Gamertell

A man has been charged for assaulting a 2-year-old girl in York, PA (USA), with, of all things, a video game controller. The game controller might sound like a benign object but it can be lethal if used against a toddler, which it turned out to be in this case. The little girl is currently in a coma after receiving severe injuries to her head and body.

The execrable incident occurred on…

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With only a few weeks before the big event March 21 to 23, 2008, this year’s Anime Boston already has quite a list of special guests who will be attending including voice actors Colleen Clinkenbeard, Aaron Dismuke, Todd Haberkorn, Brad Swaile and Michael Sinterniklaas.

This year’s live gaming sessions will include collectible card games, collectible miniature games, board games, live-action role playing games and tabletop RPGs. Rules for the sessions can be found on Anime Boston’s website along with any fees for participants. The session games are as follows…

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In the old days a pirate was a seafaring thief who committed his crime at sea and at times on the shore, the first known acts of piracy took place in the 13th century B.C., but today modern day pirates sail the digital seas on the internet and siphoning the revenues of hardworking corporations through counterfeit products.

The hunt for modern day pirates live on and with the rise in demand for certain videogames and gaming consoles, these pirates ready their vessels for the opportunity to offer their counterfeit consoles and games to those consumers desperate enough to purchase the product as a substitute for the real deal.

More recently, a modern day pirate was caught in Canada selling counterfeit Xbox 360 and modified PlayStation 2 consoles as well as the games for the systems, according to a City of Richmond, BC news release.

According to the release, store owner and operator Chi Hong “Terry” Wong appeared in court on November 5, 2007 to answer the charges made against him on December 14, 2006 when the RCMP Economic and Computer Crime Unit received a search warrant to investigate Wong’s store Toy Revenge Hobbies and Entertainment Ltd., where the unit seized numerous modified gaming consoles, the equipment used for modifying the consoles and numerous counterfeit games.

The crack down on video game piracy in Canada actually started two years ago by the Entertainment Software Association of Canada who hired private investigators to search for businesses engaging in piracy and according to Danielle Parr, executive director of the Entertainment Software Association of Canada, in an interview with the local Canadian news source The Province, video-game counterfeiting is growing despite DVD and CD piracy being the more popular form of piracy.

“There has to be sufficient deterrent, as opposed to just the cost of doing business,“ Parr told The Province. “There really is an impact locally in our ability to invest in the industry.“

Wong pleaded guilty to the 26 counts of fraud. According to the Richmond BC release the charges against Wong’s company were stayed but sentenced WOng to pay a $25,000 fine with forfeiture of all counterfeiting related items sized by the police during their search.

Read [The Province] News Release [Richmond, British Columbia, Canada] Site [ESA Canada]

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During a lengthy radio interview with Tom Brokaw about his newest book “Boom!: Voices of the 60s” with Hugh Hewitt,  Hewitt brought up NBC’s role in the Virginia Tech Shooting incident where Cho Seung Hui, suspected of learning how to shoot using videogames, and NBC aired his Hui’s self-made video.

Brokaw didn’t hesitate to attribute violence being encouraged by videogames and blogging not by NBC. Hewitt originally asked about the Virginia Tech shootings and was it appropriate for NBC to run the killer’s videotape during the live broadcast of the event, then challenged Brokaw as to why he felt it was okay to air a self-made video that was obviously mimicking a movie. Hewitt’s stand was that the video encouraged potential copy cat killers and promoted violence rather than show how demented the shooter was.

“Yeah, they did,” Brokaw answered. After Hewitt asked if that video wouldn’t incite anyone else to do the same Brokaw explained, “No, I don’t. I think…to get back to something we were talking about earlier in general thematic terms, I don’t think we’re doing a very good job about talking about violence in this country, either. You know, Virginia Tech went away. We didn’t have any ongoing dialogs in our communities or on the air about the corrosive effect of violence. It was not what he, what people saw of him on the air that will drive them, it’s what they read in blog sites, and what they see in video games. It’s that kind of stuff that I think is cancerous. And I’m a free speech absolutist, but I think that at the same time, we have to have free speech in some kind of a context. And part of that context is a discussion of the possible effects of it.

“I’ll leave the video game comment alone, because it’s broadly dismissive and idiomatically ignorant enough that I’ll just sound cruel going after a 67-year-old South Dakotan with an enviable public and industry awards list. And he’s not wrong in his assessment of way the country has a horrible track record when it comes to dealing with its weirdly hypocritical stance on violence (violence in games is fine, for instance, but sexual themes and even partial nudity are big no-nos),” he said.

Brokaw also bashed bloggers, calling them echo chambers for cynical albeit occasionally amusing blathering.

“But the blog comment just sounds like an angry, resentful, old-media-journalist dig. Sure, blogs are often un-sourced, are frequently little cults of personality or echo chambers for cynical albeit occasionally amusing blathering, and they can certainly sound or seem to function as “mob-like.” But they’re also tremendously effective ways of applying (increasingly) democratic pressure to a monolithic, deleteriously corporatized informational superstructure, a means of confronting a mainstream media that’s increasingly less informative, insightful, carefully sourced, and journalistically competent than its newer, somewhat hostile peers,” he said. “Journalists are under intense scrutiny from bloggers, and many companies are struggling to integrate their online operations into the newsroom without lowering standards of verifying and reporting information. Much of that pressure is healthy. Clear away the rhetoric and animus of those who yearn for the annihilation of traditional journalism (the hated “MSM,” or mainstream media) and journalism will be better for the scrutiny that the blogosphere offers.”

After Brokaw’s long winded explaination about bloggers and gamers he became upset when Hewitt tried to cut the show short because of time. Brokaw was not finished with Hewitt and continued to argue his point. The show became explosive as the two bickered over the Virginia Tech Shootings and how the media handled it.

“Wait a minute. Why would you disagree with me? You’re ... I mean, don’t you want to know, aren’t you a free speech absolutist? Don’t you want to know what’s going on?” Brokaw pleaded with Hewitt to let him explain his views and when Hewitt accused Brokaw of manipulating the Va. Tech shooting information and airing a video that spawned copy cat school shooters. Brokaw became defensive and responded, “But we did it in context. We didn’t put him up there and say this was a great heroic figure. We showed how dark he was, and what the reality is. And it put a lot of campuses in this country on alert. And it’s changed … one of the things that I agree with the NRA is that if people have mental health records that are out there, people who sell guns should have access to them.”

It was an interesting debate between the Brokaw and Hewitt, you’d have to read the transcripts for the full argument and a chuckle. Especially when Hewitt accused NBC of creating the copy cat in Finland where a teen went to his school with a gun and opened fire.

Read [PCWorld] Transcript [Hugh Hewitt Show]

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Common Sense Media reached out to a dozen presidential candidates (Republicans and Democrats) to ask each about policies they may implement should they be elected.

Senator John Edwards (D-NC), former Governor Barack Obama (D-IL), Bill Richardson (D-NM) and Mitt Romney (R-MA) were a few who responded to Common Sense’s inquiry. An inquiry was also sent to Senator’s Hillary Clinton, Mike Huckabee and John McCain but they did not respond by the deadline given, and Rudy Giuliani completely refused to participate.

According to Jacques Steinberg of the New York Times, Giuliani’s refusal could be that his children are older and a messy divorce. However, according to GamePolitics, Common Sense Media founder James P. Steyer is planning to invite the presidential nominees for a national forum on media issues Fall 2008.

Hmmmm. That’s kind of cutting it close isn’t it? Anyways, here are the responses given by the candidates to Common Sense Media:

Violent Video Game Legislation—To date, nearly 10 states have considered legislation to keep violent video games out of kids’ hands. Would you support this type of legislation at the federal level? What other strategies would you support to keep the video game industry and other media companies from marketing and selling inappropriate content to children?

• John Edwards (D-NC)—“While parents must ultimately decide what video games their children play, a lot of the responsibility for restricting marketing should be placed on software manufacturers. The Entertainment Software Rating Board is a good example of industry responsibility, and I support its ratings program, guidelines for responsible advertising practices, and outreach to game manufacturers and retailers. I also support leading video console manufacturers’ use of parental controls. But we have more work to do. An investigation by the Federal Trade Commission found that, since 2000, the likelihood of a child under age 17 being able to purchase an M-rated game (intended for people 17 or older) has been cut in half, falling from 85 percent to 42 percent. That number is much too high, and the FTC has also reported continued problems with the marketing of these games, especially on the Internet. If the industry does not continue to make progress in keeping video games with intense violence and adult content away from children, we will need to consider further steps to ensure that parents’ decisions about their children’s exposure to these games are not being undermined by retailers, advertisers and manufacturers.”


• Barack Obama (D-IL)—“We need to give parents the tools and information they need to make choices about what programs their children are watching or what video games they are playing. As we move towards a digital environment, there is a golden opportunity for the industry to do this on their own—to use the latest in technology to give parents more information and more choice. For example, this technology could make it possible for parents to create their own family tier just by programming their television to block certain channels, block certain genres of programming like dramas, or block television at certain times of the day. The same can be said of video games, especially as we’re moving into an era when they can be downloaded as easily as today’s movies and television shows. I would call upon the video game industry to give parents better information about programs and video games by improving the voluntary rating system we currently have. Broadcasters and video game producers should take it upon themselves to improve this system to include easier to find and easier to understand descriptions of exactly what kind of content is included. But if the industry fails to act, then my administration would. And even if the industry does do some responsible self-policing, there’s still a role for the federal government to play. We need to understand the impact of these new media better. That’s why I supported federal funding to study the impact of video games on children’s cognitive development.”




• Bill Richardson (D-NM)—I would consider this legislation, but I truly believe that we should make sure parents are educated about the inappropriate content of many video games. We have to get parents—all parents—more involved in the education of our nation’s students. Legislation and teachers cannot do it alone, no matter how good they are. Parental involvement is more important to a child’s success than any test or book. As president, I will issue an executive order that provides all federal employees with eight hours per year of paid, one-to-one time with their children. And I will encourage businesses and the rest of the public sector to do the same.




• Mitt Romney (R-MA)—I want to restore values so children are protected from a societal cesspool of filth, pornography, violence, sex, and perversion. I’ve proposed that we enforce our obscenity laws again and that we get serious against those retailers that sell adult video games that are filled with violence and that we go after those retailers.

“In today’s 24/7 media environment, it is becoming more and more difficult for parents to remain the number one influence in their kids’ lives,” said Steyer. “American parents want to know that the candidates understand the media challenges they face, and how the candidates propose dealing with these issues.”

Sounds fair until Steyer refers to a “virtually irrefutable library” of studies proving the evils of media which, I personally think, are most likely inconclusive, outdated and used to death by local media outlets as a excuse crutch.

“Social scientists have built up a virtually irrefutable library of studies demonstrating that the amount of sex, violence and materialism that kids are exposed to in the media impacts their fundamental health and well-being,” Steyer continued. “As the election approaches, parents are going to want to know where the candidates stand on these important issues.”

Though I’m confused as to what Steyer’s plan may be, I do find that this list gives you an insight to where the candidates stand on the issue so that when it’s time for election. I’m not just checking off another pretty face or the least agonizing candidate with the most sound policy and agenda. I’ll be making an informed decision for myself.

Read [GamePolitics] Read [The New York Times Caucus Blogs] Read [Common Sense Media] Site [Presidential Candidate’s Response to Videogame Issue]

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Exodus Film Group announced December 7, 2007, a video game deal with Interactive Game Group and Legacy Interactive for a game based on their CG-animated feature film “Igor.”

The playfully irreverent comedy film features the voice talents of John Cusack, who will be replacing Christian Slater in the role of Igor for the game and film adaptation. Igor, a gifted scientist born with a hunch on his back, wants to win the annual Evil Science Fair with his own invention. But as luck would have it, he is forced to serve in the shadow of a cruel scientist named Dr. Glickenstein.

Cusack will be joined by Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Jennifer Coolidge, Arsenio Hall, Sean Hayes, Eddie Izzard, Jay Leno and Molly Shannon. To date, the plans for the game version of this production will be distributed for the Nintendo DS and Wii system, as retail and downloadable online game for the PC platform, and through wireless connection.

Legacy Interactive will publish the “Igor” licensed game in North America and Interactive Game Group will finance and coordinate the game worldwide in time for Weinstein Company to distributed the film version in U.S. theaters by MGM on October 24, 2008. The Weinstein Company will also handle international sales for ”Igor.”

“The principals at Legacy and I2G have proven track records in creating and distributing exciting and innovative games,” said Bruce Auerbach, Exodus president of consumer products. “The audience experience will be greatly enhanced by not only seeing the movie, but being able to ‘play’ the movie.”

Ariella Lehrer, Legacy Interactive’s CEO said the game will appeal more to the hard core and casual strategy gamers.

“The incredibly rich world and characters the film offers are well suited to the action puzzler genre,” said Lehrer. “I think this is a game that will have crossover appeal among casual and more core strategy gamers alike.”

Frederic Chesnais, I2G’s founder and general manager, added, “This project is exactly why I have created I2G, to bring talented people together and facilitate the creation and distribution of interactive entertainment.”

Site [Exodus Film Group] Site [Legacy Interactive] Read [Dark Horizons]

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The popular anime and videogame series Dragonball is about to go live on the silver screen. No joke. In fact, actress Jamie Chung has just been casted as Goku’s love interest, Chi Chi, and will join Justin Chatwin (Goku) and James Marsters (Piccolo) have already been casted in the live-action adaptation of the popular Japanese comic Dragonball.

The film will be produced by Stephen Chow, a successful Japanese cultural export of all time, and directed by James Wong. The setting of this film is a science fiction action-adventure that will center on an adult humanoid alien named Goku who, after discovering he was sent to Earth to destroy the population, tries to fulfill the wish of his dying grandfather and collect all seven of the world’s mystical Dragon Balls to keep them out of the hands of the evil aliens.

Fans of the game and anime franchise already know the back story of the series and I’m sure will be cautious about the live action release for fear of disappointment. And who wouldn’t, the series has grown since its first release in Japan.

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While on his tour to visit wounded Soldiers across the US, during a visit to a Waco, TX, rehabilitation hospital, President Bush tried his hand at playing a computer game with a few soldiers who were transported to the hospital from Iraq to rehabilitate from their injuries. The game he was playing with the soldiers was one that simulated a firefight in a Baghdad neighborhood.

One wouldn’t see anything wrong with that but apparently news of this gaming session had a few bloggers pitching a fit about the “shoot out in Baghdad.” Among the other games Bush witnessed the soldiers playing included a car or boat simulation game at a facility in San Antonio. Bush spoke with the wounded soldiers and spoke out about his administration taking steps to improve the flawed health care services for the countries returning veterans.

But all the bloggers heard was “shoot out in Baghdad” and automatically accused the president of trying to pretend to be a Soldier. Though many were rants that tend to go off on a tangent or off topic all together while a few were out right attacks like comments made by Exit Stage-left who wrote:

“First, did he wear his flight suit? Just because you play a god blessed video game, you did not fight against the “bad guys” you twit.

It’s an insult to the men and women you are sending in to lose limbs and their lives. You playing a video game does not make you a soldier, you giddy moron.

And second, your administration has done nothing, NOTHING to help returning soldiers. Nothing. You have ignored them time and again. You have fought all efforts to give them better care. You are an entitled, ignorant prick, Mr. President.

I find you offensive. Meanwhile I’m watching my wife’s family go through their own personal hell with the death of my brother in-law’s military partner. Tom Crowell was my age. He was Justin’s partner in the OSI and was killed along with two other agents. They were doing the same job Justin did on his tour. Justin wanted to make a career out of the military. He was a good agent an a very good investigator. He wanted to do his 20 years. He did not. He knew they were sending him back to Iraq, just like they did Tom. Justin will be with his wife and his family. Tom will not. For them there was no restart button, the bullets were real, you don’t get any “life packs” or supercharged powers. You don’t play in an air-conditioned room with tons of admirers/donors watching your every move.

No. You go out, you get dirty, you pray you make it back.”

All Bush did was play a game, probably the same game have the military gamers may already have in their collection. As I’ve said many a times before, I’ve played with a few of these soldiers-in-combat or war-themed games. In fact, we may be investing in World in Conflict when it comes out just to be able to challenge one another online once and awhile. Does that make me an Army wannabe? No. That’s why I can agree wholeheartedly on a comment left in response to the article posted on Game Politics in which the writer added:

“Let me say right up front that - my opinion - George W. Bush is a freakin’ disaster as President. But c’mon. The troops - many of whom have lost limbs - were rehabbing and enjoying the game. What’s the problem? Bush has plenty of real issues over which he can be criticized. Let’s not manufacture one from a few moments of game play.”

Read [Game Politics] Also Read [The Huffington Post] Site [Exit Stage-Left]

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Teenagers are always looking for adventures, but how bored do they have to be to go on a “mission” at their local high school in Kingston, Washington?

According to the North Kitsap Herald, police busted five teens, four 18-year-olds and a 15-year-old, who entered Kingston High School November 4, 2007 by climbing the school and entering a door located on the roof. Once inside the teens relieved their boredom by pushing each other around in a wheeled garbage can through the halls.

While playing around and having fun, the teens set off the school’s security alarm around 1 a.m. and, because the alarm included an audio device, the dispatchers could hear the teens talking. The teens were so busy trying to find a place to hide that when the sheriff’s deputies could see one of the students walking through the hallways wearing a black mask and tactical vest.

It wasn’t long before the deputies figured out how the kids got into the school. They found a ladder propped against the wall to the school’s second floor roof and a rope they were using to access the third floor roof. Which the deputies used to gain access to the roof and quickly found all five students hiding inside an air conditioning unit.

Once the deputies got all five teens on the ground, the kids pleaded that they never intended to vandalize or steal from the school, they just wanted to “climb something.” The youngest of the group said she and her friends just wanted to go on a mission after playing Splinter Cell and decided to go to the school.

Three of the 18-year-olds were booked at the Kitsap County Jail for second degree burglary with bail set at $10,000, the fourth 18-year-old was charged for second degree burglary and possession of burglary tools setting his bail at $10,500. The 15-year-old was sent to juvenile detention for second degree burglary.

Read [North Kitsap Herald] Read [Game Politics]

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Democracy. We’ve all at one point in our lives imagined what it would be like to be President. To govern a nation, control the budgets and government assets. Now we all can in a videogame. I am so not kidding about this. I did a double take myself when I saw the story on Game Politics.

The game is a PC simulation that is actually a re-release under the Tri-Synergy label. The game is now available for $19.99 and, in the game, players take on the role of an elected leader who must solve everyone’s problem in such a way they will re-elect you as President. It’s a highly advanced simulation game designed to recreate a modern political system. If there’‘s a little dictator waiting to burst through your skin and take over a nation, well then, you might like this game.

According to the game’s website, it’s all about strategic decisions. There’s no blasting enemies, in fact, the only thing you’re going to blast is the other politicians campaigns or bill proposals. It’s an educational simulation game about politics. Players will attempt to solve the problems of society by managing the government’s budget, levy the taxes, pass new laws, make changes to existing laws, monitor the economy and carefully decide on important policy decisions.

Your enemy? Angry voters of course. Lots and lots of angry voters who are divided into groups which include socialists, capitalists, parents, state employees, environmentalists, motorists, smokers, drinkers and much, much more. So much more it makes my head spin. As you play, you must track your popularity as your decisions can mean your re-election or your term in office is over.

There’s a demo of Democracy available on the game’s website for download if you want to try the game for yourself.

Read [Game Politics] Site [Democracy the Game]

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