with regard to all the Board's decisions, including those turning upon questions of unacceptable levels of violence." Won't someone think of the children?The BBFC is also trying to have the VAC's decision suspended, so that the Board doesn't have to rate the game until after the judicial review.
While it seems no one cares about playing Manhunt 2 anymore, the final outcome is certain to have repercussions for rating games (in the UK, at least) in the future.
[Via press release]
