We take the ESRB's policies for granted--but should we? This piece, by The Blunder Busters, exposes the unseen side of the authoritative game content rating organization--and where it's going horribly wrong.
The second part of GTA BOOM's interview with Obbe Vermeij where they turn from origin stories to craft. Specifically, how early GTA games created the illusion of life, and why that illusion still matters more than brute-force simulation.
In an exclusive interview with GTA BOOM, former Rockstar North technical director Obbe Vermeij reveals how Rockstar North really operated and debunks one of GTA’s biggest myths.
Revolution Team, the modding team behind GTA Vice City NextGen Edition, has announced GTA: San Andreas NextGen Edition.
I'm surprised modders haven't taken GTA 3, Vice City and San Andreas and connected them as one big game. I remember GTA 3, you had to complete so much of the game to open up the other part of the city, which was connected by a bridge, although there was a flying car cheat.
I see nothing wrong
I'll take the ESRB over Joe Lieberman and Tipper Gore...anyday
Hot Coffee wasn't ESRB's screw-up, it was Rockstar hastily hiding away content in the code instead of taking the effort to properly remove it.
They mostly do a fine job, which is a testament to the industry's ability to police itself. Though sometimes the T/M line is a bit blurry. I think the only WTF rating I've seen lately is Senran Kagura Burst getting a T rating. I would argue the content is more explicit than the core Dead or Alive games, which have lately been getting Ms. I think the system would benefit from a 15+ rating, like PEGI's. HUGE difference between what a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old can handle.
The only problem with the ESRB is how many ignore it and how it impacts developers. To date, I've never seen anyone (outside of those looking for early information on a game) ever care why a game was rated whatever it was rated. Most just see the rating and either make a flat judgement call "Oh, you're too young to play M rated games" or the far more common ignoring of it all together.
The real problem (gaming side) is how marketing views a game. A lot of things will be cut, edited and changed in order to get whatever rating marketing wants. This is why MK vs DC was so toned down, they wanted the game to be rated T, so they tried their hardest to make it work. Sometimes this results in unwanted attempts or silly choices, but once you turn 18 the ESRB means nothing unless you have a kid.