Gamertell

I recently saw an American Express Business card print ad in the September 2008 issue of Wired magazine (pp. 46-47) that is a bit derogatory towards gamers.

The two-page ad has, on one page, the image of a credit card with Galaxian/Space Invaders style imagery on it with the words “I own the high score” in all caps above it. The name on the credit card is Erin Ehnerd of Double E Bakery. On the facing page is the image of a gold American Express Business card for Ellin Lavar of Lavar Hair Designs that reads “I own my own business” above it. Under the card image is a paragraph that begins, “If you own your business, own the card that says so.”

The implication here is, of course, that letting people know you play videogames is a sure way to lose business (especially if you own a bakery?). Also notice that AmEx also included…

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Make magazine makes me want to make more stuff. The most recent issue of this DIY mag has three juicy game goodies in its pulp-based publication: The Multari handheld Atari 2600, Pixelmusic 3000 video generator a la the Atari 2600 and four WiiMote hacks for making audio tracks (and involves Macs).

All three fall into the Way Frackin’ Kewl category of do it yourself projects, so click through and check them out now…

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In the June 2008 issue of Maxim magazine (pp. 67-69), writer Will Leitch lists “The 10 Worst Broadcasters in Sports.” The list is topped by Chris Berman at number 1 with Chip Caray at no. 2 followed by Dick Vitale, Bryant Gumbel, Bill Walton, Billy Packer, Mike Patrick and Walt Frazier, respectively. At the bottom, which is where it begins conveniently placing his familiar mug next to the headline, is John madden at number 10. According to Maxim’s “Penalty Box” icons, he’s guilty of being an incoherent blowhard with a grating voice.

The article goes on to call the namesake of one of the best-selling videogame franchises “a parody of himself” and…

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A free Ninja Gaiden 2 magazine written by the journalists who put out the monthly 360Zine magazine, is now available at GamerZines.com. The special edition issue contains a guide to Ninja Gaiden 2, a detailed history of the Ninja Gaiden games and a contest to win an Xbox 360.

The online magazine can either be viewed online, or downloaded as a .pdf file. You also do not need to register for the site to view or download the file. You do need to have Adobe Reader v.6 or higher and be using a Mac or Windows computer. Since there is a complete game guide included, I’d suggest downloading it. Besides, it’s only 6.65MB.

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On page 42 of the April 2008 issue of Wired magazine is a photo featuring six stereotypical Geeks: a Fanboy, Music Geek, Gamer, Gadget Guy, Hacker and Otaku. Each over-generalized category is exemplified by a person modeling what Wired deems appropriate garb and a brief description that includes disposition, beliefs and turn-ons.

Here’s the unusually derogatory description Wired writer/contributor, Troy Brownfield, writes of Gamers…

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In the latest issue of Nintendo Power magazine (April 2008), the letters section includes a submission from a fan of cross stitch. On page 9 you’ll find the following letter (full text follows in case you cannot read it all)…

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The annual Girls of Gaming issue started out as an unusual experiment by Playboy four years ago but has turned into one of the 54-year-old company’s most anticipated yearly issues, one that toyed with the fantasies of millions of lovesick gamers.

In the December 2007 issue of Playboy, featuring Kim Kardashian on the cover, they will again be paying tribute to some of the hottest women of gaming. Included in this year’s issues are, Keaira from Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, Church & Black from Jericho, Morenn from The Witcher, Yoko Retomoto from Kane & Lynch, A’Kanna from Conan and Sarah Morrison from Tabula Rasa.

These vixens join the ranks of Rayne, from the Bloodrayne series, Carla Valenti from Atari’s Indigo Prophecy and Darkwatch(s) bad girls, Cassidy and Tala, who appeared in previous issues.

Read [Playboy] Also Read [Kotaku] Site [Playboy Magazine]

University of Illinois researchers recently studied the impact of video game magazine’s depictions of overly muscular male characters on the drive for muscularity among preadolescent boys. According to the News Bureau of the University of Illinois, the study consisted of two rounds of testing conducted one year apart with researchers administered questionnaires to groups of two to five boys, separated by visual barriers who were then asked to report the genres of magazines they read each week. “The boys’ drive for muscularity was gauged using a child-appropriate version of a standard “drive for muscularity” scale. Drive for muscularity was defined as desire for muscle mass.”

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