It’s been fairly obvious that a number of media outlets, including our old friends FOX News and The Daily Mail, have something of a vendetta against violent videogames. For example, the Mail can’t claim impartiality when it once ran the headline, “BAN THIS SICK FILTH.” While most people view these reports as harmless stupidity, Capcom is more concerned, believing that these smear campaigns could affect business.
“Some of our popular software titles have provocative graphics and text, such as violent and grotesque scenes,” Capcom told investors while outlining business concerns for 2010. “Accordingly, in the event of violent incidents and other criminal cases involving juveniles, we may be subject to a smear campaign by some sections of the mass media which often point out the correlation between crime and games.
“Therefore, there is a risk that it may result in having an adverse effect on our business performance, corporate value and narrowed distribution channel under instructions by the relevant authorities.”
I’m actually very glad that Capcom is taking such problems seriously. Publishers have a terrible habit of simply ignoring media attacks, when some of the stuff printed about videogames borders on the libelous. It’s about time publishers bit back at the lazy journalistic scum who try and link games to violent crime because it’s easier than blaming the criminals themselves.
Violent games face media ’smear campaign’ – Capcom [CVG]
Bayonetta finally arrives in North America, concluding a year, if not more, of sex-infused hype. Remember, this game actually can be played using one hand. Darksiders, near as I can tell, still requires both. They’re this week’s big highlights.
Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot releases to PlayStation Network and the PC on Thursday. Speaking of downloadables, Matt Hazard comes to Xbox Live on Wednesday and to PSN on Thursday.
This week’s count: four for PS3, three for DS, three for 360, one for Wii and PC
Monday (Jan. 4)
Dreamer: Zoo Keeper (DS)
Trajectile (DS)
Tuesday (Jan. 5)
Bayonetta (PS3, 360)
Darksiders (PS3, 360)
Fast Food Panic (DS)
My Fitness Coach 2: Workout & Nutrition (Wii)
Wednesday (Jan. 6)
Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond (360)
Thursday (Jan. 7)
Borderlands: Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot (PC, PS3)
Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond (PS3)
Sega and Playboy have teamed up to send a couple of Bayonetta fans to Playboy Chicago and ring in the New Year with Playmates! The lucky winners will get the chance to play Bayonetta at the event or go party it up with Playboy.
They’re actually giving you the option to just play Bayonetta, which is just hilarious and really, kind of the same thing. You can play with Bayonetta who’s a constant tease in the game, OR you can party with real women who will all be nothing more than teases too.
Head on to the official contest page where you can sign up. You have until December 18 to enter.
Oh, silly Nintendo. What is it up to this time?
Siliconera has discovered a Japanese trademark for “Zii,” which Nindo filed for use with videogames and other electronic devices. The company filed for the trademark on October 30, but was just released on trademark database.
Before we started speculating (as we often do with Trademarks, because it’s fun), Endadget points out that filing may be a renewal of a trademark request from 2006. The company also trademarked “Cii,” “Bii,” “Oii,”and “Yii”; quite a trademark rampage there.
Europeans, rejoice! Looks like your version of Dante’s Inferno will be better than the American version. How so? Dante’s Inferno Death Edition will feature lenticular artwork, a few documentaries, the full soundtrack, a digital copy of The Divine Comedy and a ten minute preview of Dante’s Inferno: An Animated Epic. Best of all, you’ll be able to play Dante’s Inferno wearing Isaac Clarke’s outfit from Dead Space.
Euro folks will also get to play the “Gates of Hell” demo that was released this past week in America on December 24 on both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
The press release that went out with this Death Edition news states that the content will be exclusive to PAL gamers. So no Dead Space costume for Americans? Eh, Electronic Arts will most likely have the outfit for sale the day Dante’s Inferno is released.
[via Joystiq]
Shadow of the Colossus, Destructoid’s very own game of the decade, seems scheduled to make a comeback with a reprinted edition slated for launch in Japan this coming February. Japanese retailers have listed the reissue for February 4, 2010.
No word on whether or not the reprint will contain any new material, packaging or similar goodies. We also don’t know if North America and Europe can expect to see this game either. We do know it’s for the PS2 though, so it’s no God of War Collection, unfortunately.
Seems like Sony’s trying to drum up some attention for The Last Guardian. Nice to see some marketing weight being put behind Team ICO, in any case.
The actor awkwardly mentioned it at the Spike Video Game Awards this weekend, but Atari has confirmed that Zachary Quinto will be lending his voice to Star Trek Online.
Quinto played Spock in the recent Star Trek film, but won’t be reprising the role for the PC MMO. Instead, Quinto will play the role of an Emergency Medical Hologram, as well as voicin the tutorial.
“Being a part of the Star Trek universe has been an incredible experience for me,” Quinto says. “Extending that experience into the gaming space, and sharing it with gamers and Trek enthusiasts around the world, makes it even more exciting.”
Something tells me that Quinto won’t be playing Star Trek Online when it hits shelves on February 2.
[Image: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images]
We already know that that Green Day: Rock Band is coming thanks to last night’s VGA announcement. We know it will have music from Green Day and be a Rock Band game, for sure. But what about the details and most importantly will we be able to export the songs? The details are here now thanks to a press release and, yes, song exportation is a thing you can do.
It seems the game is going to function much like The Beatles: Rock Band, and take players through the career of the band with select famous venues and art that is selective to the band itself. Harmonix is touting the whole “extension and expression” of a band’s work once again, and they did such a great job doing it The Beatles: Rock Band doesn’t seem like bad news to me. The question is if Green Day warrants it.
Can’t wait until 2010 to get your fist-bumps on? Electronic Arts has you covered, with a demo for Army of Two: 40th Day scheduled to hit PSN and Xbox Live on December 17. A demo for the PSP version is prepping for a January 7 launch, for those who like their fist-bumps on the go.
In addition, a new video for the co-op demo has been released, showing off some gameplay footage and doing all it can to make the game look good. Good is what it certainly looks — as for how it plays, well we better wait until a little later in the week for that, right?
Dragon Age: Origins is coming to the Macintosh soon — as in, December 21st soon.
Earlier this morning, Bioware and Electronic Arts announced the little white edition of the crimson-drenched RPG, stopping short of promising a similar experience to that Xbox 360, PS3, and PC owners have had thus far. But there might not be much to worry about: this port is powered by Trans Gaming’s Cider engine, a bit of tech that is powering the Mac versions of Warhammer Online, City of Heroes and multiple Ubisoft titles.
Concerns over visuals and mechanics aside, I need to know if this game supports the Magic Mouse. Scroll wheels are so last decade.
