Gadgets and Video Games

Last week it was rumored that Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and PC Game Room would ” never feature ” titles with an ESRB rating higher than E10+; today Microsoft confirmed to Joystiq the current plan is to only add titles that correspond to the application’s ESRB rating. Rather than submit each individual title for review, Microsoft has opted to submit the Game Room application to the ESRB, netting it an E10+ rating, ensuring higher-rated titles would not see life in the virtual arcade. In a statement to Joystiq, a Microsoft representative said, “the 30 titles available for download at launch will carry either E or E10+ ratings; beyond launch we have no additional details to share at this time.” Based on its statements, Microsoft’s Game Room can only include titles that have been submitted to the ESRB in other forms (compilation discs, or through downloadable platforms). While it’s possible for Microsoft to submit classic titles that have yet-to-be rated by the ESRB (such as titles released prior to the group’s 1994 inception that have yet to receive a rating), the plan appears to focus solely on games already available in some capacity. Microsoft said that because titles featured in the Game Room are “classic arcade and console titles” the company will be able to add any individual titles to the Game Room without submitting new releases to the ESRB for review — provided they are currently rated E10+ or lower

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Microsoft confirms Game Room rating ceiling

Now hang on just a minute before you head off to the next post in search of funny game-related desserts or screenshots from that hot new blockbuster game. Charlie Rose is no Kevin Pereira, but the man’s a broadcasting legend, so let’s give him his due. And Zynga just raised $180 million for their social gaming empire , so it can buy and sell any number of your Pokemons . When Zynga founder Mark Pincus appears on the Charlie Rose Show , you whippersnappers should take a little notice! After all, Zynga has not only been hiring up solid talent , but it also runs the bigger-than-you’d-believe Facebook games like Mafia Wars and FarmVille . Pincus tells the somewhat confused Rose that his company doesn’t just want to roll in the venture cash; Zynga wants to create “an Internet treasure,” and be recognized in the same way that brands like Google, Amazon, and Facebook are

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Zynga founder explains ‘Facegroup’ games to Charlie Rose

According to an investor document (PDF) posted by Capcom Japan today, several major titles have been moved from the company’s fiscal fourth quarter, which ends March 31, 2010. The delays, which appear to be worldwide, include Super Street Fighter IV and Lost Planet 2 , in addition to the North American and European release of Monster Hunter 3 . The releases of these games and others, including Dead Rising 2 , are planned to be “spread across all four quarters” of Capcom’s fiscal 2011, which begins April 1, 2010 and ends March 31, 2011. The decision to delay the games was made in order to “avoid competing with the major titles that other companies plan to introduce.” Curiously, Dark Void has not been delayed, though Capcom has drastically reduced its sales forecast from 1.3 million units to only 600,000 (the split between Xbox 360 and PS3 copies was not specified). Given the reasons for Capcom’s schedule shuffling, we can’t help but wonder if other companies will follow suit

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Capcom pulls Super Street Fighter IV, Lost Planet 2, Monster Hunter 3 from Q1 2010

Hideki Kamiya , creator of the forthcoming Bayonetta , would be up for making a sequel to his stylish side-scroller Viewtiful Joe if given the opportunity, according to a report by Game Informer . Not so much for Okami , though, which he’d wanted to revisit until he learned Capcom was making Okamiden for DS. “I heard the announcement that someone else would be making a sequel,” he told the magazine

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Viewtiful Joe’s Kamiya would ‘like to finish’ series, will never henshin-a-go-go back to Okami

Lucky Brits. Not only do they get to be in closer geographic proximity to the dreamy David Tennant than we do, they’re also extended some amazing post-Thanksgiving deals on typically pricey gaming equipment.

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HMV slashes price for DJ Hero, PSP Go in the UK

EA’s online store is running an exciting Black Friday sale , with downloadable PC games getting 30 percent off from now until Monday. We’re talking about discounts on a bunch of games here, with standouts such as Burnout Paradise The Ultimate Box for a cool $21 and Mass Effect for a very reasonable $14. Not everything is on sale, however — some of the newer titles like Left 4 Dead 2 and the Dragon Age Collector’s Edition don’t qualify (though the regular version of the latter is on sale for $35). If you’re determined to get good deals on some of these newer games, we have a feeling you’ll be able to find ‘em somewhere. [Via Big Download ] Check out Joystiq’s Black Friday Game Deals Hub or jump to a retailer guide below: Best Buy | GameStop | Kmart & Sears | Target | Toys”R”Us | Walmart For more Black Friday coverage, check out Black Friday Deals , Cyber Monday Sales , And other Black Friday 2009 stories today from Walletpop.com EA takes 30 percent off several PC games until Monday originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:05:00 EST.

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EA takes 30 percent off several PC games until Monday

[ SUPERIOR INTERNET CONTENT! X2 ] Western-developed games have rarely found success in Japan. However, Square Enix head Yoichi Wada doesn’t believe it’s because of inherent nationalism. “In the past, Japanese retailers have said that Japanese gamers have their own idiosyncrasies and tastes, and that that is the reason why the audience is not accepting of overseas titles,” Wada told Ars Technica . “But I believe that is not the case, it was just a matter of poorly executed marketing.” Microsoft would probably take offense to that claim, considering it has poured considerable effort into the territory with arguably little return . Still, Capcom’s success with the Grand Theft Auto franchise shows that Japanese gamers aren’t entirely adverse to Western-style games

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Square Enix chief confident in Modern Warfare 2’s success in Japan

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Tecmo Koei opened a teaser site for the new North Star Musou , featuring a brief clip of in-game action. If you’re familiar with either Fist of the North Star or the Dynasty Warriors games, you know exactly what to expect: a little post-apocalyptic Mad Max- esque wasteland, and one giant guy exploding a horde of identical thugs with his bare fists and feet. The combination of these two licenses is doing a pretty good job of renewing our interest in both! See the footage after the break. If you squint, it kind of looks like a high-definition God Hand sequel. Gallery: Fist of the North Star [Via Andriasang ] Continue reading See North Star Musou’s gory details in video teaser See North Star Musou’s gory details in video teaser originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST

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See North Star Musou’s gory details in video teaser

Are you an Atlus devotee who somehow snagged an early copy of this Tuesday’s release of Demon’s Souls for the PS3? If you do happen to be one of these folks, you might want to head over to the medicine cabinet and grab a chill pill, as Atlus says that nothing is wrong with the lack of connectivity to its North American servers, they just haven’t been turned on yet. Specifically, Atlus says, “What this means is that users that might manage to pick the game up early and start it up will get an immediate PSN error and have to start playing offline.” Sure, you could shed a few tears and swear off the publisher forever, but look at it this way — now you’ll have two secret days of soul collecting to rub in your friends faces when the servers go live this Tuesday. Hooray! Atlus says North American Demon’s Souls servers not live until Oct.

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Atlus says North American Demon’s Souls servers not live until Oct. 6