According to an article in the Vancouver Sun, the Attorney General's Ministry of Victoria, British Columbia has rated Raven Software's Soldier of Fortune game as "Mature." This "Mature" isn't the same as the ESRB's "Mature" rating as the Canadian "Mature" can only be sold with other "Mature" subject matter like, you know, hard core pornography. Basically, this means that the video game can only be sold in sections where children are forbidden. Like porn stores and porn sections of video stores.

Obviously children should be protected from the game's content. But protecting them from the box seems a little extreme to me. I can see it now, a parent goes in to buy his son Soldier of Fortune, and walks away with a "whim purchase" copy of Anal Intruder XII in tow.

Anyway, since it occurred in Canada it really doesn't make much of a difference, which is probably why Raven and Activision have declined to comment on the story.

US and Viet Nam Sign Historic Trade Pact: Finally we'll get to play all those cool Vietnamese computer games we've been missing out on all these years. Too bad they're all Macintosh games.
Arafat & Barak 'Grappling with Core Issues' at Camp David Summit: Barak is ahead 19 frags to Arafat's mere 14 on Unreal Tournament's Koos Galleon map.
Hubble Telescope Watches As Star Demolishes its Surroundings: Distant star employs a dreaded Zerg rush on nearby celestial bodies.
Monday Night Football Hires Dennis Miller: Snarky referential comedian replaces John Madden for EA Sports' Madden '00: "Hey Punchy, that running back there is moving to the far right faster than Rush Limbaugh at the Democratic National Convention." Miller on MNF? Sounds awful. But then again, I could be wrong.

Time-Warner Incorporated is reportedly suing Havas Interactive and therefore Sierra Online for trademark infringement. It seems the Sierra Virtual Makeover program iStyle has a logo that looks a little bit too similar to the magazine InStyle. This makes sense; it's very likely I'd get a fashion magazine and a piece of software marketed at girls confused. Wouldn't you?

In an interview with Stomped.com industry whack-job and first rate artist Paul Steed revealed that he's working with fellow ex-id Software employee American McGee on the upcoming Alice in Wonderland shooter. After that, Steed plans on opening up a design studio that will create single-player first person shooters. That studio is to be called Pummel Studios. An apt name because pummeling is what reviewers will likely do to his first, second and third games.