VGN for January 27th, 2006

Friday, 27 January 2006

VGN for January 27th, 2006

Video Game News:

By MAY WONG, AP Technology Writer Thu Jan 26, 10:49 PM ET

SAN JOSE, Calif. - In a sign that video games are becoming more popular as family entertainment, a national survey released Thursday indicates joysticks aren't just for kids.

Thirty-five percent, or about one in three parents, say they play, too, and 80 percent of that segment play video games with their children, according to the new survey commissioned by the Entertainment Software Association, a video game industry group.

The average "gamer parent" spends 19 hours a month playing video games, and spends roughly half that time playing alongside kids, the survey found.

Two-thirds of the gamer parents said they feel that playing video games has brought their families closer together.

Count among them Andrew Bub. "It makes us all laugh at each other," said the Milwaukee stay-at-home father of two.

As the founder of GamerDad.com, a Web site with game reviews and a discussion forum for parents, Bub has promoted the idea of video games as a family-bonding tool for years.

"Kids are going to play what they want to play, and parents are better off getting involved instead of sitting on the sidelines," he said.

Other survey findings: The typical gamer parent is 37, and almost half the group are women. Twenty-seven percent of gamer parents began playing video games around the same time their children started.

Final Fantasy XI release date.

Posted: 13:15 on 26 Jan 2006
By: Jon Wilcox

Square-Enix has today confirmed that the Xbox 360 version of Final Fantasy XI will be released in Europe and Japan simultaneously on April 20th, the same day that the third expansion pack for the PC version of the game, Treasures of Aht Urhgan, is to be released in the territories. Although a price for the game is yet to be confirmed for the two territories the subscriptions costs in North America will be $12.95 (£7.27) a month with an extra dollar for every additional character owned by the player. Square-Enix has confirmed that the first 30 days of access will be free.

The Xbox 360 version of Final Fantasy XI will contain the original game plus all three expansion packs (Rise of the Zilart, Chain of Promathia and Treasures of Aht Urhgan), with the community expected to swell from the current figure of 500,000 subscribers.

The new expansion pack will feature further places to explore as they begin to uncover the secrets of the Aht Urhgan empire, together with new jobs (Blue Mage and Corsair) and a host of new enemies to face, not forgetting that the Xbox 360 version will also sport Hi-Def visuals.

New DS design!

January 26, 2006 - After weeks of rumor and speculation, Nintendo today finally revealed its expected redesign of the Nintendo DS handheld system. Called the DS Lite, this new design will be released in Japan on March 2, 2006 and cost 16,800 yen (about 140 bucks US.) The redesign retains all the functionality of the standard DS, but makes things smaller, lighter and brighter.

The modified dual screen handheld has been tweaked into a smaller chassis. The new unit measures up to 133 mm wide by 73.9 mm tall by 21.5 thick. (that's compared to 148.7 x 84.7 x 28.99 mm in the original.) DS Lite weighs 218g, compared to the 275 g of the original.

DS Lite's biggest new technical feature is its updated set of backlit LCD screens. The system is brighter overall, and will give the user the ability to select from four different levels of brightness for viewing and/or battery consumption. A few other cosmetic changes were made to the new DS Lite -- there's a new hinge design, the power light was put on the left side of the hinge and is visible while the clamshell is closed, the mic is moved to top/center while the speakers are more centered, the Select and Start buttons are set on the bottom instead of top, and the power button is no longer on the front, and all of the dark button colors are changed to whites and grays. The cute DS logo is also placed on the front. Basic functionality, otherwise, looks to be identical to the original DS.

Nintendo has not yet revealed any of its US release plans, but expect an announcement in the next few hours from Nintendo of America. We'll keep you posted.

Video Games influence music sales?

By LAURENCE FROST, AP Business Writer Thu Jan 26, 12:29 PM ET

CANNES, France - Music scout Tim Riley hopes to discover the next Fat Joe — but has no intention of giving him a record deal.

If Riley finds the right Latino hip-hop sound — something close to the platinum-selling rap star himself — he'll sign the act straight away, for the third video game in the hit "True Crime" series.

"If everything lines up it's an amazing opportunity for an artist," he said. Riley has already helped launch several new groups in his job as worldwide music executive for U.S.-based game maker Activision Inc.

As consoles become ever more sophisticated, game budgets swell and record companies cut back their artist and repertoire departments, video gaming increasingly offers big breaks for musicians and, potentially, new revenue for labels.

Chicago band Fall Out Boy sold 70,000 copies of their new album in one week after the music was featured on "Tony Hawk's American Wasteland," a skateboarding game, Riley said.

Need to find an XBOX 360?

This program is a sort of data miner for store's inventory and updated receiving shipment logs of XBOX 360s in your area. Check it out.

What I've been Playing:

Half Life 2!

Warriors

Pirates of the Caribbean--NDS

Anime news:

For Throttle...

http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemID=WEA041402

BONUS ANIME EXPLOSION: Full Metal Alchemist (movie)
Join us for a special bonus showing of anime on the big screen!

When: Midnight, Saturday, January 28th

Where: Lowes Cineplex at Universal Studios Orlando

We will begin wristbanding at 10:30 pm at the table just inside the lobby.

Be sure to come on out to Universal and watch FMA with us.
Come out early and catch the FX Show Costume Contest at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Full Metal Alchemist (movie)
Munich, Germany, 1923. Two years have passed since Edward Elric was dragged from his own world to ours, leaving behind his country, his friends and his younger brother, Alphonse. Stripped of his alchemical powers, he has been spending all this time researching rocketry together with Alphonse Heiderich, a young man who resembles his own brother, hoping to one day find a way back home. His efforts so far had proven fruitless, but after lending a hand to a troubled gypsy girl, Edward is thrown into a series of events that could wreak havoc in both worlds. Meanwhile on his own world, Alphonse Elric ventures deeper into the mysteries of alchemy, searching for a way to reunite with his older brother.

Running Time: 105 minutes

Con Corner:

Otronicon!!

FX Show!!

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