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According to a memo forwarded to Next-Gen editors (by a mystery publisher) you can thank the ESRB’s recent policy change for putting the damper on one of your favorite hobbies — scouring their database for clues about games that publishers don’t want you to know about yet. Before, publishers had to cross their fingers that thesavvy Internet Matlocks among uswould somehow overlook their submissions to the ratings board. Now, online forms will have an embargo option for publishers to choose the date that a particular title is uploaded to the ESRB’s website....

In response tothe storyof the ESRB’s call for the removal of theDark Sectortrailer due to its “excessive or offensive content”, we got in touch with them for an explanation. While we got an e-mail back from them fairly quickly, a thorough explanation it unfortunately was not. Hit the jump for exactly what it said, and exactly why more information is needed for us to be satisfied over this one. The ESRB’s Advertising Review Council (ARC) regularly monitors game ads and trailers to make sure that they adhere to industry-adopted Principles and Guidelines for Responsible Advertising Practices ( http://www....

While you’re anxiously waiting for the launch of the Nintendo 3DS in your respective countries (10 days for me!), just about any related content will help quench some of that thirst. This new bit is lame, but somehow it does the trick for me. Your mileage may vary. A Japanese retailer has acquired some of the Nintendo 3DS game cases. It turns out that they’re eco-friendly, with holes in the plastic of the front and back covers, under where the game label goes, which lets Nintendo use less plastic per case....

We’ve seen neither hide nor hair of the actualFallout Onlinegame save for a few screens that arose from the court battle between Interplay and Bethesda, but we have seen the start ofsome viral campaignsfor the game. And now they’re getting even weirder. Members of the game’s emailer received an odd little pamphlet tempting them to become members ofThe Church of Harold. The Church claims that “Unlike other churches out there, we promise nothing....

Say what you want aboutFarmVille, but its players are good people. Some of them. The super popular Facebook game has a partnership with nonprofit organization FATEM, and they’re working together to build a school for children in Haiti, to replace the ones wrecked by the January earthquake. Zynga,FarmVille‘s maker, is donating 50% of all its Sweet Seeds for Haiti program to FATEM for the construction of Ecole du Choic, the School of Choice, in Mirebalais, Haiti....

Shonen Jumpis at it again. This time with info and images on a PSP remake of a game that some believe is better than sex,Final Fantasy Tactics. Not a direct port, the remake will feature at least one new job class, brand new illustrated full motion video, and will be presented in widescreen. Originally released on the Playstation in 1997,Final Fantasy Tacticswas a departure from the series, with its tactical roleplaying style, and a battle system that hadn’t been previously seen in the franchise....

Following this morning’s announcement ofFinal Fantasy XIII-2, there’s not a lot more information to go on, but we do have the very first screenshot, as well as some quality logo art. If that’s not enough for you, we have a trailer too, at least until Square Enix notices! The screen shows protagonist Lightning in a slightly more revealing garb than herFFXIIIattire, with figure-hugging body armor that wouldn’t look out of place in several Soho back-alley establishments....

Call of Duty: Black Opslaunched in North America just a few hours ago and already the first game-ravaging exploit has been discovered. Users have alreadyfound a wayto scam infinity Care Packages in the game’s multiplayer mode, thus keeping themselves stocked forever. Activision’s Dan Amrich has been asking players to submit bugs to Activision once discovered, as the evil publisher attempts to be proactive in fighting the inevitableCall of Dutyglitch onslaught. Well, here’s the first biggie, and it surely won’t be the last....

The debut episode ofAmerican McGee’s Grimmentitled “A Boy Learns What Fear Is” is available for download. As with each of the other 23 game episodes, it will be free for the first 24 hours, otherwise you’ll need to have a subscription to GameTap or $3.99 (per episode). Grimmhas been split up into 3 volumes, each containing 8 episodes. If you decide togive the game a goand like what you find, there will be a new episode waiting for you every Thursday....

I thought I’d share some great Flashes I found this past week. Especially on this really boring Sunday. Oh, the intro pic has nothing to do with flashyness. I just thought it was hilarious.Mario meets Pulp FictionMario Bob Omb Battle Part 2Dumbass Luigi (some great art in this)Episode 3: Super Mario Bros Z

Since I haven’t booted my Xbox 360 up yet today, I haven’t seen the glory that is the newdashboard update. From what I hear, it’s decent. Not super useful, and not really good or bad, just “decent.” Just in time for Facebook, Twitter, Last.FM, Netflix, Sky Player, Halo Waypoint and1 vs. 100, Microsoft is dishing out some free Xbox LIVE Weekends to let Silver members see what the fuss is about....

Today’s freebie offering is pretty much one of those “best of a bad lot” ones.Flying Brothersisn’t all that great, but my scouring has offered up little else of worth. You’re a guy swinging on ropes. Tap and release to make him swing. You get points for stuff. Sigh. Come back tomorrow for another disappointment. [Found a free App? Think it’s good?Hitting me up on Twitteris the fastest way to let me know about it....

Yeah, it’s basicallySpace Invaders. Invaders World Tourfeatures blocks of aliens that need to be shot before they reach the bottom and kill you. It’s about as original as a bald-headed space marine making love to a brooding Japanese man with a huge sword and floppy hair. It’s free though, so who’s complaining? If you missed it last time,Destroy9 – Alienis free again as well. Since I love the Destroy9 games, I thought I’d mention it....