Boxed Up Briefs

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It is unfortunate to see the action taken today regarding Manhunt 2 by the BBFC in the UK and the ESRB in North America. As for the ESRB, that kind of action really seems like a vote of no confidence in its own system; after all, if the system is doing its jobs, only people of the appropriate age--or people whose parents have consented to their playing such games--will be playing the game to begin with. Or does that one year of age, from Mature's 17 to Adults Only's 18 really make such a difference?

In the case of the BBFC, whose refusal to rate the game has blocked it from sale entirely, it is even more worrisome--do we really have any evidence that the release of such a game would engender "unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors," as director David Cooke explains? That is a bold claim.

As for today's briefs, we're seeing new maps for Command & Conquer 3 on Xbox Live, a tournament for Resistance: Fall of Man on PS3, the massively multiplayer Saga going into open beta, and Halo 3 achievements revealed.

  • Rise to the top in Resistance: Fall of Man tourney

    [ps3]

    Fans of Insomniac Games' well-received PlayStation 3 shooter Resistance: Fall of Man can sign up to compete in an officially sanctioned online tournament, the winners of which will compete in a televised final competition in New York City. Numerous prizes are available for the top competitors in in both the 3v3 bracket and the 1v1 bracket.

    Signups are open from June 18 to July 4 to United States residents 18 years of age or older.

  • More maps to Command & Conquer

    [xbox360]

    Six new multiplayer maps are now available for the Xbox 360 version of Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars via Xbox Live Marketplace, one freely available and five as part of Map Pack 1. Ground Zero Map, a 1v1 map, is available for free, while Map Pack 1--consisting of Black's Bigger Battle, Tiber River Valley, Frontier Fracas, Tiberium Gardens III, and Tournament Desert Redux--runs 500 Microsoft Points ($6.25).

    A developer interview on the maps is downloadable for free.

  • Massively multiplayer strategy game enters beta

    [pc]

    Wahoo Studios' Saga, a massively multiplayer PC real-time strategy game, will go into open beta testing on July 5. Players can learn more about the fantasy-oriented game and sign up for the beta at its official site. It is set to launch with no monthly subscription fee this fall, and will be funded by player-purchased "booster packs."

  • Halo 3 achievements reveal game details

    [xbox360]

    Xbox360Achievements.org has posted what it claims is the official list of achievements to be included as goals in Bungie's upcoming Halo 3 (X360). According to the list, there will be nine missions in the game's single-player campaign, and the series' Normal, Heroic, and Legendary difficulty options will return. As in Halo 2, hidden skull pickups will be scattered throughout the game. Some achievements are awarded for reaching a currently undefined number of points in what is called the "Campaign meta-game" for each level.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    June 19, 2007 6:51 PM

    The first two HALO games had a four-tiered difficulty system, and my money says that HALO 3 also has a four-tiered difficulty system. BUNGiE simply doesn't give achievements for "Easy".

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