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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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 A video game depicting Jesus fighting Mohammed was withdrawn after protests.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
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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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.
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.
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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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!
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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