Daily News: Nintendo Presser, SWTOR Romances and Games in Bristol

Key points from yesterday:

PlayStation Access: They’re coming to Motion Ramp Park in Bristol from 29th September to 1st October. All you fans out there could win the chance to play loads of games before release:

• Uncharted 3 – Multiplayer / 3D
• Goldeneye 007 – Singleplayer
• Batman: Arkham City – Singleplayer
• Dark Souls – Singleplayer
• Battlefield 3
• Resistance 3 – Singleplayer / Move / Sharpshooter / 3D
• Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One
• Starhawk – Singleplayer
• Tekken Tag Hybrid – Multiplayer
• Assassin’s Creed: Revelations – Multiplayer

Those who do win tickets will get a goody bag, 2 free drinks and there’ll be some tournaments to enter. Head on over to the PlayStation Access Facebook page, hit Like and then enter your details in the PlayStation Access Bristol page. Entries close on the 18th September so don’t delay. They’ll be in touch if you win.

Star Wars: The Old Republic: BioWare have made an official statement on same-sex romances in their upcoming MMO.

Due to the design constraints of a fully voiced MMO of this scale and size, many choices had to be made as to the launch and post-launch feature set. Same gender romances with companion characters in Star Wars: The Old Republic will be a post-launch feature. Because The Old Republic is an MMO, the game will live on through content expansions which allow us to include content and features that could not be included at launch, including the addition of more companion characters who will have additional romance options.
Stephen Reid, Senior Online Community Manager, Star Wars: The Old Republic Forums.

I actually asked this question to Emmanuel Lusinchi, Associate Lead Designer on SW:TOR during Gamescom. He told me that there were no plans to implement same-sex relationships. The reason he gave was nothing to do with any internal stance on the world. Rather, it was because they wanted to go for a teen rating and adding homosexual content might bump them into a higher category. Given that you apparently have to stick the rating you were originally given (thanks, GamerLaw), I’m not sure how moving the homosexuality option to DLC helps this. Perhaps it’s a cunning plan to scream DISCRIMINATION if any ratings bodies try to block the update on these grounds? Neither the ESRB guidelines, nor the BBFC’s make explicit reference to homosexual relationships, though the BBFC does include a nebulous “Sex references should not go beyond what is suitable for young teenagers” under 12/12A.

BioWare’s most famous examples of homosexual relationships, Dragon Age and Dragon Age 2, were both rated 18. However, The Sims series has allowed romances with people of your gender for over a decade and still achieved a Teen rating from the ESRB and 12+ from PEGI so I doubt homosexuality was a factor. Odd rationale, to say the least.

Nintendo 3DS: From this morning’s pre-Tokyo Game Show press conference we learned that there will be sofware update to the 3DS. This will add 3D video capability and “extra functionality” for people who have completed the current Streetpass challenges. Nintendo also announced dates for two of their most anticipated games:

• Super Mario 3D Land – 18th November
• Mario Kart 7 – 2nd December

They’ve announced a new 3D tennis game, tentatively named Mario Tennis and and a new 3D Animal Crossing games. We’re taking bets now on whether or not it will be named “Animal Crossing 3DS”. (No we’re not. We like our money to stay in our own pockets, thanks)

And probably the biggest news to gamers from the conference – Monster Hunter 4 is coming to 3DS. This explains the weird 3DS twin-stick cradle that’s been floating around for the past few days.

Given that Sony didn’t confirm Monster Hunter 4 for the Vita at their press conference this morning, could this be a 3DS exclusive?