MadWorld gets its own range of t-shirts

If you have been reading my blog over the past few months you may be familiar with Famitsu magazine's "Game T-Shirt Project". This involves popular, generally mature games being featured on t-shirts available to buy through the magazine.

Sega's recent games have been a popular choice for the t-shirts, with Yakuza 3 and 428 having their own ranges. Now it is MadWorld's turn, with other Platinum Games titles likely to receive the same treatment in the future.


The first design features the text "It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world", the last "mad" in capitals with some of the main characters inside. The colours used are the trademark MadWorld "black, white and red all over".

The next design is more simple: "MadWorld" is in all-caps, with one "D" finishing both words. There is a MadWorld logo on the right arm.


The next two designs feature the same "MadWorld" text, with "world" reversed to end on the same blood-stained "D". This t-shirt is available in white and grey.


The next design is available in black and green, with Jack standing beside the text "Who can survive on the global stage? Give U: World Standard" with "Platinum Games - Sega" underneath. Don't "U" just love nonsensical Engrish?


The final design is in a comic book style with the logo at the top. On the back is the MadWorld skull-and-crossbones icon.

These t-shirts will probably cost around £30, and are only available in Japan. New designs come out nearly every month, so expect more Sega t-shirts soon!

[Source: Famitsu]

The Sun shocked by MadWorld's marketing campaign

I'm sure this won't surprise anyone, but tabloid The Sun is shocked over MadWorld's UK marketing campaign which happened this week. To promote the game, Sega placed black-and-white prosthetic limbs around London, each clutching a copy of the game.

The Sun claims the public were "sickened" by the stunt, stating that the "blood-soaked severed arms" reflected the game's style which "emphasises the red blood that is spilt with every kill". They seemed to like the game, however, awarding it 3/5.

A spokesperson for Sega defended the stunt, saying they had no complaints from the public whatsoever:

"Sega is delighted to be leading the way with adult games for the Wii, and we are sure that gaming fans will see it as a breath of fresh air.

The arms used were very clearly black and white to reflect the comic-book nature of the game.

We had a team of people carefully monitoring reaction to the arms, if anyone at all found them offensive we removed them immediately. But we have had no complaints from the public at all".

The Sun were equally melodramatic over Resident Evil 5's promotion this week, which also featured severed body parts. I was shocked over Nintendo's Nintendogs marketing back in 2005 - poor defenseless dogs cruelly forced to partake in a promotional event whilst being tethered by the neck, struggling to get free from their evil handler. Disgraceful.

[Source: Nintendo Life]

MadWorld actually classified by the BBFC

MadWorld, labelled by some as "the most violent video game ever", has been classified by the BBFC. This means the game will be sold uncut.

The most famous cases of the BBFC not classifying games and effectively banning them are Carmageddon in 1997 and Manhunt 2 in 2007.

Here's what they said to Edge Magazine:

"From our testing of the product, there was clearly no reason for us to intervene at the adult level. We clearly had no problems with MadWorld. If we had, we wouldn’t have classified it; it’s as simple as that."

Mike Hayes of Sega Europe has said that "MadWorld is so unique it aches," and that "cutting-edge Japanese developed titles such as those from Platinum Games will suit the western market perfectly". It is unlikely however that MadWorld will outsell Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, the best-selling third-party Wii game in the UK.

The game is released in North America and Europe in March, except for Germany of course, where a cut version is more likely.

Sega releases new MadWorld trailer

Here is the new trailer for the upcoming Wii game MadWorld. Much of the content is censored, despite the fact that you have to put in your date of birth to check that you're 18. Clearly that makes no difference.

The trailer tells us more about the game's backstory, and shows off the heavily stylised graphics. It really is like a real-time graphic novel!

MadWorld has multiplayer!

Kotaku, whilst browsing the MadWorld website, discovered that it has multiplayer modes. The website says:

"Take control and compete in a variety of ultra-violent 'Blood Bath Challenges' which can be played offline multiplayer with your friends or enemies."

Hopefully this means we can play human darts with each other, literally. Makes a change from Wii Sports.

MadWorld used in anti-violent games appeal

Children won't be able to throw mouldy corpses into enormous death-fans, instead sticking to their DS Petz games.

On Wednesday, California's anti-violent-videogame laws will be attempted to be revived, using MadWorld as an example.

The law will be similar to the one we have in the UK, whereby it is illegal to sell games to people under the age on the certificate. Along with the "M" rating, games published in America will have to put an "18" next to it. Retailers that sell the game to minors will be fined $1,000.

I don't think there's anything wrong with this law, as we have had it in the UK for over a decade now. I was actually surprised when I found out that this wasn't already law in the US, and seems completely logical. If children can't go in to see 18-rated films, then children shouldn't be able to go into a shop and buy 18-rated games. However that shouldn't stop them playing the games, which should be the choice of the parents.

Overall, if this law comes into effect, I don't think it will effect people very much. Children will just have to get someone older to buy their games from the shop, much like they do already for their cigarettes and alcohol!

Picture: IGN

MadWorld boxart revealed

I'm guessing that RP won't turn into an E.

Whilst you wait for MadWorld, released next year, why don't you look at this lovely boxart? It features a man wielding a massive chainsaw, ready to carve off someone's head/limbs. Sticking to the black, white and red theme, the entire boxart is in black-and-white with the only red on the logo and chainsaw. Very Schindler's List.

See a bigger version here.

Sega set to release MadWorld in Australia

Earlier today Sega made an announcement saying that they are determined to release MadWorld in Australia, despite reports in the past saying they would not release the game in any sensitive markets.

The game is unlikely to see release in Japan or Germany, but issues regarding the Australian release were clarified today:

"In response to recent reports regarding the Australian release of MadWorld, SEGA Australia would like to clarify that we are currently planning on releasing MadWorld to the Australian market. We believe MadWorld will be an asset to the industry and will do what we can to support its release in our territory."

If the game is rated by the Australian Classification Board, it should see release in early 2009.

New MadWorld control information emerges

Yesterday a PR rep for Sega reported that Platinum Games "hadn't really gotten the motion controls down yet". The fact that MadWorld was not playable was so that journalists didn't get bored with the controls, and start labelling them "unintuative". Sega wants to finalise the controls before letting the public play it, say Kotaku.

A concern of Sega is that people will tire of MadWorld before they have even played it, due to its violence and quirky graphics. With so little facts on the game, members of the press are quickly writing the game off as a violent blood-fest with no story.

Sega has confirmed that the game does have a story, but it does not want to give too much away. I wonder if the idea for sawing heads off and throwing corpses into giant fans came before or after the plot was written?

MadWorld, for the family-friendly Wii.

MadWorld's controls get reworked

Platinum Games is said to be reworking the controls for its latest game, MadWorld, according to Joystiq. The news comes from Nintendo's Media Summit, where the game was being displayed but was not playable.

There is speculation as to whether the controls are being reworked due to technical problems (which has been an issue with the Wii controller in the past), or because they are just being improved.

Platinum Games has said that they are working closely with the ESRB in order to achieve an "M" rating, so that the ultra-violent game actually sees release. Previously, violent games such as Manhunt 2 have not been released in some regions or have been severely delayed. Sega says there are no plans to release the game in Japan, Germany or Australia.

Whatever the reason for the changes, the game will still give us all new ways to saw heads and limbs off people. Joy.