170°

GC07: Lair's creator thinks ESRB game ratings system is 'bizarre'

A senior games industry executive has blasted the American ESRB games rating system, saying he thinks it is "absolutely bizarre," and calling for changes to be made to bring it in line with other mediums such as film.

Julian Eggebrecht, the president of Factor 5, drew on the example of the company's own game, the dragon-fighter Lair for the PlayStation 3, for which the company really wanted to get a T for Teen rating in the US, because teenagers make up a big part of the game's potential audience. He said, "Teenagers are really into dragons."

In order to do this, Factor 5 went through a process with the ESRB over "weeks and months," where it tweaked every bit of the game that the ESRB wanted it to in order to secure a T for Teen rating.

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gamespot.com
bym051d6518d ago

American ratings systems, based largely by the idea that boobies are worse than decapitations, are bizarre.

calderra6518d ago

The problem is that Americans really DO think like that. A conversation I had many times at Gamestop:

Me: "Just so you know, your 8-year-old-son has picked a game that's rated Mature for Sex, Drugs, and Violence."
Mother: "But does it have nudity in it?"
Me: "...I don't think you understand. You can hire prostitutes, and then kill them to get your money back. You can also kill police officers, and it's very bloody, and-"
Mother: "...but does it have nudity in it?"
Me: (@_@)

Blood_Spiller6518d ago (Edited 6518d ago )

I understand what he is saying but I certainly hope the ESRB doesn't take on the MPAA's film rating system. If you're wondering why I feel this way watch the documentary "This Film Is Not Yet Rated". With any luck the ESRB will stay as far away from that burning pile of crap as possible.

Tsukasah6518d ago

And along with Jack Thompson, I blame Rod Blagojevitch, Hilary Clinton, and a lot of other governors. Only thing I like about Bush is the fact that he hasn't taken any stance on video games(at least that I know of). I blame them for the overly strict game rating system. Nowadays, if theres blood in a game when you shoot them, its automatically rated M. Also back with that Mothers of America or w/e that association is that also sued Apple because of pr0n on the iPod that would turn the you into massively addicted masturbatory teenagers, just because you can put pr0n on it.

People like that make me sick. They also made the gaming companies put ratings on all their games. Just because I can rip someones spine out on Mortal Kombat doesn't mean its going to make little kids attempt the same. It's the parents responsibility to decide what games they can, and cannot play, not the ESRB. Video games are good harmless fun. They should not be treated like movies. I also often play games as an alternative to beating up my wall. Say I get extremely mad at someone or something, I'd get on SOCOM online, and kill everyone, and my frustration would be over.

One of these days I'm getting plane tickets to Miami, and I will aimlessly prowl the streets looking for Jack Thompson. Jack, when I find you, I will pimp slap you so hard you wont even be able to see straight! One of these days, Jack! One of these days!

This message has been paid for by mice.

pilotpistolpete6518d ago

Hahah let me know when you go, I'll bring my video camera to capture the priceless moment.

Yeah, ESRB is poorely missmanaged. I don't understand how any game can't be played until your 18. 18! They can legally have sex, be tried as an adult and drive. But you can't play a game that has virtual blood. Oh no! Hide little 6'2" Johnny from these games.

kn6518d ago

When a game like Halo 1 or Halo 2 gets an M rating with cartooney blood and gore -- i.e. alien blood is purple and blue and such but Call of Duty 2 and 3 (both of which involve violent shooting of human beings rather than aliens) get a "teen" rating, something is very, very wrong with the system...

270°

Top 10 Bad Games by Good Studios

Alex S. from Link-Cable writes: "When shopping for new video games you can often trust the name publisher or developer on the box to be an indication of the quality of the game. Names like Nintendo, Square Enix, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Capcom, Xbox Game Studios and Sega are world famous because they helped shape the industry by releasing some of the most defining video games of all time. Though sometimes even these great gaming houses stumble and put out a stinker."

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link-cable.com
Gamerking821816d ago (Edited 1816d ago )

Splatterhouse remake . Loved the og’s at the arcade growing up . Hell the best thing about the remake was the og,s were included . And left alive by Square . That game had so much potential , but the gameplay was worse horrendous .

Game-ur1816d ago

once Great studios getting destroyed is actually common. happened with ND and Last of Us2, Bioware and Mass Effect Andromeda/Anthem, Bungle and Destiny .

BeRich2331816d ago

Fuse should have been on that list (Insomniac Games)

Yui_Suzumiya1816d ago

Splatterhouse remake kicked ass

merryja1816d ago

I personally don't like these games.

East76lands1816d ago

I'm pretty much certain that any Sonic game that comes out will be terrible, I've not enjoyed one since the original side-scrolling days of the MegaDrive.

HarryMasonHerpderp1816d ago

Then you might like a recent sonic "sonic mania".

jaymacx1816d ago

For this Topic it says Good Studios that make bad games. Sonic Team hasn't been good in years.

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300°

5 Disappointing Games and the Great Studios That Should Remake Them

A reimagining of 5 disappointing video games and the masterpieces they could have been underneath other studios.

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findyourinnergeek.ca
FallenAngel19842293d ago

How often do disappointing games get remakes

darthv722293d ago (Edited 2293d ago )

well... if disappointing movies can get remakes then why not games? some of these have really good premise but somewhat disappointing execution. In the right hands they could be great.

I quite enjoyed lair (after the patch), too human and the order 1886. I'd even add in quantum break and recore as disappointing but with a good premise.

gangsta_red2293d ago

"well... if disappointing movies can get remakes then why not games?"

But how many disappointing movies actually get those? I'm still waiting for a remake of Howard the Duck.

darthv722293d ago

^nothing disappointing about howard the duck. It is cheesy 80's goodness.

gangsta_red2293d ago

When you're right, you're right.

rainslacker2292d ago

@Gangsta

Wasn't there a rumor that they were looking at making another Howard the Duck? He had a cameo in GoTG2.

Love that movie for how bad it was. That and Garbage Pail Kids.

DrumBeat2292d ago

The Order was a fresh experience. Not the most compelling game, but I didn't want to put it down, and platted it. Good for what it was.

Quantum was something different as well, but a little less fun to actually play, imo. The 'acting' was done in a cheese factory too. Completed one path and never returned to it.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 2292d ago
pietro12122292d ago (Edited 2292d ago )

FFXIV was already remade, and it's probably the beat thing Square has put out in years.

notachance2292d ago

yes, I was giving an example of disappointing games remade to be a great game

thorstein2292d ago

Every time sites need clicks. Just look at the obligatory: i wAnT cLIcKs tEh OrDer 1886 pIcTUrE.

JonathanHarris2292d ago

It's really not super often, but it does happen!

Mostly we see cult favorites come back around but in the recent case of Shaq-Fu we really saw a truly awful game see new life (not great life but at least new).

It's something I'd love to see a lot more of.

Thanks for reading my article!

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2292d ago
2293d ago Replies(4)
NarutoFox2293d ago

Too Human yeah I remember that game smh😂

Inzo2293d ago

The Order has its faults yes but it had a fantastic atmosphere and some great gameplay. A game with enormous potential and far from disappointing. I say give Ready at Dawn another crack at it because I think they created an diamond with some rough edges that just needs some tlc.

Dreamcatcher452293d ago

Problem was the repetitive boss fights. I liked the gunplay, cover system and somewhat the story.

hulk_bash19872292d ago (Edited 2292d ago )

It did have fantastic atmosphere, I'll give you that. But gameplay pretty much played out like short gunfire segments interlaced with walking/sneaking + QTE events. Gameplay was the weakest point of The Order because RAD prioritized world building and graphical detail. Ut was disappointing because it didnt live up to the massive potential it haf. If they were given another shot at a sequel, I hope they can learn from their mistakes.

notachance2292d ago

gameplay was meh but the world had potential, in my ideal world it'd have Mass Effect kind of gameplay

Prubar2292d ago

I waited till The Order was discounted and went in with certain expectations and wasn’t disappointed. Just like Quantum Break. Great concept just needed a little extra meat on the bones.

rainslacker2292d ago

I had high hopes before it released. They were curbed some by the early previews, and while I found faults with the game, and it was obviously released unfinished, I still enjoyed it. The lore, acting, graphics, and world itself were excellent.

JonathanHarris2292d ago

I agree that it had some awesome atmosphere and the gameplay wasn't awful, but that potential is exactly why I put it on this list. I actually loved playing the game (same as some of the other games I put on this list such as Army of Two) But I would just love to see what could happen if it fulfilled some of that potential, ya know? Could have had the next incredible Sony franchise to rival God of War.

Thanks for reading my article!

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 2292d ago
TheEnigma3132293d ago

The order should have had a sequel. The first one wasn't bad just needed a few tweaks.

robtion2292d ago

I would love a sequel to The Order. It is still a great game.

Lair had a great concept and could be amazing with the current technology available. A Lair-like ps5 game could be incredible.

Show all comments (50)
700°

15 Worst PlayStation Exclusive Games of All Time

PlayStation’s strong and impressive lineup of exclusives is probably the biggest edge it has over its direct competition in the market- a fact that has been true for as long as anyone can remember.

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gamingbolt.com
TheEnigma3132580d ago

Ridge racer for PSP was actually good and shouldn't be on this list. I think I'm the only one that enjoyed Haze.

Mr Pumblechook2580d ago

When GamingBolt have to dig up PS1 & PS2 games you know Sony is doing something right.

PygmelionHunter2580d ago

The list is about the worst Playstation exclusives games OF ALL TIME...

Why wouldn’t they include PS1 and PS2 games?

Prince_TFK2580d ago

That’s right, only PS4 games should be on the list of the worst Sony exclusive games of all time. /s

Dragonscale2580d ago

As much as I like PlayStation, there are plenty of stinkers just like on all platforms tbh.

hulk_bash19872580d ago (Edited 2580d ago )

Haha you completely missed or are willfully ignorant of the intent of this article. It clearly says worst PS Exclusive Games of All Time.

2579d ago
UltraNova2579d ago

A Haze 2 or reboot would be nice!

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 2579d ago
NonShinyGoose2580d ago

RR on Vita made the list, not the PSP version. RR on Vita was severely lacking content.

Knushwood Butt2579d ago

They tried something new and it failed.

The initial price point was low but a large amount of content was locked behing DLC

These days you often pay full price up front and get the same concept.

Darkwatchman2580d ago (Edited 2580d ago )

Didn’t the list just have ridge racer on Vita? Because the Vita ridge racer was a dumpster fire at $40 with next to no cars or tracks. It was such an incomplete experience. As the article states, it felt more like a full priced demo than an actual game. Psp ridge racer had so much more to it.

SierraGuy2579d ago (Edited 2579d ago )

All early ridge racers had next to no cars...game was great because of its graphics, controls, fun factor. Nothing could touch it on PS1.

mrdeli2580d ago

When this piece of flotsam indicated that "Being a clone of GTA shouldn't be that hard" I just closed the window.

2580d ago Replies(4)
Liqu1d2580d ago

The most disappointing game I have ever played.

madforaday2579d ago

Socom 4, I guess you could say that was an AWFUL/TERRIBLE Socom game. BUT it was an okay game if it didn't have the word Socom in the title.

Gardenia2580d ago

To save you from clicking those annoying slides:

HAZE (PS3)
LAIR (PS3)
KNACK (PS4)
RIDGE RACER (PS VITA)
TWISTED METAL III (PS1)
LAST REBELLION (PS3)
BRAVO TEAM (PS4)
BASEMENT CRAWL (PS4)
MORTAL KOMBAT: SPECIAL FORCES (PS1)
GANGS OF LONDON (PSP)
LITTLE DEVIANTS (PS VITA)
PLAYSTATION MOVE APE ESCAPE (PS3)
APE ESCAPE ACADEMY (PSP)
KUNG FU RIDER (PS3)
EYETOY: OPERATION SPY (PS2)

solideagle2580d ago

thank you for the list. I believe he should listed PSVR titles as VR....

yeahright22580d ago

I love when people do this to sites that try to artificially up their clicks by forcing one click per entry. But I will say maybe let's leave off the first entry so they get the one click. Both so N4g gets whatever they're due for pushing traffic to their site and to send a message to the site that you only get one click.

Gaming_1st2580d ago

Well everybody should have gamingbolt blocked anyways.

Dragonscale2580d ago

Don't need to. I avoid it like the plague regardless lol.

Hardiman2579d ago

When certain sites have articles on here I just look at the comments.

FinalFantasyFanatic2579d ago

Sites are lucky if I click once or twice, half a dozen or more clicks is more effort than I'm willing for a list that may or may not suck.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 2579d ago
Gaming_1st2580d ago

I feel Knack or Ridge Racer shouldn't be on there.

Dragonscale2580d ago (Edited 2580d ago )

Maybe not knack but it's understandable, its not the best game tbh. Dunno bout ridge racer.

SierraGuy2579d ago

Ridge racer should never be on a worst list. FU gaming bolt crap.

Stogz2579d ago

Cant argue with Bravo Team, that game really did suck.

GBG_Jason2579d ago

Bless. I stopped after 1 because of it.

KwietStorm_BLM2579d ago

Have to say that is a pretty crappy list. I remember being so pissed with Twisted Metal 3 after TM2.

OffRoadKing2579d ago (Edited 2579d ago )

You're doing Gods work. Many blessings upon the house of Gardenia.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 2579d ago
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