EA up for another round

Electronic Arts announced the shipment of Fight Night Round 3 for Playstation 3 today. The Playstation 3 version has an exclusive mode called Get In The Ring, which allows players to experience the game through the first person perspective. This is now the second boxing game released this year to offer this feature, though Wii Sports boxing is obviously nowhere near as complex. Fight Night Round 3 takes the realism of boxing to an astonishing height with visuals and audio effects that truly recreate the brutal sensation of the sport from ear ringing and restricted vision to flashes of bright light, color shifts and blur effects that simulate the feeling of getting punched. Players can also play through an entire career of a boxing legend such as Muhammad Ali or go glove to glove with their friends online (depending on the version and an available Internet connection) or via split-screen using the unique first person mode. Players can also switch between the first person mode or play in the visually stunning third person perspective to mix up the fights.

Speaking of players going head to head against each other, H3Enterprises announced today that the game will be used for a “decisive match-up to determine console supremacy” at H3's Battle at the Apollo tomorrow afternoon. Viewers will be able to see the same two boxers (CyberAli vs. CyberFrazier) slugging it out side-by-side on the same H3TV monitor – one match being contested on XBOX 360, the other on PlayStation3. The features of each system will be compared by all participating players, and the audience will get an up-close view of each system’s imagery and graphics relative to the other. The judges for the event will include Adrian “Hollywood” Walton, along with HarlemHipHop heroes and fellow Diplomats, Juelz Santana and Jim Jones. Several surprise celebrity gamers will also participate in the competition and will be available for interviews. EA Sports Fight Night Round 3 for Playstation 3 is available for $59.99 USD/$69.99 CAD and is rated T for Teen.

Activision has some news for you

Activision announced the release of MTV's Pimp My Ride today. The racing and car customization game allows players to join Xzibit as they rip through Pimp City in their quest to transform broken down junkers, “hoopties” and (you can insert your own term here) into pimped out rides for pride and respect. Style skills are put to the ultimate test and completed cars are then raced in the streets to gain priceless bragging rights and credibility in their neighborhoods. Players can navigate free-roam environments, earning respect with flossed out rides in five unique boroughs such as New Wave Beach, Hip-Hop Heights and Downtown Metro. The game mixes tracks from Xzibit's most recently released CD with elements from Pimp My Ride, so his, or fans of the show, will probably enjoy this title. Pimp My Ride is now available for Playstation 2 for $39.99 USD/$49.99 CAD and will be releasing for Xbox 360 later this week for $49.99 USD. Both versions are rated Teen.

Activision has also been busy on another front, surveying parents. The company hired The Harrison Group to conduct a survey to help determine the awareness and influence of the ESRB rating system among video gamers and their parents as part of its Ratings are not a Game educational initiative. The survey found that parents overwhelmingly agree that the ESRB rating system is a highly effective and influential tool for determining what video games are appropriate for their children to play. Here are some of the key findings from the survey:

• Eighty-four percent of parents said they are very familiar with the ESRB ratings system, compared to 65 percent of children ages 8-17 who indicated the same.

• Nearly eighty percent of parents (79%) revealed that they pay close attention to the ESRB ratings on video games, especially those parents with children ages 8-12 (89%).

• More than two thirds of parents (68%) believe the ESRB ratings system is effective in helping them determine whether a specific game is appropriate for their child.

• A majority of parents (56%) cited a game’s ESRB rating as their top purchase influencer when considering whether to buy a video game for their children, more than any other factor.

• Parents said they actively research over half (52%) of all video games prior to approving purchase for their children – including reading game reviews/previews or visiting gaming websites.

The number of online interviews was only 1,014, but we're still not surprised that the numbers were so good. Many stores, at least in Canada, make sure that the ratings system is made known to their customers and some, like Toys'R'Us, will not sell M rated games to minors or to adults without letting them know both that a game is M rated and why. Thankfully, more people are becoming educated about the ESRB's ratings system and, hopefully, that trend will continue. For more information on the ESRB, you can check out www.ESRB.org .

Kirby squeaks back onto DS

The latest Kirby game for DS since Kirby Canvas Curse and, in fact, the only other Kirby game for the DS, released today. Kirby Squeak Squad will have p layers running, floating and fighting their way through eight worlds as Kirby, gobbling up enemies as they go. Thieving mice called the Squeaks have stolen Kirby's snack along with a ton of Dream Land treasures, so the pink powerhouse sets out after them, copying new skills as he goes. Kirby can inhale enemies and spit them out as stars, but the main game play comes from swallowing foes and copying their abilities, then using the abilities to defeat other foes and advance past obstacles. In each world, players hunt down small treasure chests, each of which holds unlockable bonuses like music tracks, Kirby colours, powered-up abilities or secret stages. They'll also find large chests, which are guarded by the Squeaks. When players find one, they must defeat the Squeak or run for the exit before it catches them. There are lots of special moves to collect along the way and the gameplay will keep players hooked for hours. Kirby Squeak Squad is available for Nintendo DS for $29.99 USD/$34.99 CAD and is rated E for Everyone.

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