#ESRB Rating System

[leaslichoma]

This scene from the 1992 videogame Night Trap was brought up in a senate hearing as supposedly promoting violence against women. This senate hearing later led to the creation of the ESRB. Night Trap was among the first video games to receive an 'M' rating. Do you think it really deserved it?

[sl33py-g4m3r]

curiosity go brrr

specifically about video games rating systems; and who has the most strict guidelines for things…

tho comparing ratings across different regions is kind of neat to see the overlap and also see how things are different depending on where you are.

all this interest simply because of ‘slime rancher: plortable edition’

In the US and Canada for some reason it’s E10+ based on the ESRB… in Europe and where PEGI is used it’s 3+ and idk what it’s rated elsewhere. Probably also 3+ Australia it’s G for general audiences.

but why is it 10+ in the US and Canada? Or wherever else the ESRB is used? Tho I’d assume that’s us and Canada exclusively tbh…

who’s stricter on stuff in this regard? It’s interesting to see all the different regulations and systems that define what can or can’t be shown to what group.

but my initial question still remains~~ why is slime rancher rated E10+ here and elsewhere is like the all ages rating?

I’m curious and don’t get it~~ dragged into an interest of video game and movie regulations just to answer one question, lol. Now I’ve got so many more~~

Who’s are the strictest? Or most lax? Surely they help, or do they aid more in censorship more than anything? How did the systems come about in the first place?

hope the game runs smoothly on the switch~~ picked up the European version off Amazon I think; but the switch isn’t region locked so that’s shouldn’t be a problem ~~ wonder if that one was the only physical version for the switch?

checked rating on the e-shop and was surprised that it was higher rated here~~? Sparking the interest ~~

y tho? Are we stricter over here or something?

[ranchstoryblog]

PRESS RELEASE: Settle in for a New STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar Trailer from Marvelous USA, Showcasing the Charms of Cozy Living in Zephyr Town

Following its debut on the Wholesome Direct livestream, Marvelous USA has shared a cozy new trailer for STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar, the next installment in the beloved farming/life sim series coming to the Nintendo Switch™ 2 system, Nintendo Switch™ system, and Windows PC via Steam on Aug. 27. In the latest trailer, Mayor Felix takes residents on a virtual tour of their new life in Zephyr Town where they’ll grow crops and tend to their good-natured farm animals, befriend the townsfolk, and experience the excitement of Bazaar Day where local sprites can join in to help sell, sell, sell! Whether socializing with good neighbors, enjoying a quiet afternoon fishing alone, or selling goods at the bazaar, every day in Zephyr Town is a cozy one.

Zephyr Town’s bazaar was once one of the grandest in the world, drawing customers and peddlers from all four corners of the globe. These days, though, the bazaar has more tumbleweeds than customers. It’s up to Zephyr Town’s newest resident to turn its fortunes around! Players will raise animals, harvest crops, craft rare delicacies, then sell wares at their very own stall in the bazaar. As the bazaar business grows, new goods and services will arrive, which players can use to improve their farm. Help return prosperity to the bazaar, settle down for a cozy life and start a family, and Zephyr Town is sure to thrive once again!

Inspired by the classic handheld title, the new STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar builds up and improves on the original in every conceivable way. The world is bigger and more alive than ever thanks to incredible new visuals, new characters, an expanded story, and full character voice work in story events—a series first. Take advantage of Zephyr Town’s unique weather, using the wind to make travel and farm tasks a breeze! The winds of change are coming to deliver a new life in STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar.

STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar is available for pre-order through the Marvelous USA Online Store on Nintendo Switch™ and Nintendo Switch™ 2 in a standard physical edition for an MSRP of $49.99/$59.99, and a physical Premium Edition including a copy of STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar, an adorable plush Suffolk sheep, a cloth poster, a physical art book with over 115 pages of cozy art, and an original two-disc CD soundtrack, for an MSRP of $69.99/$79.99. The title will also be available digitally on Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch™, Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch™ 2, and Windows PC via Steam, and is available for pre-purchase on Nintendo platforms. The digital standard edition, which includes the game and the “Cow Set” DLC, will be $49.99 on Nintendo Switch™ and Windows PC, and $59.99 on Nintendo Switch™ 2. A Digital Deluxe Edition, which includes the “Cow Set” and “Trunk of Transformation” DLC, will be available for $59.98 on Nintendo Switch and PC; and a Super Digital Deluxe Edition, which includes the Digital Deluxe contents plus a digital art book and soundtrack, will be available for $69.98 on Nintendo Switch and PC. Players can also purchase the “Trunk of Transformation Bundle” DLC separately beginning at launch for $9.99. Nintendo Switch™ 2 players can also upgrade with the “Trunk of Transformation” DLC for $9.99, or a “Super Digital Deluxe” DLC set containing the “Trunk of Transformation” DLC, a digital soundtrack, and digital art book for $19.99.

Developed by Marvelous and published in the Americas by Marvelous USA, STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar will launch for Nintendo Switch™ 2, Nintendo Switch™, and Windows PC via Steam on Aug. 27, 2025. The title will be published in Asia by Marvelous Inc., and in Europe by Marvelous Europe. This title is rated “E for Everyone” by the ESRB.

For more information about STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar, visit the official site at https://www.storyofseasons.com/grandbazaar/, and follow the series on X and Bluesky.

Information about Marvelous USA’s products can be found at www.marvelous-usa.com. Fans can also check out the latest videos from the Marvelous family of titles on YouTube and get updates by following on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Bluesky.

--------------

Marvelous Europe press release:

Following its debut on the Wholesome Direct livestream, Marvelous Europe has shared a cozy new trailer for STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar, the next installment in the beloved farming/life sim series coming to the Nintendo Switch™ 2 system, Nintendo Switch™ system, and Windows PC via Steam on August 27. 

In the latest trailer, Mayor Felix takes residents on a virtual tour of their new life in Zephyr Town where they’ll grow crops and tend to their good-natured  farm animals, befriend the townsfolk, and experience the excitement of Bazaar Day where local sprites can join in to help sell, sell, sell! Whether socializing with good neighbors, enjoying a quiet afternoon fishing alone, or selling goods at the bazaar, every day in Zephyr Town is a cozy one.

Zephyr Town’s bazaar was once one of the grandest in the world, drawing customers and peddlers from all four corners of the globe. These days, though, the bazaar has more tumbleweeds than customers. It’s up to Zephyr Town’s newest resident to turn its fortunes around! Players will raise animals, harvest crops, craft rare delicacies, then sell wares at their very own stall in the bazaar. As the bazaar business grows, new goods and services will arrive, which players can use to improve their farm. Help return prosperity to the bazaar, settle down for a cozy life and start a family, and Zephyr Town is sure to thrive once again! 

Inspired by the classic handheld title, the new STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar builds up and improves on the original in every conceivable way. The world is bigger and more alive than ever thanks to incredible new visuals, new characters, an expanded story, and full character voice work in story events—a series first. Take advantage of Zephyr Town’s unique weather, using the wind to make travel and farm tasks a breeze! The winds of change are coming to deliver a new life in STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar.

STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar will be available on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 in a standard physical edition for an RRP of €49.99/€59,99, and a physical Limited Edition including a copy of STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar, an adorable plush Suffolk sheep, a poster, a physical art book with over 115 pages of cozy art, and an original soundtrack CD, for an RRP of €69.99/€79.99.

The title will also be available digitally on Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2 and Windows PC via Steam. The standard edition, which includes the game and the “Cow Set” DLC will be €49.99 on Nintendo Switch and PC and €59.99 on Nintendo Switch 2. A Digital Deluxe edition, which includes the game, the “Cow Set” DLC, and the “Trunk of Transformation” DLC will be available on Nintendo Switch and PC for €59.98; and a Super Digital Deluxe edition, which includes the game, the “Cow Set” DLC, the “Trunk of Transformation” DLC, a digital soundtrack, and a digital art book will be available on Nintendo Switch and PC for €69.99. Players can also purchase the “Trunk of Transformation Bundle” DLC separately beginning at launch for €9.99.Nintendo Switch 2 players can also upgrade with the “Trunk of Transformation” DLC for €9.99 or a “Super Digital Deluxe” DLC set containing the “Trunk of Transformation” DLC, a digital soundtrack, and digital art book for €19.99.

More information about STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar can be found at: https://marvelousgames.com/games/story-of-seasons-grand-bazaar and follow the series on X and Bluesky.

For more information regarding Marvelous Europe, please visit the official website, or follow @MarvelousEurope on BlueSky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube.

[l-1-z-a]

🎨 Unused Personalization Styles in The Sims 2: Analysis of Hidden Customization Mechanics by Perpexity AI Deep Research

Perpexity AI Deep Research generated a really interesting research about the list of strings "unused - Personal styles" . And I want to share it.

List documented on The Cutting Room Floor:

The development of The Sims 2 involved extensive experimentation with gameplay mechanics, many of which remain as code artifacts. The table with identifier 0x000000D2, containing categories like Natural, Romantic, Dramatic, Classical, Eclectic, and Trailer Park, represents a fragment of an unfinished personalization system that could have revolutionized character and environment customization[1][2].

Evolution of the Style System During Development

Origins of the Concept

During early development, Maxis experimented with a multidimensional trait system that expanded beyond core personality parameters. Internal game files suggest that Personal Styles were intended to complement existing Aspirations and Turn-Ons/Turn-Offs, dynamically generating Sims' preferences for clothing, decor, and social interactions[2]. Unlike the final implementation, where players manually select aesthetics, the original design proposed automated style-based preference generation.

Technical Implementation

Analysis of string identifiers (0x7FE59FD0) and data structures reveals that the style system was deeply integrated into the game’s core architecture. Each style included:

- Unique object interaction animations

- Predefined color palettes for Create-A-Sim (CAS)

- Architecture generation algorithms for Build Mode

- Behavioral patterns for social dynamics[2]

Connection to Other Cut Features

These styles intersected with the scrapped Neighborhood Aspirations system, where neighborhoods would gain thematic specializations (family-oriented, career-focused, etc.). Early builds suggest style choices for households could influence:

- Frequency of specific Townie types

- Availability of exclusive build-mode objects

- Unique random event generation[1]

Analysis of Style Categories

Natural

Focused on organic materials, linen clothing, and outdoor activities. Code references unused gardening animations and nature-related interactions[2].

Romantic

Emphasized Victorian architecture, lace textures, and increased frequency of romantic interactions. Unused dialogue includes poetic declarations of love[2].

Dramatic

Featured theatrical behaviors like exaggerated gestures and conflict-prone traits. Files contain unused stage props and harlequin costumes[1].

Classical

Inspired by Greco-Roman architecture with columns and mosaics. Elements later appeared in the University expansion[1].

Eclectic

Mixed historical eras and cultural motifs. Technical limitations in 2004 prevented implementation of dynamic object combinations[2].

Trailer Park

A controversial "lowbrow" aesthetic with rusted furniture and graffiti. Likely removed due to concerns about ESRB ratings and cultural sensitivity[1].

Reasons for Removal

Technical Constraints

Implementing dynamic styles required:

- Additional 512MB RAM

- High-resolution texture sets

- Complex asset prioritization systems[2]

Gameplay Balance Issues

Playtesting revealed that automated style generation:

- Limited creative freedom in CAS and Buy/Build Mode

- Clashed with Aspiration fulfillment mechanics

- Overcomplicated tutorials for new players[1]

Marketing Considerations

The Trailer Park style risked increasing the ESRB rating to Teen, which conflicted with EA’s family-friendly branding. Internal documents cite worries about reinforcing stereotypes[1].

Legacy in the Final Game

Elements of the scrapped system resurfaced in:

- The Hobbies & Interests system from FreeTime

- Neighborhood-specific Townie generation logic

- Hidden compatibility parameters for social interactions[2]

Conclusion

The 0x000000D2 style table exemplifies the developers’ ambitious vision that outpaced 2004-era hardware. While cut from the final release, these concepts laid the groundwork for later innovations, including The Sims 4’s Lifestyle system.

Citations:

[1] The Sims 2 Cut Content: Unreleased Features, Graphics & More! (YouTube)

[2] The Cutting Room Floor: The Sims (Windows)/Unused Behaviors/Sim Features

[modeus-the-misanthrope]

No, no, no, @mousathe14. No commenting inside the post. This is a public discourse.

I actually liked the majority of what I saw in the leak. Because we got to see more of their creative process. The stories were something that anyone could have seen, halfway through them being written, were not going to be usable. I am not upset by them trying to make pokemon mythology. I am upset that their manager didn't say, "Get to work on something we can actually put in the games. Or you are being sent home early, so we can call in a coder or a 3d modeler, instead."

When Gamefreak wants to act like doing anything other than recreating the same game, with terrible writing and plot twist villians included, is too difficult. Seeing how they allowed at least 1 writer to more or less waste time on a side project, I no longer have any sympathy. Or faith that them getting more time on Pokemon ZA, will make the games any better.

Because everyone seems to forget one tiny, but ever so crucial detail about Pokemon and the ESRB system....

THEY LITERALLY CUT THE GAME CORNER FROM REMAKES JUST TO KEEP THE AGE RATING DOWN!

In what alternate reality do yall live in, that ya think a story about kids mutilating pokemon for fun, only to have one of them rape her in revenge was ever something they could publish in a PG product?

[idergo]

Welcome to Rakuen,

After the earth (now known as Narak) was made uninhabitable from a radiation disaster thousands of years ago, humanity fled to the stars. Now living upon a mothership known as Rakuen, citizens live in a dystopian world masquerading as a Utopia. An AI known as Sibyl System runs cymatic scans on all inhabitants to assess citizens whether they're safe, a potential danger to society, or outright dangerous to society.

There are also space witches and non- who pilot mecha to search the universe; genetically modified SOLDIER who keep Rakuen safe; arena battlers for entertainment, and more. The story is what you make of it: SoL, action-based, other--?

Features,

• Read the wiki and join via the Google Forms, link provided below, • Only reviewed apps are player apps regarding themselves; character apps aren't reviewed, • Applications are almost entirely optional, • No need to wait for staff. Everything's autonomous: tracking threads, face claims, and even moving your own threads, • Use 3D anime-style art, or illustrated anime-style art as face claims/play-bys, • Create organisations, lineages, and lore by contributing to our members-only wiki, • No admins, just a game master like in DnD., • Rating ESRB Teen, though we're a 21+ group • An open, member-driven semi-private RP where there's no bullshit, no nonsense,

Fandoms included,

• Psycho-Pass • Ghost in the Shell • Cyberpunk 2077/Edgerunners • NieR: Automata • .hack//GU (The World in particular) • Final Fantasy VII • Final Fantasy XIV's Solution 9 • Gundam: Witch of Mercury • Knights of Sidonia • Chobits

How to Join,

• Visit our Rulebook; join link inside (google forms) • Site link & Discord invite given upon player app approval.

[dokidoki-digest]

Love Unholyc (Season One) ❤ Game Review

System: Phone Price: Freemium (Free to play with in-app purchases available, but not required) Voice Acting: Partial (Korean) ESRB Rating: T (13+) Overall Rating: Stole 7.5/10 ♥s  Pre-Game Perception: A game with a more dominant MC and her small harem of men. I guess dating in the modern world is going to be covered with some mystical aspects. Morning-After Reflection: Unconventional characters…

[sparklecareforrealjustice]

While I understand that kittycorn has the right to move the comic to 18+, when it comes to actual ratings I really feel like it would be pg-13/rated T. I’ve done a lot of research on rating systems and I’m very hyperfixated on it. So that’s why I feel this way (to clarify I am 20 years old.)

hey anon broski personally at this point does the rating really matter while the comic up to volume 4 could be 13+ in rating we simply dont know what is to come in future volumes (which what to come is why the 18+ rating) plus it could simply just be a case of kc is sick of interacting with minors (as often people will set their stuff to minors dni or 18+ only) so setting all her stuff up to 18+ gives her leeway and breathing room and considering the sex ending of v4 i believe that would be 17+/mature because it isnt suggestive but instead sexual content plus theres no say in the possible future of gore or violence (with prolongued scenes of violence and gore also being 18+) absolutely no offense to your hyperfixations of course hyperfixations are swaggy swagger 100 bro - uni

screenshots from the esrb site

[demifiendrsa]

Black Myth: Wukong - "Confront Destiny" Trailer

Game Science has opened pre-orders for action RPG Black Myth: Wukong, as well as announced that the Xbox Series X|S version has been delayed to an unannounced date. The PlayStation 5 and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store) versions will launch on August 20 as previously planned.

“We are currently optimizing the Xbox Series X|S version to meet our quality standards, so it won’t release simultaneously with the other platforms,” Game Science. “We apologize for the delay and aim to minimize the wait for Xbox users. We will announce the release date as soon as it meets our quality standards.”

Key visual

Stills

Latest details

Latest Trailer

The new Black Myth: Wukong CG trailer showcased the game’s development progress as well as a glimpse into The Destined One’s legendary journey and the formidable challenges that lie before him. In addition, the developer will host behind-closed-door demos at the Summer Game Fest Play Days private event from June 8 to 10. The latest efforts are aimed at providing audiences with a deeper look into the game’s mysterious and rich world and how players will experience a unique offering through the eyes of a powerful Chinese hero.

About the Game

Black Myth: Wukong combines rich storytelling with stunning visuals and a unique take on the action RPG formula. Players will explore a fascinating realm filled with the wonders and discoveries of ancient Chinese mythology, breathtaking landscapes, and a diverse cast of memorable characters based on the acclaimed novel Journey to the West. In addition to a precise and visually striking melee combat system using a staff, the Destined One can harness spells, transformations, and magic vessels as powerful tools in their arsenal against tenacious foes. Freely combine different spells, abilities, weapons, and equipment to find the winning strategy that best suits any combat style.

Editions

Black Myth: Wukong is set to launch worldwide on August 20, 2024, for PC and PlayStation 5.

The standard and deluxe editions will be available in North America for a MSRP of $59.99 and $69.99 respectively in digital format on PlayStation 5, and PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store). The Black Myth: Wukong physical Deluxe Edition and Collector’s Edition are available for pre-order for a MSRP of $169 and $399, respectively for PC. Note that a release date for the physical editions is pending.

Release timing for the Xbox Series X|S version will be disclosed at a later time. For pricing in other regions, please refer to the information listed on the designated regional storefront. This game has not yet been rated by the ESRB and is RP for Rating Pending.

[satoshi-mochida]

Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered International announced for PS5, PS4, and Switch - Gematsu

Red Art Games, in cooperation with Square Enix, has announced Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered International, a new edition of Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered with English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish localizations for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Switch. It will launch both physically and digitally in early 2025 in North America and Europe.

The physical edition will be available for PlayStation 5 and Switch in North America, and for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Switch in Europe. The standard edition will be available at multiple retailers at launch, while limited and collector’s editions will be exclusive to Video Games Plus in North America and RedArtGames.com in Europe.

Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered International will also be playable at Gamescom 2024, which will run from August 21 to 25 at Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany.

Get the details below.

■ Physical Special Editions

-Standard Edition

A copy of the game

Deluxe Edition (500 PEGI-rated copies per platform, RedArtGames.com-exclusive)

A copy of the game with a reversible cover

An exclusive sleeve with alternate cover art

A manual

A PVC keychain

Special Edition (500 ESRB-rated copies per platform, Video Games Plus-exclusive)

A copy of the game with a reversible cover

A PVC keychain

Collector’s Edition (1,000 PEGI-rated and 1,000 ESRB-rated copies per platform, RedArtGames.com-exclusive in Europe, Video Games Plus-exclusive in North America)

A copy of the game with a reversible cover

A box with retro-inspired cover art (Switch and PlayStation versions have different boxes)

A Steelcase

An artbook

A manual

Three postcards

■ Fact Sheet

About

The gods created man and man created stories. The primordial creator Marda brought forth the land of Mardias. In ages past a mighty battle rocked this land, when Elore, the king of the gods, fought three malicious deities: Death, Saruin and Schirach. After a long and drawn-out struggle, Death and Schirach were sealed away and rendered powerless, with the final deity Saruin also trapped through the power of the Fatestones and the noble sacrifice of the hero Mirsa. Now 1,000 years have passed since that titanic battle. The Fatestones lie scattered across the world and the gods of evil are resurgent once more. Eight heroes set off on their own journeys, as if guided by the hand of fate. What tales will these adventurers weave across the vast tapestry of Mardias? You are the only one who can decide! The original Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song included many of the SaGa series trademark elements, such as the Glimmer and Combo mechanics and was considered to be the epitome of the series when it first released. The free scenario system that lets you create your own storyline remains at the core of the game, letting you select one of eight protagonists with completely different origins and backstories, then set off on a unique journey. This remastered edition has evolved in all areas, featuring upgraded high-definition graphics and numerous enhancements to improve playability. And for the first time ever, the game will be fully playable in French, German, Italian, and Spanish. This makes it highly recommended for both fans of the original and newcomers to the SaGa series.

Key Features

Brand new localization in French, German, Italian, and Spanish. (English also included.)

Full high-definition graphical update.

Schiele, Marina, Monica, and Flammar can now be recruited.

Enhanced and more difficult bosses.

High speed mode.

Mini Maps.

New Game+ mode.

■ Staff Comments

Akitoshi Kawazu, SaGa Series General Director

“With the support of Red Art Games, we’re now able to release a new version of Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered that includes localization into French, German, Italian, and Spanish languages. We are finally able to grant this desire of our loyal fans! We know there’s a big SaGa fanbase and community in the west, so releasing a new localized edition of the game to more of our fans has long been a dream of mine. I hope to continue to fulfill the wishes of our fans, as well as creating opportunities for even more people to play the game.”

Masanori Ichikawa, SaGa Series Producer

“The opportunity for this release all began when Michael Binkowski (CEO, Red Art Games) and Romain Mahut (business development and communications manager, Red Art Games) contacted me directly. Thanks to them, a long-time dream of ours is coming true and I’m so grateful. From visiting the Red Art Games office in France to all the discussions we’ve had on this project, it’s been an amazing experience from start to finish, and I can’t wait for SaGa fans to get their hands on this beautiful game.”

Hiroyuki Miura, Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered Producer

“Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered International is a title that allows players to enjoy a great many of the characteristic mechanics of the SaGa series, including the Freeform Scenario system, Glimmer, and Combos. The addition of new localization into French, German, Italian, and Spanish is particularly impactful for the freeform scenario. Now, players globally will be able to experience the story on an even deeper level, in their native language. I’m excited for more people to discover the SaGa series thanks to the additional language support and the physical release of the game. I’m delighted to be partnering with Red Art Games on this collaboration.”

View a new set of screenshots and box arts at the gallery.

[z2z-gaming-and-random-art-ai]

Console Sports Games of 1994 - WWF Raw

WWF Raw is a professional wrestling game released across multiple platforms, including Game Boy, SNES, SEGA 32X, Game Gear, and Genesis. The game features a roster of 12 WWF superstars on most platforms, including legends like Bret "Hit Man" Hart, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Yokozuna, and Razor Ramon. However, the Game Gear version has 10 wrestlers, and the Game Boy version includes 8.

Each platform has slight variations, but the gameplay is primarily focused on reducing the opponent's stamina to achieve victory. It was developed by Realtime Associates Seattle Division and Sculptured Software, Inc., and published by LJN, Ltd. and Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. across different systems.

Features

• Released: 1994 on SNES & SEGA 32x • Developers/Publishers: Sculptured Software/LJN & Acclaim • Genre: Sports • Sub-Genre: Wrestling • Modes: 1-2 Players • Perspective: Diagonal-down/Side • Age Rating: ESRB Rating - Kids to Adults • Moby Score: 6.9 • GameFAQs User Rating: 3.51 (SNES) 3.55 (SEGA 32x)

1. Intro 00:00 2. Gameplay 00:15 3. Outro 10:42

Don't forget to like or dislike, and share – all feedback is very helpful. Also, subscribe for more video game and AI art-related content.

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For more sports game videos, check out the playlists below:

Console Sports Games of 1993 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJOZYl1h1CEhIf6hohng9T2IPLCpzn7o

Console Sports Games of 1994 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJOZYl1h1CGSF_AK734XDflipeUo8Dr9

[online-silkmoth]

My second favorite omori fun fact is that the entire reason humphrey's air conditioning line exists is that the ESRB, and american rating systems as a whole, rate media largely on their mentions of sex and/or whether they contain swearing.

So despite the fact that there's multiple instances of gore, it still would have gotten a T rating if it weren't for humphrey saying the word "fucking"

[ranchstoryblog]

PRESS RELEASE: Watch Harvest Goddess, Sakuna, Farm and Fight in Latest Trailer for Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, Showcasing Free DLC Ahead of June 5 Release

Rice is still power! Marvelous USA today released a new trailer showcasing the free ‘Sakuna DLC’ for Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma ahead of its release on the Nintendo Switch™ system, Windows PC via Steam, and as part of the launch lineup for the Nintendo Switch™ 2 system on June 5, 2025. Harvest Goddess Sakuna and her guardian Tama, from the Edelweiss-developed Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, will be available as a villager and party member when the title releases. Don’t be fooled by her diminutive size and choice of weapons, Sakuna has more experience fighting with farming implements than most warriors and is a capable companion on any adventure. Back at the village, don’t miss out on conversations with the Harvest Goddess featuring all-new voice over. Plus, Sakuna and Tama can assist with village tasks, including farming her specialty, rice!

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Key Features:

Bold New Abilities and Weapons: As an Earth Dancer, use the power of dance, sacred treasures, and fresh weapons like the Bow and Talisman to purify the land, farm, and undo the Blight’s damage.

It Takes a Village: Don’t just mind the farm—rebuild entire villages! Construct and place buildings strategically to entice people to return to the villages and contribute. Revive the gods to bring vitality and valuable resources back to the plagued lands. Work in third person view or use a top-down view supporting mouse functionality on Windows PC and on Nintendo Switch™ 2 with the Joy-Con™ 2.

Your Fantasy Japanese Life: Experience beautiful Japanese-inspired character designs and aesthetics—from festivals to events to monsters. Explore Azuma’s natural landscapes and its seasonal-themed locales steeped in tradition.

Classic Romance and Relationships: Choose between male and female protagonists, then befriend or romance any of the eligible candidates—god and mortal alike—in fully voiced scenarios. Recruit these new friends to aid in dynamic battles, too!

The Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma physical edition for the Nintendo Switch™ 2 version is available for pre-order for an MSRP of $69.99. Physical editions for Nintendo Switch are also currently available for pre-order with both the standard edition for an MSRP of $59.99, and the “Earth Dancer Edition,” for an MSRP of $99.99, through participating retailers and via the Marvelous USA Online Store. The “Earth Dancer Accessory Set,” which includes an original soundtrack consisting of 56 tracks across two CDs, a 160-page art book, an Azuma-inspired folding fan, and a plush Woolby keychain in a custom outer box will also be available in the U.S. exclusively on the Marvelous USA Online Store for $49.99.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is available for pre-purchase on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch™ in a standard edition for $59.99; a Digital Deluxe edition for $69.98; and as a Super Digital Deluxe edition for $79.98. The Nintendo Switch™ version can be updated to the Nintendo Switch™ 2 version digitally with the Upgrade Pack for $10.00, and the Nintendo Switch™ 2 version is available for pre-purchase digitally for $69.99. The title will also be available at launch on Windows PC via Steam for $59.99 for the standard edition, $69.98 for the Digital Deluxe edition, and $79.98 for the Super Digital Deluxe Edition, each containing the same content as the Nintendo Switch™ versions.

Developed by Marvelous and published in the Americas by Marvelous USA, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma will be released globally on the Nintendo Switch™ 2, Nintendo Switch™, and Windows PC via Steam on June 5, 2025. The title will be published in Japan by Marvelous Inc. and in Europe by Marvelous Europe. More information can be found on the official website, https://na.runefactory.com/azuma/, and on X @RuneFactory. This title has been rated “T for Teen” by the ESRB.

Information about Marvelous USA’s products can be found at www.marvelous-usa.com. Fans can also check out the latest videos from the Marvelous family of titles on YouTube and get updates by following Marvelous USA on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Bluesky.

[beevean]

The moral outrage over an AU of Sonic being tortured in captivity will always be dumb as shit. All of the marketing and promotional stuff surrounding Forces was showing the then-upcoming game as a more serious and darker story. But certain people are shocked to see other fans jumping right at something the game and promotional material was handing to them silver platter.

That would be like having a conniption from seeing a character like Erazor Djinn, a canonical abuser, being portrayed doing just as bad, if not worse than the shit he pulled in his respective game.

I really wouldn't put it past them to go more into the nitty-gritty of the darker elements in the series, if the Sonic franchise as a whole wasn't primarily aimed at a child demographic. Just look at what they did in Shadow's game with it just having the E10+ rating(which had just been implemented into ESRB rating system earlier that year).

Fun fact: I still have saved in my drafts a response to a post I found way back then (I will never publish it for obvious reasons, but I needed to vent lmao), and this part always fascinated me.

The fact that there are people who think that torturing Sonic for the sake of “story,” is okay - well it’s unnerving to me, and I don’t think anyone should willingly desire to make such a thing. Moreover, that there are adults participating in the content.

"It's unnerving to me, and I don’t think anyone should willingly desire to make such a thing". I love it. Pure anti logic distilled in one singular sentence. Art.

"There are adults participating in the content" is another good line. This implies that the issue is that the Encaged AU was written by an adult, and not a teen. The rest of the post is basically all about how Sonic is for children, therefore the adults in the fandom should always be mindful of the children.

I know that joking about Maria's death is now beating a dead horse, but yeah the series has had as a plot point the murder of a young girl that drove her grandfather to planet-destroying madness. If children can handle SA2 and ShTH (which in Europe had a 12+ rating, so higher than the usual 7+ but not exactly adult), or even '06 with Sonic dying in the Last Story, they can handle the presence of a vaguely grimdark AU.

[howlingday]

Yang: In 1994, the video game industry was revolutionized by the ESRB rating system, but I'm about revolutionize it even further!

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Yang: Ladies and gentlemen of the ESRB rating board, I am about to revolutionize gaming as we know it with my new game; @$$%%#%&#$&%@^^#$^%##%^@$&!

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Yang: ...You know, even though they threw stuff, I think it was the crying that was really rude.

[four-loose-screws]

(Apologies in advance for the long ask, there was just a lot I had to say on this topic, and wanted to present my case as throughly as possible)

Hello there, first I just want to say thank you for all the hard work you do, I and no doubt many others truly appreciate it. Anyway, I saw your translation regarding Etie and Goldmary’s support conversations and it reminded me of a personal theory regarding it that I’ve had for some time. When I first heard of the differences between the Japanese and English conversations, one thing that came to my mind was a somewhat similar conversation that was also changed for presumably similar reasons, that being Tharja and Nowi’s Harvest Scarmble conversation in Awakening. Basically that conversation initially had Nowi admiring Tharja’s, umm … “boingy bits” but was changed to Nowi admiring her hair instead. Now this change was only made in the EU version while the NA version kept the “boingy bits” part intact, and the more I’ve learned about how rating systems in different regions tend to operate, I’ve begun to noticed certain patterns. In this case when it comes to places like Australia, they can be extremely strict when it comes to any sort of sexual content particularly when it involves younger looking characters, which in the case of Nowi is very evident thus offering a possible explanation for why that particular conversation in Awakening had to be changed. The reason I bring up Australia in particular, is that if you’re not aware they have quite the history of editing games and even refusing releases for all sorts of reasons, including the aforementioned “sexual content with younger looking characters”. If you want more information, here’s a link to the Wikipedia article that goes more into it with some examples: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banned_video_games_in_Australia

So what does all of this have to do with this conversation in particular you may ask? Well perhaps due to Etie being 17 there was some concern if this conversation could place them into a similar issue. Now yes the ages are strictly resorted to the data files of the game and whether Etie in particular looks young enough to raise some flags is debatable (especially since she’s not in the same camp as a Nowi per say), but the fact that it’s at all present in the game to some capacity might be enough to err on the side of caution, and even if that wasn’t an issue I still think it’s possible that it could potentially raise the game rating up in some part of the world or worse get the game refused for classification, since it appears that even T (ESRB) or 12+ (PEGI) games aren’t exempt from the latter. And as a result of the change, it had a knock on effect to the B-Support as now the original wouldn’t exactly flow all that well into the revised A-Support, essentially keeping the overall theme of the conversation as close as possible within the limitations. Of course this is purely speculation, as far as I know I could be totally wrong on this but I do find the discrepancy between the aforementioned Tharja and Nowi conversation to be worth bringing up. Perhaps the reason why both NA and EU received the same conversation is that since it’s now fully voiced, they didn’t want to go through the trouble of making an alternative and since NOA and NOE in recent years have more or less unified to have the same English script everywhere in contrast with previous generations where both of them would do their own thing, possibly as a result of games typically coming out on the same day everywhere now.

Personally I like to believe that the issue that the team ran into was the A Support for all the reasons listed above and thus had a knock-on effect to the B Support to make it flow better, as I don’t think they would’ve changed that on its own, maybe they would’ve reworded some things but otherwise keep it relatively close, especially since some other “spicy” stuff like Goldmary undressing in her support with Framme was kept intact, but perhaps the A-Support could’ve be seen as pushing it when it came to getting a higher age rating or worse banned. It’s tough to say since unless someone who worked on the localization ever talks about this, all we can do is speculate and unless something else comes up, this sounds the most plausible to me with my understanding of ratings and how it can affect localizations. But what do you think, have you ever ran into something that made you consider the possibility of tightroping rating boards, whether it be the ESRB or elsewhere, I’m really interested in hearing what you have to say. Once again thank you for all your hard work and I hope you have a great day.

This is great speculation, everyone please enjoy a good read! I don't have too much to add, but here goes!

I didn't think too much into why exactly Etie and Goldmary's supports were rewritten, just had some vague ideas like "them fighting over who's more attractive to men wouldn't sit well with a general audience nowadays." If my thoughts are too speculative, sometimes I'll just choose to keep them to myself, lest the inevitable game of internet telephone turns my vague ideas into some sort of fact or something. It just happens sometimes.

I can't think of any other specific examples right away where the localization team might have had to tightrope rating boards, but I'm sure I've seen some examples in the past. It's just not an angle that tends to come to my mind when doing my original vs localization work.

Your thought that the Etie and Goldmary change was due to rating board guidelines makes a lot of sense, I don't know why I didn't think of that! Everything you say lines up with the general trends I've seen over the years. The Tharja and Nowi convo is a perfect parallel.

While I choose to focus on a USA perspective in my posts, of course, because that's the one I have, I to have read a bit online over the years about what's "too sexy" and "not too sexy" in the US vs. JP vs. Australia. Plus I made several Australian friends while teaching English in Japan, so I learned lots of bits and pieces of cultural differences from them. As a result, I've seen lots of little signs that show Australia was one of the first areas of the world to start to crack down really hard on sexualization of minors (both real and media characters), starting the global ripple affect we continue to see today.

And it's easy to prove that English language localizations are being more and more centralized, because, well, that one's easy - you just don't see differences between NOA and NOE, etc. scripts as much anymore. So that can mean localization teams have to pass multiple rating board "checks" at once.

Is this all for better or worse, that video games are becoming more of a melting pot to sell on a global scale? That rating boards can have such an influence over media? Well, that's hard to judge as a general concept. The answer is different case by case.

In my personal opinion on Etie & Goldmary's supports, I overall like the changes the localization team came up with. Whether the decision to make the changes was made internally or due to an outside influence like the rating boards, I think the team still carefully read the original conversation before making their changes. Even with entire lines rewritten, the general flow is still the same. Localizers can't always keep scripts the same detail to detail, but they can prove that they researched, cared for, and understood the game they were assigned to localize!

And that's generally what I have to say about that. Sorry its not a little more detailed!