News Blips: Mafia 2 Offends Italians, PSN Date Set for Castle Crashers, Crysis 2 Special Editions, and More

Everyone's too sensitive these days. It won't be long before the Italians sue Nintendo for making Mario a negative stereotype.

News Blips:

Mafia 2 offends Italians. Yes, really. An Italian-American Advocacy group has demanded that Take Two stop the release of their upcoming open-world mobster game in order to remove all references to Italians and Italian-Americans. They worry that the game's negative stereotypes of Italian-Americans will influence young people into thinking that all Italians are no-good, double-crossing mobsters. OK, those were my words, not theirs. But I'm Italian, and I also find these stereotypes insulting and hurtful. Now excuse me while I eat some pasta and make a lot of hand gestures while I talk. [1UP.com]

Castle Crashers get crackin' on the PlayStation Network. The popular Xbox Live Arcade title finally has a PSN release date. The game hits retail on August 31 for $15. If you have not crashed any castles yet, this is your big chance. [Joystiq]

Crysis 2 gets a special edition and a really special edition. There must be some new law I don't know about making it illegal for games to release without a special edition. Crysis 2 will get two. The Limited Edition costs no more than the standard version of the game, and it includes bonus in-game content like bonus XP and a fancy weapon skin. The Nano Edition costs $149.99. It comes in a special steel case with an art book, backpack, and an 11-inch statue of something called "The Prophet." [1UP.com]

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow whips itself into shape on October 5. Konami has announced that their latest Castlevania title hits North American stores on October 5. The game will also receive DLC, although I just assume that all big Playstation 3/Xbox 360 releases will come with DLC at this point. [Joystiq]

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Michael Pangelina

August 19, 2010

How the fuck are people still pissed about Italians being depicted as mobsters when we have shit like Jersey Shore on TV.

Jason Wilson

@Michael I'd be pissed if a game's villains were a group of Jewish bankers secretly pulling strings in the halls of power to rule the world.

Juan Letona

@all UNICO has a right to their opinion, and take2 has a right to create a game based on a overused stereotype.

Chas Guidry

@Michael: UNICO National, the group complaining about Mafia II, is actually incredibly active is speaking out against the ridiculous Jersey Shore.

Mike Minotti

There is far more sympathy for Italian Americans here than I thought there would be.

Eh, sometimes I wish everybody could be as thick-skinned and light-hearted as I am. At least you guys get a game that's somewhat based in reality. I've never seen a real mexican parachute off a building and pull himself to the ground with a grappling hook.

Seriously, Italian Americans are so firmly assimilated in this culture I think it's impossible for anyone to see one on the street and go "Oh my god, he's probably in the mob!". I could be wrong, but I think most people just go "Oh, hey, it's just another white dude." I don't think Mafia II's gonna change anyone's perspectives for the negative, especially considering it doesn't take place now.

August 21, 2010

@michael pangelina Which Mexican video-game character parachutes off a roof?

August 24, 2010

@Juan Is that Just Cause 2?

@Mike who knows, the wiki isn't very clear on the subject. Latino-lover-action star stereotype in full effect, which I learned from the wiki.