Guitar Hero 3 - another Jam Fest you don’t want to miss

IGN has put up its review of Guitar Hero 3 on the Xbox 360 and awarded it a \’Great\’ score of 8.9/10. They conclude that is a great sequel and the they didn\’t rock the boat too much and have stuck with the tried and tested formula with the original games. However, while everything is good internally with the game, they draw one negative that the presentation needs some serious re-working as it\’s getting a bit dry.

GameCity ‘07: Rare talks Viva Pi

NOTTINGHAM–Viva Pi

The $40,000 Limited Edition Yellow PS3 that claims to be two times faster

A MaxConsole reader forwarded us some info on an eBay auction for a PS3 which is being advertised as two times faster than the original PS3 and comes with a 200GB 7200RPM hard drive and comes in the color yellow. More info and laughs are available at eBay.

Memor 32 - Advanced 32MB PS2 USB Memory Card priced at under

Divineo.fr has put up in its catalogue the Memor 32 - an advanced 32MB PS2 memory card which is designed to be used for game saves and complete with an integrated USB port. It\’s currently on sale for

Memor 32 - Advanced 32MB PS2 USB Memory Card priced at under

Divineo.fr has put up in its catalogue the Memor 32 - an advanced 32MB PS2 memory card which is designed to be used for game saves and complete with an integrated USB port. It\’s currently on sale for

GameCity ‘07: Rare talks Viva Pi

NOTTINGHAM–Viva Pi

Mario Galaxy includes new copy protection from Nintendo

We received a tip that Mario Galaxy includes some new copy protections, the group who said this have implied that they are too drunk to bypass proetection so they hope someone else can do it. Full \’details\’ are available inside.

Memor 32 - Advanced 32MB PS2 USB Memory Card priced at under

Divineo.fr has put up in its catalogue the Memor 32 - an advanced 32MB PS2 memory card which is designed to be used for game saves and complete with an integrated USB port. It\’s currently on sale for

GameCity ‘07: Rare talks Viva Pi

NOTTINGHAM–Viva Pi

Memor 32 - Advanced 32MB PS2 USB Memory Card priced at under

Divineo.fr has put up in its catalogue the Memor 32 - an advanced 32MB PS2 memory card which is designed to be used for game saves and complete with an integrated USB port. It\’s currently on sale for

GameCity ‘07: Rare talks Viva Pi

NOTTINGHAM–Viva Pi

GameCity ‘07: Keita Takahashi talks Noby Noby Boy

Game director Keita Takahashi took to the stage in front of a packed audience to talk about his new game, Noby Noby Boy, and immediately kicked off his shoes.

“I’m very nervous,” he said, and talking through a translator, explained that he would play some soothing ‘forest sounds’ to give the auditorium a more relaxed atmosphere. He then added, that two days before coming to the UK, his favourite sandals had broken, which he had been worried was a sign that the plane might crash.

A preview of a very early version of Noby Noby Boy.

He also told us that the neighbours on the floor beneath his apartment were very noisy, and that he was waging a plant-war against them by planting crawling ivy across his balcony so it would “grow down, and remind them that there is someone living above them. Do you think they’ll be angry? I can’t wait.”

Takahashi told the audience that he didn’t want to talk about Katamari Damacy, as he was “sick of it.” He then fired up a PlayStation 3 and showed the assembled guests the technical build of the game he is currently working on, titled Noby Noby Boy. Noby Noby means ’stretch’ in Japanese, but also, like many Japanese words, has several other meanings. Takahashi explained, “In Japan, Noby Noby also means postponed, which shows this is the right name, as it has been postponed.”

The game does not have a definite date for release yet, and is obviously still in the early stages, although Takahashi did reveal that it would be a PlayStation 3 exclusive. He handed out controllers to the audience, showing that up to three people could play at once, taking control of the Noby Noby Boy, who can do such things as stretch, jump, eat animals, and eject them from his nether end intact, and lasso creatures by circling them. He also showed that animals will be able to hop on to Noby Noby Boy and enjoy a free ride.

Talking about his latest project, Takahashi admitted, “People do not understand it yet, even my boss. I think it looks fun.”

He also berated the industry for a lack of creativity. He said, “Just as people have different personalities, in terms of games you can make your own rules to develop and play. But in reality we rarely see such variety. I wonder why?”

Takahashi also used his forum to remind people the importance of caring for the environment, and doing such things as recycling rubbish, and being nice to people in the street. He said, “I don’t know about the future, but we will see more of the darker side of the earth. I really think so. I don’t know if we can afford to have video games in 10 or 20 years’ time…Video gaming is good but also it’s a luxury. You can’t play video games unless you’re financially well off.”

For more on Keita Takahashi, check out If Its Games’s Q&A with him, which is coming soon.

Q&A: BBFC examiner Jim Cliff explains UK games ratings

The British Board of Film Classification is the ratings body responsible for video games in the UK. The country also uses the Pan European Game Information system, which is used by 29 countries. The difference between the two is that while the PEGI ratings system is an information guide only, the BBFC rating is legally binding, and anyone selling games to a child under the age limit is breaking the law. Some countries in Europe have also made the PEGI system statutory, whereas others–for example Germany–rate games themselves.

The BBFC’s Jim Cliff.

Back in June, Rockstar Games’ sequel to the 2003 Manhunt, action adventure Manhunt 2 was denied a rating, effectively banning the title in the UK. The game managed the dubious honour of being only one of two games ever banned by the organisation in the UK. The reasons given included the games “unremitting bleakness and casual sadism.” The title was also given an Adults Only rating by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board in the US, although after an edited version of the game was submitted, the game was passed with an M for Mature.

However, when an amended version of Manhunt 2 was submitted for review by the BBFC, the appeal was rejected, and the new version of the game was again refused a rating. Rockstar Games is currently in the middle of an appeal against the organisation’s decision, with a decision expected to be made in the new year.

Jim Cliff is one of 12 examiners at the BBFC who deal with video games, and If Its Games caught up with him at Nottingham’s GameCity event to ask him about Manhunt 2, whether the Wii controller makes a difference, and the games versus movies ratings debate.

If Its Games UK: Can you tell us a little about the decision to ban Manhunt 2?

Jim Cliff: This is going to sound like a cop-out, but I can’t talk about it because it’s under appeal. You know they submitted a modified version and had that been passed, then obviously I would have been able to but I can’t right now as it stands. Sorry!

IIGUK: When is the appeal likely to finish?

JC: Sometime next year, I really don’t know specifics unfortunately.

IIGUK: Why does it take so long?

JC: There’s a lot of people to get involved and talk to and talk about it to.

IIGUK: How do you defend the decision when faced with the fact that movies like Hostel have been released with 18 certificates?

JC: If the majority of Hostel was the same as some of the most violent scenes in it, it’s entirely possible it could have been banned. But it’s not. Most of the running time isn’t violence, that’s mainly crammed into a few short scenes. Also, in Hostel you are very much required to identify with the victims more than in most games.

IIGUK: So I’m just going to ask you some questions about Manhunt 2, you might be able to answer them, you might not. If you can’t, just say, “I can’t.” Everyon