Midway Games will release Blitz: The League in Europe on February 23, 2007, for the Xbox 360. This seems like a good move because the game has enjoyed positive reception in the American market even though the game doesn't have an NFL license (i.e., the teams and people are not real NFL entities but are made-up ones like Orlando Hammerheads and the Baltimore Bearcats).

Even though there were complaints about the "rubberband AI" (the computer opponent becomes a very-hard-to-beat late-game juggernaut if the human player is leading), the game is very fun and full of bone-crushing and hard-hitting action (first down is at 30 yards instead of 10, so there's plenty of chances to get injured, hehe).

In other words, The League is all about cruel, no-holds-barred football. (That's why the game got rated out of the market in Australia.) Of course, you can take the adrenaline levels even higher by playing online on Xbox Live. And the achievements are challenging, too. If you want to learn more about the game, you can always watch the trailer we posted earlier.

The League starts American football legend Lawrence Taylor as Quentin Sands. Bill Romanowski plays linebacker Bruno Batagglia. The game will sell for around £29.99 (about US$ 59).

Around a week ago we reported to you folks about the pseudo-ban made on the Xbox 360 sports title, Blitz: The League. Recently, Julian White, the Managing Director of Red Ant Enterprises, an Aussie publisher, commented on IGN on the lack of an 18+ rating for games in Australia. He said:

This is very disappointing for gamers once again due to the antiquated guidelines the OFLC are forced to operate under. The Howard Government needs to amend these guidelines and understand that the majority of gamers are over 18.

White goes on to say that by not having a rating system that allows for 18+ games - something that most of the western world has - Australian gamers are being discriminated against. Here's his words:

By not addressing this issue, gamers are being discriminated against by a few minorities that are just plain ignorant

As White has said, you really can't blame the OFLC in this circumstance, as they are merely implementing the rules that are already established. If anything is to happen, it has to start with the higher ups listening to the concerns of those who find high-profile bans like this inconvenient. IGN claims that this adds further fuel to popular sentiment that the gaming industry in Australia is behind the times.

Of course, we now wonder what other governments and entities would have to say about this.

Midway's Xbox 360 sports title, Blitz: The League is going through a bit (severe understatement) of trouble down under. Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) has refused classification for Midway's American football title, effectively banning it from sale.

GameSpot reports that the official ruling from the OLFC states that the game was refused classification because of in-game drug use. The OLFC board report states:

In the course of the game, the player may access what are purported to be both legal and illegal performance-enhancing drugs for the members of the team. Choosing to use these drugs (by selecting from a menu) will have both negative and positive effects on team-members, for example, by improving their speed while making them more susceptible to injury. Each drug has different characteristics. Fake urine samples may also be acquired for avoiding positive drug tests. While the game-player can choose not to use the drugs, in the Board’s majority view there is an incentive to use them. By using them judiciously, the player can improve the performance of the football team (while managing the negative effects) and have a better chance of winning games, thereby winning bets and climbing the league table.

The local distributor for Blitz: The League, Red Ant Enterprises, has yet to decide if it will appeal the ruling. Marketing manager Ivone Bozzi had this to say:

At this stage we haven't decided if we are going to go ahead and appeal it. Quite a shame, as we did get some fantastic feedback from retail. It was unfortunately one of those games that are touch-and-go.

The Australian Computer Games Table of the National Classification Code states that titles that "depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults" will be denied classification.

One more game to the growing list of games denied down under. Here's to imports.

Xbox Live sure isn't letting up in its hustling and bustling activities for the start of the new year. For those of you who haven't noticed yet, the downloadable demo of Blitz: The League is already available for your playing satisfaction.  And guess what...it's absolutely free!

Uh-huh. No need to use up any Microsoft Points for this one. However, it's only available in Canada and the U. S. Oh, and as for the Xbox Live Silver members in the said regions, you'll have to wait a week for the content to be available. We don't have any word as to if and when this demo will be out in the U. K. But, hey, we have the U. K. packshot for you instead. That'll have to do...for now, at least.

"Go deep, go deep!" -- This phrase may sound obscene to those unfamiliar with football jargon and whatnots, and could lead to raised eyebrows if you hear two men saying it alternately, but really, it's only used to tell the other person to go farther down the field.

We don't even have to explain this to you guys but I couldn't think of any other intro for this article so there. (Bwahaha, snaps for my brutal honesty, eh?) Anyway, all we really wanna say in this post is that Blitz: The League has shipped to retail stores everywhere and is now up for grabs. So if you don't wanna tackle your way through the crowds, we suggest you head on to your local retailers right now and see if they already have copies of the game.

PSP users, though, would have to wait just a wee bit longer before they get their hands on Blitz: The League Overtime, 'coz the said game won't hit the shelves until December of this year. So if you're a football fan and you're sick and tired of all the licensor-censored, watered–down football titles, Blitz could just be the title yer lookin' for.

You are all familiar with a game's achievements system. You all know as well how we post those articles here: A long list of things to do and the number of points to earn after doing it. But for Blitz: The League, it's going to be quite different. Developer Midway Games has always maintained that their title rings more truth than any NFL game does. Matter of factly, football is sometimes dirty, grotesque and violent. A different game like Blitz deserves nothing, of course, but a different article as well.

The development team at Midway claims they had a blast creating the achievements system. Rush for 100 yards or Defend the Cup are definitely out of the question as they are too normal and usual. Accordingly, the system is more entwined with the storyline as achievements can be won by continuously getting escorts and gambling. Designers also reveal that as much as there are positive achievement points, there would be a number of negative ones as well.

What excites us the most is The Burning Sensation. This particular achievement requires players to go online and find a player that has the burning sensation virus. Engaging in an online game may or may not get you the virus? In case you are wondering what needs to be done for this specific achievement, here's a clue: the number points to be won is 69. Hmmm...

For more information regarding Blitz: The League, specifically its achievements system, kindly download the video below.

Download: [Blitz: The League Achievements System]
Buy: [Blitz: The League]

Men throwing footballs at each other, catching them, and then piling up on top of each other as they try to reach the far end of the playing field. For all its complexities, you have to admit: that's the essence of football right there in that one paragraph.

Like it or not, it's time to tackle some of the hard issues of the day. It's time we touch down on the finer points of sportsmanship. It's time we... oh who am I kidding? FOOTBALL IS WILD! It gets even more insane when you play it Midway-style with Blitz: The League because it's football minus the rule against beating your opponent senseless. Sure, it's wrong, but it's a whole lot better than trying that for real with actual jocks.

While we're waiting for the game's release in late October, why not enjoy some action first? Take a quick peek at the stuff you can do (and the damage you can inflict) in the game in this 42-second trailer. Enjoy!

The Bringing it Home campaign is in full force today for day 10 and although there aren't any demos there are plenty of videos to check out for upcoming games. There are five trailers for upcoming games, three videos for Saint's Row, a picture pack and some downloadable content for LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy. All of the trailers and videos are free of course as well as the X06 Picture Pack.

The downloadable content is the LEGO Star Wars II 360 Downloadable Character Pack, which cost 200 Microsoft Points and will give you access to all the characters that you earn from beating the first LEGO Star Wars game. So go ahead and check out the full video list below and if any of it tickles your fancy be sure to check it out on the Marketplace.

Trailers/Videos:

• Bringing it Home: Arcade Montage
• Bringing it Home: John Woo Presents Stranglehold
• Bringing it Home: Blitz the League
• Bringing it Home: F.E.A.R.
• Bringing it Home: Army of Two Trailer
• Saint's Row-Mayhem Video Strategy
• Saint's Row-Insurance Fraud Video Strategy
• Saint's Row-Hitman Video Strategy
  

What does it take to be the coverboy for Blitz: The League? Admit to using steroids, hit a teammate in the face, break an opponent's eye socket, and then spit in his face in front of national TV. Looks like Romanowski's their posterboy. Actually, he is! Along with Lawrence Taylor, an NFL Hall of Famer and admitted crack addict. Cool huh?

Midway's Blitz: the League are for the boys and girls who know what really goes on, in and outside the game. You'll see quite a lot of drinking, partying, fighting in clubs after matches. You'll even have your own little menu for steroids and drugs. Illegal moves are pretty much legal in this game; facemasks, personal fouls, and knees to the stomach. Looks more like WWE and UFC than football.

You can play with Bill Romanowski as Bruno Batagglia; customize players, cities, and team logos; yes, you can take all the booze and pigskin online as well. Time to kick Madden 07's wholesome butt? Hmmm...we'll see by October when this game gets out.

You want screenshots and videos? You got it, just don't tell us we didn't warn you.

    

  

Download: [Blitz: The League Trailer]

We've all been basically going with "US Thanksgiving Week" for a release date of the Nintendo Wii,. However, Midway's list of E3 titles and approximate dates has Blitz: The League set for a date closer to the Canadian Thanksgiving (October for those who don't know). This might just be an oversight, but we can still hope! Anyway, here are the titles that Midway will be showing off next week.

Blitz: The League (Xbox 360, Wii, PSP) - October 2006
This will be an entry in the popular Blitz series. The arcade-style football game will follow the story of a harsh, fictional football league. Why not the NFL you ask? Because EA bought the exclusive rights to that!

Happy Feet (PlayStation 2, Gamecube, Wii, Game Boy Advance, DS, PC) - November 2006
Happy Feet will be based on the upcoming film of the same name by Warner Bros. You will play as Mumble, a penguin born into a nation of singing Emperor Penguins who sing to mate. Mumble is a horrible singer, but a wonderful tap dancer. You'll follow the storyline of the movie in this interactive adventure.

The Ant Bully (PlayStation 2, Gamecube, Wii, Game Boy Advance,  PC) - July 2006; Wii Version in November 2006
Another game based on an upcoming film by Warner Bros, The Ant Bully features a boy called Lucas who bullies ants. Ironically, he's turned into an act and must live among them. You will play as Lucas and follow the plot of the movie.