Oblivion gets Mature

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" video game will not be recalled, but will be relabeled to reflect a stricter "mature" industry rating, Bethesda Softworks, the game's developer and co-publisher said in a statement on Thursday.

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) on Wednesday revoked its "teen" rating on the title. It cited excessive gore and an art file in the game's PC version that can be modified with a third-party download that lets players change file settings to make the female characters appear topless.

"Teen" rated games are deemed suitable for players ages 13 and up, while content in "mature" games may be suitable for those aged 17 and older.

Bethesda handled the game's ratings application and said it will work with co-publisher 2K Games, a Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (Nasdaq:TTWO - news) publishing label, to put new "mature" rating stickers on "Oblivion" packaging now in stores and warehouses. The rating change will be reflected in the packaging of the new games.

Bethesda stood behind its application, but said it would not contest the ESRB's decision to re-rate the game nor change the game's content to keep a "teen" rating.

Sopranos makes gaming more about family time

By Mike Snider, USA TODAY Thu May 4, 7:00 AM ET

Gamers can stay connected with The Sopranos this fall with a video-game version of HBO's crime family.

This Sopranos features the likenesses and voices of stars James Gandolfini (Tony), Michael Imperioli (Christopher), Steven Van Zandt (Silvio) and Tony Sirico (Paulie). "The key thing was (series creator) David Chase's interest in ... the ability to participate in an evolving art form," says Carmi Zlotnik, executive vice president of new media programming at HBO.

Due in October, the game (from THQ, for the Microsoft Xbox 360) is timed to fill the gap in new episodes on HBO. The current sequence ends June 4; episodes are expected to resume in January.

DS Lite gets US Date

Posted: 14:42 on 04 May 2006

By: Jon Wilcox

Nintendo has today confirmed a release date of June 11th 2006 for the launch of Nintendo DS Lite, the latest version of the company's next-gen handheld, in North America. Priced at $129 (£70), the device, which is a third smaller and a fifth lighter than the original DS, will also include a number of further design changes with the built-in mic re-situated to the centre and the Start/Select buttons also moved to a better position.

In addition, four brightness levels will be available, together with a stylus 1cm longer and 1mm wider than before.

The release of the new version will come less than a month after the launch of New Super Mario Bros, the first original 2D Super Mario title since Super Mario World on the SNES back in the early-1990s.

"DS Lite and New Super Mario Bros. represent a double shot of gaming excellence," says Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. "We've got something for both lovers of

beautiful, new gadgets and fans of old-school gaming."

E3 Line ups

EA:

The list of titles from Electronic Arts includes:

* Madden NFL 07

* NASCAR 07

* Army of Two

* Battlefield 2142

* SPORE

* Crysis

* Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars

* The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-Earth II

* Superman Returns: The Videogame

* Def Jam Fight For NY: The Takeover

THQ:

* Saints Row

* Frontlines: Fuel of War

* WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007

* The Sopranos

* MotoGP '06

* GTR

* Supreme Commander

* Company of Heroes

* Titan Quest

* Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War - Dark Crusade

* Disney/Pixar Cars

* Destroy All Humans! 2

* SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab

* Monster House

* Bratz: Forever Diamondz

* Barnyard

* Avatar: The Last Airbender

* Juiced: Eliminator

* Alex Rider: Stormbreaker

Midway:

* John Woo Presents Stranglehold

* Unreal Tournament 2007

* Blitz: The League

*Mortal Kombat: Armageddon

* Spy Hunter: Nowhere to Run

* The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar

* Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War

* Happy Feet

* The Ant Bully

* The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy

* MLB SlugFest 2006

* RUSH

* Mortal Kombat: Unchained

* NBA Ballers: Rebound

Ubi-Soft:

* Assassin's Creed

* Brothers In Arms Hell's Highway

* Dark Messiah of Might & Magic

* Enchanted Arms

* Open Season

* Rayman Raving Rabbids

* Red Steel

* Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent

* Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas

E3 Predictions:

Halo 3...playable.

Sony announces Price Point for PS3. It's expensive.

Nintendo shocks the world with a fully interactive Mario demonstration of all the the Wii's capabilities.

Nintendo Wii jokes:

"Hey can you take a look at my Wii? It's not working right."

"Wanna come over after practice and play with my Wii?"

"What color is your Wii?"

"Hey not so rough with my Wii, you'll break it!"

What I've Been Playing:

Oblivion

DOA4

Burnout: Revenge

XBOX Live Arcade

Anime News:

MGS movie?

posted on 2006-05-04 09:14:30

source: Anime Nation

Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima revealed in his Hide-chan Radio podcast that Konami plans to produce an American Metal Gear Solid movie. No further details are available.

Domo-Kun

posted on 2006-05-04 08:53:55

source: ICv2

Nickelodeon has signed deals with Domo Production Committee and Polygon Pictures to co-develop Domo-Kun and Akihabara@Deep. The former will be a series of 26 two-minute episodes, and the latter will be a full series. This is Nickelodeon's first venture into broadcasting anime, whether through licensing or production.

Con Corner:

JaCon wrap up.

I liked it.