Nintendo Implements Rating Control System in Revolution

Nintendo announced today that the Revolution will have a password-controlled setting which prevents children from playing "inappropiate" games as deemed by their parents. The system itself follows four rating levels in compliance with ESRB standards: Everyone, E10+, Teen, and Mature. Every game that is purchased contains specialized code in the software that tells the Revolution what rating it has, thus effectively preventing the game to be played if the Revolution is in "lock up" mode.

Reggie Fils-Aime, executive vice-president of sales & marketing, strongly believes that "this kind of feature should be included in the hardware."

Even Washington Governor Chris Gregoire praised Nintendo for this move: "Nintendo has added an important tool for families in Washington state andaround the world. This new option gives parents more information and more control over what video games their kids play and atwhat age."

How will the population react? Will parents be more inclined to purchase the Revolution with this kind of control feature? Will gamers be discouraged because they do not have control over their own system?

On the upside, there might be a increase in mature titles for the Revolution. At least Jack Thompson can get off our backs now...

Source: Nintendo Announces Play Control System for Next Hardware

Another Revolution Revealing Blog?

It has just come to my attention (well yesterday) that there is another so-called "Seriousgamer007" blog up and running. This anonymous person has been periodically updating his blog since late summer. He promises to release what little information he has learned, through his work connections, on his blog. However, if it becomes too popular *cough* Seriousgamer007 *cough*, he threatens to shut it down.

I've read all of his postings, and while most of them were accurate, some of them have been a bit of a stretch. He made some bold claims about the TGS: new Mario 128 footage, most of Revolution features revealed, and the online "Point System." However, despite all of this misinformation, he has been very humble and not haughty like Seriousgamer007.

On Monday he said that the Futurna was not real (go figure), an African American character will play a lead role in a Revolution game (could the infamous 'Nigga' reprise his role?), and Revolution is definitely NOT the final name anymore (according to him, it went from Next --> Revolution --> Shiftbox --> Shift --> Revolution --> ?).

Lastly, he mentioned that the revolutionary feature of the system WILL be revealed by the end of the year, mostly likely at the Digital Interactive Entertainment Conference 2005.

Right now, it is hard for me to call bogus or not. This person, whomever he may be, is certainly not an idiot, but is taking a hefty risk by breaking his non-disclosure agreement. However, I say more power to him! We, as gamers, want to know as much as possible! Let the Revolution live up to its hype!

Until his next update, I'll say not bogus.

You should read all of his updates yourself to make your own call:

RevealingTheRevolution :: The only real information

Eurogamer interviews Jim Merrick

Nintendo Europe's senior vice president Jim Merrick was interviewed today by Eurogamer at the Nintendo Europe Summit in Frankfurt, Germany. In this lengthy discussion, Merrick revealed more information on Nintendo's upcoming console code-named Revolution, set to launch sometime in the 2006 fiscal year.

After reading the article, I was able to pick up on a multitude of key points:

• Nintendo may develop a massively multiplayer online game for the Revolution - it would require approval from either Shigeru Miyamoto (Director EAD) or Hideki Konno (producer EAD)
• The 512 MB of flash memory storage for retro downloads is expandable
• The slot-based disc drive will handle both the GCN and Revolution formats
• A number of third parties have expressed permission for Nintendo to make their back catalogues available for download -- Merrick notes that not every game ever published on a Nintendo console will be present
• When asked about a potential price point for game downloads, Merrick rhetorically responds, "What would you pay for your favorite game of the 16-bit era, say?"
• By implementing the Digital Management Rights system (DRM), Nintendo might offer movies, music, demos, and full games for download
• Merrick makes it clear that Nintendo will support neither the Blu-Ray or HD-DVD formats -- a dual-layer proprietary disc is most likely
• The Revolution will be present at E3 2006 for hands-on interaction along with games
• Third parties are presently hard at work at Revolution games and will announce them at their leisure
• Hideo Kojima is developing an exclusive title
• Europe might see the Revolution before Japan and the U.S.
• "Revolution" is still a codename for the console -- no word of when the true name will be revealed
• Mark Rein's (Epic) derogatory controller remarks were completely unfounded because he has yet to get his hands on it or a developer kit

This recent news update has been well received by fans in the Nintendo community. Nintendo's seemingly hush-hush policy has put fans on edge in the awaiting of more news.

You can read the entire article here: Jim Merrick gets connected

My first post!

I just wanted to celebrate my first post in my newly founded blog! I will strive to update the blog several times a week with large chunks of recent news all at once. This blog primarily focuses on the video game industry, but I think will permit myself to post random blurbs and tidbits.

If you wish to share your comments and opinions, then please click the "comments" link and leave me some feedback!