You can catch all the news at GamePolitics.com.
Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate Grand Theft Auto IV
A story receiving widespread media play this morning details the arrest of a 19-year-old Thai man who allegedly robbed and murdered a Bangkok cab driver. According to police sources, Polwat Chino told investigators he was re-enacting a scene from Grand Theft Auto IV.
Reuters reports that GTA IV has been removed from retail shelves and arcades (we're assuming that in Thailand players can play console games for a fee).
Report: Fallout 3 Un-banned for Australia following Drug Edits
GamerChip is reporting that the Australian government's ban on Fallout 3 has been lifted following edits to the game for the Australian market.
Head of Aussie Game Developer Group Slams Govt. over Ratings Issue
Australia's lack of a rating beyond 15+ continues to be a political issue. Adult gamers want to be able to enjoy games with complex themes and Australian game developers want to make them. However, as we've reported on GamePolitics, the government hasn't gotten on board.
Xbox Game Developer a Victim of Domestic Violence Slaying
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer details the murder of Xbox 360 developer Melissa Batten, 36, shot to death by her estranged husband before he took his own life on July 29th.
German Video Game Laws Explained
At GamePolitics, our coverage of political developments related to video games typically focuses on the United States, the U.K., Canada and Australia. One reason is that there is a lot happening in those places. Another is that, sadly, we have no fluency in other languages.
In Germany, Game Ratings Bulk Up
If the entire front cover of a video game box was covered by an age rating, do you think parents might notice?
A post over at GoNintendo shows what might be a new trend of plus-sized game ratings in Germany. An illustration at GoNintendo shows poor SpongeBob mostly obscured by the game's USK (Germany's software rating organization) rating.
Canadian Copyright Lawyer Debates ESA VP Over Mod Chips & more
As GamePolitics has reported in the past, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which represents the interests of US game publishers, is backing a proposal to bring tougher, DMCA-syle copyright laws to Canada.
Along those lines, GP just picked up on this video of a May, 2008 TV debate on the issue between ESA VP Stevan Mitchell and Howard Knopf, a Canadian attorney. Mitchell is specifically worried about mod chips. He holds one aloft during the program.
Is Your ISP Violating Net Neutrality? Use Free Tool to Check
Worried that your ISP is choking your bandwidth?
Then jump over to the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The EFF has released Switzerland, a free tool with which users can "test the integrity" of their Internet connection.
Texas Awards First Grant to Game Developer
Last month Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) keynoted E3 2008, where he touted the Lone Star State as a destination for game developers.
Today, developer Pixel Mine issued a press release announcing that its newly released PC title Fireteam Reloaded is the first game to receive a production grant under an incentive bill passed in 2007.
Violent, Crazy Grownups Run Amok This Week
What is training the grownups to kill this week?
Obama & McCain Square Off in Soul Calibur 4
The 2008 presidential campaign is getting ugly, what with a John McCain TV spot that paints Barack Obama as a celebrity lightweight in the grand tradition of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton and the Obama campaign fighting back with sharp words about McCain.
Given the nasty political climate, Darren Gladstone of PC World (who clearly has too much time on his hands) decided to use Soul Calibur 4's custom character creator to let martial arts versions of the prez candidates go mano-a-mano.
Final Fantasy XI Cancellation Woes Conjure Up New Law in Illinois
A consumer's difficulty in canceling a Final Fantasy XI account has led to a new Illinois law which mandates that MMO providers make an online cancellation option available. Companies are also required to provide online instructions on how to cancel.
Video Game Ban for Girls Who Trashed Chick-fil-A Millionaire's Home
Two girls accused of trashing the New Smyrna Beach, Florida home of Chick-fil-A restaurant chain founder S. Truett Cathy will be banned from video games as part of their punishment.
The girls, who caused $30,000 in damage are also banned from watching TV, must read a good book and complete a writing assignment.
Judge Pops a Cap in Hot Coffee Class-Action Settlement
So you handled all the killing and thuggery in GTA San Andreas but found yourself traumatized by the hidden, pixelated sex?
Don't spend your Hot Coffee lawsuit settlement money just yet.
Conservative Pundit: GTA IV Makes War on Middle-class Values
When last we visited the conservative-themed Townhall.com, blogger Kevin McCullough was claiming that Mass Effect featured customizable sodomy. McCullough's comments (since deleted) were apparently noticed by Fox News, which led to the even more memorable Cooper Lawrence debacle.
Townhall.com has jumped back into the game-bashing business with a post by blogger-author-movie critic Michael Medved who asserts that Grand Theft Auto IV is making war on middle-class values. Whatever they are...
Sega Boss Slams EA over Take-Two Bid
Sega of America CEO Simon Jeffrey has issued a bit of a spanking to his counterparts at Electronic Arts over their handling of the never-ending Take-Two takeover bid.
NFL Great Jim Brown Sues Sony, EA over Madden
Forget about LaDainian Tomlinson. Longtime NFL watchers still maintain that Jim Brown is the best running back to ever play the game.
And now Brown is suing EA and Sony over what he says is the inclusion of his likeness in EA's best-selling Madden series.
MSNBC's Citizen Gamer Dishes on Controversial Indie Games
In a terrific roundup, Winda Benedetti, MSNBC's Citizen Gamer, surveys some of the more controversial independent game offerings and asks whether such games are an appropriate medium for sensitive topics.
Scrabulous Returns to Facebook as Wordscraper
Earlier this week Hasbro DMCA'd Scrabulous right off of Facebook.
But the popular Scrabble knockoff has returned with a new name - Wordscraper - and a slightly new look.
Game Biz Guru: Bioshock 2 Next to be Banned in UK?
Video game industry consultant Vincent Scheurer, speaking the Develop conference in Brighton, warned that future game bans were possible in the UK.
Spore + Porn = Sporn
Will Wright's Spore, due for a September 7th release, is one of most anticipated PC titles ever.
But, as CNN reports, some users of the Creature Creator utility, released last month, have built animals which are apparently intent on breeding.
Time Looks at Beer Pong Controversy
Unless they've been playing too much real-life beer pong, GamePolitics readers will likely recall the recent flap over the Wii-ware title formerly known as Beer Pong.
Despite ELSPA Denials, British Govt. Gives Ratings Nod to BBFC
Some rather curious developments out of the U.K. yesterday...
ESA Annual Report: Game Industry Policy to "Push Back" Against Fair Use
The ESA's 2008 Annual Report indicates that the video game industry hopes to uphold the controversial Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) against critics who claim that it restricts Fair Use of copyrighted material.
ESA Annual Report Details Video Game Legislation
The ESA, which represents North American video game publishers, has released its 2008 Annual Report.
Lone NY Senator to Vote Against Video Game Law Explains Why to GP Reader
As GamePolitics reported last month, Sen. Thomas Duane (D) was the lone member of the New York State Senate to vote against a video game bill that was eventually signed into law by Gov. David Paterson. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Lanza (R) was approved by a 61-1 margin in the New York Senate.
