Monday, February 25, 2008

R-Rated Games Are Coming Out Into The Open

I am a true-blooded game buff. Name your game; chances are, I’m also addicted to it. But with the announcement that the Federal Government of Australia is considering updating the classification system for video games to include an R18+ rating, I don’t think I should be pleased.

A spokeswoman for the Minister for Home Affairs, Bob Debus, confirmed the issue of "whether or not to allow an R18+ classification" for games would be discussed by censorship ministers at the Standing Committee of attorneys-general meeting this coming Thursday. It will be the first time the issue is discussed since November 2005.

In Australia, video games have no adult classification. As such, any title that could not meet the MA15+ standard like those showcasing too much violence and sex are not allowed to be sold.

Claire Bowdler, a Classification Board spokesperson, said 18 games had been banned since 2001. Eight of the games had their bans lifted after they were modified and resubmitted, reported The Age. The most recent game to be axed by the board was the sci-fi themed shooting game Dark Sector, which was refused classification this month.

The Dark Sector contains graphic violence including "decapitation, dismemberment of limbs accompanied by large blood spurts, neck breaking spurts, neck breaking twists and exploded bodies with post-action twitching body parts”, the Board said.

Banned video games also include The League, Soldier of Fortune, Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure, BMX XXX, and Reservoir Dogs. They reasons behind the banning include drug use, excessive violence, graffiti promotion, and sexual content.

Bond University associate professor Jeffrey Brand said the lack of an R18+ rating meant some games deserving of adult classification were being let through by the Classification Board as MA15+. And Australians who wanted to obtain banned games could easily source them from the internet or overseas, he said.

"These games are entering the marketplace despite the classification restriction, and so very often parents, who in some cases are the least savvy in the household about games, are unaware that this adult content exists," Brand noted.

I am happy to know there are still people concerned about the welfare of the young generation. "We would be opposed to the adoption of an R-rated category because we believe that research is pointing to the fact that these games actually do impact behavior and psychology more easily than a film," said Angela Conway, spokeswoman for the Australian Family Association.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Twisted Metal III


I know this game is like really old but I would never forget this game. The game is simple, pick a car and blow away everything in sight. Well, it's really not that easy as you are up against people driving vehicles with which can hurt you seriously.

Looking back now to the time when I used to play this on my PS1, I can't help but grin and recall the way I tried beating the daylights out of Minion, one of the bosses in the game.

TM III involves a lot of driving and shooting. As you have to do it with pinpoint accuracy, it's really exciting to see how far you can push yourself in keeping up with a faster enemy.

One of my favorite vehicles in Twisted Metal III is Sweet Tooth. This ice cream truck from hell is driven by an insane clown. Apart from Sweet Tooth, here are the other characters according to Wikipedia.

  • Auger: yellow construction vehicle with a large drill driven by Buster Cobb.
  • Axel: strange two-wheeled contraption, imprisoning the driver between the wheels.
  • Club Kid: smiley face-covered Mini Cooper.
  • Firestarter: hot-rod complete with a flame paintjob, driven by the pyromaniac Damien Coles.
  • Flower Power: hippy car driven by environmentalist Amber Rose.
  • Hammerhead: red monster truck (Jeep CJ) driven by Granny Dread.
  • Mr. Grimm: red motorcycle with sidecar driven by the Grim Reaper.
  • Outlaw: police car driven by both of the car's previous drivers (from the previous game of the series), brother and sister police officers, Buzz & Jamie Roberts.
  • Roadkill: scraped-together car driven by Marcus Kane.
  • Spectre: blue Dodge Viper driven by self-proclaimed ladies' man Lance Wylder.
  • Thumper: purple lowrider driven by Bruce Cochrane.
  • Warthog: military Humvee driven by the 107-year-old Captain Rogers.
  • Darkside: boss of the Washington, D.C. stage. Black semi-truck driven by Mr. Ash. Darkside is a non-playable character unless a third-party cheat is utilized.
  • Minion: boss of the London level. A green-armored tank driven by a large demon.
  • Primeval: the final boss, on the Blimp level. He drives a large off-road vehicle. Primeval is a non-playable character except by using a third-party cheat, and is the only character so far who has yet to be accessed as a playable character in any future Twisted Metal series. He was called "Head Hunter" during production.

Monday, February 4, 2008

What’s New With NBA Live 2008?

Are you one of those NBA fanatics who eat, breathe and live basketball? I guess the perfect dose of cure for your madness is already here! The NBA Live 2008 game will definitely feed your basketball hunger. In this game, you will be the main man of the hardwood court with great moves highly outlined from NBA’s greatest players such as Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, LeBron James and Vince Carter to name a few.

So what’s new with the 2008 NBA Live game? I bet there are lots of surprises and features for all of us gamers… so check this out!

NBA Live 08 Features courtesy of Wikipedia.com:
  • The game features Washington Wizard’s all-star shooting guard Gilbert Arenas on the cover.
  • Commercials feature Gilbert Arenas and the #2 overall draft pick of the 2007 NBA Draft, Kevin Durant of the Seattle Supersonics.
  • New features include "Go To Moves," "Hot Spots," "Quick Strike Ballhandling" and also "Own The Paint."
  • Exclusive rights to FIBA players and 8 national teams (Argentina, China, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain and the USA).
  • First NBA game to be featured on the Wii console.
  • The PC version of the game could be played online using Hamachi.
  • "Freestyle Superstar" was removed from the game, as well as X-Factors.
  • The PC version is not being accepted warmly for not having "next-gen" graphics, just like the PS2 system, unlike those in Xbox 360 and PS3.