For a place that once deemed September 26 as Guitar Hero Day, you'd expect most New Yorkers to be pretty cool about games. We've got news that might startle you though, as the New York State Senate recently voted 61-1 to approve a bill that would make game ratings mandatory in the state of New York. Learn more after the jump!

It seems that Rockstar's own Vice President of Creativity, Dan Houser, has something to say about the recent boom in casual gaming. Before you ask, no, he actually appreciates what the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS are doing - but as far as casual games are concerned, you might as well color him unimpressed. Check out what Dan said in the full article and see what it means to you.

Marvel fans rejoice for Activision has let slip a few more details about Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 and Spider-Man: Web of Shadows. To discover more about these games swing on over to the full article by clicking on the "read more" link below.

We can always trust Square Enix to capitalize on the recent release of its spin-off to the famous Final Fantasy VII title, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. The company, in collaboration with Play Arts, will be featuring miniature action figures of Cloud Strife and several other characters at the upcoming New York Comic Convention 2008 this weekend. You can take a look at a preview of the Cloud figurine in our full article.

The recent Spider-Man games have all been free roaming, open-ended games. However, the games never really gave you a choice of becoming the bad guy. Activision is looking to change that with their latest game, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows. To find out more, head on over to the full article for more information.

It's all about Jose Reyes in the new promotional trailers released by 2K Sports for its latest hardcore baseball sim, Major League Baseball 2K8. The new series of videos, featuring a bobble-headed incarnation of the New York Mets shortstop, was aimed to promote the recently released game across its various platforms. You can take a look at the videos in our full article after the jump.

According to Newsweek's N'Gai Croal, the New York-based NPD Group will limit the data it releases to its non-paying customers starting with the October hardware sales data, which is due for release later this month. Hardware sales data will no longer be available every month, and the Top Ten SKUs charts will be cut in half. Hardware sales data as well as the Top Ten software titles will instead be released on a quarterly and yearly basis. Find out more at the full article.

 

Electronic Arts officially announced earlier today that the cover of FIFA Soccer 08 is to feature teen soccer star Jozy Altidore of the New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer), one of only five teen athletes to grace the covers of an EA-branded game. Altidore is also the second youngest in that shortlist at 17 years old, topped by Freddy Adu who was the cover athlete for FIFA Soccer 06 when he was 16 years old.

Also joining the cover athlete lineup will be 22 year old Guillermo Ochoa of the Mexican Primera Division, who will feature side-by-side with FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldinho for the North American versions of FIFA Soccer 08 (PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS, mobiles).

Expect to see these athletes in the covers of their respective versions by October 2007, when the EA SPORTS soccer title developed by EA Canada will be launching on multiple game platforms. The game has yet to be rated by the ESRB as of press time.

Independence Day aside, July 4 marks the canonization of Saint Ulrich of Augsburg, Saladin defeated Guy of Lusignan, the abolition of slavery in the state of New York, and the day Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was published.

But for otakus, hardcore and casual gamers, it could only mean one thing - it's time for Anime Expo. People who were able to join Anime Expo '07 definitely had a blast, but we can get our share of fun by looking at these cosplay snapshots from Siliconera.

  

On the left is what Siliconera brands as the best Final Fantasy related costume at the show. Looking at the detail put into it: the wings, and metal claw very close to Vincent's FFVII: Dirge of Cerberus look, saying so ain't a far shot. On the right is a bunch of Solid Snake wannabes, along with other cast from the Metal Gear Solid series. Props go to the Metal Gear Solid 4 version of Snake for looking the part, and we give special mention to the poor guy under the box.

More after the jump!

Game publisher Crave Entertainment is letting the word out via press wire that they'll be hosting an open house this Thursday, June 28 in New York. Among other things, the presentation will have the company showcasing their line-up of games being prepared for the Wii, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, and PSP:

• Brunswick Pro Bowling
• Napoleon Dynamite
• George of the Jungle
• Spelling Challenges and More
• Crayola Adventures
• Dave Mirra BMX Challenge
• Pinball Hall of Fame: the Williams Collection

Lunch and snacks are expected to be served at the event. Crave Entertainment's press day is expected to take place on the sixth floor of the Millennium Broadway Hotel, 145 West 44th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues), in New York City, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.