Kotaku: Ratings

The Week In Dangerous Games: Fish Punching, Erotically Engraved Cannonballs and Some Light Treason

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EDT

You know, video games will rot your brain. They're filled with nothing more than gratuitous fish abuse, LEGO toilet humor and references to pornographic cannonballs—or so this week's most potentially offensive video games might lead us to believe. More »

The Week In Dangerous Games: Skyrim Binge Drinking, Kirby Rump Shaking and Diablo III's 'Flesh-Impact Sounds'

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EDT

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How are new and upcoming video games potentially offending us now? In mostly the same old ways: with excessive violence and gore, earfuls of foul language, smoking, drinking and "suggestive themes," sometimes known as sex. More »

HD Re-Release of Devil May Cry Trio Looks More Likely Than Ever

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:30:00 EDT

Devil May Cry Trio Looks More Likely Than Ever" alt="Click here to read HD Re-Release of Devil May Cry Trio Looks More Likely Than Ever" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/09/small_dante_hd.jpg"/>

Earlier this year we published a rumor that the first three games in Capcom's famed Devil May Cry series would be getting an HD re-release. More »

Here's What the ESRB has to Say About Dead Island

Owen Good — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EDT

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It's no surprise that Deep Silver's zombie title is getting an M-rating. The certificate just handed to it by the ESRB is still a little interesting for the bits of details it gives up from the game, from dialogue to gameplay features. More »

Rating for Aliens: Infestation Shows It's Not Game Over for Aliens on DS

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:20:54 EDT

Aliens: Infestation Shows It's Not Game Over for Aliens on DS" alt="Click here to read Rating for Aliens: Infestation Shows It's Not Game Over for Aliens on DS" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/07/small_aliens.jpg"/>

The Nintendo DS game based on the Aliens franchise that leaked more than two years ago looks like its finally going to happen. Proof? Aliens: Infestation for the DS, a side-scrolling, alien-shooting platformer, was just rated by the ESRB. More »

Looks Like The Witcher 2 is Also Coming to the Xbox 360

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 24 May 2011 21:30:00 EDT

Developer CD Projekt has teased console versions of The Witcher games before, but it looks like it might actually happen for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. The game's producer talked around it to Eurogamer and the ESRB now has a rating for an Xbox 360 version. Maybe at E3, then? More »

Kinect Googly Eyes, Crimson Alliance, Kinect Me and More Outed By Aussie Ratings

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 23 May 2011 21:00:00 EDT

Kinect Googly Eyes, Crimson Alliance, Kinect Me and More Outed By Aussie Ratings" alt="Click here to read Kinect Googly Eyes, Crimson Alliance, Kinect Me and More Outed By Aussie Ratings" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/05/small_kinect_googly_eyes.jpg"/>

Microsoft may be running shorter on genuine new surprises for this year's E3 expo, as Australia's ratings classification board shines a light on new, unannounced Xbox 360 and Kinect games. That said, I'm dying to find out what Kinect Googly Eyes is. More »

'Human Tetris' Coming To Kinect?

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 17 May 2011 20:00:00 EDT

Looks like Microsoft is turning game show Hole in the Wall, the Western take on Japan's Nōkabe (aka Brain Wall or colloquially "Human Tetris"), into an Xbox 360 game. And, yes, that does seem like a very natural fit for Kinect... More »

Burnout Crash! Finally Adds Lobster Monsters and UFOs to Explosive Pileups

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 06 May 2011 17:40:00 EDT

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Already outed by Australian's ratings board, the ESRB details the next game in the Burnout series, a PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 game that sounds... well, really different. More »

It's Time For Chrono Trigger To Become A PSone Classic

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 19:40:00 EDT

Looks like the enhanced PlayStation port of Square Enix's seminal role-playing game Chrono Trigger is bound for the PlayStation 3 and PSP. The ESRB has just rated Chrono Trigger for those platforms, so expect the update of that JRPG favorite to show up as a PSone Classic on a PlayStation Store near you soon. More »

Metacritic Ditches Developers' Career Ratings

Owen Good — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:30:00 EDT

Shortly after introducing ratings of individual video game developers, based on the aggregated ratings of games in which they are credited, Metacritic has scrapped the idea altogether, saying the information is incomplete and can't be trusted. More »

Metacritic Now Rating Humans

Owen Good — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EDT

Metacritic, whose 90s, 80s, 70s and dreaded 60s are points of pride and shame for the video game industry, will now be applying ratings to individual game developers, giving them a score based on an average of all the games they've worked on. More »

Metacritic Now Ranks iPhone and iPad Games

Owen Good — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 23:30:00 EDT

Metacritic, whose cumulative scores provide a thumbs-up/thumbs-down barometer that can move games publishers' stock prices, has expanded. The review aggregator has begun listing iPhone and iPad apps. More »

Just 5 Percent of Games Were Rated M Last Year, Says ESRB

Owen Good — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:30:00 EDT

Just five percent of all games rated by the ESRB and published in 2010 were classified as M, a marginal decline from 2009 when they accounted for 6 percent, the board said in a news release today. More »

Dragon Age II Dev Rates His Own Game On Metacritic, EA Bets Obama Voted For Himself Too

Mike Fahey — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EDT

A glowing fan review for Dragon Age II on Metacritic discovered to have been written by a member of the game's development team sparked outrage among the gaming community yesterday. EA's response? That's how it works. More »

The Original Parasite Eve Bound For PSP & PS3

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:20:00 EST

The ESRB has rated 1998 PlayStation game Parasite Eve for the PlayStation 3 and PSP, a sure sign that the game will receive "PSone Classics" status at some point, likely coming to the U.S. PlayStation Store before the latest entry, The 3rd Birthday, ships stateside on March 29. More »

No More Gimped Lyrics When You're All-In with an M

Owen Good — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST

It's an appropriate opening for a song placed in a game that begins in prison. "You know you fucked up, right?" begins "The Loser Wins," by Atmosphere. In another sports game, this would have to be blanked out, or just not used. More »

Japanese Homefront Might Make A Villain Out Of Canada

Mike Fahey — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST

In THQ's Homefront the United States of 2027 faces an invasion by North Korea. For the Japanese release North Korea has been replaced with "A Certain Country to the North." Damn you, Canada! More »

Dealing With Sex And Violence In Video Games

Mike Fahey — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST

In today's installment of Speak-Up on Kotaku, commenter Dracosummoner explores the controversial role of sex and violence in our video games. More »

Turn Your Phone Into A Game Rating Encyclopaedia

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 05:30:00 EST

The Entertainment Software Rating Board, America's classification outfit for video games, has a new iPhone (and Android) app out, and it's surprisingly handy! More »

Report: Australia's Government Backs Adults-Only Games Classification [Corrected]

Owen Good — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports that Australia's Labor government will support the creation of an adults-only classification for video games there. A decision on backing a new rating, called R18+, is expected Friday at a meeting of Australia's attorneys general. More »

Australian Study Finds No "Conclusive" Evidence That Games Harm Kids

Mark Serrels — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 05:00:00 EST

As this report on Kotaku AU details, Australia continues to deal with how it classifies and views video games. More »

Fight Night Champion Is EA Sports' First M-Rated Game

Owen Good — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:20:00 EST

Not yet officially rated by the ESRB, promotional copy on the game's official page bills EA Sports' next boxer as the publisher's first ever M-rated game. More »

Madden Ratings And Their Wink-And-Nod Commentary On NFL Events

Owen Good — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:20:00 EDT

Sunday, Redskins coach Mike Shanahan benched his quarterback late in a winnable game, claiming "cardiovascular issues" made him unsuited to a hurry-up offense. Most though Shanahan was full of crap, but Madden NFL 11 took him at his word. Hilariously. More »

NBAer Asserts Dunk Champion's Prerogative, Gets His NBA Jam Rating Maxed

Owen Good — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 22:30:00 EDT

Dwight Howard believes his dunk rating of 8 in NBA Jam doesn't reflect reality. Neither does jumping from the three point line to eye-level with the shot clock to throw down a 720-degree behind-the-back slam, but who's counting? More »

Vikings Get A Boost In Madden's Latest Update

Owen Good — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EDT

Interestingly, the trade sending Randy Moss to Minnesota boosted the Vikings' overall rating in Madden NFL 11 without diminishing the New England Patriots'. Not that this is necessarily a zero-sum game, but what gives there? More »

Duke Nukem Forever Walks A Fine Line — Of Decency

Owen Good — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 20:30:00 EDT

The studio in charge of Duke Nukem Forever asked that press not film a trailer featuring strippers,"the word f—-ing" in giant letters and an alien getting punched in the balls repeatedly, because it risks a harsh rating. More »

Rule Your Xbox 360 Family With an Iron Fist

Brian Crecente — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EDT

Being the parent of a 9-year-old boy and a gamer, I'm a huge fan of parental settings. More »

All The Ratings Of NBA 2K11

Owen Good — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EDT

Last week we learned the NBA 2K11 ratings for all projected starters in the league. Today we find out where the teams rank in the game, due out Oct. 5. More »

The 100 Rating Returns To Madden After Two Years

Owen Good — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 21:30:00 EDT

Randy Moss's superhuman grab in Week Two against the Jets - and lockdown cornerback Darrelle Revis - boosted his "spectacular catch" rating in Madden NFL 11 to 100, the first time since 2008 any player's hit that score. More »

NBA 2K11's Player Ratings Bring The Heat

Owen Good — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:20:00 EDT

Operation Sports today got the player ratings for all 30 starting lineups in NBA 2K11. Unsurprisingly, the Miami Heat have the league's top rated starting five, though they are tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for that position. More »

Rookie NFLer Asks For Slight Ratings Adjustment

Owen Good — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 22:30:00 EDT

Ndamukong Suh, the first-round draft choice of the Detroit Lions, traces his video games bonafides to from Tecmo Bowl to Modern Warfare. In light of that pedgree, the lineman thinks he should get a Madden agility rating of "one million." More »

Laurence Maroney Needs To Learn How To Edit Madden Rosters

Owen Good — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:40:00 EDT

Patriots running back Laurence Maroney is this year's designated complainer over his Madden NFL rating, taking issue with a speed rating drop that he thinks is tied to a two-year-old shoulder injury. More »

EA Says Crysis 2 Will Rack Up A High Score

Owen Good — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:30:00 EDT

David DeMartini - Metacritic score predictor extraordinaire - is at it again, confidently telling Eurogamer Crysis 2 is going return 90 ratings, upland territory that all publishers crave for big games but few acknowledge so boldly before release. More »

Looks Like Dance Central Will Support Rump Shaking

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:40:00 EDT

Harmonix has officially confirmed nine songs from Dance Central's danceable soundtrack, including hits like Bell Biv Devoe's "Poison" and Lady Gaga's "Poker Face." The Xbox 360 game's new ESRB rating may have just outed three more. More »

Super Scribblenauts Has Vomit & Corpse-Eating Carnivorous Bikes, Still Safe For Kids

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:40:00 EDT

What innumerable whimsical scenarios can Scribblenauts players generate like some sort of god in the sequel? How about knife-wielding murderous computers, flaming snowmen and flesheating bicycles? That's just the tip of the iceberg in the still kid-friendly Super Scribblenauts. More »

Gaming Surpasses Email In Time Spent Online

Owen Good — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:30:00 EDT

Gaming accounts for 10 percent of time spent online in the United States - overtaking email - according to research by Nielsen, which doesn't sound like a lot but it is the second-leading reason, and one that's growing. More »

Yeah, Looks Like NBA Jam Is Coming To The Xbox 360 & PS3

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:30:00 EDT

What, you don't trust the UnterhaltungssoftwareSelbstkontrolle? Then you'll have to take the ESRB's word instead that NBA Jam is headed to the Xbox 360 & PlayStation 3. More »

Dead Rising 2 Gets Hassle-Free Australian Certification

Owen Good — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 21:30:00 EDT

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Last time a zombie game put in for classification down under, it was refused, appealed and, finally, spitefully whitewashed of violence just to be approved for sale. Dead Rising 2 faced no such difficulties this year. More »

Madden's Biggest Winners and Losers, Before a Game is Played

Owen Good — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:20:00 EDT

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All sports games rate players, but few are watched like Madden's, which need a ratings czar and whose judgments can inspire petulant boycott vows from the league's superstars. EA Sports revealed the game's biggest overall gainers and losers today. More »