Gary's Blog

Just a place to find out what's on my mind, or what's occupying my time whilst I avoid actual "work."

 

VGN for April 22nd, 2005

Video Game News:

EA at UCF
EA Supports Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy

By UCF Staff

The University of Central Florida today announced Electronic Arts’
support of its Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy.

EA sparked the creation of the academy, known as FIEA, by contacting
UCF in November 2003. EA officials worked with UCF administrators to
convince the state of Florida to provide a $3.2 million grant last year to
start the academy and $1 million annually in operating funds. EA
employees in Orlando helped to design FIEA’s curriculum.

“EA applauds the creation of FIEA,” said Steve Seabolt, the company’s
vice president of University and Marketing Education. “EA has been
involved with helping to shape the academy since its inception. EA personnel
helped shape the creation of the academy’s curriculum and culture. We
have confidence in FIEA’s faculty, and believe that students who excel
in the program will be well-poised for careers building video games.”




Games as exercise

Break a sweat playing a new wave of video games
By PAM LEBLANC
Cox News Service
Monday, April 18, 2005
AUSTIN, Texas — Video games and exercise — two mutually exclusive
terms, right? Well, maybe not.

A new generation of games — dubbed "exertainment" by their maker —
actually requires a little caloric expenditure to play (more than the
thumb-on-the-joystick kind). With the interactive XaviX games introduced
last fall, players swing motion-sensitive baseball bats, tennis rackets
and bowling balls and watch the action unfold on a TV screen.

It's not quite the real thing, but then again it's not exactly like
playing a regular video game, either.

In bowling, for example, a microprocessor and infrared and optical
sensors determine the angle and speed that you give the ball, which is
about as heavy as a small head of lettuce. That determines whether the ball
careens into the gutter or sends all 10 pins crashing in a perfect
strike. A strap that loops over the wrist keeps you from accidentally
flinging the ball into the TV set.

Tennis and baseball work essentially the same way. Sensors in the gear
measure how fast and at what angle you volley or swing, and that effort
is transferred to animated scenes on the TV screen.


I hate to say I told you so

Bill targets video games



By Harrison Sheppard, Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO -- A bill to ban the sale of violent video games to minors
passed a key committee Tuesday and will now return to a committee where
a similar effort was defeated last year.
The bill by Assemblyman Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, would impose a
$1,000 fine on retailers who sell violent games to anyone 16 years old or
younger.

Those testifying against the bill included representatives of the
Motion Picture Association of America, the American Civil Liberties Union,
the Recording Industry Association of America, the California Chamber of
Commerce and game retailers and manufacturers.

Among those testifying in favor of the bill were health-care
professionals, academics, women's rights groups and about 40 Girl Scouts from
around the state, including several from the San Fernando Valley region.

"Violent video games create a harmful atmosphere for young children,"
said Alyssa Franke, 13, a Girl Scout from Agoura Hills. "They are not
age-appropriate and they can scar the minds of these young children
forever."


But I told you so

Panel favors limit on gory video games

Bill advances despite supporter's concern it's unconstitutional

SHARIF DURHAMS

Raleigh Bureau


RALEIGH - A state Senate panel backed an attempt to crack down on the
sale of violent video games to minors Tuesday, despite the fact one of
the staunchest supporters of the bill said that judges would likely find
it unconstitutional.

"The legislation, I believe, has some problems," the Rev. Mark Creech,
head of the Christian Action League of North Carolina and a supporter
of sales limits, told the Senate's commerce committee. "I believe I'd be
derelict in my duty if I didn't tell you that."

Lawmakers on the committee still approved the legislation unanimously.
A store clerk or arcade operator could face misdemeanor charges for
letting minors play or buy games that have a "tendency to appeal to a
morbid interest" in violence.



Nintendo out of E3?

... and then there were two. Citing fears that Sony and Microsoft might
copy some of the revolutionary ideas, Nintendo head honcho Satoru Iwata
decided to withdraw previous statements and has now decided to not show
the new Nintendo Revolution at E3 next month. Instead, visitors will
have to be content with rolling demos of titles in development, a better
look at the Nintendo online service, new Pokemon titles, and a new
playable version of the latest Zelda title. We will be on site and report
live if anything exciting does happen.


Or are they?

You may have been reading reports breaking over the last few days that
talk of a withdrawal of Nintendo’s Revolution console at this year’s E3
show.

Nintendo has, from the very highest levels within the company, stated
that it intends to show the Revolution, its next generation home gaming
platform, at this May’s industry show and tell. Though if rumour is to
be believed, this might not be the plan any more.

However, SPOnG firmly believes that there is little substance to
stories currently doing the rounds right now. Although some news outlets
quote ‘Japanese sources’ with some inside track, SPOnG can reveal that this
is a somewhat disingenuous presentation of the root of current
mutterings.

What I've been Playing:

Halo 2 thanks to the update.  Bungie loves us! 

Fight Night Round 2--Thanks Cybertron!!

VooDoo Vince

Splinter Cell Chaos Theory

Doom 3

Blog link of the week:
MTV and Xbox!

Anime:

Jacon recap. 

Anime Explosion at Universal Citywalk Friday at 11:30pm.
Voltron for free on the big screen at Univesal Cineplex Tonight!

MetroCon is next! 

posted by: Gary1059 at 21:28 | link | comments |