updates again...

This week has been kind of crazy. Working 10-hour days, packing for college, still playing far too much PokéMon. Just giving a heads-up on the articles I have planned. These should be posted within the week, but today and tomorrow I'm packing and moving.

Also, big thank you to somebody in Poland, who visited YFG from directly typing in the URL or a bookmark. Seeing that on my blog tracker/stalker made my morning, especially since I'm Polish myself (annnnd my boyfriend is primarily German... oy). So major thanks to you, Polish person. I hope you keep reading, and gaming (what kind of games do they have in Poland??).

Upcoming:
PokéMon Review
This is Art-a!!
More work on the gaming dictionary

ESRB - More distrust in their general direction

Recently, gaming sites have been aflame with the Manhunt 2 controversy, in which Manhunt 2 received the Adults-Only rating that is equivalent to the marketing kiss-of-death for any game.

However, even more recently (August 24), Manhunt 2 was re-rated from AO to Mature with a Halloween release date to boot. What caused this sudden change? No one knows. ESRB won't own up to anything--what content was changed for the M rating (if any), what kind of communications went on between the ESRB and the game's publisher, Rockstar, before and after the ratings change? Is it really a giant publicity stunt? And if so, how could the ESRB expect to play a part in such a stunt and not expect its credibility to be sullied? And what about the infamous Grand Theft Auto Hot Coffee (aka "Hot Coffeegate") incident? Was that a stunt, too?

When it comes to Everyone and Teen-rated games, the ESRB seems to do all right with its ratings, and actually establishes some form of trust-worthiness. (Mostly because there's nothing they have to "protect the children from.") Mature and Adults Only are where things get shaky, as this last episode proves. The system really needs revision when it comes to violent and sexual content, and the divide between M and AO. One of my biggest questions, is if the difference in content between the two ratings is so great (M is socially acceptable, and AO cannot even be sold in stores), why is there only a one-year difference between the ratings' age-groups? (Mature is 17+, Adults-Only is 18+). Does one more year of living really make that great of a difference in maturity?

Advice to parents? Things look a little bleak, as the great ESRB guardians continue to fumble through rating more violent, mature game material. The system obviously needs some kind of revision among its higher ratings. Kids can enjoy all the Everyone and Teen-rated games in the world, but I strongly advise you use your own discretion for Mature and Adults Only, and don't simply trust the ESRB stamp.

This really stinks for parents because doing such research on a game can be very time-consuming. The quickest way to do this would to do some Internet searching for the game's trailers, previews/reviews, and screenshots. Some videogame stores (like EB Games/Gamestop) may let you play the game a bit before you buy if you ask a store representative.

libraries add videogame to collection

I dunno if I'll see anything like this at my local library (I wouldn't know--I haven't been there in years due to being on the run from overdue book fees o_o The library in the next town over is very nice though), but videogames are now flying off the shelves at libraries around the country, according to various news articles my e-mail has been bringing me (I know, that's some hard-core reporting on my part there //end sarcasm).

If you're one of these lucky libraries, bless you, and be sure to take advantage of the super-deal the library is giving you! Those games are at least $50! Give your librarians a hug! (I'm thinking for professionalism's sake, I shouldn't write anything when I'm wired at 1am)

All over-the-top hyper-happiness aside, there was an interesting, optimistic thought buried at the bottom of one of the article from Gaming Today:

One might think of this as another example of video games being shoved in the direction of art.

Maybe a tiny shuffle in that direction. In the original article Gaming Today was evaluating, one librarian noted that "offering "popular" or "recreational" materials is a part of most libraries' mission statement," and the first library used as an example in the article's opening paragraphs started their collection with "a new 50-title collection comprising games based on sports and animated movies." Not exactly the most thought-provoking material, but some libraries are recognizing literary value in more text-heavy genres like RPGs.

According to Gallaway [a former youth services adviser for the MetroWest library system], video game players have to think critically, finding information and then evaluating, organizing and using it. Many games follow a traditional story arc of characters encountering conflict and finding resolutions, and some even require a novel skill: on-screen reading.

"They aren't recognizing that video games themselves are literary," she said of critics. "I think in general we need to stop being format snobs."

The question remains--will games gain any more respect as they shuffle onto library shelves? Very doubtful. But it's a darn good deal. Check it out.