Glad to see those ESRB ratings are working out. Click through the link below for a few more.
lifemetercomics: 6th Grade Submissions! [Live Journal via GameSetWatch]

The Hasbro / EA partnership is fully realized today with the launch of Littlest Pet Shop Online, an immersive online world filled with animals desperately struggling to keep from being crushed under the weight of their own massive skulls. The game is all about decorating, customization, and of course, mini-games, offering fun for "girls" whether they opt to play for free or buy a subscription for $6.95 a month.

I'd give you my impressions, but all I get when I try to log in is the hourglass seen above, with an adorable little cat that keeps waving at me until I return to the login prompt. I am hoping that's not the full game. Perhaps it's server queues. Perhaps it's because I am a filthy, stinking boy.

"EA is at an exciting milestone, diving into the realm of virtual worlds for girls with the launch of LITTLEST PET SHOP ONLINE," said Chip Lange, General Manager of EA's Hasbro Division. "LITTLEST PET SHOP ONLINE is an incredible game and community destination, as well as an environment that parents know they can trust. We're delighted to offer LITTLEST PET SHOP fans a new and exciting way to connect online with friends through their favorite pets."

Littlest Pet Shop fans of both genders can also purchase LPSO Pets at participating retailers. LPSO Pets are plushies with sewn-in codes for 30-day premium memberships to the game and special in-game rewards. Maybe one of the rewards includes getting past this hourglass.

Ether Saga Online is another one of these extremely adorable Asian MMO titles, this time based on the classic Chinese story Journey to the West, which I was told soon after posting my last story on ESO was pretty much the basis for everything ever created, ever. Good to know!

With the official launch comes a slew of changes and enhancements to the free-to-play title, which makes you wonder who was testing them while everyone else was testing the beta version. That question aside, 15 more levels tacked onto the already existing 90 is nothing to sneeze at, and the addition of Easy and Hard dungeon modes should make things appropriately easier or harder, as the case may be.

Check out the full list of launch enhancements below, or visit eso.perfectworld.com to wade into the cuteness.

The latest Ether Saga Online game play update includes additional features and enhancements such as:

* Increased Level Cap to 105 - Characters gain access to 13 new class skills from levels 91-105, effectively doubling the number of core player skills.
* Quest Line Enhancements – The main quest line from levels 1-45 has been streamlined to introduce players to the game mechanics and reduce the number of kill quests.
* New Raid Encounter – A new raid has been introduced. Designed for 6-24 players, The Obscurity is sure to challenge adventurers.
* New Difficulty Modes – Now features Easy and Hard modes for dungeons to encourage more casual gamers to compete in quests.
* Enhanced Gear Upgrading – Enhancements to the gear upgrading system provide players with new options to increase their chances for successful upgrades.
* New Monsters! – The addition of new elite monsters and the White Dragon world boss further adds to one of the most compelling aspects of Ether Saga Online's game play.

These new game play elements further bolster Ether Saga Online's extensive feature set, which also includes:

* Integrated Quest/Navigation System – Players will not be confused about where to go or what monsters to kill. Quests will have "link" which allow players to click on them and automatically navigate to their quest objectives.
* Unique Races and Classes – Three different races as well as six different classes. Each class having its own unique play style and gameplay.
* In-Depth Pet System – Every player starts with their own pet. Players can tame and capture new pets as they adventure through the world.
* Element Leveling System – As players level up, they receive points that can be assigned to specific elements. Each element has its own characteristics and affects the core gameplay of each user.
* Unique Skill System – Each class has a set of unique skills. Skills are not learned from trainers but rather on the fly through a battlefield menu system.
* Birthday Skills – Each character receives special abilities and skills related to the day their character was born.
* Clan Skills – Players can create clans/guilds and have opportunities to learn new abilities and skills as a group.
* Fusion System – Players can actually fuse with their pets and gain access to new abilities and gameplay options.
* Monster Card System – Players can collect monster cards which allow them to transform into specific monsters. In monster form, players gain access to new abilities and skills.
* Crafting System – Players can choose from 9 different crafting and gathering skills.
* Reputation System – Monsters will have their own factions in-game. Players can gain reputation with these creatures and gain access to new content.
* Alliance System – Clans can group up into Alliances in order to combat difficult monsters or even other Alliances.

Diana Hughes from the University of Southern California created Pluff to function is a combination Furby/Tamagotchi pet that's both a controller and a virtual pet. Petting him makes him happy, slamming his head against a desk makes him sad. The better you treat him, says Hughes, the easier it is for the user to teach him tricks.

All I can say is "Want!" And I can say it as many times as I like because I'm a chick and feel no shame in loving fuzzy things.

Meet Pluff, The 'Stuffed Animal Controller' [IndieGames]

Worse, they might not like videogames.

No, no, it's too horrible to contemplate. Luckily this Etsy store is selling the essential kit you need to turn a newborn into a hardcore gamer - a Space Invaders onesie/babygrow, joystick bib and concentration-improving hat.

$5.99 plus shipping is a bargain, people. Remember - the children are our future.

Punk Rock 80's Baby GIFT SET onesie hat bibs Atari arcade game UNISEX black white[Etsy via Wonderland]

The latest DS outing for the franchise is said to be the biggest ever , with EVEN MORE huge-eyed chicks to marry and raise happy children with.

It's all so.. beautiful. Sniff. That's it, I think I need to go and have a bit of a cry.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Harvest Moon Games, pre orders can nab a plush chicken. Yes, you read that correctly.

Harvest Moon: Island Of Happiness [Natsume]

Via Jason Chen at Giz comes this clip of ten month old Theo cracking up as dad plays with the Nintendo Wii. Simply and utterly adorable. Brian Ashcraft

Looks LIke He's Gonna Pop a Vein [Gizmodo]

Nano-sized Tetris. Cute, huh? Brian Ashcraft

Tiny Tetris [pya!]

Mario in a blue shell? Luigi in a suit? Banpresto has released new Mario plush toys. They're Japan-only, but importers should carry them. Adorable, just adorable (the plush toys, not the importers). Brian Ashcraft

New Mario Stuffed Toys [Siliconera]

A Shiba chewing on Slime from Dragon Quest. And not only does it nibble on a blue Slime, but an orange one. How cute! Brian Ashcraft

And it looks like the dog's owner is a Hanshin Tigers fan.

Dog Vs. Slime [Miya Blog]

I'm the type of guy who likes to sit through movie credits, ignoring the desperate pleas of whomever I am with as I scan for names, funny bits, and important messages about cutesy cartoon animal video games. I would have been in luck after watching the Japanese Animal Crossing movie.

According to Nintendo-Inside.jp and the electronic version of Kyoto Shinbun after the credits have rolled on the new Animal Crossing a message comes up as follows:
"Let's meet in Wii"

Animal Crossing Wii maybe here sooner than we think? [NeoGAF Forums, via The Last Boss]

This is cute. As to the indelible artistic permanence of such a piece, we won't speak, but I'm strangely tempted to pay the $30 bucks the bidder wants for this Nintendo Zelda Four Swords Pixel Painting on eBay. I'm sure one of you guys will beat me to it though. Florian Eckhardt

Original Nintendo Zelda Four Swords Pixel PAINTING [eBay] (Thanks, Chris!)

A cute game like Sega's Love and Berry needs a cute DS, but this cute? The above Lite has been covered in oh-so-kawaii stickers and outfitted with a card reader that integrates DS Lite game play and Love and Berry cards. If you're able to look at this saccharine and not squeal in delight, that means only one thing: this gear isn't directed at you. Me? I'm giddy. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [NeoGAF]