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Video Games: The Good and the Bad
More and more studies are reporting the benefits of video games. Games like Wii Fit have been reported to have lead people to healthy living. It seems video games also boost thinking skills. The U.S. National Science Foundation is funding a study on whether the elderly benefit from video games in terms of memory and thinking skills.
North Carolina State University and the Georgia Institute of Technology hope that the results of their study will help to develop a video game that increases thinking skills in the aged.
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Video Games: Changing The Face Of The Library
The library has always been a place or silence, serenity and peace. The face of the modern library is changing, however and the energy of video games has a place here too. Modern libraries stock both printed books and video games. The process of archiving and collecting video games has been started in a number of libraries, nationwide.
Surveys show that a growing number of libraries have PC games at their locations to be checked out and many have console games as well. The fact that a place for learning is becoming a home to gaming is interesting. Libraries are offering video games so that they succeed in their role as a community hub. In addition as times change, services offered must change as well.
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The Video Game Fitness Rage
The Video Game is no longer a great way to acquire a pair of spectacles alone. It is also a great way to get fit. Wii Fit from Nintendo scaled great heights of popularity. This was a welcome surprise to people who like fitness. More and more games on fitness are being released. Wii Fit has seen over 6 million copies fly off the shelves which have trained people in Yoga, Strength Training and also aerobics.
Indiana University and the University of Mississippi are looking into the viability of video games as a fitness tool. Less than 40 percent of Americans get enough exercise. Whether you exercise using Wii Fit or in some other way you benefit. Wii Fit has helped a lot of people to shape up.
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Do Some Video Game Inculcate Values?
There are two sides to a coin. Just as video games are said to make children violent, so some video games can make children kinder. These are pro social video games. In such games characters support and help each other.
As a result of three separate studies which have been conducted in different countries with different age groups and many scientific methods, it is suggested that playing games with pro social content lead to helpful behaviour in the children.
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Wii Fit Sales Skyrocket and Televisions Past Is Gaming’s Future
15 million units in 13 months, those are the sales figures for Wii Fit. Players of video games also like to remain fit and Wii Fit has taken advantage of that. At E3 Nintendo announced that Wii Fit Plus would also be launched later this year. As America’s bestselling game since it was introduced, Wii Fit has a number of innovative features.The balance board is sensitive to postural shifts and can be used for many exercises, games as well as weight measurement. Wii Fit Plus is to be even more accurate in its measurements. Continue reading
Controversial Video Games
There have been a number of controversial video games released lately. One begins to wonder is this is part of the marketing and arrives at the answer…yes it is. But how much should the video game makers sacrifice of ethics to make their video games sell? Rapelay is one such video game on the subject of rape. It has sparked a huge amount of discussion on the internet and sparked a furore when it became available on Amazon.com
There are other topics that scout controversy. The recent video game on a Hindu god sparked outrage among groups who felt it was a topic that should be left untouched. A video game depicting Jesus fighting Mohammed was withdrawn after protests. There are many more such games out there. Continue reading
All roads to video game paradise lead to Ottumwa
Many people are now saying that Ottumwa is the video game capital of the world. Many things are being put into place to get back the long lost title to Ottumwa.
There was a gathering of people at the Ottumwa Chamber of Commerce to discuss the possibilities. Director Terry McNitt says there is a lot of interest and movement in this area. In the early 1980′a Ottumwa was a great place for arcade games.
Agressive Behaviour Can Be The Result Of Racing Games
Racing games can be more responsible for aggressive behavior than shooting games. Driving games result in the activation of more regions in the brain which are connected to emotional processing. This study was conducted by Simon Goodson and Sarah Pearson from the University of Huddersfield. In the study 30 adults were tested who were made to play either racing games or shoot em up’s.
They were measured emotionally in terms of heart beat, brain activity and breathing during the game. After the game, a questionnaire gave insight into their emotional state. Player of the Table Tennis game scored lower for aggression than those of the Shoot em up and Driving games.
Academics Unaffected By Video Games/Mobile Phones
A childs academic performance is unlikely to be negatively affected by either mobile phones or video games says new research. In a three year study on 12 year olds, it was found that cell phones did not adversely affect grades. The study was published by the IADIS, Barcelona, Spain.
Playing video games had a positive effect on visual-spatial skills. They did not seem to have any effect on mathematical skills. The child can think better in pictures and images due to video games. As a result they may perform better in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
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Children More Likely To Play Games With Warnings
Perhaps we should think about putting a warning on that Math book. The reason is this – Forbidden Fruit. Warning children that something is not good for them leads them to want it even more. Off-limits objects are demanded more according to a new study. 310 Dutch children were tested (ages 7 to 17). Fictitious game descriptions were read and then participants rated their eagerness to play the game.
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How Video Games Draw Students To Libraries
Video Games are now being successfully used to draw students to libraries. Des Moines public libraries are using Rock Band and two Nintendo Wii consoles in 6 libraries. More youth are being drawn with the help of this program since last summer. There are large turnouts at libraries and teens often ask about how to get books or a library card due to this new craze.
A Teen Tech Week is being planned between March 9-13 at the Des Moines library locations. Video games and other tech games can be played as well as cellular phone games can be played here.
Going through the best games of 2008
One of the best games of 2008 was Fallout 3. You can play it on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3. In the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust you battle for over a hundred hours and are thirsting for even more. If you got a little serious with Fallout 3, you delight yourself with LittleBigPlanet available for play on the PS3.
Rock Band 2 was a big hit of 2008, new songs were released every week of 2008. Some had fun as Niko Bellic in Grand Theft Auto IV who made the game really cool. Braid was another winner. available on the Xbox 360. Lost Odyssey was rich and emotional and took your imagination to another plane.
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How Music Video Games Are Helping Musicians
Music Video Games have pretty much changed the scape of the music world in a nice way. Bars are being turned into places where amateurs can play guitar and other instruments on video games like Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero. After release in these games, song sales have doubled.
Play God Again
Now video games are allowing you a whole new way to play god. Build your own planet. This groundbreaking new video game from Sony – LittleBigPlanet lets players create a world to interact in. In terms of pure gameplay the game is really simple. You get to control a big headed doll dubbed a Sackboy.
The doll runs, jumps and clings on surfaces. There are items scattered along the levels of the game that can be collected. Apart from the points gathered by collecting the goodies, they can lead to some amazing experiences.
This game is really high on potential. There is a good selection of levels as well as good narration by Stephen Fry the British Comedian. How good the game is depends on how good a player you are and that is it’s USP.
There are prizes across all levels. Well designed levels that are fun to play is what this game is about. The layouts are creative and the levels are fun and challenging. This is one charming and entertaining game. I bet once level sharing begins online then the real fun will begin.
Video Games and Books
A report by the NYT talks about the way in which authors, librarians and teachers are using video games to attract youngsters to reading. One such game is the Rings of Orbis. This game is tied to a series of sci-fi novels by PJ Haarsma. Players have to read PJ Haarsma’s novels to find their way through the game.
Some people say that video games are legitimate tools for learning while other say that they cheapen literature. Technology poses a threat to literature according to these people. Games cannot create fictional worlds as complex as those woven by literary geniuses. These worlds cannot be rendered correctly in video games. Video games do not go further than bettering hand eye coordination.
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New Video Game Study Points Out Benefits
Video games are not catalysts of teen violence. In fact social interaction is greatly enhanced with this modern day toy. This is the finding of a groundbreaking study. In the study, more that a thousand teens were asked questions that linked gaming experiences with civic activities and commitments of teens. The study was conducted by an organization called the Pew Internet and American Life Project.
There was a good amount of social interaction during gaming and engagement with the social world as well for teenagers. According to the study, 97 percent of teens played video games and this was a very important part of their social life. A lot of myths have been broken by this study. The study was authored by Amanda Lenhart.
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The Pet Video Game
Now you can eliminate problem behavior in dogs with Ubisoft’s new game. This game is based on Cesar Millans way of removing problematic behavior from dogs. This game releasing in Fall 2008 is designed for Nintendo DS and PC. Millans methodology is taught through interactive games. Owners can easily understand how their dog’s mind works with this game.
You have to face a number of different problems with your dog and with Millans assistance you learn to deal with them. Millan has worked as dog behavior expert for more than 20 years. He is best known as the host of Dog Whisperer.
Generation Uniting Behind Video Games
At one time it was series like The Wonder Years. Now it is video games. Video games are uniting this generation like never before. Television, music and movies have had their go at being a mass craze. If you walk down any local dormitory, you should see a number of video game sessions going on. Super Smash Bros Brawl, Portal, Guitar Hero and more are winning the imagination of the new generation.
The medium is the latest and newest. However that is not the only reason they are so popular at parties. They are bringing people together in novel ways. With games allowing 4 and eight people to play on a single screen, socializing has a whole new avenue. With online gaming, hundreds of competitors can play at once. With Rock Band you can live a dream without the hassles.
Better Quality, Lighter Video Game Images On The Way
A US San Diego Computer Graduate has made a breakthrough that may make better quality, lighter video game images possible. The images are free from sketch marks, moreover as well as flickering and other such issues. It seems that this new research will be easy to integrate into video games. The man in question is Alex Goldberg who is a computer science undergraduate. The other contributors to the research project were Matthias Zwicker and Fredo Durand.
U.S.: Video Game Sales up by 53%!
The virtual world seems to be a growing favorite with the people, with the sales of video game software and hardware rising to 53 percent in June since last year. The NPD report also revealed that it is especially due to Konami Corp’s ,”Metal Gear Solid 4” that the sale of Sony Corp’s Playstation 3 units has seen an enormous increase. Talk about a helping hand!
Take-Two Interactive Software Inc’s “Grand Theft Auto 4” had to give up its top spot as the best-selling game to “Metal Gear Solid 4” this June.GTA4 was reining at the top position since its release in April. This game by Konami has been designed exclusively for the PS3.Little surprise then that the sale of PS3 also showed a dramatic leap. PS3 sales saw a 94 percent increase from 208,700 consoles sold in May to 405,500 being sold in June.NPD analyst, Anita Frazer said that hardware system purchases are fuelled by exclusive content and the PS3 sales are a proof of the success of Metal Gear Solid 4.
Video Games: Affordable Fun!
With a price hike in almost everything around, families are looking for cheaper options for recreation and amusement. Household bills hardly leave you with enough to provide for entertainment. In come the video games that are not only entertaining but also an affordable alternative to a visit to the cinema or local restaurant.
The video games specialist, Game Group announced that business was at an all time high with the coming of a new generation of gaming consoles and titles. Games such as SingStar, a karaoke game are drawing a new set of customers who desire a personally interactive game. And it’s not just men who are into gaming as an entertainment option. More women are joining the fray day by day. Game Group said that its total sales in UK and other international stores were up by over 54 percent till June 28th. Continue reading
Gaming for a Living!
It’s a peaceful Sunday afternoon at the B&B Game Shop in Eureka. John Bass and Todd Hughes are all set to dominate the world-the ‘virtual world’. Perched on comfortable black sofas, their head gears on and holding the Xbox Live game controllers, the two are raring to have a go at the pick of the day-Halo 3. Their internet opponents are ready to battle it out.
This is their dream job. One they see for themselves in a perfect world. Their dream is not one of its kind. Many have dreamt of doing this as a career option. Seems crazy does it? Its not. The dream is hard but not impossible to achieve.
You will be surprised to know that there are hundreds of gamers in this world who play to earn their wages. Earning salaries, prize money and competing in tournaments and leagues, these people enjoy full support of sponsors and numerous endorsement contracts.
The people at e-sports boosters say that this is just the tip of the iceberg. The Championship Gaming Series is all set for the second season with six US teams fighting for a place in the world championship league in July. Joining the digital warfare would be top teams from the world over.
Like any other sport, there is an annual draft for this league as well. The player’s salary ranges from $15000 to $25000 annually. Not to mention the money coming in from endorsements and winnings. For example, the Chicago Chimera’s-last year’s winning team won $500,000.And once you earn yourself a name as a gamer, you can even earn up to $250,000 a year. Not a small amount for doing something you love to do anyway!
Geared up for Gaming?
The latest buzz in the virtual world a.k.a the world of video gaming is that “The Last Remnant” will be launched on the Xbox 360 first. The Xbox, Microsofts gaming system would see the RPG this winter before the PS3 version of “The Last Remnant” hits the gaming world as announced by Square Enix at a press conference.
Also aiming to cash in on the craze for role-playing games in Japan, Square Enix and Microsoft have announced a new endeavor called ‘Star Ocean: The Last Hope’. The game has a science fiction feel to it with humanity leading the way to a new universe after destroying planet Earth. Nothing surprising about that. Although slated for the Xbox 360 as of now, it seems common sense that a PS3 version should follow. Point to be noted-the game bears an uncanny resemblance to PS3’s ‘Star Ocean IV’; so much for originality!
The Perils of In-Game Advertising
The video game industry is faced with a grave threat. No, it is not piracy. The new threat to the gaming industry is in-game advertising. In-game advertising is the by product of rising game development costs. These costs have led to the search for alternate revenue. In this search, in-game advertising seems to be the answer.
Sony says dynamic in-game advertising is to be soon introduced in it’s titles. The in-game advertising revenue is touted to grow 1,150 percent in 5 years (between 2006 and 2011). It seems that the future will see every video game title incorporating advertising in it. This is not a good idea from the gamers POV but video game companies think it is a good idea. Continue reading
Electronic Age Caveman, Just Too Human
How do you turn your average bloke into an electronic age caveman? Just put a video game console around him. This is not just a rambling statement but one backed by brain activity research
Stanford University men of science tested participants by rigging them to an MRI scanner while they played a video game that needed them to win territory. Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus was the outcome of this experiment.
Pop A Pill, Exercise Or Play A Video Game
When middle age comes along there are just two options. Pop a vitamin pill or exercise. Now there seems to be a third option, though. Play a video game. Who knows a futuristic doctor might prescribe playing a video game rather than popping a pill!
A huge number of baby boomers are turning to video games in a quest to ease the body and mind. Not only are video games fun, but they also relieve stress, increase mental agility even help you socialize and give you a dose of healthy exercise.
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Get Off The Couch! And Play Your Wii!
The Wii Fit was inspired mainly by Sumo wrestlers. This is in line with the trend of getting you off the couch when playing your video games. The balance board of the Wii Fit resembles two scales fused together. Two is more fun than one in this case.
In Japan alone the game has sold more than 2 million copies. Nintendo is hoping to duplicate that success in America. This game veers from snowboarding to yoga in its effort to entertain and keep you fit. Meanwhile the Wii console is still difficult to find in stores.
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Wii Linux
Hackers have invaded the Wii! So Wii fans get ready for the rush! The Wii’s encrypryption keys have been toyed with by hackers and cracked! This makes the most popular video game console in the world able to play home brewed games and open source ports. There is also the possibility of a complete version of Linux on the Wii. Whee!
There is a video available on the internet that has been released by the 24th chaos communication congress which demonstrates a Wii operating arbitrary code. More information can be found in the WiiLi forums. http://www.wiili.org/forum/24c3-tweezer-attack-homebrew-mission-accomplished-t3197-s7.html
80′s Video Games Are Back (once again!)
Video games from the dreamy 1980′s are back courtesy a California company. This company sees profit in retro nostalgia rather than futuristic vision. Founded by Michael Ware, an ex Intel engineer, this business is internet based.
The project began 5 years back as a gift for his wife who just could not get over Pacman, and now has blossomed into a full time business which focusses on New age expressions of 1980′s video games.
The Christmas of Video Games
Once upon a time Christmas was about a hammer, tacks, Christmas trees and Santa Claus. Today Christmas is likely to see a video game console under the tree in the morning.
The Wall Street Journal reports that November saw a 62 percent increase in video game software sales. Gamers are really enjoying it this season.
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Brain Boosting Video Games
Toyota is developing games to stimulate and train the brains of old drivers. It is developing a car for the purpose of brain training. This is to avoid crashes by elderly drivers. This system is being developed in collaboration with the man who made Nintendo’s Brain Age hand held video games console.
According to this scientist – professor Ryuta Kawashima, the mental exercise in the game lead to better brain activity. These games have become very popular in Japan. Mathematics, reading and other tasks are used to test the age of the brain.
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Wii Shortage Addressed
If you have been out shopping for a Nintendo Wii, you know how difficult it is to find one. As soon as there is news of new shipments people camp in front of stores for them. On Friday, Reggie Fils-Aime, president and CEO, Nintendo of America addressed this issue in a telephone press conference.
Accoding to Fils-Aime so much demand for the Wii was not expected. Even though production has been almost doubled to 1.8 million from 1 million Wii’s every month, the Wii is not easily available. Fils-Aime denied allegations of Wii stockpiling.
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