Tightasses demand more info...

By Peter Kaplan Wed Jun 14, 6:59 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican lawmakers said on Wednesday that parents need to know more about sexual content and violence in video games and criticized the FTC's handling of a complaint about a top-selling game, "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas."

The industry's voluntary ratings system and game makers have been under fire since last summer, when Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (Nasdaq:TTWO - news) pulled the blockbuster title from store shelves following complaints about hidden sex scenes that could be viewed with a downloaded program.

Congress asked the FTC to investigate. Last week, the agency reached a settlement with Take-Two that bars the company from misrepresenting rating or content descriptions.

At a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on violent video games, Michigan Republican Fred Upton complained the settlement terms "aren't even a slap on the wrist."

"I guess I thought the FTC had a few more teeth," Upton added.

Texas Republican Joe Barton, chairman of the entire committee, said the FTC had yet to formally submit a report to Congress on its investigation.

"Given the sensitivity of the issue, it's not acceptable practice by the FTC to respond in such a tardy fashion," Barton said.

Another Republican, Cliff Stearns of Florida, compared violent video games to hate speech and urged the FTC to "get tough" with companies like Take-Two.

"They flout the law and continue to exploit our kids with violence and hate," Stearns said.

But the FTC did not have the authority to impose civil penalties against Take-Two as part of the settlement, Lydia Parnes, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, told the lawmakers.

New DS Lite sells well.

Patrick Seitz Fri Jun 9, 7:00 PM ET

Nintendo is anything but a lightweight in the portable video game market, but its new product is.

The Japanese company was set to release in the U.S. on Sunday a new version of its dual-screen handheld game machine that's smaller and lighter than the original. The Nintendo DS Lite is less than two-thirds the size of the original Nintendo DS, more than 20% lighter and features a brighter screen.

Nintendo officials hope the new DS will help the firm stay ahead of rival Sony (NYSE:SNE - News), which entered the mobile gaming market in March 2005 with its PlayStation Portable, or PSP. And some analysts say Microsoft (NasdaqNM:MSFT - News) looms as a likely rival.

"Nintendo has been very strong in the portable system market," said David Cole, an analyst with DFC Intelligence. "One thing they've been very good at is redesigning and retooling their systems. In the portable market, it's a lot about the style and look of the system. In many ways, it can be a fashion accessory."

Like the original DS, the DS Lite features a touch-screen interface, built-in wireless connectivity and an embedded microphone for spoken commands. It will sell for as low as $129. The DS Lite has been sold in Japan since March 2.

Nintendo has 90% of the portable video game devices market, mostly thanks to its ubiquitous, low-cost Game Boy gadgets. Sony has taken about 10% market share in just over a year, Cole says.

Funny Picture

Soundtracks...weird.

New FlatOut lays out soundtrack

Tunes will rock, cars will roll in Bugbear's wreck-happy racer; soundtrack includes Wolfmother, Mötley Crüe, Audioslave.

By Tim Surette, GameSpot

Posted Jun 15, 2006 2:33 pm PT

Heavy metal meets twisted metal in FlatOut 2, the follow-up to last year's FlatOut, from developer Bugbear. Today, Empire Interactive announced the soundtrack for the demolition derby disguised as a racer, and it's full of rockers from the past and present.

The sound of grinding car parts and shattering glass will be accompanied by the riffs of Australian trio Wolfmother, the new sound of Apple's iPod commercials and rock group du jour. Fellow youngsters Fall Out Boy will contribute "7 Minutes in Heaven" and "Snitches and Talkers Get Stitches and Walkers.," and Yellowcard will also pitch in with "Rough Landing Holly" and "Breathing."

The soundtrack will also offer classic tunes from the days of trashed hotel rooms and denim jackets. Megadeth ("Symphony of Destruction") and Mötley Crüe ("Dr. Feelgood") provide nostalgia, and vet-rocker Rob Zombie also adds two tracks.

FlatOut 2 is scheduled for release on the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and PC this August. For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

The full soundtrack is listed below.

Artist / Song

Alkaline Trio / Fall Victim

Alkaline Trio / Mercy Me

Audioslave / Man or Animal

Audioslave / Your Time has Come

Fall Out Boy / 7 Minutes in Heaven

Fall Out Boy / Snitches and Talkers Get Stitches and Walkers

Megadeth / Symphony of Destruction

Mötley Crüe / Dr. Feelgood

Nickelback / Believe it or Not

Nickelback / Flat On the Floor

Papa Roach / Blood Brothers

Papa Roach / Not Listening

Rise Against / Give it All

Rob Zombie / Demon Speeding

Rob Zombie / Feel So Numb

Supergrass / Richard III

Supergrass / Road to Rouen

The Chelsea Smiles / Nowhere Ride

Underneath / Reinventing Your Exit

Wolfmother / Dimension

Wolfmother / Pyramid

Yellowcard / Breathing

Yellowcard / Rough Landing Holly

Zebrahead / Gimme Some More

No one I haven't heard from. Is the rumor true? In order to re-fuel CD sales bands want to be on Video Game soundtracks?

HAHAHA! Video Game Addiction Rehab!  I shouldn't laugh...

By FIA CURLEY, Associated Press Writer Fri Jun 9, 7:57 AM ET

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - An addiction center is opening Europe's first detox clinic for video game addicts, offering in-house treatment for people who can't leave their joysticks alone.

Video games may look innocent, but they can be as addictive as gambling or drugs — and just as hard to kick, says Keith Bakker, director of Amsterdam-based Smith & Jones Addiction Consultants.

Bakker already has treated 20 video game addicts, aged 13 to 30, since January. Some show withdrawal symptoms, such as shaking and sweating, when they look at a computer console.

His detox program begins in July. It will run four to eight weeks, and will include therapy sessions, wilderness excursions, healthy lifestyle workshops and possibly medication.

Research into video gaming is still in its infancy, and researchers haven't agreed on how to define addiction. But many experts say it's clear many of the young people who show dependency on video games are in trouble.

"We have kids who don't know how to communicate with people face-to-face because they've spent the last three years talking to somebody in Korea through a computer," Bakker said. "Their social network has completely disappeared."

It can start with a Game Boy, perhaps given by parents hoping to keep their children occupied but away from the television. From there, it can progress to multilevel games that aren't made to be won.

Bakker said he has seen signs of addiction in children as young as 8.

About a dozen clinics already exist in the United States and Canada, and even one in China, as excessive gaming increasingly is being recognized worldwide as an ailment requiring treatment.

What I've been playing:

Vision issues.

Anime News:

ANIME EXPLOSION: Parasite Dolls

When: Midnight, Friday, June 16

Where: The AMC Universal Cineplex at Universal City Walk Orlando

We will begin wristbanding at 10:30 pm at the table just inside the lobby.

Parasite Dolls

Beauty is only skin deep, but when you can't see beneath the skin, how can you know what you're really dealing with? In a world where perfect androids called Boomers have infiltrated every aspect of society, it's the job of Branch to maintain peace between the people and the plastic. Unfortunately, not all boomers are created perfect, and when boomers go bad, people die. The thin blue line that separates man from machine is about to meet its most horrifying test in Parasite Dolls.

Running Time: 95 minutes

Con Corner:

Gaming Event!

July 17th, 2006

Orange County Convention Center

West Building Hall F

9am to 8pm.

AFO

Welcome to the official Anime Festival Orlando site! Here's where you can get all the questions you have answered. Starting with When Is AFO7? Circle July 28, 29, 30, 2006 on your calendar and write "AFO7" in big letters across those days.

If you have attended AFO in the past three years you are already familiar with our location, the Wyndham Orlando Resort. If you are joining us for the first time you will find it conveniently located and loaded with terrific amenities. Equally as appealing is the easy access to a variety of eateries and attractions. Please visit the Hotel & Travel page for reservation details.