In other words, it’s China Crackdown time, which is also known as “Tuesday” to the rest of the world. The country’s already swatted World of Warcraft (or one of its expansions, anyway), and more than 200 online games were smashed as part of a national birthday celebration back in October. This time, the country’s Ministry of Culture wants a content cleanup to make sure the games properly support approved political and cultural themes.

The ministry’s memo said violent games “have adversely influenced consumers and especially the physical and mental health of minors.” It also ordered game companies to knock off the killin’, both of humans and nonhumans. In particular they want them to refrain from “low-brow cultural content that is having a negative effect on the healthy development of the industry.”

Low-brow content that retards game development? Such as those fake Donkey Kong machines y’all sent us a while back?

China in Violent Content Crackdown [Develop]

Well, not literally STFU, but one imagines that’s heavily implied with this kind of boilerplate, uttered by a Microsoft spokesperson on Friday to Canada’s Financial Post.

“Piracy is illegal and modifying an Xbox 360 is a violation of the Xbox Live Terms of Use. Microsoft is well within its legal rights to ban these users from Xbox Live.”

No suit’s been filed, remember. I think the firm involved in this saw the claims that a million XBL users were caught in the blast and went beating the bushes figuring at least some lucrative percentage of those were innocent. While Microsoft hasn’t specified the total number of pirates banz0red, it’s cast doubt on rumours that it was, in fact, seven figures’ worth.

Microsoft Stands Firm in Face of Possible Lawsuit Over Xbox Live Bans [Financial Post]

Highlights of the fix include:

• Fixed performance problem when rendering lots of decals, notably when fighting tanks with shotguns
• Fixed rcon response not working on Linux dedicated servers
• Fixed matchmaking problem matching into Advanced and Expert games
• Fix bug that would cause other specials to try to pummel a player a Charger disconnects or reconnects
• Fixed versus mode results panel being cut off in transition stats screen in non-english
• Found games: fixed non-player entries drawing the wrong type of icon in the selected item name label
• Game mode selector on main menu now takes keyboard input

There’s more via Steam.

Left 4 Dead 2 Patch Update [Steam via VG247]

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Jason Kingsley, the CEO, said:

Despite rumours, Rebellion has always been planning to support dedicated servers for Aliens vs Predator PC and we can now officially confirm that this is the case. Rebellion has always appreciated fan support. We’re really looking forward to the release of Aliens vs Predator as much as you guys are!

I’m not sure the earlier report was “rumour” as much as it just left a question unanswered. Regardless, you can expect dedicated servers in this game if that’s how you roll in multiplayer.

I am wondering, a little, if Rebellion waiting to see how much hell Infinity Ward would catch for its decision to drop dedicated servers in Modern Warfare 2, then DICE cashing in on the controversy by vowing dedicated server support, and decided the latter was their better marketing option.

Dedicated Servers for Aliens vs. Predator [GamesIndustry.biz, thanks Warboy]

Well, it was also called “the coming surprise”, and, you know, ew. Alright, that was lifted out of context for a cheap laugh. Here’s the verbatim post on Mass Effect 2’s official fan page on Facebook:

Man, so much time tied up today in meetings and “secret stuff” I didn’t get any time with ME2 at all. =( Still with the coming surprise for next week on the ME2 website, I’m sure fans will forgive me for no update. Did I, Evil Chris Priestly, just drop a hint? Yes. Yes I did.

Read literally, that could mean it wasn’t Chris Priestly dropping a hint, but in fact it was Evil Chris Priestly his palette-swap nemesis from planet Zantrar 5.

Mass Effect on Facebook [via Hot Blooded Gaming]

Says Mathew Everett, the Pandemic Community Manager, in a message on Saturday afternoon:

I am very proud to communicate today that The Saboteur has officially gone “GOLD” on all 3 planned platforms (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 & PC). This has been a very difficult week for Pandemic Studios, but does not change the fact that a team of amazing people worked very hard to make The Saboteur a great game that fans will be able to enjoy this holiday season. As planned, The Saboteur will be available across Europe starting December 4 and throughout North America on December 8. Vive La Resistance!

G4 spoke to a company rep who confirmed that lack of dates for PC versions was no accident. “No plans for PC at this point,” said Capcom. And that was that.

That means no costumes, no new episodes, no new Mercenaries multiplayer, zip. You want that, grab the console version, or wait for Capcom to change their minds, I guess.

Resident Evil 5 Downloadable Content Not Planned For PC Version “At This Point” [G4 via VG247]

The closure is apparently tied to the end of funding from a primary NIMF source, Fairview Health Services, which had committed $US750,000 annually to the Institute. WCCO-TV of Minneapolis reported that Fairview Health Services knew back in the summer that, in light of the current economy, “We can’t continue” supporting NIMF.

NIMF was known for its annual Video Game Report Card, released around this time of year. The 2008 report gave an A grade to the ESRB, for its new game rating summaries; a B+ to retailers, for following rating and sales policies, and an “incomplete” to parents for not availing themselves of parental controls or closely following what their kids play.

While NIMF occasionally blasted the odd violent video game here or there, at least it wasn’t part of the tinhorn orchestra that obligated the ESRB and retailers to do all the parenting by themselves. Game Politics notes that the Entertainment Software Association gave NIMF a $US50,000 grant last year.

In a statement, NIMF said it hopes to continue its programs and research through other non-profit organizations.

NIMF to Close at Year End [Game Politics]

“The PC version of Modern Warfare 2 has actually outsold the PC version of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare in its first week”, IW’s Robert Bowling posted on the company’s message boards. “Making it the most successful PC version.”

The quote was made in response to claims that the PC version of the game accounts for only 3 per cent of MW2’s total sales, Bowling adding “Essentially, all this percentage proves is that the console versions sold great, not that the PC version sold poorly”.

3% of overall sales [Infinity Ward]

“We didn’t release the number,” Xbox Live GM Marc Whitten told VentureBeat. “I cannot explain to you why people would think it was a million people. It wasn’t a million people”.

So those who had money on it being one million, sorry. You’re out. Until the cold day in hell Microsoft actually discloses the figures, though, those with money on it being 999,999 or 1,000,001, you’re still in the running!

Microsoft’s Xbox Live chief on banning modders and browsing Facebook photos on TV [VentureBeat]