As you no doubt recall, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) and its practices have come under fire from legislators, most recently from Senator Sam Brownback and his ‘Truth in Video Game Rating Act’, which if passed would call for the ESRB to have full access to a game before rating it rather than just video excerpts prepared by the publisher.
In addition, this and earlier bills have also called for the ratings body to play through a game in its entirety prior to rating it, obviously a cause of concern for particularly difficult or lengthy titles.
Now, however, it seems as if the ESRB is not waiting for these or similar bills to pass. According to a job posting on [url=http://www.gamerdad.com/detail.cfm?itemID=3581]GamerDad[/url], the ESRB is looking for full-time reviewers to join its staff in order to spend their days playing through these games.
According to the posting, “parents and those with video game playing abilities are preferred, though these are not requirements.” I suspect we’ll be hearing more about this in the weeks and months ahead.
Following [url=http://www.snackbar-games.com/n2293.html]earlier news[/url] of Sierra Online’s investment in the online games space through the purchase of Wanako Games (Assault Heroes), the company today added to its ranks with former Xbox Live Arcade portfolio manager Ross Erickson jumping ship to join Vivendi’s cause. Ross, who worked on a number of projects for Microsoft including Amped and Top Spin, will leave the company on February 23 in order to take up an unspecified role at Sierra Online.
Ross’ departure follows the loss of Xbox Live’s Greg Canessa to casual game powerhouse PopCap earlier this month. In addition, with the well of new Xbox Live titles seeming to dry up (despite no shortage of announced games on the distant horizon), all eyes have turned to the popular online service in hopes of a brighter tomorrow.
Square Enix announced today that it will release Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales for the Nintendo DS on April 3. Now, before you get all excited, and are expecting another story driven role-playing extravaganza, it needs to be said that this game is rather a cutesy mini and microgame-focused collection centered on the company’s favorite giant chicken. Quah!
“The chocobos and all their friends are going to explode onto the Nintendo DS,” said Executive Producer Shinji Hashimoto. “Since the game contains references to the series going back as far as Final Fantasy, I am confident that fans of both Final Fantasy and Nintendo alike will enjoy this exciting title.”
True story. I was at CompUSA this weekend, and saw a lady pick up Christian-themed game developer Left Behind Games’ flagship PC title Left Behind: Eternal Forces, flip it over, and put it back on the shelf in disgust, grumbling irritably that it wasn’t the books but rather some “stupid game.”
That may be funny, but it is also telling, because the company announced today a third quarter loss of $4.1 million, up from last year’s $934,000 loss. That’s an astounding amount by any measure, but considering that Left Behind’s sole source of revenue was this RTS that has been generally panned by critics and ignored by its only potential user base means that things are not looking particularly rosy right now for the company.
Sales revenue for the game was $1,202,090, and company CEO Troy Lyndon noted that Left Behind is looking into other sales distribution channels for future titles “to include more Christian bookstores, ministry sponsorships, church outreaches, Christian conferences, LAN center licensing, viral online and Internet sales, music concerts and trial versions. We look forward to a very prosperous year.”
Left Behind’s next game is expected in September.
Sega’s seminal fighting series Virtua Fighter has landed on the PlayStation 3, offering hard core arcade fighting fans all of the clutching, grabbing, and mid-air hang time they could want, all from the comfort of their couches. Virtua Fighter 5 features two new fighters, new offensive moves, customizable characters, and even a commentary feature, all in eye-melting HD.
I guess it must be good. Heck, EGM called it “the finest 3D fighting game ever created.” I dunno, I’m more of a Guilty Gear man myself.
