Platinum Games' MadWorld wants to surprise with arcade-styled gameplay, unique graphics -- and murderous finishing moves. Comic book graphics in black and white and plenty of gore held in red serve as MadWorld's most characteristic feature. Due to the game's violent nature, SEGA's ultimate goal is to achieve an M rating from the ESRB, and they hope to be successful. Violent-sensitive countries like Germany or Australia, and MadWorld's native market, Japan, may even never see a release.

SEGA is working closely together with the ESRB showing them regularly new builds of MadWorld and taking note of their feedback. Making the ESRB "part of the process" of MadWorld's development is to make sure that SEGA can walk along the outer lines of the Mature rating regarding the depiction of violence. A release in the Unites States is planned in March 2009.

Platinum Games' native market, Japan, only sees a release if the game went well overseas in North America -- if at all. Really bad news for Germans, though: The ban hammer has already crushed hopes that MadWorld (or House of the Dead: Overkill or Golden Axe) will ever be released in their home country. Apparently, the same applies to our dear Aussie gamers.