The Federal Trade Commission report earlier this month accusing video and computer game manufacturers of marketing adult titles to children took some potshots at easy targets, failed to tackle at least one important practical question, and conveniently avoided placing blame on some guilty parties - all in the quest to protect kids from games that are excessively violent. Read the story here.

If you are just joining this debate, it helps to know that video games have ratings similar to movies, including an ``M'' rating for mature audiences, which is supposed to mean the game has material inappropriate for anyone under 17. The labels on the packaging and in advertisements also explain which elements (such as graphic violence or sexual content) have contributed to a restrictive rating.

Electronic Arts has announced an agreement with techno DJ artist, Moby, to provide the lead track in the soon to be released EA FIFA 2001 Major League Soccer. FIFA 2001 MLS will feature an exclusive remix of the hit single "Bodyrock'' from Moby's Grammy nominated album PLAY. FIFA 2001 MLS will be available for the highly anticipated new PlayStation2 computer entertainment system in late November. Prior to that FIFA 2001 MLS will be available for the PlayStation console, PC-CD and later this winter for the Game Boy Color.
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FilePlanet is now mirroring the demo Cultures by THQ. With vibrant landscapes and colourful characters, maintain your civilization through effective resource management, prosperous trading, and discovery. Build a thriving economy and powerful military to lead your culture to success. Download the 63.4 MB file here.
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SportPlanet hosted site, the NHL Wishlist has the premier download for EA Sports' NHL 2001 demo [49.5 MB]. Based on their experiences with the final code of this game, it's much improved over last season and well worth the download!
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FAKKYou has announced a new mod for FAKK 2 called FAKK2CTF. It combines traditional Capture the Flag elements with FAKK2's weaponry and powerups. In the wake of Ritual's decision to release only singleplayer with the full game, a few of the FAKKing regulars took it upon themselves to put together some multiplayer. They've taken some cues from the Ritual team and are combining their efforts with the official multiplayer patch which is soon to come as well. Check out the mod details and screens here.
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Naomi2, the arcade system developed by Sega and based on PowerVR graphics technology, debuts at the 38th Amusement Machine Show in Tokyo. Naomi2 is the next generation graphics architecture for arcade systems incorporating technologies designed by PowerVR Technologies - a division of Imagination Technologies - as part of the continuing partnership between Sega, NEC Corporation, and Imagination Technologies. Sega is already using the system for the development of the next generation of arcade titles, and some of these outstanding game images will be demonstrated at the Amusement Machine Show.

Naomi2 is based on the PowerVR architecture and also incorporates an advanced PowerVR co-processing engine for great game dynamics and full hardware geometry transformation and lighting (T&L), which reduces the CPU load to 1/10th, as well as direct and efficient support for use of multiple PowerVR rendering processors for super high performance and outstanding image quality.

Inside Naomi2: Naomi2 is a highly optimized parallel rendering architecture featuring twin PowerVR rendering engines, using adaptive load balancing across the dual engine and a full hardware Geometry Transformation and Lighting processor. With no-penalty for up to six fully featured lights Naomi2 can provide 10M triangles/sec sustained throughput in real gaming applications. Naomi2 also features combined dynamic and static model processing, multiple light type support (ambient, parallel, point and spot), hardware Z clipping, offscreen and backface culling, hardware bump mapping, and hardware environmental mapping support.
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You are a hitman, and it is your job - no, your life, to kill. With weapons ranging from machineguns to sniper rifles to piano wires, you are alive to get your job done. Sound like a cool game? Head on over to Fileplanet to grab the Hitman: Codeman 47 Demo [44.9 MB].For more details on Hitman, check out the Hitman interview recently posted here at Sharky Games.
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