Video games fulfilling needs

Researchers say they've found another reason why video games are so hard to give up: They may help fulfil basic psychological needs.

In a study published in the January issue of Motivation and Emotion, investigators from the University of Rochester and Immersyve Inc. looked at what motivated 1,000 gamers to keep playing video games.

"We think there's a deeper theory than the fun of playing," lead investigator Richard Ryan, a motivational psychologist at Rochester, said in a prepared statement.

The gamers were divided into four groups, each asked to play different games. They answered questionnaires both before and after playing the games. The researchers used the questionnaires to look at the underlying motives and satisfactions that can spark players' interests and sustain them during play.



More than just mindless fun
The researchers found that the games can provide opportunities for achievement, freedom and even a connection to other players. Those benefits trumped a shallow sense of fun, which doesn't keep gamers as interested. Players reported feeling the best when the games produced positive experiences and challenges that connected to what they knew in the real world.

"It's our contention that the psychological 'pull' of games is largely due to their capacity to engender feelings of autonomy, competence and relatedness," said Ryan. He believes that video games not only motivate further play but "also can be experienced as enhancing psychological wellness, at least short-term."

For the participants who played massively multiplayer online, or MMO, games - which are capable of supporting hundreds of thousands of players simultaneously - the need for relatedness emerged "as an important satisfaction that promotes a sense of presence, game enjoyment and an intention for future play," the researchers found.

Ryan pointed out that while not all video games are able to satisfy basic psychological needs, "those that do may be the best at keeping players coming back." – (HealthDayNews)

Wii Sports Boxing Rocky - Eye of the Tiger

Wii Sports Boxing/Rocky Montage to Eye of the Tiger.



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Wii Sports - Rocky Training Montage

This video was featured in my "Wii Sports Experiment".



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1million PS3s shipped in Japan

Software totals reach 5m worldwide

Sony has announced that shipments of PlayStation 3 units to Japan have reached the one million mark.

The total number of worldwide shipments of the new console is now two million units, which Sony claims beats comparative shipment totals for previous PlayStation platforms.



Software shipments for the next-generation machine had reached five million units by the end of December 2006.

Sony has promised the next-gen console will launch in Europe in two months time, with retail sources pointing towards an expected launch date of March 23.

Long queues as World Of Warcraft expansion launches

"There are probably four times more people here than we expected"

There were queues on Oxford Street again last night HMV hosted the launch of the new World of Warcraft expansion pack - and struggled to meet an unexpectedly high level of demand.

When asked how many copies of The Burning Crusade the store had to sell, Ellis replied, "Not enough, I don't think. Put it this way, we've got a few stores in the West End and we're opening them up now to get the rest of the stock out. We've just phoned the warehouse to get stock into stores for nine tomorrow morning. We could do a couple of thousand, to be honest."

A queue had begun to form at around 5.30 that morning, but HMV staff handed out wristbands and told fans to return in the evening. However, "We catered for a certain amount of wristbands and we just gave up on them at about 7pm," Ellis said.

With more people continuing to join the queue as midnight drew nearer, the scenes at HMV were reminiscent of console launches, as Ellis agreed. "It's bigger, to be honest," he observed.

"I think we'll be all right on stock, but it's gone OTT - it's absolutely unbelievable."

1st Game - Once Upon a Time in Japan Series

First Game in the Once Upon A Time in Japan Series, "Earth"

Once Upon a Time in Japan: Earth. Aims to transport players to various periods in Japan’s storied history, giving them a look at the inner struggles of a country bound by tradition and ruled by the warrior class. “Earth” is the first title of a three part arc and is planned for a Q4 2007 release.

“We feel very strongly about our product and the future of this series. The subject matter and setting of this game are, as far as we know, unprecedented in the adventure genre and we are putting forth a massive effort in an attempt to make the games that we’ve always dreamed of playing,” says Ben Keeney, Lead Designer and Co-Founder of Abborado Studios.

Abborado’s other Co-Founder, Jared Morante, agrees: “What we’re doing with these games will hopefully enthrall players and we strive to excel in every area, from art, to gameplay design, writing, character development, and score. The team we have assembled is quite passionate about the project and extremely talented. We can’t wait for gamers to get their hands on this series.”

“Earth” is a third-person, point-and-click adventure for the PC that tells the story of Zenjiro, a samurai who left his clan during a time of war, seeking a life of peace with his family. Unfortunately, a tragic event sixteen years later forces Zenjiro to explore Etchu province looking for his wife, children, and other survivors. Along the way he will meet many characters including Hanbei, a fearsome ronin with a mysterious past, and Shiho, the bright young daughter of a famous Noh theater performer.

Furthermore, Zenjiro will discover that not all is as it seems outside the province. The military campaigns he thought to be a thing of the past have once again bubbled to the surface, and in an effort to keep the peace there is little freedom allowed for the people. Yet again, Zenjiro's country appears to be changing dramatically as he seeks his own reasons to continue moving forward.

Features include:

•High resolution, digitally hand painted scenes, featuring scrolling and detailed animation.

•Traditionally hand drawn and animated characters, inspired by classic Disney and Studio Ghibli films.

•An amazing original score, combining traditional Japanese instrumentation and arrangements with modern scoring methods and techniques.

•An immersive setting that allows players to explore a province in 17th century Japan.

•A vast assortment of puzzles, painstakingly researched to fit the time period and locale, while revealing bits of Japanese culture and history to the player.

•Authentic Japanese voice acting

•A captivating storyline, focusing on well developed characters, that builds to an exciting climax.

Games Chart

All Formats

1 New LOST PLANET: EXTREME CONDITION by CAPCOM (-)
2 New WARIO WARE: SMOOTH MOVES by NINTENDO (-)
3 Down FIFA 07 by ELECTRONIC ARTS (1)
4 No move PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 6 by KONAMI (4)
5 Down NEED FOR SPEED: CARBON by EA (2)
6 Down THE SIMS 2: PETS by EA (3)
7 New ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS by NINTENDO (-)
8 No move GEARS OF WAR by MICROSOFT (8)
9 Down CALL OF DUTY 3 by ACTIVISION (5)
10 Down NEW SUPER MARIO BROS by NINTENDO 7
11 Down LEGO STAR WARS II: ORIG TRILOGY by LUCASARTS (6)
12 Down RAINBOW SIX: VEGAS by UBISOFT (11)
13 Down WWE SMACKDOWN v RAW 2007 by THQ (9)
14 New WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP 2007 by SEGA (-)
15 Down FOOTBALL MANAGER 2007 by SEGA (12)
16 Down GRAND THEFT AUTO: VICE CITY STORIES by TAKE 2 (10)
17 Down TONY HAWK'S PROJECT 8 by ACTIVISION (13)
18 New NINTENDOGS: LAB & FRIENDS by NINTENDO (-)
19 Down ANIMAL CROSSING: WILD WORLD by NINTENDO (17)
20 Down SPLINTER CELL: DOUBLE AGENT by UBISOFT (16)

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Ghostbusters Ecto2 chases ghosts through the streets of NY



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Halo 3 - Starry Night



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Nintendo Wins Emmy Award

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has awarded Nintendo an Emmy® Award for its invention of the plus-shaped D-pad, one in a long string of Nintendo's controller innovations. The award was presented in recognition of the technological achievement of the D-pad, which radically changed how people interact with their video games and, by extension, their televisions. Nintendo received the award in Las Vegas during the Technological & Engineering Emmy Awards, which kicked off this week's Consumer Electronics Show.

The D-pad first debuted on the controllers for the Nintendo Entertainment System® in 1985, and has been standard on all video games controllers ever since. The D-pad replaced joysticks and represented an early example of how Nintendo was willing to shake up the status quo in the search for a better gaming experience.

"Nintendo has long been a pioneer in the way that people interact with their games," said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. "Our commitment to pushing the envelope continues today with our motion-sensitive Wii Remote controllers, which again rewrite the rules. We are grateful for this award and thank the academy for the honor."