Grand Theft Auto 4 April 29th PS3 & X-Box 360

GTA 4, The Adult Crime Game Kids Love

Get ready: There's a new Grand Theft Auto game about to roll out this week, and we're probably in for a burst of discussion about violent video play.

I've never found it likely that bloody video games cause bad behavior in kids, but then again, I'd also never pass any of my old copies of the games to a child. So I'm a little unsure about how to react to a recent study showing that the game is more popular than any other among 12- to 14-year-old boys.

"GTA IV" is almost inevitably going to be one of the biggest game releases in a year that is already looking like a prosperous one for the industry. Market research firm NPD said that Americans expect to spend less on entertainment this year, yet they're also going to spend more than ever on video games. Video game sales jumped 57 percent in March, compared with the same month last year, according to the firm.

The Grand Theft Auto franchise is practically an industry unto itself. Electronic Arts has attempted a hostile takeover of the game's publisher this year with an offer valued at $2 billion. One analyst has even speculated that the new game could dampen opening weekend ticket sales for "Iron Man," the comic-book-inspired action movie starring Robert Downey Jr. The film premieres a few days after the game's release.

Like its predecessors, Grand Theft Auto IV is rated "M" (for "Mature"), and stores are only allowed to sell it to folks ages 17 and up. The game industry's ratings board has even spelled out the types of content that could make parents squirm. The game, to be released Tuesday for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, hits all the hot buttons: It contains "blood," "intense violence," "partial nudity," "strong language," "strong sexual content" and "use of drugs and alcohol."

The game's developer, Rockstar, has mostly kept quiet about the storylines of its latest game, set in Liberty City, a satirical version of New York City. Previous installments of the best-selling games have all followed the paths of young strivers who go from rags to riches, building careers as gangster kingpins. On the way, there tend to be a few zillion explosions, flattened pedestrians and rival gangs that need to get squeezed out.

If YOU want to get the rest of this story and check out a slide show from the game, go to Mike Musgrove - The Adult Crime Game Kids Love - washingtonpost.com . Can not tell a lie, I will be playing this as soon as I get a free moment. Hey, got to get the tension out somewhere, might as well be on this video game as opposed to being on YOU.


LOL

Game On,

Bobby Sharpe Amazon.com: Dragon: Book of Shang: Books: Bobby Sharpe Dragon, Book of Shang

Nintendo Wii Rain Checks

GameStop to Sell Wii Rain Checks

To deal with frustration among holiday shoppers hunting for its Wii game console, Nintendo Co. and retailer GameStop Corp. are launching a rain check program.

"We expect this to be a great way for consumers who desperately want a Wii to have something to put under the tree," Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime said Friday.

The rain checks will be available at the regular Wii system price, $249.99, on Dec. 20 and 21, and will entitle buyers to get the Nintendo console before Jan. 29. Fils-Aime said "many tens of thousands of rain checks" would be available.

GameStop regularly takes deposits on hot software titles before they launch, which means it has the infrastructure to deal with rain check program, Fils-Aime said. The company is working with other retailers, like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) (WMT) and Best Buy Co. (BBY) (BBY), to push out inventory from the supply chain to shelves as quickly as possible before Christmas, he added.

The Wii has been a startling success for the Japanese company, selling more than 6 million units in the U.S. since it was launched a little over a year ago. In November alone, 981,000 were sold in the U.S., according to NPD Group. That compares to 770,000 Microsoft Xbox 360s sold, and 466,000 Sony PlayStation 3s.

However, Wii sales have been constrained by supply, with units selling out minutes after going on store shelves. Nintendo has repeatedly denied rumors that it's creating an artificial shortage by not increasing production to match demand.

"I get personal calls from people wanting to know why we don't just manufacture more. Believe me, if it were that easy, we would," Fils-Aime told reporters and analysts on a conference call Friday.

"Production depends on components from a wide array of suppliers. If only one can't increase their capacity, then we can't increase ours," the executive said.

After Nintendo raised production twice since April, production for the worldwide market is now at 1.8 million Wiis a month. Fils-Aime held out no hope of an imminent increase.

"We'll keep producing at that level for quite a while," he said. "When will we finally meet demand? There is no way to answer that question until we finally meet it."

Hey, this is a pretty cool way to try and get a Wii in a short period of time. Even if not for Christmas day. I was in this situation last Christmas and it took me until March to finally get a Wii. Good luck and be persistent!

Games Rule on Wii,

Bobby Sharpe www.myspace.com/akuasharpe Dragon, Book of Shang

Alien Lesbian Sex Video Game? No Way

Singapore Bans Video Game Over Alien Lesbian Sex Scene

SINGAPORE — Singapore has banned an Xbox 360 video game because it contains a sex scene between a woman and a female alien, the city-state's censors said Thursday.

"Mass Effect," a futuristic space adventure published by Microsoft Corp., has been banned because of "lesbian intimacy," Chetra S., deputy director of the Board of Film Censors, in a statement.

Players can engage their avatars in a variety of sexual encounters during the game, though none between men or between men and male aliens, according to reports on several blogs.

The human-alien duo are depicted kissing and caressing each other in a sex scene that The Straits Times English-language newspaper in Singapore reported ends with the alien saying, "By the gods, that was incredible, commander."

A Microsoft spokesman in Singapore said Microsoft respected Singapore's decision to ban the game, which is to launch globally on Nov. 20.

"'Mass Effect' features realistic content and interactions in the context of the science-fiction story line," Ian Tan, marketing communications manager for Southeast Asia said. "The game takes a mature approach to various relationships amongst characters throughout the game and the content in question is another dynamic of that."

Chetra, of the censors' board, said Singapore's video games industry is largely self-regulated, with game importers responsible for declaring to the censorship board that the game content falls within a set of guidelines.

"This helps to ensure that games are suitable for a general audience and do not feature exploitative or gratuitous sex and violence, or denigrate any race or religion," Chetra said.

Other video games that have been banned this year include "God of War II," for nudity, and "The Darkness," for "excessive violence and religiously offensive expletives," Chetra said.

Chetra said the city-state's Media Development Authority, which oversees the censors' board, will introduce classification for video games next year, a move that could allow games such as "Mass Effect" to be passed under a mature classification.

Authorities in Singapore have banned gay festivals and censored gay films, saying homosexuality should not be advocated as a lifestyle choice.

Under Singapore law, gay sex is deemed "an act of gross indecency," punishable by a maximum of two years in jail. Despite the official ban on gay sex, there have been few prosecutions.

Okay, alien lesbian sex, in a video game. Got the game banned in Singapore. Can't imagine why that would happen. What is this world coming to? And, what is more beat up, "the action in the game, or, Singapore's government for banning it"? I'll let YOU make up your mindz on this one. Personally, I think..nah, ain't going there. Anyway, here is a link to the video of the "love scene" from the game as posted on Youtube.YouTube - Mass Effect - Alien Sex Scene

Games People Play Are Different Today,

Bobby Sharpe Dragon, Book of Shang www.myspace.com/akuasharpe

Halo 3 & Google Search Engine Tech News

Please check out Your advertisers links

'Halo 3' to Land in Stores in September

DALLAS (AP) - Legions of Master Chief fans can now mark their calendars for Sept. 25. That's when "Halo 3," the newest sci-fi video game saga and the first specifically designed for Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) (MSFT)'s Xbox 360 console, is expected to arrive on store shelves.

The first-person shooter is the latest addition to the company's popular science fiction franchise in which an armor-clad human space soldier fights alien hordes in sprawling single and online multiplayer battles.

Shane Kim, corporate vice president for Microsoft Game Studios, predicted sales would surpass those of "Halo 2," which the company claims reached $125 million within the first 24 hours in 2004.

"In terms of great exclusive content this is the biggest weapon that we have," he said.

The announcement comes as a "beta," or test version, of "Halo 3" is being offered to consumers through June 6, allowing players to test out some of the game's multiplayer features ahead of schedule.

The beta only shows the game's multiplayer online aspects, however. Details of the single-player story remain a secret, Kim said.

"Halo 3" will be available in three versions: a "standard" edition for $59.99, a "limited edition" that includes features about the making of the game for $69.99, and a $129.99 "legendary edition" that is packaged with a large metal helmet that looks like the one worn by the game's protagonist, Master Chief.

Google's Search Engine Goes Universal
By MICHAEL LIEDTKE

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) - In its latest technological leap, online search leader Google Inc. (GOOG) will begin showing videos on its main results page Wednesday along with photos, books and other content previously separated into different categories.

Under a new "universal search" approach that Google began rolling out Wednesday afternoon, some requests will produce more than just a series of links and snippets pointing to other Web sites. For the full Google search engine story, go to iWon News - Google's Search Engine Goes Universal

These are 2 stories/articles that should hold some interest to just about everyone. Especially the Google search engine story. All gamers are probably chomping at the bit for the latest "Halo" game.

Peace & Soulz,

Bobby Sharpewww.myspace.com/akuasharpe BobbySharpe.blogspot.com