Rehabilitation is unfortunately most times a slow and painful process. Many people have to go through tough sessions for months or even years and sometimes it can be hard to keep focused on the exercise.

Researchers are looking for different ways to help with this process and now some have turned to video games.

Games have proven successful in helping to rehabilitate burn victims and now it seems games might also be beneficial for stroke victims.

The Stroke Outcomes Research Unit at St. Michael’s Hospital in Canada is conducting a study involving the use of Wii games for the treatment of patients recovering from a stroke. By playing games using the WiiMote, patients can exercise while enjoying themselves and this helps them in staying engaged with their rehabilitation.

The study involved 20 patients who were divided in two groups. One group practiced traditional recreational therapy and the other played either Wii Tennis or Wii Cooking Mama. According to the researchers, patients who were assigned to the Wii therapy experienced 30% more improvement than those who underwent traditional therapy.

Another advantage pointed out by the researchers is that Wii consoles are available almost anywhere in contrast to traditional rehabilitation equipment. 

A new and larger study is under way to further analyze the effectiveness of this approach but it already shows a lot of promise. Aside from being innovative, the Wii has proven helpful in several other fields and I’m sure this will open the doors into other fields for video games.

Read [BusinessWeek] Also read [CNET]

Full Story » | Written by Christian Morlotte for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Since its beginning, video games and their culture have been mostly directed at men. Most video games are developed by teams composed mainly of men and explore subjects appealing mostly to men. This makes males the target audience for most of the titles and this cycle, perpetuated by profits, cause developers to focus on men.

Some recent titles with a more general appeal such as Guitar Hero, Rock Band or Wii Fit, have made video games more interesting for girls but even now the idea of a gamer girl isn’t very common. Or is it?

Apparently there are more women gaming on a daily basis than you would think. In a study conducted by Q Interactive and Engage! Expo, more than 700 women were interviewed and asked about their gaming habits. The study showed that more than 50% of them play video games regularly.

Even though the study revealed that more than half of them like video games, many of them think that it is not socially acceptable. Two thirds of the women interviewed think gaming carries a social stigma and 16% even admitted to hiding their gaming habits because of this.

So maybe the notion that girls don’t like games is wrong after all. Maybe it’s harder for them because of the way society see’s these things.

Next time you’re on a date and think about talking about the latest video game, don’t scrub that idea entirely. Who knows, maybe under that hard exterior, this girl is actually a level 80 paladin at Warcraft, or has a collection of Pure Platinum’s on Bayonetta. If you’re bringing up the subject though, just wait until you’re somewhere private because if you ask her in public she might deny everything.

Read [CNET] Also read [BizReport]

Full Story » | Written by Christian Morlotte for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Natsume’s pretty proud of how its Harvest Moon games are doing on the Wii. See, Nintendo Channel users’ play data is collected by the system, to let people know what some of the most played games are, keep track of what games they play most and issue recommendations. It turns out that Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility, the first Wii Harvest Moon game, is a pretty much permanent fixture among the top 10 most played Wii games.

Natsume put together the stats to back this information up in a press release you can read on Gamasutra. It turns out over 1 million hours of play time have been logged by all Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility players. 1,726,252 and counting, if you want to get specific. Each player averages around 49 hours each, but then that number may have grown to 50 by now.

Apparently, Harvest Moon: Animal Parade could catch up to it’s big brother Tree of Tranquility. Natsume didn’t mention how many hours so far have been logged by Nintendo Channel users, but did mention that every Animal Parade user has played around 39 hours.

I admit it. I’m one of the reasons Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility is among the top ten most played Wii games. I’m also one of the reasons Harvest Moon: Animal Parade is moving it’s way up the list too. I’ve played Tree of Tranquility for 47 hours and 46 minutes and Animal Parade for 72 hours and 14 minutes. Wow… put that all together and I’ve spent two days playing Tree of Tranquility and three days playing Animal Parade. In all fairness, it isn’t until at least hour 15 that you start to get your farm to your liking and perhaps even come close to getting a husband (or wife, if you prefer).

When you think about it, the Harvest Moon Wii games offer a lot of value for the money. Sure, you’ll probably pay around $49.99 for each of them, but then you’ll also probably play each game for at least 40 hours!

Read [Gamasutra] Also Read [Kotaku]

Full Story » | Written by Jenni Lada for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

While many video games including FIFA or Madden already address the average couch quarterback or striker, Canadian Bent 360 has designed a game aimed at people who are actually at a sports event.

CrowdWave is a system that allows people at a sports arena to participate in a video game by moving their bodies. The system is composed of a series of cameras and motion sensors that analyze the movements and position of bodies in a crowd. This way the crowd can point their bodies in the right direction and manipulate objects in a game.

A number of interactive games can be played on the big screens at sports arenas, creating an entertaining activity for spectators during breaks in the action.

The system has already made a debut at a hockey arena in Ottawa, Canada. Between periods, the scoreboard shows a game that puts the crowd in control of a hockey goalie and they have to move their bodies in the right direction in order to block the shots coming at him.

Kinda makes Project Natal, the Wii MotionPlus and whatever Sony calls it’s new motion control scheme look small, eh?

This sounds really fun and I think it would be a great addition to any sports venue. Breaks in a game are mostly used for bathroom or beer runs and the rest of the time everybody just sits around waiting for the game to start again )pr hope they aren’t forced to smooch someone on the JumboTron). A system like this could turn those boring times into something the crowd looks forward to.

I really hope this catches on soon. It would be awesome to see thousands of people moving and playing a game together and, with some clever ideas, this could become a highlight of any sports event.

Read [Vancouver Sun] Site [Bent 360]

Full Story » | Written by Christian Morlotte for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

A long time ago board games were all the rage.

People used to sit around a table and spend hours throwing the dice, spinning wheels and flipping cards while moving the little pieces around a board. With the appearance of video games, for many people the focus changed from a table to the TV and now several of those board games are a thing of the past (or ironically turned into video games).

Now, thanks to a couple of Canadian researchers, board games may be making a come back.

Roel Vertegaal and Eric Akaoka, of Queen’s University, are developing a way to make interactive board games in a whole new way. By using a projector and a motion tracking camera they can create interactive playing cards that react to motion and their position in relation to other cards. An image is projected on the cards and the camera tracks their motion so when they are in the right position, like next to another card, the images on both cards interact.

One example shows a group of soldiers on a card moving to the one next to it and attacking the soldiers there, while another example shows an awesome animation where an object is poured from one card to another.

According to the researchers, the images displayed on the cards could be created with e-ink or even by using Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) displays so that they could be used anywhere without the need for a projector.

This technology is one of the coolest thing I’ve seen in a long time and it could totally revive board games including Risk or Monopoly or even more traditional games including chess or backgammon.

This is in its earliest stages and it’s already impressive, so I can’t wait to see what other clever uses they can come up with. I guess we’re finally a step closer to getting the awesome game played on the Millenium Falcon.

Read [The Vancouver Sun] Also Read [CNET] Site [Human Media lab]

Full Story » | Written by Christian Morlotte for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

A new study in the Cerebral Cortex journal suggests that people not be doing well in games just because they’ve built up their skills, they’re doing well because their brains are bigger. A team of researchers from the University of Illinois, University of Pittsburgh and Massachusetts Institute of Technology conducted a study at the University of Illinois that monitored 39 adult participants as they played a game specially created for the study.

There were two versions of the game created for the study, and the people involved would be asked to play one of the two. In one version, they would be given a single goal or task to achieve. In the other, they’d have to keep attending to multiple tasks and not focus on a single endeavor. The researchers then used an MRI to look at the brains of the people taking part in the study.

It turned out that the people who’s brains were larger did better than the people with smaller brains. For example, a participant with a large nucleaus accumbens did better when there was a single goal, and a participants with a large caudate or putamen did better when they had to do more than one thing at a time.

The whole goal of the study was to test cognitive ability, and what kind of effect brain size can have an a person’s ability to learn and perform.

Read [Chicago Sun-Times] Also Read [CCTV International]

Full Story » | Written by Jenni Lada for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

I have wondered many times what makes someone a better gamer than the rest. I thought it was basically down to good reflexes and practice but, according to a recent study, it might all be in your head.

The study, published by the Cerebral Cortex Journal, was conducted in the US by the University of Illinois, the University of Pittsburgh and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Scientists from these universities found a relation between the size and development of a certain part of the brain and a person’s ability to perform at video games.

There is a general relation between brain size and intelligence in the animal kingdom so, the larger the animal, the smarter it is.  There are notable exceptions as in the case of humans, though. Even though a whale’s brain is bigger than ours, humans are thought to be smarter because the part of the brain that controls cognitive abilities is proportionally larger. In a similar fashion, a person’s ability at certain tasks can be identified from the size of the regions in the brain responsible for those tasks.

By performing a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan, scientists identify this region and accurately predict a person’s performance in a video game just by looking at the size of it. This region lies deep in the center of the brain and is also responsible for multitasking and learning new skills.

By identifying these regions in the brain, this study will help in understanding the way in which different people learn and also to better understand and possibly treat learning and memory deficiencies like dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Although the study showed a relationship, scientists agree that despite the size of this region it can be developed through training, so even though some people may be better equipped, the old saying that practice makes perfect still applies.

It’s interesting to see how the skills used in video games translate into real life activities. Even though I’m sure most people play mainly for fun, now we have another reason to practice.

I guess next time I play Ikaruga and die for the 100th time, instead of cursing the heavens and quitting, I can try once more and think of it as a workout.

No in-game pain, no brain gain.

Read [BBC News] Also read [ZDNet]

Image credit: Cerebral Cortex Journal

Full Story » | Written by Christian Morlotte for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

The inner workings of our bodies are extraordinary processes and one of the most amazing is the way in which the body fends off harmful organisms. With this in mind, the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) has created a video game that turns these biological processes into a first-person shooter.

The free, downloadable PC game called Immune Attack puts players in charge of helping a patient fight off an infection. Using a nanobot to navigate through tissues and blood vessels, players interact with the body’s defenses to give them a hand against the invading organisms.

This microscopic world is accurately rendered according to modern representations of each biological structure such as proteins or white cells. This is aimed at getting players interested in the wold of microbiology and the internal functions of the body.

The FAS conducted a study introducing the game to high school students and they showed an increased understanding of cellular biology. The game allows for a first person view of many biological structures allowing students a better understanding of how the body fends off disease and infections.

Video games have proven a great teaching tool and I think it’s great to see that their use is expanding to include new areas. Maybe soon we will find more interactive tools like this at schools everywhere and notebooks and blackboards will be a thing of the past.

Read [Eurekalert] Also Read [Science Daily] Site [Immune Attack]

Full Story » | Written by Christian Morlotte for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

The video games industry has come under fire many times for offering content not appropriate for children. Even though all games come with a clear rating, an age range and warnings about their content courtesy of the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board), critics are quick to point out any kind of mature content.

Now, according to a recent study, the video games industry might not be the worst offender.

A study was conducted by the US Federal Trade Commission that employed underage Americans who tried to buy either a music CD, a movie or a video game from various stores. All the items had content clearly marked as unsuitable for children: “Explicit Lyrics” on the CDs, an “R” rating for the movies and a “Mature” rating on the video games.

Seventy percent (70%) of the underage shoppers were allowed to buy CDs and 50% of the secret shoppers successfully bought target movies. When it came to the video games, only 20% were able to buy titles with “Mature” content.

The study indicated that on most cases, the video games industry has a tighter control when enforcing the ratings system. Even though both the music and film industries have looser control on ratings, they mostly fly under the radar.

I believe that keeping children away from any material not suited to them is mostly a role for their parents but this shows that the video games industry does a great job lending a hand.

I guess this helps prove that video games are quickly becoming the top entertainment industry.

Read [USA Today] Also read [LA Times]

Full Story » | Written by Christian Morlotte for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

In recent years we have seen technology originally designed for games is applied to areas including rehabilitation and disaster management (and even state-wide emergency alerts). The ability of game engines to accurately simulate different environments make them a powerful tool that can benefit areas other than entertainment.

With this in mind, scientists from the North Carolina State University are working on game technology that could help forensic scientists in solving crimes.

This technology uses a 3D laser scanner to collect data from a crime scene. The collected data is then used to recreate the scene using the Unity game engine which provides an accurate and interactive representation of the scene. This representation can be complemented with positional links to additional information found at the scene like fingerprints or fibers.

The program, named IC-CRIME, will allow forensic scientists to analyze the scene from every angle and even collaborate with other scientists in real time. It will also have the capability of running simulations representing different theories about how the crime could have taken place.

This technology could prove revolutionary for crime scene investigators. I think the ability to reproduce the circumstances surrounding a crime in a virtual environment will be a leap forward in forensic science.

This technology is in development and it is expected to be ready in three years but forensic scientists will be able to use a prototype to help with its development.

Stories like this demonstrate how game technology can be applied in diverse fields for positive and interesting results. I’m amazed there are still detractors of video games.

Read [Reuters] Also read [NCSU]

Photo Credit: NC State

Full Story » | Written by Christian Morlotte for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

University of Texas Assistant Professor Jorge Pena has finished a study on the way game avatars affect a player’s in-game actions and he believes a bad avatar = bad actions.

In a study earning coverage in the Austin American Statesman, Pena did two separate experiments.

In the game Jedi Knight II, the experiment randomly assigned white or black robes to gamers. Experiment number two gave them roles as either Klu Klux Klan members or physicians. A control group got transparent avatars. Pena said those cast with “negative” avatars exhibited anti social and aggressive behaviors in both team building exercises and when asked to describe ambiguous pictures.

“What’s interesting here is not only did using the avatar in the dark uniform affect a negative attitude and point to individual problems, but also showed less group cohesion.”

According to Pena, the effects on study participants were automatic and for the most part, unconscious. The Statesman piece also looks at the relationship between gamers who play on opposing sides of conflicts in games including World of Warcraft. In some cases, the fictional battle between the Horde and the Alliance leads to real animosities between players.

I think some of this is because of the largely anonymous nature of playing games online. It is a lot easier to be completely rude to someone you will likely never meet in person.

I’m shuddering at the prospect that Jack Thompson already has a copy of this study.

Read [Austin American Statesman]

Full Story » | Written by Brian Allen for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Could the United States’ next General Patton be a 13-year-old currently playing Halo 3:ODST?

That is not as far fetched as it may seem, according to Washington Examiner columnist Peter W. Singer.

Singer notes United States Army officials’ testimony in Congress that video games including America’s Army are more effective than “any other method of contact” at recruiting potential soldiers. A 2008 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Study found that 30 percent of Americans aged 16-24 had a more positive impression of the Army because of that particular game.

Not only that, Singer found officers willing to testify that gamers make very useful young soldiers, particularly in the piloting of remote drone vehicles. An Air Force colonel called skilled gamers “naturals” at the task that often requires years of training. As a caveat though, that same colonel said gamers didn’t understand the consequences of war as well as regular recruits.

“The video game generation is worse at distorting the reality of it [war] from the virtual nature. They don’t have that sense of what’s really going on. It (video games) teaches you how to compartmentalize it ( the reality of war).”

America’s Army makes no real effort to disguise its goal as a recruitment tool and that has drawn the ire of people that are worried the government is brainwashing youngsters. In May 2009, seven protesters were arrested at a Philadelphia mall that boasts a video game equipped recruitment center.

Read [Washington Examiner] Also Read [Game Politics]

Full Story » | Written by Brian Allen for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

As a Reuters story notes, there is big business in history for the game industry. One of this year’s most anticipated titles, Assassin’s Creed II, sees the game’s hero interact with a young Leonardo da Vinci and use his design for a flying machine.

The first Assassin’s Creed was set during the Crusades and, of course, there are probably more World War II games on shelves than there were actual battles in the war.

Upcoming game The Saboteur is loosely based on the real life story of Wiliam Grover-Williams,  who worked with the British Special Operations Executive in the hopes of liberating France. Grover-Williams was executed for his undercover work but, in the game, your character lives to help free France from the Nazis.

Libraries are playing up the learning connection to games, declaring November 14, 2009, “National Gaming Day” with many partaking in game-related activities. Patrons will be encouraged to play video and board games while librarians promote the importance of learning and literacy.

This isn’t a move without controversy. There are a lot of folks who think libraries should be using limited resources to stockpile books, not board games or video games.

So, readers, what’s your take? Have you ever played a video game that inspired you to learn more about its subject matter?

Read [Reuters] Also Read [National Gaming Day site]

Full Story » | Written by Brian Allen for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Researchers from the University of Iowa conducted a study to analyze the relation between gaming for prolonged periods of time and attention levels when performing certain tasks.

The study involved 51 males ages 18 to 33. Half of the participants declared playing more than 40 hours a week and the other half said that they only play a couple of hours a week. All of the subjects took a Stroop test where they were asked to identify the color of words being displayed while their brain activity was measured. Sometimes the words matched their color (for example, the word “yellow” printed or displayed in yellow) and sometimes they didn’t (“yellow” printed in blue).

The results indicated that the group that played games more than 40 hours a week had significantly less proactive attention - the kind used in anticipation of events - while reactive attention -  the kind triggered by an event - was similar in both groups.

Although the test revealed a correlation, researchers are not if the subjects have a propensity to play for longer periods of time due to this attention deficiency or if it is caused by playing for longer periods of time.

Sadly, this study will cause some people to blame video games right away and again label them as the cause of all evil even though other studies like this have indicated otherwise, but clearly further study is needed in these matters.

I’m sure I’ve played more than 40 hours some weeks and I’ve never seen any change in my attention when performing a task, none change whatsoever in… huh? What? Megan Fox!?

Read [CNET] Also read [UPI]

Full Story » | Written by Christian Morlotte for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

New Spaces and Special Items

New Spaces - Pixel Junk Museum

The Pixel Junk Museum just opened its virtual space filled with all things Pixel Junk to include videos, displays with descriptions of the creatures or vehicles found in games including Pixel Junk Shooter, Pixel Junk Eden, Pixel Junk Monsters and Pixel Junk Racers. Browse through the displays to learn more about the game or browse the store for Pixel Junk virtual items. (See store list below.)

Charitable Purchases

This week the PlayStation Home has partnered with EA Sports to create exclusive virtual items to support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. NFL Football fans can purchase the NFL team jersey of their choice for $2.99 from the Atlanta Falcons to the Tampa Bay Bucanners to the Washington Redskins Jerseys and have 100 percent of all proceeds donated to the Brees Dream Foundation organized to support breast cancer research and awareness programs in hopes of fighting this deadly disease. The Jersey’s can be found Threads 1 located on the first floor under the EA Sports item category. The jersey’s are available for both male and female avatars.

The art of Jon Burgerman

This week at the mall gamers will find interesting items featuring the art work of Jon Burgerman, a UK-based artist who brings unique and exclusive art items such as virtual clothes and tattoos for avatars as well as future art for in-home virtual spaces to the PlayStation Home.

Movie Theater

The hit Adult Swim cartoon Metalocalypse has invaded the movie theater featuring death metal super group Dethklok. Check out the video featuring band members Nathan Explosion (lead vocals), William Murderface (Bassist), Skwisgaar Skwigelf (guitarist), Toki Wartooth (guitarist) and Pickles (Drummer) as they rock their way towards world domination. Some images may be too violent for some viewers to watch so view the film at your own risk. And don’t forget to check out their virtual items at the Mall.

Shopping Mall

Threads 1 located on first floor of Mall

• Metal Dethklok 2009 World Tour T-shirt is Free
• Dethklok T-shirts (20 different designs) are 99 cents each
Female Only Items:
• Bridesmaid Mini Top cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Tied Top cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Tube Top cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Short Sleeved Top cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Mini Skirt cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Criss-Cross Dress cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Straight Skirt cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Balloon Skirt cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Layered Skirt cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Flowing Skirt cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Red Shoes cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Two-Strap Shoes cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Open-Toe Shoes cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Pendant Shoes cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Low-Heel Shoes cost 49 cents

Real Estate Store located on both first and second floor of the mall

• MotorStorm Monument Camp Site cost $4.99. The MotorStorm campsite overlooks the speed way in the valley below. Decorate your space with beat-up furniture, junked car parts and more. Check it out:

Furniture Store 1 located on the first floor of the mall

Paintings:

• “Arthotecture” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents
• “Bigblow” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents
• “Birds of California” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents
• “Blue Poodle” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents
• “Bottom Feeder” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents
• “Chips” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents
• “Codependency” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents
• “Cybo” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents
• “Dandy Bandy” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents
• “Fauxy Wauxie” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents

Furniture Collections:

• Neptune Suite Collection—Tuxedo Style Furniture Bundle cost $1.49
Individual Items:
• Large Tuxedo Style Sofa, Medium Tuxedo Style Sofa and Tuxedo Style Chair cost 99 cents each
• Neptune Suite Collection—Vases and Vessels Bundle cost $1.49
Individual Items:
• Carved Stone Vase, Green Clay Vessel, Green Glass Vase and Sea Blue Vase cost 49 cents each
• Neon Cactus cost 75 cents
• Neptune Suite Collection—Mix-It-Up Furniture Bundle cost $1.99
Individual Items:
• Glass Coffee Table with Metal Frame, I Gotcha Chair, Slant Back Love Seat and a Tall Dark and Deep Chair cost 99 cents each
• Neptune Suite Collection—Natural Plant Decor Bundle cost $2.99
Individual Items:
• Bonsai Tree on Plant Stand, Bonsai Tree on Wood Stand, Oblong Vase with Branches, Small Vase with Branches, Palm Breeze in Vase, Palm Spray, Zinc Planter with Botanical - Low and Zinc Planter with Botanical Tall for 75 cents each

Individual Furniture Items

• 3-Ply Chair cost 99 cents
• Take-A-Load Off Chair cost 99 cents
• Pedestal Wood Chip Chair cost 99 cents
• Slide and Glide Sofa cost 99 cents

Threads 2 located on second floor of the mall

• Arrow through Head Headband cost 99 cents
• Axe in Head Headband cost 99 cents
• Propeller Head Headband cost 99 cents
• Devilish Horns cost 99 cents
• Head Horns cost 99 cents
• Side Horns cost 99 cents
• Rabbit Ears Headband—Blue ears for male and Pink ears for females cost 99 cents
• Heavenly Halo Headband cost 99 cents
• Elfin Ears cost 99 cents
• I Heart Glasses cost 99 cents
• Jon Burgerman’s Glow in the Dark Rainbow Sneakers cost 99 cents
• Jon Burgerman’s Glow in the Dark Ice Sneakers cost 99 cents
• Jon Burgerman’s Animated Sad Bomb Hoodie cost $1.49
• Jon Burgerman’s Animated Anton Hoodie cost $1.49
• Hoodie with Skull Tattoos cost 99 cents

Male Only Items:

• World War 2 Helment cost 49 cents
• Hoodie with Maori Inspired Tattoo cost 99 cents
• Vest with Dragon Tattoo cost 99 cents
• Vest with Tribal Tattoo cost 99 cents
• Faux Military Jacket cost 99 cents
• Samurai Headband cost 99 cents

Female Only Items:

• Cropped Shirt with Butterfly Tattoo cost 99 cents
• Cropped Shirt with Star Tattoo cost 99 cents
• Hoodie with Star Tattoo cost 99 cents

Pixel Junk Museum Store

• Q-Games Logo T-Shirts in choice of following colors: Aqua, Burgandy, Camel, Green, Grey, Peach, Pink, White or Yellow for 49 cents each
• Pixel Junk T-Shirt cost 49 cents
• Eden Gate T-Shirt cost 49 cents
• Eden XMB T-Shirt cost 49 cents
• Monsters Tikimask cost 99 cents
Males Only:
• Monsters Kuri HeadPhones cost 49 cents
• Monsters Fancy T-Shirt cost 49 cents
• Monsters Hard T-Shirt cost 99 cents
Females Only:
• Black Q-Games Logo T-Shirt cost 49 cents
• Monsters Tribal T-Shirt cost 49 cents
• Monsters Bee Slippers cost 49 cents
• Monsters Easy T-Shirt cost 99 cents

Read [PlayStation Blog] Site [PlayStation] Site [National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Site] Site [Jon Burgerman’s Official Website] Site [Adult Swim’s Metalocalypse Site]

Full Story » | Written by Lucy Newman for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Who knew all those hours put in on various Guitar Hero games could someday be a critical component of an education at a top university? New York University professor Gary Marcus is teaching a freshman seminar called “Guitar Heroes (and Heroines): Music, Video Games and the Nature of Human Cognition.”

No, really.

Not surprisingly, Marcus said there is a waiting list for the seminar which capped at 16 spots. I’m betting there was also a waiting list of parents wanting to know why they’re paying $50,000 a year for video game courses. Marcus knows people are talking and that some of them aren’t saying the nicest things about the course.

“Video games are an understudied area,” Marcus told the New York Post. “People dismiss them unfairly, but ‘Guitar Hero’ is a good tool for teaching and I’m interested in the nature of learning.” The course will also try to figure out why people get “sucked in” to games. Sucked in is NYU’s terminology, not ours. In addition to the Guitar Hero offering, NYU has a course called “The Poetics of Television.” Students will select much of the “text” for this course, that is to say they’ll select some of the shows that will be discussed in class.

I’m pretty sure I went to college about 13 years too early.

Read [New York Post] Also Read [Destructoid]

Full Story » | Written by Brian Allen for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Thinking about purchasing The Sims 3? Good for you. Thinking about purchasing it used? Think again.

Thanks to certain procedures set in place by EA regarding the game, you must register your copy in order to gain access to The Sims 3 community website and store. If you’ve purchased a used game and someone already registered it, prepare to jump through hoops in hope of attaining access.

I’ve experienced firsthand the ordeal bargain hunters who shop used will have to go through, and chronicled my experience in an attempt to assist other users. With the used game business being so prevalent, I’m sure I’m not the only person who’ll encounter a twisting and turning adventure with a used copy of The Sims 3.

My adventures began shortly after I purchased The Sims 3 at a Goodwill Store in Illinois for $9.99. The box claimed if one registered, the user could receive $10 worth of Sim Points and an additional neighborhood. Since all the appropriate documentation was in the case and the security stickers were still affixed to the top and bottom, I decided I would register and see if I’d be granted access to these bonuses as well.

When I attempted to register at The Sims 3 website, I received an unfortunate error message stating I was unable to register and would not be granted access to certain areas of the site. However, the site didn’t provide an explanation why. I remembered hearing other users who’d purchased the game new had run into similar experiences. I decided to consult with tech support. While it would be nice to get the additional town and free Sim Points, my primary concern was that I would be unable to accessThe Sims 3 exchange, forum or store, and perhaps even be unable to patch the game.

I first touch based with The Sims 3 customer support on June 14, 2009 at 5:43pm. I provided my serial number and stated that the site would not allow me to register due to the serial number being invalid. The site informed me that I would receive a response within 24 hours.

At 7:27am on June 16, 2009 I received my first response. It read as follows:

Greetings,

Thank you for contacting Electronic Arts.

Sorry for the delayed response. Because of our new launch ‘The Sims 3’ we are getting a little higher than normal volume

I have reviewed our Knowledge Base and located an article that may assist with resolving your issue. Our Knowledge Base is consistently updated to ensure that you can reference it for even the most recent issues.

Please go through the below mentioned link:

https://easims.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/easims.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=22219

If you have anyquestions about this material or have any additionalquestions about your issue, please let us know.

Sincerely,

EA Rep _______
PlayerRelations
Electronic Arts

The response sounded automated, as though copied and pasted. It offered instructions on redeeming Free Sim Points. Not what I was requesting help with. I immediately responded at 9:20am with the following.

Hi ______,

The link that you sent me is not applicable to my situation at all. I have gone to My Account and attempted to register my game with the serial number XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX. Every time I enter the serial number, the site states that it is not a valid serial number. So, I am unable to register my game. However, I had no problem installing my game with that serial number.

I received a rather prompt response at 9:58am. The EA Rep asked for my full name, account e-mail address, alternate/active e-mail address, date of birth and zip code. I responded back at 10:17am with the requested information, and also informed the EA Rep I had purchased the game at Goodwill and gave the serial number again.

The EA Rep’s next response came June 17 at 4:26am.

Greetings

Thank you for getting back to Electronic Arts

I would like to inform you that you have provided wrong information .

The registration code that you have provided is : XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX. which has been used for registration for some other email address .The Email address that you have provided is: ______@______.com has not been registered for the given code that you have provided .

Please provide us the correct information regarding your account so that we can assist you further !

Regards

Ea Rep ______

At this point, my suspicions that the previous user had already registered the game were confirmed. Perhaps the other user had purchased the game, was displeased with the bugs, errors and new direction, and donated it. Perhaps the other user had opted to download the free digital copy of the game with the EA Download Manager and decided the actual hard copy was no longer needed.

I then decided to offer a final plea on June 17 at 8:26am.

Is there any way I can still register my used copy of the game so I can have access to patches? The “no ultraspeed” and story mode that won’t turn off are incredibly annoying and I want to be able to patch my copy the second patches are available.

Does EA offer any support or registration options to players who purchased used copies of The Sims 3?

The EA Rep then requested a scanned copy of the manual. I took a photo with my laptop’s webcamera and sent it along.

Meanwhile, I was getting a bit frustrated by the rate at which the issue was being addressed through the online support center. I decided to try my luck with the EA Technical Support hotline. I called right when the line opened at 8am PST on June 17, 2009 to see if I could find any kind of assistance there.

When I first explained my plight, the EA tech support representative offered me this option. Buy another, new copy of the game. “The Sims 3 is available in most major retailers or as a direct download!” he chirped. I then explained that my budget doesn’t really allow for a $49.99 game purchase, especially when I have a copy that I can play, but can’t register.

To his credit, the EA tech support representative I spoke with on the phone was very cheerful and attempted to accommodate me. He asked for the registration code and told me he would try to get the log-in information that accompanied it so I could access the various features. Unfortunately, he was unable to do so.

He then offered another solution. Contact the EA Warranty department and tell them I had lost the manual. He stated that for a $10-13 money order, I could receive a digital manual with a new registration code which I could then use to register my game.

Later that night, at 6:02pm, I received a final email response at the EA help center:

Greetings Jenni,

Thank you for writing back to us.

We searched with code and found that it is already registered to a different EA account (some “__________@____.com” account). If you already posses such EA account then we suggest you to login to game with that EA account to play the game. However, If you do not have any such EA account then we request you to contact the retailer to get a replacement copy of the game.

Should you have any further questions, please take a moment to review our Knowledge Base site at http://support.ea.com or let us know.

ThankYou,

EARep ______
EA Games support.

I came to one conclusion, after my experiences with EA’s technical support. EA does not want people purchasing used copies of The Sims 3.

I decided to try to make contact with one of EA’s press representatives, to try and get an official statement and advice from EA concerning options for users who purchased used copies of The Sims 3. Unfortunately, a press representative from EA could not be reached to comment on EA’s stance concerning used copies of The Sims 3.

In closing, a used copy of The Sims 3 may not be the good deal it appears to be. If you eventually want access to the website and store, you’ll either have to pay at least an additional $10 for a replacement manual with a new registration code or an additional $49.99 for fresh copy of the game. Thankfully, the free downloads in the Sims 3 Store, like the Toyota Prius car, and the game updates don’t require any registration to download and install into your game.

Site [The Sims 3]

Full Story » | Written by Jenni Lada for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to design your own game (I know I have), and have barely any programming skills, that wonder may feel like only a dream. If you have own a copy of Little Big Planet you can let your creativity run rampant through the world but it’s still rather hard to get the challenges to work right without glitches. (And reading poor reviews of your game can be heartbreaking.)

I came across this article in USA Today about a program called Kodu. According to the article, written by USA Today reporter Mike Snider, Kodu is a program that will be available to Xbox Live users later Spring 2009 and will give players the tools they need to create their own game. Similar to Little Big Planet, you can create a variety of levels, bosses and vehicles for your character which kind of looks like the robot from the old Nintendo 64 game Rocket: Robot on Wheels.

According to Microsoft Research site the program uses simple language and is entirely icon-based to make it so easy even a child could create a game using their own Xbox controller. Here’s the quickie description from the Microsoft Research site:

Kodu is a new visual programming language made specifically for creating games. It is designed to be accessible for children and enjoyable for anyone. The programming environment runs on the Xbox, allowing rapid design iteration using only a game controller for input.

Key features highlighted in the program, according to Microsoft’s research site, include:

• High-level language incorporates real-world primitives: collision, color, vision
• Uses Xbox 360 Game Controller for input — no keyboard required
• Runs on Xbox 360 and PC
• Interactive terrain editor
• Bridge and path builder
• Terrain editor - create worlds of arbitrary shape and size
• 20 different characters with different abilities

With these tools players can bring a variety of Kodu characters and items to life. If it’s anything like Little Big Planet it will be quite an adventure just creating a level and then publish it on the server for others to tryout.

I’ve been playing around on my Metal Gear Solid-themed level in Little Big Planet for three months now and have yet to finish my game. Hopefully Kodu may be a little bit easier and be as enjoyable as Little Big Planet.

Read [USA Today] Also Read [Microsoft Research site] Site [XBox community news]

Full Story » | Written by Lucy Newman for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

With folks having fewer dollars in their pockets to spend overall, a report from Electronic Entertainment Design and Research (EEDAR) indicates there are more games coming out at lower prices. The research group suggests publishers may have to continue that trend, at least in the short term, as the economy gets hit harder.

According to analyst Jesse Divnich, from the EEDAR’s report:

“As the Xbox 360 and the PS3 hardware continue to decline in price, more non-traditional, casual, family, and price sensitive gamers (noting these demographics sometimes overlap) will likely adopt these systems, which will increase the demand for cheaper titles.”

Another important issue is shelf space, as there are more games coming out than there are spaces for retailers to put them in. Stores will find space for Street Fighter IV or the latest Final Fantasy installment or spinoff but, for titles that aren’t big names, retailers are going to have to look at price as a factor in choosing games. That’s particularly true in a climate that sees more non-traditional gamers shopping.

Divnich said the average manufacturers’ suggested retail price for Xbox 360 and PS3 games for February and March is $53, when initially PS3 and Xbox 360 games were starting at $59.99. It’s a risk for publishers as dropping decrease their profit margins. But in this time of economic struggle, the bigger risk may be doing nothing at all.

Look, I love video games as much as anybody but $60 is a serious drain on my wallet. I don’t remember a time in my adult life I’ve been more excited about sales that knock $5 or $10 the price of a game. Nor has there been a time I’ve traded more beloved games in for pennies on the dollar just because I couldn’t justify buying the game without using the trade credit. Knocking a couple of dollars off the price benefits everybody in the long run. A lot of us devout game slaves will just end up spending the extra money in the game store anyway. But you can’t get us in the store for an impulse buy if the games cost too much for us to put gas in our cars.

Read [GameDaily] Also Read [Gamers.com] Site [EEDAR]

Full Story » | Written by Brian Allen for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

There are so many jokes about World of Warcraft being akin to a second job that one wonders whether or not your better work-related WOW skills could legitimately be applied to a resume. That very idea is at the center of a recent PC World article by senior writer Darren Gladstone - could your management skills in a virtual world apply in real-world situations?

From the post:

“Klopfer points to Constance Steinkeuhler’s work at UW Wisconsin. She is “showing that people are developing and applying all kinds of useful skills in World of Warcraft—data collection and analysis, collaboration, planning, resource management and even team management.” Remove the “WoW” identification from the place of employment, and all of these accomplishments look fantastic on a résumé.”

He then goes on to explain the ways in which WoW could legitimately contribute to a person’s valuable life/work experiences. Surely, playing a huge, complex MMO and communicating effectively with so many other people will foster leadership and communication skills, and allow dedicated players to claim that they are “team players”, “problem-solvers” or “detail-oriented, analytical” workers. I, for one, am convinced.

Of course, Gladstone isn’t saying that you should waltz into a job interview bragging about your accomplishments in 1337speak. Nor should you necessarily go on and on about WoW in any non-game industry interview. But someday, folks, when games no longer have a “smelly 30-year-old manchild” stigma attached to them, we may just be able to put our virtual world accomplishments on real world resumes. Someday.

Read [PC World]

Full Story » | Written by Danielle Riendeau for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Maybe this makes up for all the awards Postal 2 didn’t win as a shooter more renowned for its controversial content than its gameplay. Kotaku tells us that the game, which caused quite the uproar in Sweden, will now appear in that nation’s Nobel Museum as part of an exhibit on freedom of speech.

Rhe exhibit, called “Freedom of Speech: How Free is Free?” will look at many issues including game censorship and that portion of the exhibit will include footage from Postal 2. The exhibit will examine censorship in video games, movies, books and magazines. It will also include discussions of variou issues including tge use of free speech as a rationale for spreading hateful or destructive words.

These are issues that definitely warrant more discussion, but here’s hoping the Nobel Museum adds some eyebrow-raising games known for gameplay as well as content.

A discussion of Grand Theft Auto, Manhunt or (quick, let me think of a controversial game that’s not done by Rockstar), oh yeah, Doom, would actually interest the average gamer a lot more than a game that only got publicity because it pushed some hot buttons. Well that, and it had Gary Coleman in it.

Read [Joystiq] Also Read [Multiplayer]

Full Story » | Written by Brian Allen for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

The dueling studies as to whether video games are harmless, destructive or somewhere in between continues.

A study published Friday (January 23, 2009) in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence concludes that video games ruin relationships between gamers and their family and friends. The basis of the study is research conducted by Brigham Young University undergrad Alex Jensen and Laura Walker, a professor from the university’s School of Family, Home and Social Sciences. They gathered data from 813 college students to come up with their conclusions.

According to Jensen and Walker, the more students play video games the worse they rate their relationships with peers and family. Walker told BYU’s news service that it may be because young adults remove themselves from social settings to play games, or the games could be an escape for people who would already rather not engage in social settings. Walker’s guess is that it’s a little of both.

All the impacts this particular study found were negative. In addition to the bad personal relationships,  the study indicates that gamers are more likely to engage in risky behavior such as drug abuse and drinking.

According to the study, gamers who play daily were twice as likely to smoke pot as occasional gamers and three times as likely to smoke pot as those who don’t game.

The timing of this study is perfect for video game opponents in Utah as there is currently talk of video game legislation. Involved, as always, is our favorite disbarred attorney Jack Thompson.

Read [Information Week] Also Read [Game Politics]

Full Story » | Written by Brian Allen for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

The success of Nintendo’s Brain Age series can be attributed to both scientific officials touting its capabilities and positive reviews from the gaming press. There are some, however, that are still not sold on its potential.

The University of Rennes, Brittany, contend people who play Brain Age do not show a jump in memory. In fact, based on their data, it leads to memory becoming worse.

To arrive at these results, the researchers split a group of 10-year-old children into four groups. The first two groups engaged in a seven-week Nintendo DS memory course, while the third group engaged in puzzles using pencil-and-paper. The final group,  the control group, went to school as usual. All of the subjects groups took logic tests at the beginning and end of the experiment.

As it turned out, the DS group only showed a slight increase in math in comparison and a significant decrease in memorization. Not the best results for a game that is supposed to promote sharp memorization and intelligence improvements.

In speaking with Times-Online, Alain Lieury, the professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Rennes, said:

“The Nintendo DS is a technological jewel. As a game it is fine, but it is charlatanism to claim that it is a scientific test… There were few positive effects and they were weak. Dr Kawashima is one of a long list of dream merchants.”

As someone who owns Big Brain Academy, I seriously disagree with his results.

Read [Times-Online] Via [Kotaku]

Full Story » | Written by Jason Townsend-Rogers for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Nielsen’s latest top ten list for 2008 has revealed something that most Sony fans already know - the PlayStation 2 is still a hot commodity. It is so hot, in fact, that Nielsen is saying it was the most played console in 2008. I guess Sony really knew what it was doing when it made the PS2.

Nielsen Wire reported all the official figures from Nielson concerning the top seven consoles. The PS2 game in first in terms of use, followed by the Xbox 360, Wii, Xbox, Playstation 3 and GameCube. There was also an ambiguous “others” given for seventh place, likely refering to all older consoles that alone didn’t have enough usage minutes to achieve a ranking.

I bet Sony is disappointed to see the PS3 come in fifth place. The original Xbox even beat the PlayStation 3. At least the PS3 did better than the GameCube - that way Sony can save some face. 

I totally get it though. I’ve had a PS2 for years. (Since Final Fantasy X, to be exact.) If I’m playing a video game, chances are I’m using either the PS2 or the DS. Its a wonderfully versatile console with a fantastic game library. I even use it as a DVD player on a regular basis. I’ve never used it to play CDs, but hey - at least I’m using two of the three available functions. It’s just a shame that the PSP and PS3 don’t receive the same amount of love.

Read [Nielsen Wire] Also Read [eFlux Media] Also Read [Ars Technica] Site [Nielsen Media Research]

Full Story » | Written by Jenni Lada for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

News flash - videogames, like all other media in a body image obsessed culture, can lead to lowered self esteem in males and females. According to PS Extreme, a study at Kansas State University noted differences in self-esteem related surveys in students who played a beach volleyball game (the women) and a wrestling game (the men). So, everyone felt worse about their body after playing games that depicted muscle-bound men and lithe, busty women. What a shocker.

Ok, so, it’s worth noting that the supposed sample size and lack of a double-blind control keep this from being a thoroughly scientific study, but it sounds legit in terms of everything else. Plus, it’s important and useful to note that males are just as affected by body image and body size issues as women are - an idea that certainly doesn’t get much attention. Though I think the article’s writer went a little too far in starting the post with “You know how the feminists are the first to complain about how women are often depicted in video games?” that’s a little much, I think.

What do you think, readers? Do we need more realistic guys and gals in games? Shall we cut down on the beefcake and the cheesecake?

Read [PS Extreme]

Full Story » | Written by Danielle Riendeau for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

For all those gamers who have had to sit through parental rants claiming that video games will lead to their brains atrophying, help is now on the way thanks primarily to a study in the journal Psychology and Aging.

This study (based on a sample size of 40 adults in their 60s and 70s) came to this interesting conclusion: older individuals may actually benefit from playing video games, at least strategy-intensive games.

This deduction was arrived at after observing the actions of those older adults playing Rise of Nations. According to one of the researchers, these adults “significantly improved their scores on a number of tests of cognitive functions.” The researcher also mentioned that it is actually beneficial for older adults to play video games with their younger contemporaries.

However, while the results of these studies do signal a positive direction for video game perception, it is important to note that these findings are the first of their kind and that, of course, additional research is needed to support their hypothesis.

These researchers are on to something though, considering reports that more and more older adults are catching on to the video game craze, ,proving that it is not an activity that has to be restrained to younger individuals.

Hopefully, as our generation ages, video games will be regarded on the same levels of mental simulation as more traditional fare such as crossword puzzles, bridge, enjoying the arts and Sudoku. After all, each of these tasks all work towards the same goal: making sure your mind remains sharp.

Remember that, as they say, the brain is a muscle like any other part of the body, so if you don’t use it, you lose it.

Read [Reuters] Via [Kotaku]

Full Story » | Written by Jason Townsend-Rogers for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

The question of Second Life‘s popularity is one I have frequently mused over as I have examined this alternate online universe. While the premise behind Second Life is a noble one, allowing individuals and companies to grow themselves in an alternate universe, the results thus far have not always been positive; companies have slowly begun to abandon Second Life as a viable means of dissipating information.

Reuters, a large and international real-world news service had previously set up an office within Second Life but has since decided to summarily abandon their virtual branch there. According to 1UP, a spokeswoman for Reuters said that the service would only remain there “as part of their usual tech and media coverage.”

The news service has chosen to discontinue its tenure there after a mere two years of activity. The last time Reuters made an entry was on September 30, 2008.

Reuters’s departure strikes a significant blow to the heart of the Second Life, which is understandably doing its best to present itself as a universe where individuals can both escape from the realities of their first life and become truly immersed in an alternate universe.

GamePolitics references the opinions of individuals from Reuters who worked in the Second Life universe. One of them, Eric Krangel, made it clear to the Silicon Valley Insider that he is not sure what else Second Life needs to do in order to make themselves expand their audience there.

Of course, it remains to be seen just what will happen to Second Life. However, one entity should become very concerned about its fate, and that entity is Sony. After all, if Second Life fails, what might that mean to Sony’s Home?

Site [Reuters/Second Life] Read [1UP] Also Read [Gamepolitics] Via [Silicon Valley Insider]

Full Story » | Written by Jason Townsend-Rogers for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

With all of the detractors that have made news in the gaming industry, there has always been one individual who has stood in our defense.

That individual is Henry Jenkins, a professor at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) who not only has his own blog but has frequently spoken in defense of video games in article after article.

Now, the renowned media scholar is taking his knowledge over to the University of Southern California, where he expects to expand on his research methods, which not only cover video games but also includes media literacy, civic media, creative industry and fan/culture research.

According to an article on GamePolitics, Jenkins felt that he needed to leave the proverbial nest at MIT and place himself “in the heart of the entertainment industry.”

I personally wish him the greatest success in his new field as he is an individual whose work I have admired. Some of his more notable works include Fans, Bloggers and Gamers and Convergence Culture, both books that I have read from cover to cover and would recommend wholeheartedly to anyone who desires to learn more about the media and how it affects the lives of individuals.

In referring to the reason that he chose to leave, Jenkins jokingly makes a reference to Green Lantern, saying that “even he needs to recharge his power ring now and again.” He then added that “when I did this position, I used to have the body of a 37-year-old. Aliens have since switched it with the body of a 50-year old.”

Here is hoping that this new post will provide him with the vigor that he needs.

Read [Gamepolitics] Via [Confessions of an Aca-Fan] Also Read [PBS] Also Read [Gamasutra]

Full Story » | Written by Jason Townsend-Rogers for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Confirming something most of us already know, a new study coming out of Villanova University indicates that motion controls do not increase aggression in people who play violent video games.

Certainly inspired by the controversy controversy surrounding the Wii release of Manhunt 2, a study titled “An examination of psychoticism and motion capture controls as moderators of the effects of violent video games” (Patrick M. Markey and Kelly Scherera, 2008, Department of Psychology, Villanova University) examined the “hostility and aggressive thoughts” in individuals while they played Manhunt 2 as well as Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08. A total of 50 male and 68 female college students were subjected to a psychoticism test before and after playing the two titles. Each game was played with motion controls\ as well as button-based controls.

To the dismay of anti-video game activists everywhere, the study concluded that motion controls do not raise levels of hostile behavior or aggression any more than button-based controls. Furthermore, people with raised levels of psychoticism before playing violent video games are more affected by them than people with lower levels.

Here’s a snippet from the study’s abstract:

Results indicated that the use of motion capture controls did not increase the negative effects of violent video games. However, participants with elevated levels of psychoticism were much more affected by violent video games than other participants. Such findings suggest that only some individuals are adversely affected by violent video games and that those who are affected have preexisting dispositions which make them susceptible to such violent media.

Although most gamers may argue this study was pointless, perhaps it can help to further diffuse the argument that violent video games lead otherwise normal people to commit real-life violent acts.

Read [Science Direct (Study Abstract)] Via [Wired Blog] Also Read [1Up]

Full Story » | Written by Eddie Bracco for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

According to a recent article published in the SouthTown Star and written by GateHouse News Service, online gamers may have been wrongly stereotyped.

Of the 7,000 online gamers researchers interviewed who played EverQuest 2, a MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online game), they are not the overweight rotund teenage boys most people once thought they were.

Scott Caplan, an associate professor of communication at the University of Delaware, studied players along with colleagues from the University of Southern California and Palo Alta Research Center. The group shared their findings with GateHouse News Service during an interview where they said they found online gamers to be 31 years old and older, physically fit and mostly female.

Some of the information Caplan and his researchers were able to gather came from in-game surveys provided by Sony Online Entertainment from its large database of gamers who have played EverQuest 2 since its launch in November 2004.

There have been a lot of research done on the impact of video games since 1983 but Caplan claims that this particular research would mark the first of its kind in which a industry game corporation worked with a research team to perform a customer-based study.

Sadly, according to the article Caplan’s research team found that most of the gamers interviewed reported substance abuse and depression.

But due to stereotyping, my guess is the non-gaming community and parent patrol organizations would report that video games caused these gamers to consume drugs and depression.

Caplan’s findings and research papers can be found online as a PDF file at Wiley InterScience Journal.

Read [SouthTown Star] PDF [Wiley InterScience.com]

Full Story » | Written by Lucy Newman for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

The two biggest stereotypes when it comes to gamers are a) that they are kids and b) they are males. A recent study put out by, IBISWorld, Inc. (one of the nation’s most respected independent publishers of business intelligence research), indicates that the complete opposite it true.

Results of the study suggest that most of the current gamers are older adults and may of those are - you guessed it - women.

According to the study, the average purchaser of games in the U.S. is 39, which means these adults started playing video games when they were teenagers and haven’t stopped. As if that’s not enough,  24% of current gamers today are in their 50s. These gamers would have easily been in their late 20s when video games became popular.

The early ‘80s was certainly a high point for the video game industry. I’m not talking about Pong either, I mean systems like Atari, ColecoVision and the Sega Master System (then, of course, the Nintendo Entertainment System which came a little later). Sure there were systems before that (Odyssey for example) but those aforementioned systems were the ones that really started the era of “gamers”. 

As for “girls,” the study shows that a whooping 38% of US gamers are female, stomping out the ridiculous stereotype that “girls don’t play video games.” This could be due to the fact that the market produces much more games geared towards girls then in the previous years but that’s not the only reason. The basic fact is that plenty of girls enjoy the action, strategy and challenge that video games produce.

Girls love to play Halo for the same reason boys do. Plus, girls grew up with these games too.

Of course, there are plenty of girls who don’t enjoy video games. This could because a lot of girls are not into all the violence and challenge associated with video games, or they just simply didn’t grow up with them. Maybe their parents never bought them a Sega Genesis. (I’m banking on the latter.)

All the girls that I know of that grew up with a game system (even the real girly-girls) love to play games. Those who didn’t grow up with it think they are a waste of time or boring.

So, it seems that if you grew up with game systems, you are a fan for life. With all the technology that comes with gaming, and all the new ways to play, it would impossible to not be a lifer. So it’s really no surprise that today’s gamers are adults, and women. This is not to say that children aren’t also a huge contribution to the industry, but they are not the majority anymore.

Site [IBISWorld USA] Via [The Earth Times]

Full Story » | Written by Jessica Moen for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Move over, obnoxious female gamer stereotypes. It seems that young girls are taking up gaming at increasing rates, potentially leading to a more gender equal future among hardcore gamers (or so I hope). GameDaily recently posted an item about this “migration” of young girls to computer/videogames, as reported by the NPD group (you know, the people who give us legit, fanboy-exciting sales umbears each month).

According to the study, Very young girls (2-5) are happy with traditional toys, but around 6-8 they begin taking an interest in more interactive activities, and by 9-12, they’re very interested in virtual worlds, online spaces, and all sorts of videogames.

Of course, back when I was a 6-8 year old girl, you couldn’t tear me away from my NES. Ah, the halcyon days of youth…

Read [GameDaily]

Full Story » | Written by Danielle Riendeau for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

In the Los Angeles Times, writer Alex Pham reports that the San Fernando Library encourages youth to play video games and even invites them to be as loud as they like.

“It lets teens be more comfortable with the library and become familiar with librarians,” San Fernando librarian Lydia Harlan told Pham. “And it’s what kids are into these days.”

In the article, Pham reports that more libraries are turning to video games to connect with technologically savvy youth who might be losing interest in books and stories. In New York, the New York Public Library has even added a collection of books, films, music and maps about video games.

“Especially at this pivotal moment in our history, it is so great to have so many people of this age group here in the library, because it foreshadows what life is going to be like around here when we have transformed this building,” said Stephen A. Schwarzman, the co-founder of the Blackstone Group, to the New York Times. “We want to do a better job of integrating the circulation and research collections, and part of that is becoming more relevant for a younger audience.”

But not everyone agrees that this would be a good idea, some parents feel that it would just distract kids.

“To be honest with you, I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Miguel Castaneda, 45, told the Chicago Tribune after his 14-year-old son played a video game at the Florence Library in Los Angeles. “I think a library should be for studying, and when you go to play video games, your mind is away from what you’re supposed to be learning.”

In Chicago, the Library system does not approve of the new video game fad other libraries have taken a liking to.

“The video game aspect is not the direction we want to go,” Ruth Lednicer, the system’s director of marketing, told the Chicago Tribune. “We want to keep them focused on the literature-based aspect of it, keep it focused on reading and writing, and even the performance-based aspect helps them with public speaking.”

Whether the library system chooses to add video games to their collection or not there are a series of books about video games that may interest youth according to an article published by Kelly Czarnecki in the School Library Journal. Czarnecki wrote that the following books can help libraries understand the teenage mind:

• Sex, Brains, and Video Games: A Librarian’s Guide to Teens in the Twenty-first Century by Jennifer Burek-Pierce. Burek-Pierce, an assistant professor at The University of Iowa’s School of Library and Information Science, covers a wide range of adolescent issues and interests as well as findings involving the pros and cons of video games and discusses violence in video games to name a few topics.
• The Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design by Flint Dille and John Zuur-Platten. The book is more of a resource for aspiring game writers and designers as well as high school students interested in a career in the gaming industry.
• Playing to Learn: Video Games in the Classroom by David Hutchinson. The book contains hundreds of video game activities ideas for teachers who want to integrate video games into 4th to 12th grade classrooms with exercises in all subject areas to include Language Arts, Social Studies, history, science, math and music to name a few.
• Grand Theft Childhood: The Surprising Truth about Violent Video Games and What Parents Can Do by Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl K. Olson. Kutner and Olson are founds of Harvard Medical School Center for Mental Health and Media, and have studied more than 1,300 middle school students in Pennsylvania and South Carolina to determine the effects of video games and violence on young people.
• The Ecology of Games: Connecting Youth, Games, and Learning by Katie Salen. The book explains how gaming empowers young people and contributes to literacy, as well as help librarians and teachers relate to today’s youth culture.
• The Pleasures of Computer Gaming: Essays on Cultural History, Theory and Aesthetics by Melanie Salwell and Jason Wilson. The book contains eight essays that look at computer gaming, the importance of cheats in a gaming context rather than deceptive practices, a look at gaming and addiction and other topics of interest.

Read [Chicago Tribune] Also Read [New York Times] Also Read [Los Angeles Times] Also Read [The School Library Journal]

Full Story » | Written by Lucy Newman for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Just when you thought the world was turning an evil eye towards video games, accusing it of converting children into violent thugs, rotting their brains and making them fat. Consoles like the Nintendo Wii have opened up a new way for the medical field to use the games to their advantage. With games being integrated into physical therapies that can not only improve a person’s hand-eye-coordination it may just help shed some pounds in childhood obesity.

According to an article published by the UK Press Association video games that engage children in any form of physical activity “may be an effective answer to childhood obesity.”

The Science Daily reported that because video games seem to be the more popular form of entertainment among children, “Children burn more than four times as many calories per minute playing an active video game than playing a seated game, and their heart rate is also significantly higher with the active game.”

One of the companies mentioned in the press release is an interactive system called the XaviX gaming system created by SSD Company Ltd. in Shiga, Japan. Much like the popular Nintendo Wii system, the XaviX system is designed to involve children in physical activities playing games like bowling, fishing, tennis, golfing and a more physical activity like jogging by using a gaming mat to perform their activities on called the XaviX J-Mat.

Of course in my opinion this console is starting to sound more and more like the Wii system. I’m not sure who will be willing to go out and buy a totally new system that does the same exact thing a Nintendo Wii does. Having played in a recent Wii bowling tournament and working out for the next one in a few weeks, playing any game on the Wii console for 15 minutes and I mean ANY game will have you downing a bottle of Gatorade and hitting the showers following a session.

The only difference between playing a game on the Wii and actually going to a gym is there are no membership fees or bone thin aerobic instructors putting you through an hour of torture while dangling the fact she can out bend you in any yoga position possibly known to women.

Read [Daily Mail] Read [Science Daily] Read [Forbes Online] Site [XaviX Online]

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Two papers presented on August 5, 2008, at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association (APA) in Boston, MA (USA), demonstrated that some videogames can help improve the ability to solve problems and dexterity.

In a paper titled Children’s Problem Solving During Video Game Play, Fordham University psychologist Fran C. Blumberg, PhD, and Sabrina S. Ismailer, MSED, presented the results of a study that examined the problem-solving skills of grade-school aged children while they played videogames.

The subjects (122 fifth-, sixth- and seventh-graders) were asked to play a video game that they had never seen before. For 20 minutes during the game, the children had to think out loud so the researchers could gauge how they were thinking about and perceiving the situations in the game. It was found that younger children tended to focus better at in-game problems than the older children who played simply for enjoyment. The younger children also seemed more interested in setting short-term goals than the older children.

Another paper titled Four Dimensions of Video Game Effects by psychologist Douglas Gentile, PhD, and William Stone, BS, described game usage within high school and college-aged students along with a few professionals in the field of laparoscopic surgery. The purpose of the multiple studies that served as the basis for the paper were to detail the effects that gaming had on students’ social performances.

One of Gentile and Stone’s studies indicated that gamers playing violent games tended to be more violent and unforgiving than most gamers who play “prosocial” games. Another of their studies showed that gaming solely for enjoyment usually lead to poor academic performances and obesity. The study that involved 33 laparoscopic surgeons found that the surgeons who gamed could not only perform advanced surgeries more quickly but also made fewer errors in surgery.

Even when examining the gender differences, level of experience and number of surgeries done, it was found that advanced gaming skills can be a strong indicator of suturing capabilities. Another study, focusing on 303 surgeons, also found that their spatial skills and dexterity were improved by games that require both.

This shows that games aren’t necessarily good or bad but may have previously unknown (or unassumed) educational implications.

Another study titled Informal Scientific Reasoning in Online Game Forums by researchers Constance Steinkuehler, PhD, and Sean Duncan, MA, used the ever-popular World of Warcraft. It showed that games where characters have to work together to level up end up helping out with problem solving abilities as well as teamwork abilities. They also tend to level up quicker. It also showed that people who openly talked about plans within the game were dealing with in-game problems in a scientific manner when trying to figure out how to get through a difficult area or defeat a difficult boss.

Read [Psych Central News] Also Read American Psychological Association] Also Read [APA 2008 Convention]

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Pokemon and one of its most famous creatures, Pikachu, made their way into the world’s vocabulary years ago. Now, Pikachu is making its way into medical vernacular. A newly discovered protein has been dubbed “Pikachurin” by Japanese scientists.

The July 20, 2008 web edition of Nature Neuroscience (which requires a subscription to view) discussed the Osaka Bioscience Institute’s discovery of pikachurin, a protein which aids kinetic vision. The protein was named specifically for Pikachu, because of the character’s agility.

Totally unexpected, but pikachurin is worth a giggle. Just think - at this moment you have pikachurins zipping through your body. I wonder if the next new disease they discover will be named pokerus.

Read [Daily Yomiuri Online] Site [Nature Neuroscience]

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The next time your mother/significant other says videogames have no real-life value, point them in the direction of this article, which recaps an interview between News 8 Austin and surgeon Mark Smith. Smith claims that playing the Wii (with it’s motion controls and demand for precise movements) can help trainees improve their skills by 50%, and the relatively inexpensive console is a cheap, effective alternative to the ultra-expensive simulators (or actual surgery).

From the interview:

“I have never thought I’d be in video games to this extent. We have surgical simulators in virtual reality, but this has taken it to a whole new level, which is exciting.”

It looks like this is the new Wii-hab, and I’m sure Nintendo is eating it up. Speaking of learning on the job, the article also addresses the fact that only a few years ago, the only way for surgeons to train was the real thing - actually going in with a knife and assisting a real operation. Scary.

Read [Austin 8] Via [CVG]

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People who call themselves gamers already understand how playing videogames can contribute to life in a positive way. Some games require a very detailed strategical approach that encourages deep analysis of situations before making a move. Maggie Hommel thought it would be a good idea to have a videogame section in her library to attract more teenagers. As fate would have it, she was right.

Hommel is a librarian in Chicago, IL, who understands how videogames can encourage people to become more social. Her plan was to first get teens into the library using videogames, then encourage them to take up game programming and design classes. According to Hommel, the circulation of books catered to young adults has increased 60% since the library started offering videogames. The number of participants in the libraries summer reading program has increased to 450 members. On average the library received between 230 and 280 participants in the last two years. The teens then took the leap from playing games to learning how to design them at the library.

Her experience has shown some light on how games don’t just teach how to shoot everything that moves. Teens these days are becoming more interested in developing the games they love to play. Even if programming code is too intimidating to some, a good videogame still requires an immersible story that will stick with the player long after the adventure is done.

Read [Chicago Tribune] Also Read [The Cullman Times]

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Maybe it’s time to start rewriting some of those rote gamer cliches. You know, like, “Your mom is such a gamer.” Statistically, thats not so far-fetched.

According to the ESA’s (Entertainment Software Association’s) annual report released during E3 2008, 40 percent of all gamers are women older than 18 and a quarter are older than 50. That’s up from 38 percent and 24 percent, respectively, from the 2007 release (PDF). The average age of gamers also ticked up to 35 from 33.

This is the sort of data that plays right into the more casual, family-friendly strategies all the major game companies are trying to roll out. Microsoft’s avatars, Sony’s featuring LittleBigPlanet as one of three games in a major marketing blitz and Nintendo being, well, Nintendo. In a world where a Sims 2 expansion pack beats Call of Duty 4 on the PC and WiiPlay beats it on the console side on the report’s year-long sales charts, it makes sense for companies to start moving their chips around the board. Eleven of the 20 top-sellers on consoles were rated “Everyone.” Three, including Halo at the top spot, were rated Mature.

The age and gender demographics taken with the sales charts don’t suggest that women and the over-50 crowd can’t enjoy mature content. It does suggest a shift away from some of the comic book-fueled gore fests targeted toward young men. When a game gets rated Mature these days, it rarely means it has a lot to say about the human experience and delivers that message in ways that may be tough for the young ones to come to grip with. Often, it’s that it has far less cultural significance than a cheese sandwich and conveys its message through a shoot-anything-that-moves blur. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.)

Also according to the report, 44 percent of online-game players were women and nearly 50 percent of online games played were board or card games. Seventeen percent of online games played were downloadable titles such as Bejeweled. The big three console makers are all making strides in delivering those smaller-scale games through their online services and on retail shelves. And, heck, if you play it right, chess can be just as evocative as another stomp through COD‘s Chinatown. Or, at least it is for some people. Some people like your mom.

Read [News Report] Site [ESA]

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It’s difficult for the parents of a child diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) to find ways to control their child’s disorder and help him or her live a normal childhood.

PopCap Games recently contracted Information Solutions Group to conduct a unique survey in April 2008 in which 2,728 respondents (of the 13,296 casual gamers surveyed) indicated they or someone they are caring for has a disability (and of the 2,728 respondents, 422 claimed to be taking care of children ranging from 5 to 17 years old). Some claimed that the person they are caring does have ADHD.

The reason for PopCap’s survey is that casual games may offer a way to help ADHD children and parents control the disorder. According to the survey, children with ADHD appear to benefit by playing casual games.

The following is a list of short-term and long-term benefits of casual gaming based on responses from 220 children diagnosed with ADHD who participated in the survey through their caregivers. According to the survey, respondents claimed that after playing casual games:

• 83% of the children claimed their concentration and attention spans have improved.
• 70% claimed their hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity have improved.
• 64% said they are relaxed and feel relieved of stress.
• 60% claimed they are able to learn and perform basic skills such as (pattern recognition, resource allocation, spelling and typing skills.) 
• 56% claimed the games offered mental workouts, strengthens memory and kept them mentally sharp and focused.
• 55% claimed casual gaming was mood-lifting.
• 51% claimed they received positive affirmation, have increased confidence and sense of accomplishment for themselves.

Forty-three (43) percent of the respondents claimed they played at least two to three times per week, 43 percent claimed they played daily and the remaining 8 percent play only once a week. The length of each game session varied between those surveyed.
Of the children interviewed, 24 percent seemed to enjoy puzzle games like PopCap’s Bejeweled and Tetris while 16 percent of the children showed interest in games like Platypus and Diner Dash and 13 percent of the children were drawn to araade-style games such as Peggle which seems to be the favorite.

Site [PopCap Games]  Read [Develop]

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