The ESA applauds the United States Trade Representative's decision to add Canada to "the list", citing the numerous times the game industry has plead with the country to strengthen their laws, only to have said pleas fall on deaf ears. With the mod chips still flowing like wine from the Canadian border into the states, the U.S. government had no choice but to write the name of the country down next to some other countries. You hear that, Canada? We're watching you.

"Putting Canada on the ‘Priority Watch List' is a signal of the Obama Administration's commitment to strengthening global intellectual property protection, and its intent to address this issue firmly with the Canadian government," said Michael D. Gallagher, CEO of the ESA "Canada's weak laws and enforcement practices foster game piracy in the Canadian market and pave the way for unlawful imports into the U.S."

Canada joins China, Russia, India, Thailand, and seven other countries on the U.S.'s no doubt highly-effective Priority Watch List, which I'm certain they will be taken off of as soon as they show marked improvement in keeping their country piracy free.

"Canada contributes significantly to the development of today's leading games — creating thousands of high-paying jobs along the way. We are eager to see Canada become a full partner in protecting these products on the way to market," Gallagher noted.

Canada never really stuck me as the sort of country that needed a stern warning. If anything, it seems like a nice place to kick back and relax. Go figure.

I was just watching CNN when a short report on the National Institute on Media and the Family's annual video game report card hit.

Each year NIMF releases a list of games that parent's should avoid buying for their kids. They also release a MediaWise list. As much as I hate their often deceptive press releases, I think the concept of putting out a list of games that aren't particularly child friendly is a good idea. Too bad someone hasn't come up with some sort of system that could look at games and in some way give them a score of some sort, perhaps a rating that in some way described the content found in that game. It could sort of be like the movie rating system, but perhaps have more descriptors and a greater break-down between ratings. Yeah, too bad no ones done that.

Hit the jump for the two lists and more of me being a smart-ass. Brian Crecente

Parent Alert! Games to avoid for your children and teens

Gangs of London M
The Sopranos M
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories M
Reservoir Dogs M
Mortal Kombat: Unchained M
Scarface: The World is Yours M
The Godfather: Mob Wars M
Saints Row M
Dead Rising M
Just Cause M

Looking over this list of parental alert games, I see several that no one should buy just because they suck. So it's good they included them. What I don't get is how these particular games have been separated by the pack. I mean, if you're going to single out Dead Rising, why not F.E.A.R.? What about Resistance: Fall of Man or Gears of War? Shit, what about Bully?

I give this list a D- for its seemingly arbitrary attack of a handful of games that don't really stand out in violence and often wouldn't be purchased anyway because they are crap. (I'm talking about you Just Cause.)

MediaWise recommended games for children and teens

LEGO Star Wars II - The Original Trilogy E 10+
Mario Hoops 3 on 3 E
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz E
Roboblitz E 10+
Madden Football '07 E
LocoRoco E
Dance Factory E
Brain Age E
Nancy Drew: Danger by Design E
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: The March of the Minis E

I like how this lists started, Lego SW2 just kicks ass. I like it so much I actually invented a word to describe in the Rocky Mountain News. I called it Faddictive. But Madden? That's all about smacking people into the ground, you can even deliver more powerful hits with that hit stick. And Roboblitz? Come on you can blow the shit out of stuff in that game. Don't robots have rights too? Then they throw a monkey wrench in their list, which has mostly decent games, by including Nancy Drew. Nancy Drew? Why not just throw in Barbie's Horse Adventures.

I give this list a D. While it included some good titles, the strange assortment of titles shows a general lack of knowledge of gaming and obvious disdain for the rights of robots.