BBFC Reject Revised Manhunt 2

The BBFC have rejected the revised version of Manhunt 2. Rockstar's appeal for the initial rejection was suspended, pending the outcome of the classification for the revised version.

David Cooke, Director of the BBFC had this to say:

“We recognise that the distributor has made changes to the game, but we do not consider that these go far enough to address our concerns about the original version. The impact of the revisions on the bleakness and callousness of tone, or the essential nature of the gameplay, is clearly insufficient. There has been a reduction in the visual detail in some of the ‘execution kills’, but in others they retain their original visceral and casually sadistic nature.

“We did make suggestions for further changes to the game, but the distributor has chosen not to make them, and as a result we have rejected the game on both platforms. The decision on whether or not an appeal goes ahead lies with the distributor"

This comes after the game was allowed to be released, alebiet with the AO rating, meaning it will not be stocked by "family-friendly" retailers such as Blockbuster and Walmart.

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Free Nintendo Wiimote Jackets

Nintendo have announced a new accessory to go with the Wiimote wrist-straps, the all new Wiimote Jacket.

This "innovative" accessory will not only protect all those people who find it hard to keep hold of the Wiimote and by cushioning its impact should you somehow let go of it, or should the wrist-strap break. The Jacket will also warm your Wiimotes during the Winter months, keeping them nice and cosy until the early spring.

Nintendo are to spend $18million on this rather useless product, and are to give it away free with all Wiimotes (both solus, Wiiplay and the ones that come with the Wii). And if you already have Wiimotes, you can order yourself up to four Jackets, all for free.

We feel sorry for the third-party companies who have been selling silicon sleeves for about £9.99, as these will almost become redundant now that this freebie has hit the streets.

If you wish to take advantage of Nintendos generosity, follow the link that applies to you:

UK Owners
Australian Owners
American Owners

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Wii Firmware Update 3.0

Nintendo released their first major firmware update for the Nintendo Wii today, version 3.0.

This new update includes a few visual additions to the dashboard, most notably the digital clock in the middle. Also a few changes have been made to the Forecast and News Channels, to allow for better use for the guys and gals out there that actually use the service.

The Wii Shop has been improved as well, as you will notice when first going to the shop after downloading, where you will see the top 4 Virtual Console games available, along with their price.

And a slight improvement under the hood has been included, where if the console is put on standby, or WiiConnect24 mode, the fan will be running to avoid overheating.

Hit the jump for the full list of known improvements

Channels:
* Digital Clock added to the Wii Menu right under the channel bar
* Forecast Channel now displays the current condition directly in the Wii Menu in the Forecast Channel box
* News Channel can now show 2 scrolling headlines at a time in the Wii Menu, 3 when you click on the button
* Message Board now has the "Today's Accomplishments" message as a white message which allows it to stand out from other messages
* Address Book entries can now be shifted around using A+B but only to empty spaces.
* Calendar in Message Board no longer shows "Today's Accomplishment"
* Scrolling messages in the Message Board now uses a different sound

Wii Shop Channel
* New Welcome screen detailing 4 Recommended Titles and the points they cost. The title bar can be clicked on to bring up a list of 20 recommended games.
* Titles You've Downloaded was moved to the main shop menu
* New ways to browse
* Popular Titles
* Newest Additions remains the same
* Search for a title which can use partial names
* Search by Category
* Search by Publisher
* Search by Genre
* System shows the different systems and how many titles have been released under each

Settings
* Pre-system update warning details that technically modified consoles may cease to function upon being updated. Also the only way to not accept an update is to power down the console by holding the button for 4 seconds.

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Bully: Scholarship Edition coming to Wii & 360

Rockstar have revealed that the amazing Playstation 2 title, Bully (aka Canis Canem Edit), will be ported to the Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360, suitably subtitled "Scholarship Edition". They have said that both games will contain 'additional new content' although nothing specific has been announced.

They have put it down for a 'Winter' release, so expect it some time before Christmas. Let's hope that it'll recieve more public appreciation than its first outing.

Hit the jump for the full press release.


Press Release:

New York, NY - July 19, 2007 - Rockstar Games is proud to announce that Bully: Scholarship Edition is coming to the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo this Winter.

Both the Wii and Xbox 360 versions will retain the wit and deep gameplay of the previously released PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system title and will boast additional new content. Bully: Scholarship Edition takes place in the fictional New England boarding school of Bullworth Academy, and tells the story of 15-year-old Jimmy Hopkins as he experiences the highs and lows of adjusting to a new school. Capturing the hilarity and awkwardness of adolescence perfectly, Bully: Scholarship Edition pulls the player into its cinematic and engrossing world. Universally acclaimed upon first release, Bully: Scholarship Edition is a genre-crossing action game with a warmth and pathos that is unrivaled.

Bully received a perfect "10/10" from Electronic Gaming Monthly and 1up.com and was heralded as "a great, well-crafted action game that has one of the best senses of humor around" by IGN.com. USA Today called it "a fantastic debut title by Rockstar Vancouver." The San Francisco Chronicle wrote "Bully has no shortage of creative energy, offering an immersive boarding school experience that is imaginative, funny and filled with surprises."

Come and explore the zealous joy, mirth, and torment of youth with Jimmy Hopkins and Bully: Scholarship Edition when enrollment commences this Winter.

For more information about Bully: Scholarship Edition please visit www.rockstargames.com/bully.

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Mario Party 8 enters at #3 despite being recalled

Nintendo's mass recall of Mario Party 8 "due to an assembly line error" doesn't seem to have made that much difference, as the game has landed in third place in this weeks charts, the highest new entrant. First and second remain unchanged with Harry Potter and Shrek The Third respectively.

Hit the jump for the top twenty selling games this week.

1. HARRY POTTER & THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
2. SHREK THE THIRD
3. MARIO PARTY 8
4. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END
5. THE DARKNESS
6. FORZA MOTORSPORT 2
7. VIRTUA TENNIS 3
8. TOM CLANCY'S RAINBOW SIX: VEGAS
9. RESIDENT EVIL 4
10. SPIDER-MAN 3
11. COLIN MCRAE: DIRT
12. MARIO STRIKERS CHARGED FOOTBALL
13. TOMB RAIDER: ANNIVERSARY
14. TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 07
15. NINJA GAIDEN: SIGMA
16. NEW SUPER MARIO BROS.
17. OVERLORD
18. THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS
19. HOUR OF VICTORY
20. TOM CLANCY'S GHOST RECON: WARFIGHTER 2

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Another day, another Nintendo recall

You may remember the DS game that was recalled a few weeks back because of an 'offensive' name that it tagged players who got a score of 0, well it seems that Nintendo really like the word 'spastic' and have included it in the not-so-good Wii game, Mario Party 8. As such, the game has also been recalled.

This is getting a tad out of hand, recalling games because of one word. But that's censorship for you.

Edit: For those of you leaving comments about saying that this is not censorship, here's the definition from dictionary.com:

verb
1.	forbid the public distribution of ( a movie or a newspaper) [syn: ban]
2.	subject to political, religious, or moral censorship; "This magazine is censored by the government"

And for anyone who may not be aware, in the UK the term spastic refers to sufferers of the neurological disorder, cerebral palsy. As such, its use here is seen as politically incorrect towards people with that condition in the UK.

Hit the jump to see Nintendo's official announcement.


Press Release:

The above game was launched in the UK today. Unfortunately we have discovered that a small number of games contain the wrong version of the disk due to an assembly error. We have therefore decided to recall all copies of the game from UK retailers so that this mistake can be corrected.

We will re-launch Mario Party 8 in the UK as soon as possible and will announce a new launch date shortly. We very much regret any inconvenience caused.

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E3 2007: Wii Zapper

Along with the Wii Wheel, Nintendo also revealed another accessory for your Wiimote (and nunchuk), the Wii Zapper. This will allow you to house both the Wiimote and nunchuk "like a machine gun", and allowing you easy access to all the buttons on both Wiimote and nunchuk.

The Zapper will compatible with Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption and Ghost Squad's Medal of Honour will specifically take advantage of the Zapper.

The Zapper will be priced at $19.99 in the States and will come packaged alongside some specially made games to demonstrate the accessory, a lot like Wii Play.

Expect Euro pricing to be similar, and to see this in the shops by the end of the year.

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E3 2007: Mario Kart Wii

The biggest surprise (well not really surprising) was Reggie announcing the release of Mario Kart Wii in early 2008. The game will include online Battle mode, as well as being compatible with the Wii Wheel, also unveiled by Nintendo at their conference today.

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E3 2007: Super Mario Galaxy

Nintendo also announced the release date for the highly anticipated Wii title, Super Mario Galaxy. It will be released in the US on November 12th this year, and will see a European release in Q4 2007, which could mean anywhere between Christmas to April.

Nintendo also released a few new screenshots showing the various encounters you will see in the game, from giant fruit to a bee costume. Very interesting indeed.

Hit the jump to see the E3 trailer.

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E3 2007: Super Smash Bros. Brawl Release Date

Nintendo revealed that Super Smash Bros. Brawl on Nintendo Wii will be released in the States on 8th December this year. However, they said that Europe will not be seeing a release until sometime in 2008.

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Guitars for Guitar Hero 3 revealed

Activision and Neversoft revealed the 3 different guitars that will be available to buy alongside Guitar Hero 3.

PS2 owners are given a black guitar, Wii owners a white one, with a Wiimote docking station. Whereas 360 and PS3 owners are given identical white designs. All the guitars will be wireless this time round, and will allow players to change the faceplate for customisation, rockstar style.

The game is out by the end of the year.

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WiiWare unveiled by Nintendo

Nintendo unveiled their new downloadable games initiative to go alongside the existing Virtual Console service, suitably titled WiiWare.

The WiiWare games, however, will not be re-releases of retro games, but totally new games developed especially for the WiiWare service.

WiiWare will be posted on the Shop Channel and will be redeemed using Wii Points to download content. It will support a variety of pricing options. Details about that and upcoming projects will be announced at a later date. For more information about Wii, visit Wii.com.

The first WiiWare will be released in 2008.

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Rockstar respond to BBFC's bannage

Rockstar have responded to the BBFC's decision to ban upcoming PS2 and Wii game, Manhunt 2. The game also recieved the highest form of censorship in the states (Adult Only), which means it will not be stocked by 'family-friendly' stores such as Walmart.

Rockstar had this to say:

"We are disappointed with the recent decision by the British Board of Film Classification to refuse classification of Manhunt 2. While we respect the authority of the classification board and will abide by the rules, we emphatically disagree with this particular decision.

"Manhunt 2 is an entertainment experience for fans of psychological thrillers and horror. The subject matter of this game is in line with other mainstream entertainment choices for adult consumers.

"We respect those who have different opinions about the horror genre and video games as a whole, but we hope they will also consider the opinions of the adult gamers for whom this product is intended. We believe all products should be rated to allow the public to make informed choices about the media and art they wish to consume. The stories in modern video games are as diverse as the stories in books, film and television. The adult consumers who would play this game fully understand that it is fictional interactive entertainment and nothing more."

It's interesting to see that the US hasn't banned the game. Is it because they have more lenient censorship regulations, or is it because the BBFC are being too harsh on Rockstar (which they categorically deny), from past experience and media furore surrounding Rockstars' hit releases such as the GTA series, the original Manhunt, and most recently Canis Canem Edit (Bully).

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BBFC Ban Manhunt 2 from UK

The BBFC has rejected Manhunt 2, which was due to be released in July on both PS2 and Nintendo Wii.

The decision was taken by the Director and the Presidential Team of Sir Quentin Thomas, Lord Taylor of Warwick and Janet Lewis-Jones.

David Cooke, Director of the BBFC had this to say:

“Rejecting a work is a very serious action and one which we do not take lightly. Where possible we try to consider cuts or, in the case of games, modifications which remove the material which contravenes the Board’s published Guidelines. In the case of Manhunt 2 this has not been possible. Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high-end video games by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing. There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game.

“Although the difference should not be exaggerated the fact of the game’s unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying and the sheer lack of alternative pleasures on offer to the gamer, together with the different overall narrative context, contribute towards differentiating this submission from the original Manhunt game. That work was classified ‘18’ in 2003, before the BBFC’s recent games research had been undertaken, but was already at the very top end of what the Board judged to be acceptable at that category.”

“Against this background, the Board’s carefully considered view is that to issue a certificate to Manhunt 2, on either platform, would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors, within the terms of the Video Recordings Act, and accordingly that its availability, even if statutorily confined to adults, would be unacceptable to the public.”
Under the terms of the Video Recordings Act distributors have the right to appeal the Board’s decision.

This is the first game to be rejected by the BBFC since Carmageddon back in 1997, and that decision was later overturned on appeal.

Rockstar have yet to comment on the BBFC's decision.
Rockstar have now responded to the decision

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Stars Catalogue Update

Nintendo have been sending emails to everyone who has registered to the official site (UK/Europe), telling them of an update to the privacy policy, which you will have to accept by July 15th, otherwise your account will be deleted, including all your Star points.

Other new inclusions to the Privacy Policy seem to indicate towards a major overhaul of the system. There will now be a time limit to use the Star points (24 months), and a 12 month limit for all Star points added before the introduction of the new Terms & Conditions (June 2008).

It also states the new relationship between the Star points and Wii Points, which will be introduced 'shortly':

- You will be able to redeem your Stars to get Wii Points online (service dependent on availability)
- You will be able to claim Stars for Virtual Console games you purchase (service dependent on availability)
- You will be able to check your statistics from Wii games with online functionality (service dependent on availability)

I wouldn't really care about this new Policy, but it's a bit annoying that they're to introduce the a time limit on the Stars, as they never put anything worth and when they do it's all snapped up in a second.

Nintendo Privacy Policy

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Guitar Hero 3 details and wireless guitars

Activision revealed a host of details for Guitar Hero 3, which is due out in the autumn on PS2, PS3, Wii and 360.

Firstly, the guitars will be wireless, and have removable faceplates, as well as a new button colour design. 360, PS3 and Wii owners will be treated to a Gibson Les Paul design, whereas PS2 owners will get a Kramer designed guitar.

Also of note is that the game will now include head-to-head online play, which is sure to delight all those who were expecting the 360 Guitar Hero 2 to include that. Also making a return is the obvious downloadable song packs, hopefully this time they will be more reasonably priced, and include some more imaginative songs.

An initial song list has been revealed, and rockers may be happy to hear that this time many songs will be the actual originals and not covers (* denotes covers)

• Paint It Black (by The Rolling Stones)
• Cherub Rock (by Smashing Pumpkins)
• Sabotage (by Beastie Boys)
• The Metal (by Tenacious D)
• My Name is Jonas (by Weezer)
• Knights of Cydonia (by Muse)
• Rock And Roll All Nite (as made famous by Kiss)
• School’s Out (as made famous by Alice Cooper)*
• Slow Ride (as made famous by Fog Hat)*
• Cult of Personality (by Living Colour)*
• Barracuda (as made famous by Heart)*

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Geometry Wars: Galaxies for Wii & DS

Geometry Wars, undoubtedly the best game on Live Arcade, is to be released on both the Nintendo Wii and DS, as Geometry Wars: Galaxies. The game is said to feature an extensive single-player game, with the Wii version making use of the Wiimote, and the DS of the touch-screen. The game will also include both versions featured in Retro Evolved.

Should be interesting to see how this is going to be, and if it will make a retail release on the Wii or a Virtual Console release.

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Tony Hawk's Proving Ground

Another year, and another Tony Hawk's release. This time suitably titled Proving Ground, as the game is based on making your own skating legacy through the different choices you make. Players define their story, character and style by the decision they make in the game and by the way they skate, from Philadelphia to Baltimore and Washington DC.

Whats more interesting is the online aspect of the game, which developers say is 'seamlessly integrated' with the single player game, and players can hang out in the fully customisable 'Skate Lounge'. So maybe we're looking at a Test-Drive Unlimited style online mechanism, which would be a great idea if implemented correctly.

Also of note is the reintroduction of video replays, not seen since the earlier days of the franchise, but this time brought back with some added oomph, in the form of the fully-fledged video editor, allowing players to control the camera in the video shoots, and use visual effects to create 'epic skate videos'.

Proving Ground is due out later this year on Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2 and DS.

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Virtual Console Friday: Lylat Wars

Finally, then fourth Nintendo 64 VC release in the form of Lylat Wars (aka Star Fox 64), where you fly your Arwing through space destroying enemies, much like Panzer Dragoon. Also released is Donkey Kong Jr. Math for all you number crunchers.

NES (500 WiiPoints)
Donkey Kong Jr. Math

N64 (1000 WiiPoints)
Lylat Wars

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Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition dated

Great old Capcom have revealed the release date for the upcoming port of Resident Evil 4 on the Wii. The game will hit European stores on June 29th, much earlier than expected, and should give Wii gamers something to look forward to playing over the summer.

The game includes the whole of the Gamecube release, as well as all the bonus content found in the PS2 version, but will make use of the Wiimote and nunchuk to 'aim, fire and slash'. So expect more undead slayings soon.

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