Comic Book Reviews for 7/31/13

After seven epic years (and top placement on our Greatest Comic Runs of the Decade list), Grant Morrison's daring Batman saga has come to its end. DC Comics also released a bunch of new annuals this week, including Batman, Detective Comics, and The Flash.

At Marvel, Angela finally got her full integration into the Marvel Universe in the latest issue of Guardians of the Galaxy, while Daredevil continued to rock our socks and the Hulk attempted to fix the broken time stream.

We'll be adding all of the latest Community Reviews to this round-up in the next week, so get 'em in fast! Also, check out what the IGN All-Stars are doing in covering all of the latest indie comics on Comixology's Submit platform!

Join in on the IGN Community reviews!

DC COMICS

Animal Man Annual #2

Written by Jeff Lemire | Art by Travel Foreman

"Travel Foreman rejoins the Animal Man man Jeff Lemire for a disturbingly creepy yet emotionally powerful tale that shows all the other guys how an Annual ought to be done. While this story does tie into recent events, it’s virtually a standalone as we get a complete arc with humor and heart, twists and turns. Yes, this costs $4.99, but believe me when I say it’s worth every penny." -Joshua

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

9.5

Batman Annual #2

Written by Marguerite Bennett | Art by Wes Craig

"DC's rigid monthly schedule means that Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Zero Year storyline is literally going to take a year to unfold. The good news is that we're getting an extra dose of Zero Year this month thanks to Batman Annual #2. The bad news is that the actual ties in this issue to Snyder's ongoing saga are fairly tenuous. Nor did Snyder himself actually script the comic." -Jesse

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

6.1

Batman Incorporated #13

Written by Grant Morrison | Art by Chris Burnham

"Perhaps it's unfair to judge a single issue as an 'ending' to something as big and epic as Grant Morrison's run on Batman. Spanning years and universes – one of the last surviving relics of a pre-New 52 era – Morrison had built a massive web of a story, something that could hardly be described as linear or straightforward. So, what we get here is hardly a neat little package tied up with a bow, but instead just another chapter in the big tapestry of Batman's life; another notch on the utility belt. The story goes on even as the creators part ways." -Ben

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

7.7

Collider #1

Written by Simon Oliver | Art by Robbi Rodriguez

"Sometimes, it's good to judge a book by its cover. Especially when that cover features art by Nathan Fox, whose use of eye-popping colors and starkly contrasting fields of light and dark set the mood of the story to come so perfectly. In writer Simon Oliver and artist Robbi Rodriguez's Collider #1, we're faced with a world on the brink of collapse. In this first issue, the integrity of the laws of physics, as we understand them, is rapidly disintegrating. It's a bold premise that promises to defy your expectations." -Melissa

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

9.4

Detective Comics Annual #2

Written by John Layman & Joshua Williamson | Art by Various

"Detective Comics and I haven't been on the best of terms since the recent issue #19 (#900) and the subsequent abrupt, unsatisfying conclusion to the Emperor Penguin storyline. That said, the current arc has seen the series rebound somewhat, and this week's annual issue does nothing to stall that momentum." -Jesse

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

7.6

The Flash Annual #2

Written by Brian Buccellato | Art by Sami Basri

"Nowadays, it's tempting to think that comics are getting increasingly darker. Even evergreen optimistic heroes like Superman are being put through a filter of grittiness to give them an edge (paging Zack Snyder). The Flash Annual #2, written by Brian Buccellato with art by Sami Basri, reminds us why we fell in love with superhero comics to begin with. It's fun, funny, and determined to give you an unabashedly good time from start to finish." -Melissa

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

9.0

Red Lanterns #22

Written by Charles Soule | Art by Alessandro Vitti

"Red Lanterns is off the bloody hook! In one issue, Charles Soule has effectively washed the bad taste of the previous stories from our mouths and completely realigned the structure of the title. It makes sense, it has a great protagonist, it looks disgustingly awesome, and you’ll laugh all along the way. Who would have thought that Guy Gardner and Zilius 'ZZ blob' Zox would make such an entertaining comedic duo?" -Joshua

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

9.0

Superboy #22

Written by Justin Jordan | Art by Gui Balbi

"Justin Jordan cut his teeth on a comic that takes place in high school -- his excellent indie book The Strange Talent/Legend of Luther Strode -- so bringing Superboy to that dreaded place of teens and hormones only seems appropriate. While the execution of the actual story is fun and refreshingly upbeat, it’s a shame that Jordan plays up the stereotypes of a high school story so much. A misogynistic jock bully, a popular pretty girl, and a dejected alternative girl are all present, only they do little more than fill their role." -Joshua

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

7.0

Superman Annual #2

Written by Scott Lobdell | Art by Dan Jurgens

"While the cover of Superman Annual #2 will have you thinking that this is a Brainiac-centric story, it’s actually the first comic in a long time to focus exclusively on Lois Lane. Yes, she is investigating a mystery involving Brainiac, but this is all about her. While that prospect pleases me greatly, the actual story is just alright. I was happy to read about Lois taking on a dangerous assignment, but I also couldn’t say this was the Lois Lane story we’ve all been waiting for." -Joshua

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

6.5

Tom Strong and the Planet of Peril #1

Written by Peter Hogan | Art by Chris Sprouse

"Tom Strong is really as good as it gets. A comic book for comic lovers, Tom Strong was always a loving embrace to the world of comic books. It jumped through time and space to show us everything we loved about the comic book medium, mixing genres, art styles, and tones. Every issue of Tom Strong was a big adventure that knowingly winked at what came before it. It's been a while, but Tom Strong is back with a familiar creative team and another high-flying crusade." -Ben

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

8.7

Trinity of Sin: Pandora #2

Written by Ray Fawkes | Art by Daniel Sampere

"The first issue of Trinity of Sin: Pandora didn't do much to establish the mysterious, red-clad anti-heroine as a worthy leading lady in the DCU. For some reason, accidentally stumbling across a box in the woods and opening it is enough to lump Pandora in the same club as Judas Iscariot and (to paraphrase Lucius Fox) whatever it is Vic Sage is accused of being. Luckily, issue #2 goes further in showcasing the potential of this new series." -Jesse

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

7.2

The Wake #3

Written by Scott Snyder | Art by Sean Murphy

"In the third issue of Scott Snyder and Sean Murphy's The Wake, our protagonist, Dr. Lee Archer, and her colleagues find themselves in deep water -- literally. After the killer mermaid (trust me, it's a lot scarier than it sounds) broke free from its confines last issue, the underwater rig is on high alert as their captive becomes their killer. With how masterfully Snyder and Murphy have dialed up the tension and terror, it's hard to believe we're only thirty percent of the way into the series." -Melissa

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

9.7

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Uncanny X-Force #9 Review

Psylocke has been a real point of frustration with the new volume of Uncanny X-Force. The decision to focus the second story arc entirely on Betsy and her relationship with the Fantomex triplets had the opportunity to either salvage her role within the series or drag the book down even further. Unfortunately, the second outcome proved to be the case. This book really isn't doing any favors for a character who had enjoyed so few quality stories in the years before Rick Remender salvaged her.

Psylocke has spent the majority of this book being bitter, temperamental, foul-mouthed, and not particularly likable. And as we learned in the previous issue, this stems from nothing more than her being the jilted lover in a threesome with Fantomex and Cluster. This new take on the Psylocke/Fantomex romance is pointlessly sordid, like a bad soap opera. The X-Men comics have always carried a strong soap opera quality dating back to the original Cyclops/Marvel Girl/Angel love triangle. But those romances and intrigues always served a purpose, whereas this merely dilutes years of stellar work on both characters.

This issue fails to redeem the conflict between Betsy and the Fantomexes in any way. Nor does the conflict even manage a clear resolution. The final pages are annoyingly unclear as to the ongoing fate of the Fantomexes. The fact that the lack of distinction in the coloring makes it difficult to distinguish between flashbacks and present day scenes towards the end doesn't help.

About the only thing this arc has going for it (beside the snazzy cover) is the continued contribution of Adrian Alphona. However, even that area suffers, as Alphona is given much less to work with in terms of depicting the breakup of Psylocke's love triangle. The imagery just isn't as engaging or memorable as it was when Alphona was exploring the astral plane and the battle with the Demon Bear. Dalibor Talajic's art is fine, but overly plain when held against Alphona's lush, flowing pencils.

The best that can be said for Uncanny X-Force now is that Sam Humphries shows a clear intention to move forward and embrace the full team roster again. Hopefully we've seen the series at its worst, and things can only improve from here.

Jesse is a writer for various IGN channels. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN.

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The Flash Annual #2 Review

Nowadays, it's tempting to think that comics are getting increasingly darker. Even evergreen optimistic heroes like Superman are being put through a filter of grittiness to give them an edge (paging Zack Snyder). The Flash Annual #2, written by Brian Buccellato with art by Sami Basri, reminds us why we fell in love with superhero comics to begin with. It's fun, funny, and determined to give you an unabashedly good time from start to finish.

This second annual issue stars one of our favorite comic book odd couples: The Flash and Green Lantern. Buccellato shows a keen understanding of what makes these characters tick as individuals and how their friendship works despite -- or perhaps because of -- their differences. After swinging by the Flash's neck of the woods to say goodbye before he heads off to Oa, Hal Jordan's notoriously impulsive behavior comes back to bite them both in the derrière when they find themselves whisked away to the Arena World to engage in a gladiator-style fight to the death.

Sami Basri's art is every bit as energetic as it needs to be to bring Buccellato's script to life. Basri has a keen eye for expression that adds a visual authenticity to Barry and Hal's interactions, and he delivers just as well on the book's more explosive action scenes. Stellar Lab's colors are both bright and lively, lending an optimistic air to the issue.

The book is slowed down early on by an extended flashback sequence to explain the characters' current predicament, but it proves to be so joyously fun that it's hard to complain about the structural choice. Overall, The Flash Annual #2 is a solid standalone story that bucks the growing trend toward gritty realism by keeping it light and bringing the laughs.

Melissa Grey is a lover of all things cats, comics, and outer space. She can be found on MyIGN at MelissaGrey or lurking on Twitter @meligrey.

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ingamestips Doodle Crazy (9650/9700/9780 OS6)

Doodle Crazy (9650/9700/9780 OS6)

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It has hand drawn cute Wallpapers. You could meet cartoon Tiger, Crazy Dogie, Cute roaster and chickens...here, absolutely attractive and very childish!!!

Version: 1.1
File Size: 433 KB
Compatible: BlackBerry Bold 9650, 9700, 9780 OS 6.0

Download Doodle Crazy (9650/9700/9780 OS6)
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Source : http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/prohp/~3/iwUCM0xGDaY/doodle-crazy-9650-9700-9780.html

Captain Marvel #14 Review

Captain Marvel #14 brings The Enemy Within story arc to an explosive, emotionally resonant close, as writer Kelly Sue DeConnick pushes Carol Danvers to her breaking point. As Yon-Rogg's villainous plan gets dangerously close to fruition, Captain Marvel is forced to confront her demons. Her struggle to overcome her weaknesses has been the beating heart of this story since its beginning, and here, DeConnick brings the narrative to a startlingly powerful close.

This issue is packed to the gills with action, but it's Carol's internal battle that propels the story forward. It's a testament to DeConnick's ability as a writer that she can create a narrative eye of the storm amidst the wholesale destruction of New York City (must be Wednesday in the Marvel universe). There's an uneasy sort of symmetry to Yon-Rogg's confrontation with Carol -- they're both neither here nor there, out of place and lonely as ever. Their destinies have been intertwined since Captain Marvel gained her powers, and DeConnick capitalizes on the character's rich history to bring her story to a truly epic crescendo.

I've criticized Captain Marvel before for its inconsistent art, and issue #14 is still plagued with a few visual issues. Even though the series has lacked a steady, visual language for some time now, individual issues have for the most part maintained an internal consistency. In this issue, art duties were split between Scott Hepburn and Gerardo Sandoval. While their differences aren't as glaring as they could be, there are some quirks that make the intermittent switches between artists noticeable enough for it to be mildly distracting.

But not even the inconsistent visuals could dampen DeConnick's narrative. The strength of the story lies in its mission statement, which is as consistent as it is brilliant. Sometimes, we're our own worst enemies, but even then, we can be our own heroes.

Melissa Grey is a lover of all things cats, comics, and outer space. She can be found on MyIGN at MelissaGrey or lurking on Twitter @meligrey.

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Guardians of the Galaxy #5 Review

Guardians of the Galaxy #5 is one of many Marvel comics that seems to be addressing the ending of Age of Ultron. Time, it would seem, is broken. Whatever that means. All we know for sure is that things are crazy, with characters shifting worlds and timelines starting to get all screwy. This issue sees Angela jumping full force into the Marvel Universe and the Guardians slowly discovering that all hell is about to break loose.

There's lots of cool stuff in this series; the humor, the action, and the big, world spanning crises. Brian Bendis is clearly having fun here and that's a good thing. In just a handful of issues, he seems to have locked in these characters and their voices. The only problem, really, is that this series almost requires the reader to be up on all the goings on of the Marvel Universe. It can sorta stand on its own, but things like the appearance of Angela and the end meeting with Thanos might seem strange to somebody who isn't following lots of the other Marvel books and events.

Sara Pichelli delivers some stunning art in these pages, with her flare for characters and expressions really shining through. The awkward scene involving Tony Stark and Gamora is fantastic thanks to things like Gamora's subtle sneer of disgust. Pichelli isn't always the best when it comes to backgrounds, often leaving the areas behind characters blank, but colorist Justin Ponsor comes to the rescue by giving each page dramatic lighting and mood. All in all, Guardians of the Galaxy #5 looks great.

Benjamin is a drinker of root beer and a lover of fine cheeses. Follow Benjamin on Twitter @616Earth, or find him on IGN.

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Uncanny X-Men #9 Review

Uncanny X-Men #9 will no doubt earn the distinction of being the most controversial X-Men comic Brian Bendis has written so far. This issue is the first to showcase Dazzler in her new role as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Gone is the happy-go-lucky disco singer of yore, replaced by a militant government agent who has no qualms about assaulting a suburban family and interrogating handcuffed teenagers. Cyclops even goes so far as to accuse Allison of being "the Uncle Tom of mutants," an insult that is certainly justified given the events seen here.

To be fair, she has a few choice words of her own in retort, and Dazzler isn't painted as a wholly unsympathetic character here. It's far too early to accuse Bendis of "damaging" Dazzler as a character or whatever other inevitable complaints will arise. Still, there are definitely aspects of her portrayal in this issue that don't sit well. I would have liked to see more emphasis on her sense of alienation with the current mutant culture, given that she spent the entirety of Avengers vs. X-Men gallivanting in alternate realities.

Aside from Dazzler, issue #9 enjoys some generally strong characterization for many of the younger characters. Bendis finds great success in exploring the Stepford Cuckoos and their growing desire for individuality. We see new bonds develop between several teen recruits, and on the whole, the Uncanny roster comes that much closer to establishing a cohesive identity and dynamic.

Chris Bachalo's art isn't always ideally suited to handle the dialogue-heavy sequences. This issue carries a slightly haphazard look because of the numerous inkers. The art is at its best in the later segments as the focus narrows to a small handful of characters.

Jesse is a writer for various IGN channels. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN.

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Zynga Sues Developers Over Bang with Friends App

Social games giant Zynga has sued the makers of a 'casual sex app' called Bang with Friends, claiming the title infringes on its popular "with friends" trademark.

According to Bloomberg, Zynga filed the complaint yesterday against the makers of the app, which seeks to connect anonymous Facebook users who are "down to bang." The complaint seeks a court order which would bar the company from using the name in relation to any social media apps within the United States.

“Zynga filed a lawsuit to stop blatant infringement of its valuable ‘With Friends’ brand,” said Zynga's deputy general counsel Renee Lawson in a statement. “Zynga is compelled to file suit to prevent further consumer confusion and protect its intellectual property rights against infringement.”

Zynga's been in the news recently due to its dramatic revenue losses and the hire of ex-Microsoft executive Don Mattrick.

Lucy O'Brien is Entertainment Editor at IGN AU. Follow her ramblings on IGN at Luce_IGN_AU,or @Luceobrien on Twitter.

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Lizzy Caplan and Michael Sheen Are Masters of Sex

Showtime's new series, Masters of Sex, is already generating some buzz as it heads towards its September premiere date, with Homeland set to help launch it as the lead-in. Stars Michael Sheen (Dr. William Masters), Lizzy Caplan (Virginia Johnson), Caitlin Fitzgerald (Libby Masters), Nicholas D'Agosto (Ethan Hass), and Teddy Sears (Dr. Austin Langham), and creator, writer and executive producer Michelle Ashford and executive producer Sarah Timberman were on hand at this week's TCA (Television Critics Association) press tour to talk about "getting naked physically and emotionally" in this series that looks at the team who kicked-open the door to the sexual revolution.

Revolutionary Work:

As David Nevins, President of Entertainment at Showtime said, "Before William Masters and Virginia Johnson came on the scene in the 1950s, sex was mostly a mystery." Based on the book by Tom Maier, Masters of Sex follows the story of Dr. William Masters, a gynecologist determined to scientifically study and document the nature of human sexual behavior, and his assistant turned co-author, Virginia Johnson.

"Their lives were so complicated and interesting, we've had to embelish very little," Ashford said when asked how much creative license they'd taken in the creation of the series.

For her part, Caplan felt that her previous work had readied her to take on this role, which she finds to be one of the most exciting and challenging of her career.

"I've been fortunate enough to play a lot of [free-thinking] characters," the actress reflected. "And I think when you're telling a story set in the present day, you can do a lot of that work by wardrobe choices or even hair color or, like, a strategically placed tattoo. Virginia Johnson looks like every other woman around her. It's what's inside of her that makes her different and the choices that she makes. That's what makes her different. I do feel like a lot of the women I've played leading up to this point have prepared me to play this woman, who, I think, is by far the most layered and by far the toughest. And when I think about some of the stuff that I've done with other characters, I just have to sort of multiply the intensity of it when placing it in this time period, in this part of the country, when she was not offered any sort of support for her more alternative decisions. And so every decision she made was ‑‑ I mean, it resonated especially loudly for me."

Caplan compared what Johnson did for women, and society, to the freedom that her mother had created for her as she was growing up. "I was fortunately raised in a household where questions were encouraged and not judged. I was not dirty for asking these questions," Caplan said. "Virginia Johnson did for millions of women what my mother did for me, for generations of women to not feel ashamed. Before Masters and Johnson, women were told things [sexual issues] were all their fault ... and that's some bullsh**."

The Subject Still Applies Today:

"People are surprised by the frank discussions of sex on the show more than the portrayal of sex," Timberman said. "The things these people talk about are not generally talked about. It makes for interesting talk in the writers' room."

For his part, Sheen finds that the real crux of the story is about the emotional intimacy, and the struggles the characters have in that arena, which he feels is both universal and timeless. His character has some very specific sexual issues, which makes his work particularly fascinating. Sheen doesn't believe that Masters' struggle had to do with a repressed nature, though.

"I don't think it's about being prudish," the actor said. "I think it's about trying to balance a sense of control in this man's life. He's sort of a mystery to himself, really. He has so many locked rooms inside himself that he has to tread very carefully and make sure that he tries to control his environment so much. So I think that creates kind of what you might call prudishness, but actually sort of a lock-down desire to keep control. I don't think that's necessarily typical of everyone in the society at that time. But obviously things have changed in many ways since the '50s when the show is started, in terms of sexuality and how much access we have to images of it and information about it. But the same problems always apply. It doesn't matter whether we know a lot more about sex now or there's a lot more access to it. The same problems of intimacy, of dealing with other people, of connecting and being vulnerable with other people, which is what the show is ultimately about, still applies now, I think."

The Series Does Deal With Sex, Though:

The actors learned that of the two kinds of sex scenes that they were called upon to perform in the show, the more natural "lovemaking" variety and the "clinical studies" sex that Masters and Johnson both engaged in and observed; that the clinical variety was the more challenging.

"A couple making love is far easier [to depict] than some fluorescent lighting, wired up, don't kiss, don't look at each other, penis in vagina [scenario]," Caplan said. "Not being able to kiss, you feel even more naked, so to speak."

Sheen, who relayed some of the more unusual sex scenes that he'd taken part in throughout the course of his career (hint, some involve chocolate and some Oscar Wilde) agreed. "It's a scientific thing where you're not supposed to have any emotional response. That's really difficult."

Though the actor also said that after awhile, certain aspects of the production became almost passe. "We've seen so many people do bizarre things in front of you, you get used to it. I never thought I'd get to the point that there's a naked woman in front of you masturbating and you almost don't notice. But I actually broke that barrier on the show."

Masters of Sex premieres Sunday, Sept. 29 at 10/9c, following premiere of Homeland Season 3.

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Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones Leaving Parks and Recreation

Update added to the end of this story...

Sad times are coming to Pawnee, as two Parks and Recreation regulars, Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones, will be exiting the series in Season 6. Buzzfeed reported the news.

Fortunately, it will not be an abrupt departure, as Lowe and Jones will be back this fall and aren't expected to leave until the 13th episode of Season 6, likely airing in February. While details have not been given about what will cause Chris Traeger and Ann Perkins to leave, it's not difficult to imagine some possibilities, given their recent storyline in which they're trying to have a baby together - while rekindling their old romance.

It's also possible both will be too intimidated by the newly-buff Andy and feel they just need to get away from all of that Bert Macklin manliness.

UPDATE: Parks and Recreation co-creator Michael Schur has released the following statement:

The news about Rob and Rashida is true — they will be leaving the show after the 13th episode of the upcoming season six. We’ve been working on their storyline (on and off) for four seasons now, and heading into this year, with the two of them contemplating parenthood, it felt like a natural time to move them into the next phase.

We absolutely love both Rashida and Rob, and will be sad to see them go. Rashida was one of the very first people we knew we wanted in the cast, and as important as Ann is to Leslie (and vice-versa), she’ll certainly never be far from Pawnee. Rob we initially thought we could only have for six or eight episodes, and we couldn’t be happier that he will have stuck around for 75.

They are wonderful, funny, committed actors, they’ve been a huge part of the Parks and Rec family, and we think we have a great Pawnee send-off in the works for them.

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Blizzard Will Make a ‘Special Announcement’ at Gamescom

Blizzard is teasing a “special announcement” at Gamescom. In an invitation sent to press today, Blizzard teased, “We’re making a special announcement that’s sure to capture the attention of the Heavens, Burning Hells and all the shadowed places that lie between.”

The description seems to be hinting at Diablo-related news, and could mean we’ll finally see the reveal of the Diablo III expansion that Blizzard confirmed last year.

Gamescom will run from August 21-25 in Cologne, Germany, with Blizzard’s press conference set for August 21st. Be sure to check back to IGN in August for all the news from the show as it’s announced.

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following @garfep on Twitter or garfep on IGN.

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MineCon 2013 Tickets Go On Sale Today

The first batch of tickets for this year's MineCon will be available online beginning today.

MineCon is the annual convention for MineCraft fans. 2,500 tickets will be put up for sale at the official website at 4PM PST. Two additional batches of 2,500 tickets will be made available in the coming days: one on August 2 at 7AM PST, and the other on August 3 at 12PM PST.

As announced last month, this year's event will take place in Orlando, Florida from November 2-3. Previous MineCons were located in Bellevue, Washington, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Paris, France.

Tickets are sure to sell out quickly, as they have in the past, so you'll need to be fast in order to get your hands on them. Let us know if you'll be attending in the comments.

Chris Pereira is a freelance writer who spends his spare time agonizing over the final seasons of The X-Files. Check out what he's saying on Twitter and follow him on IGN.

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Star Wars Battlefront ‘Likely’ Coming in 2015

EA has revealed that Star Wars Battlefront is “likely” to be released in summer 2015.

During EA’s annual meeting of stockholders today, CFO Blake Jorgensen said Battlefront will “most likely come out around the same time that the Star Wars movies start to come out, probably in the summer of ’15.”

This fits with the timeframe for Star Wars: Episode VII that was previously announced by Lucasfilm at CinemaCon in April.

Star Wars Battlefront was announced at E3, but no timeframe for release had been indicated until today. Previously, EA said its Star Wars games wouldn’t arrive until April 2014 at the earliest.

For more on Battlefront, read our interview with DICE executive producer Patrick Bach about the game, plus thoughts from EA Labels president Frank Gibeau on why DICE is a perfect fit for Battlefront.

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following @garfep on Twitter or garfep on IGN.

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Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones Leaving Parks and Recreation

Sad times are coming to Pawnee, as two Parks and Recreation regulars, Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones, will be exiting the series in Season 6. Buzzfeed reported the news.

Fortunately, it will not be an abrupt departure, as Lowe and Jones will be back this fall and aren't expected to leave until the 13th episode of Season 6, likely airing in February. While details have not been given about what will cause Chris Traeger and Ann Perkins to leave, it's not difficult to imagine some possibilities, given their recent storyline in which they're trying to have a baby together - while rekindling their old romance.

It's also possible both will be too intimidated by the newly-buff Andy and feel they just need to get away from all of that Bert Macklin manliness.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Fringe's Anna Torv Joins HBO Sexuality Drama Open

Anna Torv (Fringe) is set to star Ryan Murphy's HBO pilot Open, THR reports. The "human sexuality drama" marks Torv's return to television following the conclusion of her turn as Agent Olivia Dunham on FOX's Fringe.

Jennifer Jason Leigh has also joined the cast as one of Torv's on-screen love-interests. The pilot is being described as, "a multi-character exploration of the complex, ever-evolving landscape of sexuality, monogamy and intimacy in relationships."

Murphy co-wrote the script with Dexter's Lauren Gussis and will executive produce. Torv's character Windsor is in a long-term relationship with Leigh's Holly in the series, but she is drawn to another character, Grace, when she meets her. Windsor is a yoga instructor, while Holly is an career-obsessed actress.

Scott Speedman (Last Resort) will play a sports agent named Jonathan who is married to the aforementioned Grace, a gynecologist who is going through a period of confusion about her sexuality following an unexpected affair with Windsor. Casting for Grace is currently underway.

The Hunger Games' Wes Bentley has also boarded the project as Evan, a man who is almost a full of ideas about sex as he is of himself.

HBO ordered the pilot in April. We will keep you updated as details emerge.

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David Conrad Joins Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Actor David Conrad is about to begin spending time with the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TVLine's Michael Ausiello broke the news that Conrad, best known for his role as Jennifer Love Hewitt's husband on Ghost Whisperer, will be playing a recurring role on the new ABC series, which ties into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

David Conrad in Ghost Whisperer

There is no info on who Conrad is playing, which isn't surprising, given the secrecy around S.H.I.E.L.D., like all Marvel projects. However, Ausiello notes that there was recently a casting call for "the role of a brilliant and quirky scientist that matches Conrad’s description (i.e., male in his 40s)." The main characters on S.H.I.E.L.D., including Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) are all original ones not from the comic books, so it's just as possible Conrad is playing someone newly created as someone from Marvel.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Pilot Review

When I spoke to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. co-creators/executive producers Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen at Comic-Con (see the video below), they talked about how they are finding opportunities when they come up with a new character to ask Marvel "Does someone in your universe have that skill?" and be able to use a pre-existing character. Which is to say... anything is possible!

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The Walking Dead Gets Monopolized

If real estate management and world domination weren't hard enough on their own, try adding zombies to the mix. Hasbro has announced Monopoly: The Walking Dead Survival Edition and Risk: The Walking Dead Survival Edition, both of which which are scheduled for a late September 2013 release.

For the Monopoly game, players can pick one of six Walking Dead-style tokens -- Rick's sheriff hat or Dale's RV, for example -- and acquire property corresponding with landmarks from the series such as the prison cells, the Greene Family farmhouse, and Woodbury. Instead of using money, players must trade in essential supplies like food, ammo and fuel to gain more territory on the board or to place a guard tower or wall instead of the standard houses and hotels.

As for the Risk set, the game designers have created a brand new map set in the Southeastern region of the United States, where gamers battle and scavenge within 32 territories. Adding a new twist to the gameplay, players will not only fend off attacks from their opponents, but they must also maintain their self-preservation from hordes of zombies that randomly spawn at the start of each players turn. A new deck of "Supply Cards" will also be added, as well as "Event Cards" referencing story events from The Walking Dead.

To pre-order Monopoly: The Walking Dead Survival Edition and Risk: The Walking Dead Survival Edition, find a comic shop near you at www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook.

Max Nicholson is a writer for IGN, and he desperately seeks your approval. Show him some love by following @Max_Nicholson on Twitter, or MaxNicholson on IGN.

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Podcast Unlocked 106: Fez 2 Creator Crazy...Like a Fox?

Download Podcast Unlocked: Episode 106 Here

This episode goes out to anyone named Phil. This week, the Locksmiths look back on their college years, and then dive into the Xbox news by discussing Phil Spencer and Phil Harrison's Xbox Showcase event at Gamescom next month, Phil Fish's meltdown and Fez 2 cancellation, Xbox One accessory pricing, Kinect Sports Rivals' delay to 2014, and Bobby "Not Phil" Kotick buying Activision back from, well...itself for $8 billion.

Show Overview

[00:00] Get to Know Your Locksmiths: College Years Edition

[18:04] News Unlocked, starting with the Phil Fish/Fez 2 discussion

[45:23] Marketplace Report

[48:28] Unlock Block trivia contest

Download Podcast Unlocked: Episode 106 Here

Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s Executive Editor of Previews and Xbox Guru-in-Chief. Follow him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan, on IGN, catch him on Podcast Unlocked, and drop-ship him Taylor Ham sandwiches from New Jersey whenever possible.

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Cover Debut for Grant Morrison's Latest Comic

Though his seven year Batman epic is coming to a conclusion today, Grant Morrison still has plenty of comics in the works. Not only is Wonder Woman: Earth One and the (eventual) Multiversity gestating at DC Comics, but he's planning to release a new comic series at Legendary Comics called Annihilator.

Written by Morrison with art by frequent collaborator Frazer Irving, Annihilator tells the tale of a struggling screenwriter trying to write the next big summer blockbuster only to find that the subject of his latest script, a sci-fi hero called Max Nomax, has come to life. Or maybe he's just bat**** crazy?

That's the gist of Annihilator, but Legendary has yet to confirm a release date. They have, however, revealed Irving's neat-o cover for the book:

We'll update you as soon as we've got a release date for Annihilator #1.

Joey is a Senior Editor at IGN and a comic book creator. Follow Joey on Twitter @JoeyEsposito, or find him on IGN at Joey-IGN. He often wonders whatever happened to Billy's RadBug.

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Watch the American Hustle Trailer

Director David O. Russell reunites with two of his stars from The Fighter, Oscar winner Christian Bale and Amy Adams, for American Hustle, which also stars Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro (all of whom previously worked with Russell on Silver Linings Playbook). Jeremy Renner rounds out the star-studded ensemble.

The crime flick (set against the backdrop of the ABSCAM case) has an especially Scorsese-esque vibe to it, wouldn't you agree?

Sony has slated American Hustle for a December 13th release.

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Is Batman: Arkham Origins Multiplayer Skipping Wii U?

The recently-announced multiplayer portion of Batman: Arkham Origins may not be available on the Wii U version of the game, according to a press release.

Confusion is currently reigning after the press release, which was sent out originally claiming "the online mode will be available for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC" and thus omitting the Wii U, was reissued without the offending paragraph.

Warner Bros. has yet to respond to our request for comment, so it isn't clear whether the fact Nintendo's console isn't mentioned means the game definitely won't be getting the multiplayer component, or if its fate is still to be decided.

If true, the revelation that the Wii U version of Arkham Origins will be missing a key feature compared to the ones available on other platforms will be a further blow to Nintendo, following this morning's announcement of dire Wii U sales.

As soon as Warner Bros. respond to us clarifying the situation, we'll update the story.

Luke Karmali is IGN's UK Junior Editor. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on IGN and on Twitter.

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Xbox One Headset Adapter Confirmed by Microsoft

Microsoft has confirmed that it's making an adapter to allow current-gen and third-party headsets to work with the Xbox One, though this won't be included with the console.

Xbox One lead planner Alberto Penello made the announcement on Twitter, along with the revelation that the adapter would be sold as a separate accessory.

@TheMVPlaya Yes. We will have an adapter that allows current gaming headsets to work.

— Albert Penello (@albertpenello) July 30, 2013

@KillerByteYT no, it's an accessory

— Albert Penello (@albertpenello) July 30, 2013

While we'd heard the company was investigating ways to make current headsets works with the Xbox One, this is the first time an adapter has been confirmed; it's also the first time the company has confirmed the solution won't be included in the box.

The reason current headsets will no longer work with the Xbox One is down to the redesigned controller, which means the expansion port has changed from the one currently used.

While the adapter won't be included with the Xbox One at retail, some confusion exists over whether the new Xbox One headset will be in the box. The last we heard, headsets would be sold separately, though Microsoft hasn't responded to rumours that this has since changed. Seeing as an adapter has now been confirmed as being sold separately, it would be a little odd for the company to include a working headset in the box, but you never know.

We're still waiting to hear back from Microsoft and, as soon as we do, will update the story.

Luke Karmali is IGN's UK Junior Editor. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on IGN and on Twitter.

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Is a Red Dead Redemption Sequel Coming?

Take-Two has listed Red Dead Redemption among franchises it considers "permanent", heavily implying a sequel to the game will one day materialise.

Speaking at last night's investor call (via Videogamer), CEO Strauss Zelnick explained that the company didn't see any of its franchises as one-shots, and that new instalments of a high quality were always encouraged.

"Our goal is to try to create permanent franchises," he said. "That's the unique goal in the industry.

“

Franchises that we think can be permanent, whether that's the Red Dead franchise or the Borderlands franchise or the BioShock franchise or others.

"Our competitors do not see it that way. Our competitors' view is that our franchise will have a certain life, and at the end of that life, you move onto the next thing, so you better make hay while the sun shines. Our view is to the contrary. The best franchises are permanent franchises.

"Outside of our business you can look at James Bond, for example. And it's been our goal not just to preserve and grow the Grand Theft Auto franchise, but also to build other franchises that we think can be permanent, whether that's the Red Dead franchise or the Borderlands franchise or the BioShock franchise or others, Civilization, for example."

We last heard mention of a Red Dead Redemption sequel over a year ago, when Rockstar explained it was keen to revisit the series, though no timeline for further announcements was given. Seeing as the game has sold 13 million copies in two years, it'd be astonishing if another entry didn't materialise at some point.

In case you missed it, the earnings call last night also revealed BioShock Infinite and Borderlands 2 have sold 4 million and 7 million units respectively. Seeing as they're also mentioned as part of the permanent franchise spiel, expect further entries in both series at some stage.

What would you like to see from Rockstar after Grand Theft Auto V? Would a next-gen Red Dead Redemption be your first choice, or would you rather see GTA V ported to Xbox One and PlayStation 4? How about the rumours surrounding a sequel to Bully? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Luke Karmali is IGN's UK Junior Editor. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on IGN and on Twitter.

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Exactly How Bad is the Nintendo Situation?

Nintendo’s first-quarter financial resultsreveal that 160,000 Wii U consoles were sold in the entire world between the start of April and the end of June this year. I don’t think anyone was expecting a sudden resurgence after the grimace-worthy figures of the final three months of last financial year, but that is below even the most pessimistic expectations. It’s more shocking when you break it down by territory; of that paltry number, 90,000 were sold in Japan, 60,000 in the Americas, and just 10,000 in Europe, Australia and the rest of the world.

Less than 10,000 consoles in the whole of Europe in 3 months. That’s almost unbelievable. The older-gen consoles sell far more than that weekly. Software sales of just a touch over 1 million hardly ameliorate the situation. The Wii U launch was strong - 3 million in its first few months - but although it was widely known that sales had fallen right off a cliff since then, nobody knew it was this dire.

This is bad news. But how bad is it, exactly? Do we need to be seriously worried about Nintendo’s future?

The short answer, for now, is no. Nintendo isn’t about to go bust. It still posted a profit, thanks to its assets and investments and favourable changes in the currency market. The Wii U is costing money, which means that Nintendo is making an operating loss when it comes to actually selling games and consoles, but it’s a very, very long way from bankrupting the firm. The 3DS, meanwhile, is a big success - it’s not matching the insane sales that the original DS was generating, but then the original DS didn’t have smartphones to compete with.

“

The Wii U is costing money, but it's a long, long way from bankrupting Nintendo.

Despite that, the 3DS is generally confounding the widespread expectation that smartphones and tablets have killed the handheld market stone dead. 11.4 million 3DS games were sold in three months this quarter alongside over a million 3DS consoles - the hardware number’s solid, but the software number there is amazing, especially when you compare it to the Vita. Sony has been clumping Vita sales together with PSP sales in its financial reports, ostensibly to mask its performance, so we don’t know exactly how much it’s sold - but you can bet it’s a fraction of that.

The 3DS is keeping Nintendo afloat, then, but that doesn’t change the fact that the Wii U is still tanking right now. At this point it’s 200k units behind where the Gamecube was at this point in its lifespan, when the overall games market was much smaller - and the Gamecube hadn’t even launched in Europe by that point. It also wasn’t being sold at a loss, as far as I know.

Even the Nintendo consoles that aren’t regarded as particularly successful - the Gamecube and the N64 - have always made Nintendo money. This is, let’s remember, a company that has only posted one year-end loss in its entire history, in 2012. This is one of the reasons that Nintendo’s future isn’t in jeopardy: the company is extraordinarily solvent. It’s got warehouses full of cash. Seriously, take a look at Nintendo’s assets: it has 492,334,000,000 yen in cash. That’s $5,038,214,927.30. More than 5 billion dollars. In cash. And almost that much in “short-term investment securities”, which are essentially bonds.

It’s too early to write the Wii U off as a failure already, but even if things don’t pick up and the console does end up a flop, Nintendo could weather it. It could weather several such failures. Other companies - Microsoft’s Xbox division and Sony Computer Entertainment among them - have operated at huge losses for years on end, but Nintendo has never done business that way.

“

Even if the Wii U doesn't pick up, Nintendo could weather a failure. It could weather several.

This is why, if you ask me, there is no chance that Nintendo will exit the hardware market. Certainly not in the medium-term future, and possibly not ever. Why would Nintendo release its games, its major selling point, on other people’s platforms when it can continue to have total control over its own? Of those 11 million 3DS games sold in the last 3 months, most of them were Nintendo-published, and Nintendo didn’t have to pay a penny to any other platform holder.

Nintendo can afford to own its own platforms for a long time yet. The Wii U is really, really struggling, but in the grand scheme of Nintendo’s operations it actually doesn’t matter as much as you might expect. That’s reflected in Nintendo’s share price, which took a 6% hit in the past week but is actually 37% up on this time last year.

All of this ultimately leaves Nintendo in profit, ticking over and not in immediate danger, but faced with the increasingly real possibility of its first proper home-console flop - and with an operating loss of around $50m to try to correct. It certainly does not leave Nintendo on its knees. The Wii U in isolation, however, is a different story: the console is in huge trouble, and it’s going to take something special in the next six months to turn the situation around.

Nintendo might in a dominant position when it comes to handhelds, but when the Wii U can’t even come close to keeping up with the current-gen consoles, including its 7-year-old predecessor (which sold 210k this quarter), you’ve really got to ask yourself whether it has any chance at all of holding its own against the PS4 and Xbox One later this year.

“

You've really got to ask yourself whether the Wii U has a chance of holding its own.

There are good games on the way for Wii U, but two of the most important - Smash Bros and Mario Kart - aren’t coming until 2014, which might be too little, too late. With two more new consoles on the market by the end of the year, there’s still nothing that makes the Wii U look essential. I just don’t think Nintendo is in that fight - but then, Nintendo’s E3 showing suggested that Nintendo doesn’t think it’s in that fight, either.

There are two stories told in this morning’s results. The first is of an impressively solvent company that’s making a profit and shows no signs of ill health or imminent collapse, with one very successful product and one that’s struggling to take off. The second story is of a console whose post-launch period has been nothing short of a total disaster, and which now faces an extremely tough battle to claw back some ground before its competitors launch later this year. They’re not contradictory. Nintendo should be extremely worried about the Wii U, but we don’t need to worry about Nintendo.

Keza MacDonald is in charge of IGN's games coverage in the UK. You can follow her on IGN and Twitter.

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300: Rise of an Empire 'Living Poster' Debut

After a releasing a load of new character posters for 300: Rise of an Empire over Comic-Con, Warner Bros. has unveiled this awesome new 'Living Poster' showcasing Sullivan Stapleton as Themistokles and a tidal wave of blood.

It doesn't tell us much more about the forthcoming prequel, due out in March next year, other than fans of the original's OTT violence and gore are probably not going to be disappointed!

The film's official synopsis reads:

Based on Frank Miller’s latest graphic novel Xerxes, and told in the breathtaking visual style of the blockbuster “300,” this new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield—on the sea—as Greek general Themistokles attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war. 

“300: Rise of an Empire” pits Themistokles against the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes, and Artemesia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy.

300: Rise of an Empire is out in cinemas March 7th, 2014.

Tom is IGN's UK Social Media Editor and resident Whovian. You can stay abreast of his current pet peeves by following him on IGN and Twitter.

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Shiny Legendary Pokemon Coming to UK Game Stores

Nintendo has announced UK Pokemon trainers will be able to get their hands on shiny versions of the legendary Pokemon Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina for a limited time only.

Starting at the end of August, anyone who owns the original Pokemon Black & White, or Pokemon Black & White 2 will be able to get the exceedingly rare versions of the Pokemon at participating Game stores.

For those who are unaware, shiny Pokemon have unusual colouring and are very difficult to come across, though there is a slim chance they'll be encountered through normal play. One of the most famous is the Red Gyarados that is encountered during Pokemon Gold & Silver and their remakes.

If you want to net a shiny Dialga, the Steel and Dragon type will be available at participating stores between August 30 and September 12. Once it departs, the Water and Dragon type Palkia will be available between September 13 and 26, before it's replaced by the Ghost and Dragon type Giratina from September 27 until October 12.

Be sure to let us know which one you're keenest to get your hands on in the comments.

Luke Karmali is IGN's UK Junior Editor. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on IGN and on Twitter.

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Kevin Smith Readies Walrus Movie

We’re a bit late to the party on this one, but as it’s such an intriguing story, we thought we’d post…

Following the climax of Comic-Con last week, writer-director Kevin Smith took to Facebook to explain that his next film – Tusk – is set to shoot in Los Angeles and on location in Canada in September, in the hope that it will be finished in time for the Sundance Film Festival.

The crazy comes from the fact that the film’s premise comes from a by-now infamous Gumtree advert in which a Brighton resident sought a lodger to dress up as a walrus.

In the original advert, the man explains that he spent three years alone on St. Lawrence Island, where he befriended a Walrus named Gregory. He explains “I have, over the last few months, been constructing a realistic walrus costume, which should fit most people of average proportions, and allow for full and easy movement in character. The take on the position as my lodger, you must be prepared to wear the walrus for approximately two hours each day.”

He continues “Whilst in the walrus costume you must be a walrus – there must be no speaking in a human voice, and any communication must entail making utterances in the voice of a walrus.”

Smith was alerted to the advert, discussed it on one of his many podcasts, and soon enough a plot was taking shape.

“The listing got my creative juices flowing” he explains on Facebook. “And I began reconstructing the whole thing as an old British Hammer horror film, in which a mad scientist intends to sew some hapless lodger into counterfeit blubber, creating a chimera in an effort to answer the ultimate riddle, ‘Is man, indeed, a walrus at heart?!,’”

Re-locating the story to the backwoods of Canada, Smith has already cast Red State star Michael Parks as the man with the blubber fetish, while he’s also written a part for Quentin Tarantino – Guy Lapointe, “the French gumshoe on the trail of the human-walrus.”

Blumhouse Productions – the company behind the likes of Insidious, Sinister and the Paranormal Activity movies – will oversee production, while Smith is hoping that effects maestro Greg Nictoero will craft the walrus suit.

From Gumtree-to-podcast-to-film makes the Tusk journey somewhat unique – let us know what you think of the concept in the comments, and check out the below video in which Smith talks Tusk and also discusses Clerks 3.

Chris Tilly is the Entertainment Editor for IGN in the UK and wonders if anyone out there fancies being my lodger-penguin. He can be found talking nonsense on both Twitter and MyIGN.

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Nintendo Financials Reveal Dire Wii U Sales

Nintendo released its financial results for the last quarter today, revealing strong 3DS sales alongside Wii U sales that are below even pessimistic expectations.

Nintendo remains in profit overall thanks to the strong performance of its assets and the recovery of the currency market against the yen, but it made a slight operating loss of just under 5 billion yen, around $50m, meaning that the business of actually selling games and consoles was not profitable. Nintendo attributes this loss to "total selling, general and administrative expenses [which] exceeded gross profit due to enhancement of advertising and promotion of Nintendo 3DS overseas to increase sales, and research and development for the Wii U software."

This is an improvement on last year's 10 billion yen operating loss over the same April-June period. Nintendo's overall net profit for the period was 8.624 bn yen, or $88.1m.

As ever, the sales figures tell the most interesting story. The Wii U sold just 160,000 units globally between the beginning of April and the end of June, an astonishingly low number. That's less than half the 390,000 units that it managed to sell in the final three months of its last financial year. Software figures were not much better: 1.03 million total for the quarter. Total Wii U sales now stand at 3.61 million.

The Wii, meanwhile, sold 210,000 in the same period, with 3.67 million games sold. It's just nudged over 100 million lifetime sales.

The 3DS, with 1.4 million units sold and an impressive 11.4 million games sold, has kept Nintendo afloat this quarter.

A number of 3DS games were very successful, chalking up huge sales. Animal Crossing: New Leaf, having already sold over 3 million units in Japan, sold another 1.59 million in the West up to June 30th. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon sold 1.43 million worldwide, and the report states that Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D was "well received", though it doesn't give figures.

Nintendo is not adjusting its full-year financial forecasts, and there is no official comment on these figures as of yet.

Keza MacDonald is in charge of IGN's games coverage in the UK. You can follow her on IGN and Twitter.

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Saints Row IV: Capitalising on Classification Confusion

On Monday afternoon it was announced that Saints Row IV had been slapped with a fresh Refused Classification rating by the Australian Classification Review Board. The Classification Review Board is a separate panel which reevaluates classification decisions made by the Australian Classification Board. Its decisions then take the place of the original ones.

“

It’s easy to be cynical about what looks like just another layer of classification bureaucracy but publishers have successfully had RC ratings overturned in the past.

It’s easy to be cynical about what looks like just another layer of classification bureaucracy but publishers have successfully had RC ratings overturned in the past. In December 2009 the Classification Review Board quashed a Refused Classification decision for Aliens vs. Predator, opting for an MA15+ rating instead. The Classification Review Board agreed with SEGA’s Australian branch that the violence in the game, while extreme, was acceptable within the context of the Alien franchise.

In the case of Saints Row IV, however, Koch Media’s appeal was unsuccessful. In the end, the Classification Review Board unanimously agreed with the original RC decision; Saints Row IV cannot be accommodated within the R18+ classification guidelines as proscribed drug use related to incentives and rewards is not permitted. The sexual violence Saints Row IV was also pinged for first time out of the gate was not mentioned on this occasion; perhaps the Review Board disagreed it crossed the line or perhaps the fact that the offending alien anal probe gun is apparently Season Pass content rather than in-game content has seen it factored out of the equation.

The big question is, why spring AUD$10,000 for an appeal for the original version of Saints Row IV in the first place? State of Decay developer Undead Labs recently demonstrated just how easy is it to sidestep the strict guidelines against proscribed drug use related to in-game rewards and incentives. You simply change the names of the real-world drugs and/or avoid using terms like stimulants and narcotics, terms that are most regularly used to refer to real-world illegal drugs. State of Decay is out now, rated R18+. Saints Row IV is still in a classification no-man’s-land.

Why fork out the cash, particularly considering the “Australian Edition” of Saints Row IV – which was available for the public to play at PAX Aus – appears to be waiting in the wings? If a single weapon and a solitary drug reference are really the only thing standing between Saints Row IV and an Australian release I can’t see a version sans those not making it through.

However, is AUD$10,000 a small price to pay for another salvo of PR that’ll only serve to make Saints Row IV even more infamous? Perhaps. Especially when, as State of Decay has already proven, eventually squeezing it through classification is likely just a matter of semantics.

We’ve reached out via Saints Row IV Australian representation for comment, but I can already see the one-sheets; “Saints Row IV: So boss they banned it twice.”

Meanwhile, based on some of the hyperbole Saints Row IV’s unsuccessful RC appeal has dredged up, now seems like the perfect time to clear up some of the debates and confusion around the classification problems that Saints Row IV and State of Decay faced in Australia over the past several weeks.

Drug use is permitted under the R18+ guidelines

I really can’t stress this enough. Drug use is permitted in R18+ games in Australia. I actually can’t make this any more plain. Under the R18+ guidelines for DRUG USE it very literally confirms “Drug use is permitted.” The mere presence of drugs in a video game, the sale of them, or even the use of them is not sufficient reason to believe a game should have been (or will be) refused classification. Any claims to the contrary are unhelpful. The guidelines don’t say you can’t see drugs. They don’t say you can’t sell drugs. They don’t even say you can’t use drugs. They just say you can’t get in-game benefits from using identifiably illegal ones.

If you haven’t checked out the R18+ guidelines, you probably should. You may be surprised how broad they are. There are virtually no restrictions on themes and language, and drug use, simulated sex and nudity are all permitted. In terms of violence? If Mortal Kombat is the new yardstick, well, the R18+ rating certainly doesn’t seem to have any trouble accommodating extraordinary gore. All this worry about what game will be next under the axe seems like much ado about nothing, really.

Proscribed drug use related to incentives or rewards has always been a problem

The new Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games that commenced on January 1, 2013 are not stricter than the previous ones. The use of proscribed drugs in games has been an issue for several games released in Australia in the past. Don’t confuse proscribed with prescribed. Proscribed means forbidden. When the guidelines talk about proscribed drugs, they’re talking about the ones you wouldn’t want to be caught with a duffle bag full of.

In 2008, Fallout 3 was refused classification for containing “material promoting or encouraging proscribed drug use.” It was simply the morphine; morphine is a controlled substance. Bethesda called it Med-X instead and the game was reclassified and released with no further hurdles. In 2007 Blitz: The League was refused classification for associating gameplay benefits with steroid use. In 2005 Narc was refused classification for featuring power-ups gleaned from drug use; for instance, doing speed gave you bullet-time abilities.

State of Decay featured, among other drugs, several real-world proscribed drugs. They were associated with in-game buffs. Applying the guidelines, the ACB slapped State of Decay with an RC rating. Undead Labs, demonstrating a solid understanding of what was required to navigate the language of the guidelines, responded quickly (“Stimulants out! ‘Supplements’ in!”) and simply changed the names of the in-game drugs. Job done.

In the case of Saints Row IV, the Board’s opinion was that dubbing the in-game drug an “alien narcotic” meant there was “insufficient delineation” between it and real-world proscribed drugs. The Board noted that the label “narcotics” is commonly used to describe real-world, illegal drugs. Slightly anal, sure, but hardly tough to work around, right? Does anybody remember The Warriors? It contained a healing drug you snorted. It was called Flash. Flash, a term commonly associated with what your camera does when you’re sending photographs of your junk to your partner from a poorly-lit room, is not the name of a drug. Sufficient delineation, it would appear, because The Warriors was released in Australia without protest.

Fallout 3, The Warriors, State of Decay, and many more all prove the guidelines are a doddle to work around.

Nope, Max Payne’s painkillers and the anal probe from Destroy All Humans! aren’t the same thing

Yep, painkillers are drugs. However, painkillers are not illegal. Alcohol is also a drug too, and you could swig gallons of it to mend bullet wounds in both Gun and Wet. Beneficial indeed. However, alcohol isn’t illegal either. Any arguments that begin with, “But Max Payne…” don’t take into account the nuances of the guidelines as they deal with drugs.

Incentive or reward is the other element to consider. Yes, the effects of weed were featured in the likes of GTA: San Andreas and Far Cry 3 while torching marijuana plantations, for instance, but in these cases the swaying, blurry effects were hardly helpful. (Strangely enough, weed in Saints Row 2 did actually increase damage resistance, although it also came with several additional gameplay hindrances.)

But there was an anal probe in Destroy All Humans! Sure, but it wasn’t shaped like a cock sword. But there was a dildo in GTA: San Andreas! Sure, but you didn’t stuff it in NPCs' anuses. Saints Row IV just went a bridge too far with this battle, it seems. This kind of stuff exists on a scale. The mere presence of a dildo or similar may raise an eyebrow, but it doesn’t mean the game is in breach. How it’s used is important context.

“Why have an R18+ rating if you’re not going to use it?”

Since January 1 this year, 21 games have been classified R18+. It is being used.

Remember, the Classification Board doesn’t set the guidelines, it applies them. Threatening the board only reinforces violent gamer stereotypes and petitioning the board is simply barking up the wrong tree.

Nobody is required to like the fact Saints Row IV remains rated RC for now, but you can at least be aware of why. The system still has limits. Those limits are sexual violence and rewards related to drug use. There’s no need to spend sleepless nights worrying if your most-anticipated game is going to be refused classification. Is it violent? Well, in Mortal Kombat you can tear a woman in twain, and that’s available in Australia. So relax; it’ll probably be okay. Do you need to inject yourself with something to heal? Is it heroin? No? It’s just a stab-this-in-your-arm-to-get-better syringe, a la Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon (rated R18+ and totally not banned in Australia)? Yeah, it’s probably going to be okay too.

Is it GTA V? I haven’t heard of GTA V containing a sexual assault launcher from outer space or drug-induced power-ups, so I’m going to go ahead and not panic for now.

“

There are plenty of discussions left to have about Australia’s overhauled game classification system.

There are plenty of discussions left to have about Australia’s overhauled game classification system. Considering Saints Row IV hasn’t had the same problem in other territories, is the board being too heavy-handed by deeming an alien anal-probe unacceptable? Does this decision really represent where the community would place this seemingly slapstick weapon on the sexual violence spectrum? Is the focus on prohibiting developers assigning in-game benefits to drug use largely a waste of time considering developers can sidestep the issue by simply not identifying real-world drugs? And is this hardline stance on drug use somewhat odd considering the many types of other antisocial behaviour the guidelines allow for, up to and including cold-blooded murder?

Is self-regulation the next step? Letting the industry police itself, like the Entertainment Software Rating Board in the US or the Interactive Software Federation of Europe’s PEGI system?

All valid questions we need to keep asking. But we need to do it with maturity.

Luke is Games Editor at IGN AU. You can find him on IGN here or on Twitter @MrLukeReilly, or chat with him and the rest of the Australian team by joining the IGN Australia Facebook community.

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