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Wednesday, March 31, 2010
VIDEO GAMES LIVE ANNOUNCES SPECIAL GUESTS FOR HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS PERFORMANCE TO BE FILMED FOR PBS SPECIAL
Groundbreaking Show to be Performed by the Louisiana Philharmonic
Orchestra on April 1st at the Pontchartrain Center
Special Guests Include the Inventor of the Video Game
Ralph Baer, Composers from Halo, Blizzard, God of War, Mass Effect, Earthworm Jim, Civilization IV and MANY MORE!LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 23, 2010 --
The award winning Video Games Live show has once again pulled out all the stops in its groundbreaking effort to show the world
how artistic and culturally significant video games have become. On Thursday, April 1st, 2010, Video Games Live will
be performing with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra at the Kenner Pontchartrain Center for a nationwide television special
which will start airing July 31, 2010 on PBS as well as a companion DVD, Blu-Ray and album. This will be the biggest
Video Games Live production ever staged, with more special fx, screens, special guests and segments than ever before.
Special Guests include the creator and “father” of video games, 88 year old legend Ralph Baer.
Mr. Baer will appear on stage to demonstrate his original “brown-box” gaming system and challenge one lucky audience
member to a match while the symphony provides the sounds. Mr. Baer will be available to sign autographs and get pictures
taken during the post-show meet & greet festivities. Also in the meet & greet will be Video Games Live creators
and industry veteran game composers Tommy Tallarico (Earthworm Jim/Advent Rising) and Jack Wall (Myst/Mass Effect).
Marty O’Donnell (Halo), Russell Brower (Blizzard), Gerard Marino (God of War), Christopher Tin (Civilization IV) will
also be available and MANY MORE! Soloists will include internet sensations Martin Leung on piano and Laura “Flute
Link” Intravia as well as the original vocal soloists for the segments being performed.
Pre-show
festivities include a costume contest, game demos, prize give-a-ways and a Guitar Hero competition. Costume contest
and Guitar Hero competition to be filmed for the PBS Special and DVD/Blu-Ray.
TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE: CLICK HERE
Video Games Live website: www.videogameslive.com
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Sniper Ghost Warrior breaks
cover City Interactive heads to
the jungle for its incredible 360 and PC-DVD debut title
City Interactive, a Warsaw-based publisher of video game titles, has announced its first title for Xbox 360 and PC-DVD
formats. Entitled Sniper Ghost Warrior, the game offers an incredible insight into the danger-filled world of the military
marksman.
Sniper Ghost Warrior is set on the fictitious South American island of Isla Trueno, where a despotic
military regime lead by the ruthless General Vasquez has overthrown its democratic government to seize control. As one of
a group of covert commandos, the player is charged with infiltrating the rebel stronghold and overthrowing the unelected powerbase.
Intelligence reports indicate that Vasquez is due to chair a meeting with his cohorts in an old refinery facility, and a government
plant is in place to set up an assassination opportunity for the crack unit. But as the unit arrive on the island, it soon
becomes clear that the plan has gone awry, and the team must adapt and use their combat skills if they are to complete the
mission.
Realism is at the heart of Sniper Ghost Warrior, and the game enjoys a truly realistic ballistic system
that accounts for the distance of a shot, fall-off of the bullet’s trajectory, and environmental factors, such as wind
direction. Similarly, the lush jungle environments, allow the user to use the cover of the foliage to take out key targets,
while other members of your squad can act as ‘spotters’ to detail the positions of key adversaries. Players must
also manage the breathing of their sniper to provide a more accurate shot, while the game’s ‘Bullet Cam’
system offers stunning close-ups as the bullets thud into their unsuspecting targets.
The mission spans 16 stages,
starting with the problematic assassination attempt at the refinery, and moving on to oilrigs, a mine, the coast, and a set
of ruins as the game’s plot continually surprises. Each level is brought to vivid life with the many rustles of the
jungle keeping the player in a constant state of alert, and the sniper elements mixed with incredible firefights, as the enemy
break cover and the squad is forced to engage in open combat.
Sniper Ghost Warrior represents a clever take on
the military simulation genre, and also allows users to hone their sniper skills in a series of unique multi-player modes,
wherein up to 16 players can compete simultaneously.
Sniper Ghost Warrior will be released for Xbox 360
and PC-DVD in June, 2010.
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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Monday, March 29, 2010
Wii Remote 2.0: New Wii
3rd Party Controller with Built In Motion Plus
March
29th 2010: Sunflex Europe, known for high-tech gaming accessories of the brand snakebyte for all gaming consoles,
handhelds and the PC, has used the last few months to improve the Remote XL+ with new features: Motion
Plus integrated: Motion Plus is already integrated in the remote to offer you a comfortable all-in-one solution,
which automatically (de)activates the Motion Plus feature while playing games which do, or do not support Motion Plus. Increased range: The integrated camera was emphatically improved and
now also offers you the possibility to step away up to 5 meters from the Sensor Bar. ECO-Mode:
Thanks to improved efficiency, the Remote XL+ uses less energy than comparable products on the market. The batteries
have a longer life, therefore reducing the environmental pollution. Integrated batteries
and charging possibility via USB: The Remote XL+ already has batteries included in the delivery which can
be charged via USB directly in the remote. A USB cable is also included in the set. Since the batteries are off-the-shelf
items, they can be exchanged with any other AA batteries at any time without having to buy expensive accessories. External sync button: Because the sync button is on the outside of the remote,
you do not have to open the battery compartment to synchronize your remote with the Wii. The Remote XL+ is available
from April for 49.99€ in stores or from the snakebyte web shop.
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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Friday, March 26, 2010
3D
Dot Game Heroes: Full Trailer Revealed "Retro
chic meets modern sleek in this, the ultimate love letter to retro gamers. Seamlessly fusing new and old, the golden era of
gaming is felt in every detail of this lovingly-crafted adventure. An evil demon has captured the 6 wise men and 6 orbs that
protected the kingdom of Dotnia, which now stands on the verge of destruction. Freely explore the vast world, fight off monsters,
and puzzle your way through many dungeons to restore peace to the kingdom. Eye-popping visuals capture the nostalgic charm
of pixel graphics in cutting edge 3D."
Available May 2010.
For more information,
visit: www.3DDotGameHeroes.com
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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Thursday, March 25, 2010
ELAN Video Game Awards Announces Contest to Win Tickets
Spread the
Word and Get Rewarded for it
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SAN DIEGO, CA & VANCOUVER, BC March 25, 2010 - How does this
sound? Flights for two from anywhere in the world, three days in sunny San Diego with
accommodations at the gorgeous Manchester Grand Hyatt, and Gold Tickets to the 2010 ELAN Awards together with all surrounding parties which include a Pool Party, a Street
Party, a Champagne Gala Reception, a 4-course 5-star Awards Dinner, the Awards Ceremony itself and an After-Party all taking
place during the 3 days leading up to Comic-con.
Sound good? Then tell all
of your friends and get the chance to win it!
The ELAN Awards' mandate is to have every video game talent in the
world know about them this year and they have launched a contest today which will award the top four people who help them
achieve their goal. First prize is the package already described above which goes to the contestant who spreads the word the
most; Second Prize is two tickets to the Awards Night which includes the Champagne Reception, the Awards Dinner and Ceremony
and the After-Party; Third Prize is two tickets to the surrounding parties which includes the Pool Party, the Street Party
and the After-Party; Fourth Prize is two tickets to the Street Party, "Nomination Celebration-in-the-Streets".
It's easy to enter: Sign up for the ELANS Video Game Industry List if you're not already on it and get all of your
industry friends and co-workers to sign up too. They simply fill in your name as their referrer under Contestant's First &
Last Name and they're credited to your total. They can even go on to compete themselves by then having all of their friends
enter, a process which repeats itself and is the concept behind getting the word spread around the world about a video game
awards show being built just for them.
"This list is totally confidential and you must be a video game professional
or associated to the video game industry professionally in order to sign up," says Holly
Carinci, Founder and CEO. "No one's trying to sell anyone anything," she continues with a smile, "We
don't have even one single advertiser."
Go to http://tinyurl.com/nho9fao to sign up directly or to www.theelans.com to find out more about the event itself taking place in San Diego, California USA
from Saturday, July 17th thru Monday, July 19th. The competition closes on Friday, April 30th and the winners will be announced
at the Nominee Press Conference on or around June 17th.
Good luck!
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Nintendo 3DS: New Details
Emerge
Ever since the explosive
announcement of the "Nintendo 3DS" portable the internet is on fire with speculation about
the new device. Nikkei.com, a well known Japanese Business Web Site (think Wall Street Journal) has
leaked some new information regarding the mysterious 3D Portable. Here is a brief summary of the news. (The original Japanese
language page can be found here.)
Please remember this news has not been confirmed by Nintendo.
Here is the new information:
-3D Analog Stick
-Rumble / Force Feedback
-Improved Wireless Connection Speed
-WiFi Capabilities
Improved
-Increased Batterly Life
-Screens Will Be Smaller Than 4"
-Tilt Sensor still under consideration
(editor's note: There is a strong chance this feature will be included)
So as you can see this machine
is a feature packed little device. And with its unique 3D display the new portable truly sounds like a revolutionary
next gen hand held gaming system. We're covering this story with great interest. And we're counting the days until
E3 2010. Suddenly June seems so far away.
More as this story develops...
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Nintendo
Announces New 3D Portable Gaming System:
Tentatively Titled "Nintendo 3DS"  The internet is exploding with news regarding the above message
from Nintendo. In the brief statement the company announces a new portable tentatively titled "Nintendo
3DS." Here is a transcript:
"March 23, 2010
To Whom It May Concern:
Re:
Launch of New Portable Game Machine
Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Minami-ward of Kyoto-city, President Satoru Iwata) will
launch "Nintendo 3DS"(temp) during the fiscal year ending March 2011, on which games can
be enjoyed with 3D effects without the need for any special glasses.
"Nintendo 3DS"(temp) is
going to be the new portable game machine to succeed "Nintendo DS series", whose cumulative consolidated sales from
Nintendo amounted to 125million units as of the end of December 2009, and will include backward compatibility so that
the software for Nintendo DS series, including the ones for Nintendo DSi, can also be enjoyed.
We are
planning to announce additional details at E3 Expo show, which is scheduled to be held from June
15, 2010 at Los Angeles in the U.S."
And here is what we know so far:
-The official successor to the Nintendo DS/DSL/DSi/DSiXL
-Backwards compatible with all Nintendo DS games
-The machine will NOT require the use of 3D glasses
-Will be officially announced at the 2010 E3 Expo
-Will be
released sometime before March 2011
More as this story develops....
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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Monday, March 22, 2010
NEW NINTENDO DSI XL MAKES
PORTABLE GAMES MORE SOCIAL WITH EXTRA-LARGE SCREENS
NEW NINTENDO DSI XL MAKES PORTABLE GAMES MORE SOCIAL WITH EXTRA-LARGE SCREENS
REDMOND,
Wash., March 18, 2010 – From bank balances to IQ scores, there are many things people would love to see increase
by 93 percent. Nintendo, for its part, is determined to significantly boost the social fun of portable gaming. Launching March
28, the new, extra-large Nintendo DSi XL™ hand-held system makes it easier for everyone to gather around and have a
good time. It features 4.2-inch screens that are 93 percent larger than those on the Nintendo DS™ Lite system. The improved
wider viewing angle of the Nintendo DSi XL screens also provides a new way for people to enjoy games with friends and family,
making it easier than ever to watch and join in the fun.
Nintendo DSi XL will be available at a suggested retail
price of $189.99, and that includes three titles that have been pre-installed on the system. These include the brain-training
games Brain Age™ Express: Math and Brain Age™ Express: Arts & Letters, as well as Photo Clock, which lets
users customize the pictures on the background of their clock. Nintendo DSi XL launches in both Burgundy and Bronze, with
a glossy top and a matte-finish bottom for a better grip.
"For some people, good things come in big packages,"
said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Our Nintendo DS family
of systems has been going strong since 2004, and this new portable system really lets players enjoy the fun together."
Nintendo DSi XL is launching at the same time as two portable games that demonstrate the social nature of the new
hardware. America's Test Kitchen: Let's Get Cooking uses the larger screens to help multiple chefs chip in to prepare delicious
recipes. In WarioWare™: D.I.Y., the larger screens help players see all the details as they create and share their own
microgames.
Beyond the social experience, the larger Nintendo DSi XL screens draw players in and make games feel
more engaging. Eye-popping graphics are beautifully rendered. Even people who have been playing Nintendo DS games for years
will see them take on a new life with Nintendo DSi XL. As always, playing is believing. To truly understand the difference
Nintendo DSi XL makes, you have to experience it for yourself.
Nintendo DSi XL includes all the same features as
the Nintendo DSi system, including two cameras and photo-and sound-manipulation tools. With a broadband Internet connection,
you can also upload photos directly to Facebook to share with friends or access downloadable Nintendo DSiWare™ games
via the Nintendo DSi Shop.
To help celebrate the launch of Nintendo DSi XL, Nintendo is asking the public to choose
things in their lives that they would like to see 93 percent bigger. The poll lists fun, humorous options, including sound
speakers, swimming pools and furniture. The poll is a great way for people to get social as they show off their responses
to their friends. People can check out the "What would you like 93% bigger?” application on Facebook® Platform
at http://apps.facebook.com/ninetythree-percent or visit the @NintendoAmerica profile on Twitter to answer the poll questions
for themselves.
Remember that Nintendo DSi XL features parental controls that let adults manage the digital content
their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit www.nintendodsi.com.
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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Friday, March 19, 2010
5:24 pm pdt
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Trauma Team Walkthrough: Diagnosis
DIAGNOSIS: As a Diagnostician, it's your job to listen carefully to your patients'
words and look carefully at their symptoms. Running tests like CT scans, X-rays, or MRIs may provide additional information,
letting you compile a list of symptoms that will help you narrow down possible diagnoses. Don't forget to check out the other
5 specialties in Trauma Team.
Here is the sixth and final Trauma Team Walkthrough video:
Diagnosis. As the cynical Dr. Gabriel Cunningham, you'll dive into the heart of medical
mysteries to figure out not only what symptoms your patient's symptoms could be signs of, but also to determine the cause
of those ailments.
What's your specialty?
Available May 18, 2010.
For more
information, visit: http://www.atlus.com/traumateam
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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Wednesday, March 17, 2010
SAMURAI WARRIORS 3 SET
TO GO INTO BATTLE EXCLUSIVELY ON WII Nintendo
and Tecmo Koei Team Up to Create a New Breed of Warrior
REDMOND, Wash., March 16, 2010
- Nintendo today announced a unique partnership with Tecmo Koei to publish Samurai Warriors™ 3, the
newest title in the Samurai Warriors franchise, exclusively for the Wii™ console.
Launching in North
America in fall 2010, Samurai Warriors 3 is an evolution of the Warriors series, featuring an innovative new game
mode and a completely fresh storyline.
In addition to a host of new characters and combat and game-play elements,
the game also will test players with new tactical and strategic challenges on the battlefield.
Samurai Warriors
3 offers two-player online and offline co-op with enhanced sharing features. The game also uses a special new game mode that
offers players unique control of characters never seen before. This game mode is based on the Famicom game Nazo no Murasamejo
(The Mysterious Murasame Castle™) inspired by Nintendo video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto.
Remember that
Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this
and other Wii features, visit http://wii.com/
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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Tuesday, March 16, 2010
NEW
POKÉMON VIDEO GAMES AIM TO WIN PLAYERS' HEARTS AND SOULS
Included Pokéwalker
Accessory Brings Pokémon Training into the Real World
REDMOND, Wash., March 15, 2010 –
From the earliest days of Nintendo's portable Game Boy™ system, Pokémon™ games have made their mark. Now
Nintendo has released completely updated versions of two classic Pokémon games, available now for the Nintendo DS™
family of systems. The new Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver
Version games take place in the beloved Johto region first introduced in the Pokémon Gold
Version and Pokémon Silver Version games 10 years ago. The new games have evolved
to include updated graphics and sound as well as intuitive new controls that use the Nintendo DS touch screen.
 "Poke-Walking"
The new games come with a Pokéwalker™
accessory, a small device that lets players bring their favorite Pokémon with them wherever they go. Players can transfer
a Pokémon to the Pokéwalker and then simply walk around in real life. By walking, players earn Watts that can
be used to encounter and catch wild Pokémon or search for hidden items. The Pokémon in the Pokéwalker
will gain Experience Points as the player walks, and can even go up one level when they are transferred back into the game.
Players also can wirelessly connect two Pokéwalkers to receive a gift.
Pokémon HeartGold and
SoulSilver Versions feature detailed graphics that show off the hundreds of Pokémon that players can catch
and train, as well as all the different environments in the game. For the first time, players can interact with all their
favorite Pokémon outside of battle by selecting the leader from their party to follow behind them on their travels.
An internal clock keeps track of the time of day and the day of the week, and some special events will only happen on certain
days or at certain times of day.
As always, trading and battling with friends is a big part of the Pokémon
experience. Players with a wireless broadband Internet connection can interact with their friends who have Pokémon
HeartGold, SoulSilver, Diamond, Pearl or Pokémon Platinum Version games to trade or
battle Pokémon via the Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection service. Players also can battle and trade with others via a
local wireless connection.
"Every year Nintendo introduces a new wave of players to Pokémon, and their
enthusiasm is always amazing," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing.
"Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions, combined with the new Pokéwalker accessory,
give longtime fans a new way to experience Pokémon, and they open the door for the next generation of players who want
to see what the Pokémon phenomenon is all about."
For more information about Pokémon
HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version, visit
www.pokemongoldsilver.com.
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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Monday, March 15, 2010
Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition:
Co-Op Challenges
Team up in online
and offline cooperative mode and see how you rank on the leaderboards! Co-op play is only one of the new features for Zeno
Clash: Ultimate Edition! Be sure to check out New Attacks and New Weapons, too!
Available
March 2010 on Xbox Live Arcade.
For more information, visit: http://www.zenoclash.com
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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Friday, March 12, 2010
AtariAge/Digital Press "Retro Rumble" at CGE 2010
AtariAge and Digital Press are proud to announce "Retro Rumble", a joint
venture aimed at joining retrogaming communities in a little spirited competition as well as co-op play.
"Retro
Rumble" will debut at Classic Gaming Expo 2010 on July 31st. The AtariAge and Digital Press exhibit
areas will be mirror images with plenty of the great products you'd expect, but between the two booths will be a gaming area
where various tournaments and challenges will be hosted throughout the 2-day event.
Are you the king of the road
in Indy 500? Can you fend off the competition in a round robin Warlords tournament? Are you a better Mario in Mario Bros?
Prepare to test your skills in an unforgettable union of gaming communities.
Watch all THREE sites for more info
and hints of what's to come. AtariAge (www.atariage.com), Digital Press (www.digitpress.com), and Classic Gaming Expo in the days that lead up to the event.
Naturally, we'll see YOU there!
http://www.cgexpo.com/
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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Thursday, March 11, 2010
Classic
Gaming Expo™ 2010 Registration Now OPEN Registration has officially opened for Classic Gaming Expo 2010! Register early and get the "Early Bird"
discount on admission. In addition, the Tropicana Hotel discount codes are now available so you can book your rooms in advance.
The first 100 people to book 2 or more nights at the Tropicana get entered into a special CGE drawing which will include the
chance to win one of the following prizes:
*Huge system bundles (ex: N64 system with 2 controllers and
100 games)
*Ultra-rare Atari prototypes
*Room upgrades
*Vegas show tickets
*And other fabulous merchandise
to be announced!
This year is going to be amazing. You'll see... but don't wait for the news to trickle
in. Get on board now!
http://www.cgexpo.com/
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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Wednesday, March 10, 2010
DYNASTY WARRIORS: STRIKEFORCE DLC GIVEN TO FANS AS EASTER GIFT Tecmo Koei Europe gives away weekly free DLC for Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce to thank gamers and to celebrate
the Easter Holidays.
Letchworth,
Herts.—March 9th, 2010—TECMO KOEI EUROPE heralds the arrival of all new Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce
downloadable content as a thank you to fans over the forthcoming Easter period.
One piece of content will be given
away on PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 each week until the middle of April as thanks to the thousands of people who have bought
Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce. Featuring three new missions and a new challenge in every pack, the Easter
gift DLC will give fans of the series hours more game time to enjoy while feasting on their chocolate eggs!
‘Dynasty
Warriors: Strikeforce has been a tremendous success for us at Tecmo Koei Europe, so we wanted to give something back
to the fans this Easter’, said Will Curley, VP Sales & Marketing. ‘From the Battle of Tong Gate, to the epic
Defense of Yi, we want players to engage with Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce over the Easter break, and free
weekly content is a great way of saying thank you.’
Content for each console will be released on the following
days;
PlayStation 3 - Xbox 360
Pack 1: March 18th - March
4th
Pack 2: March 18th - March 18th
Pack 3: April 1st - April 1st
Pack 4: April 15th - April
15th
For more information about each pack, log on to www.dynastywarriorsstrikeforce.co.ukHappy Easter!
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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Tuesday, March 9, 2010
NEWS
FROM THE ECA:
SPEAK OUT ABOUT U.S. COPYRIGHT POLICY We've just received this important message from
our friends at the ECA:
The Office of the United
States Trade Representative is giving the public a chance to voice its opinion about U.S. copyright policies and how best
to manage intellectual property enforcement around the world. The Entertainment Consumers Association advocates for
a careful balance between brand owners and the consumers. It is clear though that in this challenge, consumer rights
are being diminished. We invite you to participate in this open forum. Take this opportunity and make your voice heard when
it comes to U.S. copyright policy. The newly appointed Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator
Victoria Espinel is encouraging people to speak out on the state of U.S. copyright and trademark enforcement laws and how
to protect intellectual property abroad. They want to hear from you on this issue and this is a chance for consumers
to voice your opinion. Email the USTR now to tell them your thoughts. You have until March 24, 2010 to participate and get the word out to your friends and family. Take a moment and make your voice heard. Thanks, Brett Schenker, Online Advocacy Manager
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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Monday, March 8, 2010
UK
STREET NAMED AFTER LARA CROFT
Lara
Croft is undoubtedly one of the most prominent characters in video game history. She's certainly the hottest and most
sought after. Created in 1997 the curvy archeologist used her wits to thread her way through the far reaches of the world
in pursuit of lost treasures. Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie embodied the sexy heroine in two theatrical motion picture
installments, a third, newly revamped movie is currently in development at Warner Bros. tentatively scheduled for a 2012 release.
In spite
of her many achievements and unparalleled fame there is no rest for Lara and she continues to show her popularity. The city
of Derby (UK) held a vote how a new road is to be named. A whopping 89% of the people chose to name the new street Lara Croft
Way, in honor of the Lara’s creator studio Core Design which used to be located on said road. Councilor Lucy
Care, cabinet member for planning and transportation, said: "The vote really captured the imagination of people from
across the world and, despite my lack of gaming knowledge, I accept that a majority of 89% for Lara Croft is too overwhelming
to ignore."
Submitted By: Harold Schossman
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Friday, March 5, 2010
GAMES FOR HEALTH CONFERENCE:
BOSTON MAY 25 - 27
Sixth
Annual Conference Further Explores the Intersection of Video Gaming and Health
BOSTON – March 4,
2010 – The Games for Health Project, in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, today announced its first
wave of confirmed content and early registration for the sixth annual Games for Health Conference, to be held at the Hyatt
Harborside Hotel in Boston from May 25 to 27.
Building on the success of previous years, the 2010 conference
promises to provide even more insight around the use of interactive video games advancing heath and health care through exergaming,
active games, health training games, disease management efforts and more.
“It’s been exciting to see
the increasing momentum around the healthy games industry since our first conference five years ago,” said Ben Sawyer,
founder of the Games for Health Project. “We are looking forward to once again offering attendees an interactive and
dynamic conference platform with viable content, networking opportunities and this year, an increased emphasis on community
led tracks.”
CONFERENCE OVERVIEW
The two-day conference will offer over
40 sessions featuring 60 speakers covering a wide range of topics such as exergaming, rehabilitation, physical therapy, disease
management, health behavior change, bio-feedback, epidemiology, medical training, cognitive and emotional health, nutrition
and health education. This diverse group of presentations will include sessions such as:
* Global Health &
Games Panel. Discussion and assessment of the role of video games in improving global health initiatives.
* Dreams
and Video Game Play. Jayne Gackenbach of Grant MacEwan University will at look how hardcore video game play changes fundamental
qualities of dreams in the player, and the ways in which players process cognitive and emotional information.
*
Wii Game for Laporscopic Surgery. Tim Laning of Grendel Games will discuss how off-the-shelf technology can create a new learning
training environment for doctors.
* What Kids Get Out of Video Games – The Presence of Games in Healthy Child
Development. Dr. Cheryl K. Olson will share research on health child development to help game developers and parents consider
a new way of at looking at children and electronic games.
GAMES BEYOND ENTERTAINMENT WEEK
New this year is the launch of the Games Beyond Entertainment Week—featuring more than ten unique one- and two-day
conference events (including the marquee Games for Health Conference) designed to explore serious games and emerging market
opportunities for game technologies.
Notable in this week of events, and taking place on May 25, prior to the
Games for Health Conference kickoff, are:
* 3rd Annual Games Accessibility Day. This event focuses on making all
games more accessible and helping people with disabilities play their way to better health and wellness.
* 3rd
Annual Virtual Worlds and Health Day. This event explores the entire spectrum of opportunities in virtual spaces related to
health, health care, multiplayer games and social virtual worlds.
* 1st Annual Mobile Serious Games Day. This
event hones in on serious games in the mobile and handheld space and features a specific track focused on mobile serious games
for health.
REGISTER EARLY
Last year’s Games for Health Conference sold
out early so interested attendees are encouraged to register early, which also ensures better pricing. Registration
information, a schedule overview (complete schedule available early April) and related links can be found at www.gamesforhealth.org
For more details on other Games Beyond Entertainment Week events,
please visit: www.gamesbeyondentertainment.com.
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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Thursday, March 4, 2010
Trauma
Team Walkthrough: First Response
First Response: "The scene of an accident or emergency calls for the very best quick decision
making, fast reflexes, and the ability to juggle multiple challenges. That is what the First Response Mode,
starring the fiery Maria Torres, is all about. There will always be more than one patient to treat, always more than one scenario
to address, and time will always be of the essence. Sound exciting? You bet it is!"
As a first responder,
you're on the scene dealing with the most critical patients to make sure they're stabilized for transport to the hospital.
Balance multiple patients in need as you intubate, bandage, splint, set IVs, and much more to deal with their wounds. And
make sure you study up on the other 5 specialties in Trauma Team!
Only one entry left to go in the Trauma
Team video walkthrough series: Diagnosis. Stay tuned and be sure to pre-order your copy
where fine video games are sold!
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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Wednesday, March 3, 2010
NEWS
FROM THE ESA:
VIDEO GAMES: AN EXERCISE TOOL TO HELP YOU STAY ACTIVE
First Lady Michelle Obama recently launched her fitness and nutrition Let’s Move initiative
to encourage children, parents, lawmakers and other public officials to adopt practices and policies that further healthier
eating and exercise habits, with the goal of ending childhood obesity within a generation. Part of the Let’s Move platform
is to increase opportunities for children to be physically active, both in and out of school. The computer and video game industry supports this plan with games that can, and are, helping children achieve the
60 minutes of daily active and vigorous play they need to grow up healthy and adopt life-long exercise behavior. The first
family knows this, and practices what they preach by eating more fruits and vegetables and enjoying the exercise benefits
of Konami Digital Entertainment’s Dance Dance Revolution during visits to Camp David. On the exercise front, there are a number of computer and video games designed
to take advantage of new technologies to get people up and moving and create a more active lifestyle. Nintendo's Wii
Fit™ and Wii Fit™ Plus and Electronic Arts' EA SPORTS Active
offer personalized workouts by taking advantage of peripherals such as the Wii Balance Board™ accessory
and setting workout routines based on time, personal fitness goals or certain target areas. Many schools are already using "exergames" to promote increased activity and generate
interest in fitness. According to the research published in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, physical education classes
in at least 35 states have embraced video game technology. In West Virginia, all 765 public schools use Dance Dance
Revolution, known for its vigorous dance moves, as part of their fitness programs. Scientific research now suggests that playing active video games is beneficial to children, according to a study
by researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. The study, published in the Pediatrics, the journal of
the American Academy of Pediatrics, reported that playing video games with movement can complement a comprehensive fitness
routine. The researchers also noted that children were more likely to enjoy expending energy while playing these games than
other forms of exercise, which is a crucial motivational factor. Active
computer and video games can be a part of a healthy lifestyle and create new opportunities for families to move together.
VISIT THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE ESA
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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Tuesday, March 2, 2010
NEW
FEATURE:
GENERATION Wii
For decades video games have been associated with the classic image of the lazy couch potato. Learn how Nintendo
created a revolution that will smash the lazy gamer stereotype forever. Is Nintendo helping to breed a new generation of super
gamers?
Learn The Truth Here
Submitted By: Harold Schossman
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Monday, March 1, 2010
MAJOR
"CALENDAR BUG" EFFECTS PLAYSTATION 3 CONSOLES WORLDWIDE
 Playstation 3 owners around the globe have been hit with
a major "calendar bug" that's wreaking havoc on older model PS3 consoles. Users have reported lost game save
data, corrupted DLC downloads, and the inability to play certain games even offline. Trophy data also appears to be effected
by the now infamous "8001050F error." Some users have even reported their systems have been completely disabled
by this problem. When attempting to turn on their console these users are greeted only by the dreaded 8001050F error.
Strangely enough all versions of the newly released PS3 slim are unaffected by this problem.
So
what's causing this unusual issue? Well sources online point to a leap year related calendar bug. (Think Y2k). Apparently
when the internal clock reaches 3/1 the clock either gets stuck or it rolls back to 2/29. Unfortunately problem then resets
the internal clock to 12/31/1999. The change in the internal calendar is what may be causing the issue.
Making
matters worse, even if you haven't turned on your console recently you still may be effected by the calendar bug. So what
is a PS3 owner to do? Well first of all, don't panic. Although currently there is no fix for the problem,
we already know Sony is hard at work on the solution. Here is their official statement on the issue straight from the
Sony Playstation Twitter Account:
@sonyplaystation twitter:
We're aware that many of you are having problems connecting to PSN, and
yes, we're looking into it. Stay tuned for updates.
PSN status update: We're narrowing down the issue and continue
to work to restore service to all. Updates as soon as we have them.
PSN status update (part 2): Readers/followers
are confirming that "slim" units (120/250 GB models) are connecting normally.
And what about all that corrupted save data and DLC content? Sources indicate the corrupted data may be recovered
once the calendar bug is fixed. Trophies will also be recovered but only if you synced your console with the PSN network before
start of the problem.
Finally in light of all this drama comes a ray of hope. It appears the bug may be self correcting.
Many other products have had calendar related bugs that were fixed merely by waiting 24 hours for the bugged day to pass.
No matter what the solution we are confident our friends at Sony will fix the issue to the complete satisfaction of Playstation
owners everywhere. So just be patient and most most importantly of all, don't worry. If you're like me you can use the spare
time to catch up on your PSP gaming.
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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