2008 in video gaming/April

**2008**
January • February • March • April • May • June • July
August • September • October • November • December

See 2008 for other events during the year.

##### MADD wants re rating Grand Theft Auto IV

Mothers Against Drunk Drivers released a statement today saying that they demand the Entertainment Software Ratings Board reclassify Grand Theft Auto IV as an Adults Only because the player has the option of driving drunk to complete the mission. However the player is also able to take a taxi. Read more

#### April 29, 2008 (Tuesday)

##### Grand Theft Auto IV released

Grand Theft Auto IV, one of the most hyped games of this generation, has been released worldwide. The game received a 10/10 from Gamespot and IGN Read more

#### April 28, 2008 (Monday)

##### Take two stocks worth more than EA offers

Today Take two stocks TTWO has reached over $26. This is more than EA had to offer for buying the shares in event of a takeover Read more

#### April 25, 2008 (Friday)

##### Brett Favre is on Madden 09 cover

Retired Packers QB Brett Favre has been chosen for the cover of Madden NFL 09 Read more

#### April 24, 2008 (Thursday)

##### Leland Yee sends press release about GTAIV

Prior to the release of Grand Theft Auto IV, California Sen. Leland Yee issued a press release warning that the game is M rated and should not be purchased by kids. He also claims that GTAIV may have some obscene content by relating the game to the GTASA hot coffee. Read more

#### April 23, 2008 (Wednesday)

##### IGN watermark found on Wii Okami's box art; Capcom makes limited-time offer for replacement

The recent release of Okami on the Wii was not without goofs. Apparently, some IGN-watermarked art was used to make the cover. The offer and instructions on instructions on how to redeem it are in the linked blog entry. Read more

#### April 22, 2008 (Tuesday)

##### PlayStation Home Delay

Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Kaz Hirai reports that the PlayStation Home Closed Beta will expand to Summer 2008. The reason for this is to develop a more quality service product. Read more

#### April 21, 2008 (Monday)

##### Mortal Kombat vs DC

The next Mortal Kombat game is going to feature characters from DC comics versus Mortal Kombat characters. Characters will not be having fatalities, a trademark in the Mortal Kombat series. Read more

##### Metal Gear Online Beta postpond

Konami's server recently was overloaded because of high traffic. So they have decided to postponed Metal Gear Online until they get a stable server. Read more

#### April 18, 2008 (Friday)

##### US study shows video games do not cause violence

Adam Sessler interviews Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl Olson's study on video games which cost $1.5 million dollars from the US government. The two researchers interview kids and found no evidence for crimes. They also said that psychologist studies are only on short term and measure a excitement response which goes away fast. The condition for psychologist studies are done in lab environments which poorly simulate real world situations. Playing video games are a marker of social competence. People who don't play games at all are at risk because of their social relationship. The researchers also have published a book called Grand Theft Childhood. Read more

#### April 17, 2008 (Thursday)

##### Quake Live needs play testers

In February 2008, Id Software and IGA announced Quake Live, a browser-based 'freemium' multiplayer version of the classic shooter. Testers will be given access to the QUAKE LIVE website and game, and also report feedback to developers. Read more

#### April 15, 2008 (Tuesday)

##### Battlefield Bad Company gets release date

Battlefield: Bad Company is being released on June 23. The game was under controversy when EA annouced that special weapons were available for purchase via Xbox Live or in the special Gold Edition of the game. EA now says that the weapons will be unlockable in the normal version and the gold edition will only have behind the scenes and the making of the game. Read more

#### April 10, 2008 (Thursday)

##### Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Limited Edition

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Limited Edition will only be available at GameStop. Konami also announced that a presell program which will offer a Metal Gear Saga Vol. 2 DVD while supplies last at selected stores Read more

#### April 9, 2008 (Wednesday)

##### Iron Man Trailer

Iron Man has a new trailer out. The trailer shows off game play cinematic and some of the gameplay mechanics. The game is based on the Iron Man movie and will come out on May 2 for various ports. Read more

##### Games for Windows Magazine ceases print publication

As part of the debt-reduction strategy mentioned earlier, Games for Windows: The Official Magazine, previously known as Computer Gaming World will become an online-only publication. Read more

#### April 8, 2008 (Tuesday)

##### New Trailer on GameTrailer

This friday Insomniac Games and Sony Computer Entertainment are going to be posting trailers for Resistance 2. Other trailers that will be shown are Soul Calibur IV, and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Read more

#### April 7, 2008 (Monday)

##### Legend of Zelda Manga Gets English Release

The Legend of Zelda Manga written by Akira Himekawa will be released in English on October 7, 2008. The series trace the Ocarina of Time story line and will be published by Viz Media. Read more

#### April 2, 2008 (Wednesday)

##### Sony phases out the SIXAXIS in favour of DualShock 3

Sony has confirmed that the SIXAXIS controller is no longer being manufactured. A Sony rep was quoted as saying "Sixaxis will no longer be offered after it's completely sold through at retail (likely by the summer timeframe)". Read more

##### New Study: Game Violence Makes Players Less Angry

292 male and female World of Warcraft players, aged between 12 and 83, were given a questionnaire on anger, aggression and personality. The participants then played the game for two hours and completed the survey yet again. Results report that individuals more likely to feel calm or tired after playing Read more

#### April 1, 2008 (Tuesday)

##### Ubisoft joins Steam

Valve and Ubisoft is now teaming up to provide games on steam. Read more

## Releases

April 29

* GTA IV

April 22

* Turok (PC)

April 15

* Okami (Wii)
* Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (PS3)
* Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (PC)

April 8

* Team Fortress 2 (PC)
* Portal (PC)