This Week in Xbox — 5/9

Fight Night 4 Announced!

Geez, WTF took so long? Oh right, we suppose the closure of EA Chicago could amount to a wrench in the works. But the Fight Night series has settled in comfortably now at EA Canada, and Fight Night 4 is underway. Along with adding shady characters like Mike Tyson to the lineup, Fight Night 4 will strive for more realism with a new physic engine. Catch some more details here, and pencil this one in for 2009.

VERDICT: Hey, the last one got our very first 10, and we still love it to death. So to say we’re excited would be putting it mildly.

Least…Surprising…News EVER!

Yknow what? People like GTA a lot. So much that Rockstar is going to have to build its own Fort Knox to store all its GTA IV profits. Which tallied out to $500 million in sales in the first week and 3.1 million copies sold on opening day.

VERDICT: Hey, if that many people bought the game, our July review issue is gonna sell like hotcakes too and make us all Rockstar-rich! …Hello? Anyone?

Game Legislation Gone Good

According to a report from Variety, a bill is being introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would fine retailers who sell Mature-rated games without checking ID. Sponsored by Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) and Rep. Lee Terry (R-Nebraska), the bill would also require stores to post explanations of the ratings system, and would levy a civil penalty of $5,000 for any infractions.

VERDICT: Geez, it’s about time! We know 13-year-olds everywhere are howling in dismay, but games like GTA IV just shouldn’t be sold to kids. If their parents want them to play it, they can buy it for them. We love how this would give the industry a bulletproof shield against the Jack Thompsons of the world.

Next, um…BioShock!

Yeah, we wuz trying to get cute, but word hit this week that BioShock will be blazing a path to cinemas everywhere as a flick directed by Gore Verbinski, the dude behind the Pirates of the Carribbean trilogy (shudder). No word on when and who’s starring, but it’s probably at least a couple years away.

VERDICT: Game-based movies are always a train wreck, but they don’t have to be. BioShock’s obviously a rich story and a deep universe, so let’s hope some talent is applied to this one, rather than a quick hack job. With the Pirates quasi-connection, we’re crossing our fingers for some Johnny Depp somewhere…

LOTR Goes Battlefront?

Pandemic, developer of Star Wars Battlefront and now member of the EA fold, will be releasing Lord of the Rings: Conquest this fall. Not many details on the game have emerged yet, but there will be fighting, and you get to play on both sides. We’re hoping for a Battlefront-style game, given Pandemic’s track record. Okay, now we’re closing our eyes and wishing real hard!

VERDICT: Hell yeah!