Gamertell

Confirming something most of us already know, a new study coming out of Villanova University indicates that motion controls do not increase aggression in people who play violent video games.

Certainly inspired by the controversy controversy surrounding the Wii release of Manhunt 2, a study titled “An examination of psychoticism and motion capture controls as moderators of the effects of violent video games” (Patrick M. Markey and Kelly Scherera, 2008, Department of Psychology, Villanova University) examined the “hostility and aggressive thoughts” in individuals while they played Manhunt 2 as well as Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08

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Are you looking for a new mini game collection for your Wii? One that’s centered on the idea of jobs and saving the world by… working together? Well, kiss your lucky stars, because Konami has just announced Job Island - formerly known as Hard Working People. I’m going to let the press release tell you about the story mode, which sounds bizarrely like real life:

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Siliconera‘s been busy uncovering new information this week, as it also found out that Nippon Ichi has been approved to develop Wii and Wiiware titles. As any DS RPG fan already knows, NIS has developed and released games for Nintendo’s other system - two of which, Disgaea DS and Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure, were released stateside in October, 2008.

NIS’ first game for the system has already been revealed, Let’s Hitchhike. It is a Wiiware game that is currently scheduled for a 2009 release in Japan. No other titles have been confirmed or announced…

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Title: Littlest Pet Shop
Price: $39.99
System(s): Wii (also available on the DS and PC)
Release Date: October 14, 2008
Publisher (Developer): Electronic Arts (Electronic Arts)
ESRB Rating: “Everyone”
Pros: A pretty good variety of pets, very simple controls for kids, kids can dress the characters up with lots of accessories and when you play a game, you actually play it with the selected pet.
Cons: Overly structured in the beginning, you can’t choose which pets you want - you must unlock them in order and some of the animals really aren’t that cute.
Overall Score: One thumb up, one sideways; 80/100; B-; *** out of 5

EA Casual and Hasbro have teamed up to blanket the video game market with a series of Littlest Pet Shop games based on the series of toys which have infatuated young children around the US. The Wii version of Littlest Pet Shop certainly wouldn’t be in my top 10 list of most wanted holiday games, but the target audience will likely express the same love for the game as they do for the toys.

Littlest Pet Shop is clearly geared towards the grade school set. In fact, anyone over the age of 10 may find themselves incredibly frustrated by the title’s simplicity and overprotective tutorials, not to mention the character art. Kids will likely adore it though, as the entire game is almost like the series’ toys brought to life…

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Destructoid posted a very handy list of Nintendo’s upcoming releases today, with the most up-to-date release dates that we have. Everything from Pikmin 1 and 2 to the ultra-anticipated new Punch Out!! are on there, along with a couple of MIA titles that raised a few eyebrows - Fatal Frame 4 is nowhere to be seen.

The list:

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Nintendo’s Wii really is something; despite the fact that its technological specs are meek compared to what is offered by its competitors, the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3, the Wii continues to distance itself from them in both sales numbers and in popularity. Apparently, Nintendo had the right idea when they decided to reach out to individuals who had never used a controller in their life, rather than continually appeal to the hardcore crowd.

This popularity has made the system increasingly hard to find as of late, a phenomenon that has intensified with each successive holiday season that they system has been made available. However, Reggie Fils-Amie, Nintendo’s president, made it clear in an LA Times interview that consumers will have better luck locating a Wii this holiday season, as he announced his plans to increase the system’s manufacturing rate from 1.6 million to 2.4 million units in order to meet holiday demand…

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MTV’s Multiplayer blog recently posted a couple of short videos from upcoming DS/Wii platformer Mushroom Men that show off just how unique and cool the game’s music and sound design will be. While the headline is sort of a misnomer (calling it “the weirdest video game music we’ve heard in a while”), the post goes on to explain that the music is actually an integral part of the game’s environments - and that the whole affair literally runs on the music. It’s all rather psychedelic (fitting for a game about mushrooms, no?), but not in a distracting way.

In an interview snippet with remixer Matt Piersall, he revealed that

“The entire game runs at 120 beats per minute, so it’s literally on an actual clock…We’ve put this whole game on beat, so visual and ambient environmental effects will happen in time with the music. It’s a very subtle feature but it adds to the immersiveness.”

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As reported by San Jose Mercury News, on Wednesday (October 22, 2008), the State of California will try to revive its crusade against violent video games. This will be contesting a law deemed unconstitutional in 2007. This decision will be reviewed by the 9th District U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. It is in reaction to the pending release of Mad World for the Nintendo Wii.

The law itself bars sale or rental of violent video games to minors. Other such similar laws have been repealed nationwide in the US, often being cited as attempts to limit both freedom of speech and of expression.

Law-makers seem to be in agreement that…

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We all already know that Coraline, the fantastic book by Neil Gaiman, is going to be made into a movie and video game. Well, now that the movie’s February 6, 2009 release date is creeping closer, D3 Publisher has released more information about the game’s plot and a worldwide release for the games have been announced.

The Coraline games almost sound like a possible point-and-click adventure titles, since the press release says players will explore the her normal home apartment flat and the Other world as well. Mini-games are also promised (naturally - it is going to be geared towards children), as well as missions with Coraline’s friends Wybie and Cat…

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The meteor guiding puzzle game Roogoo is traveling to other platforms in 2009, specifically Nintendo platforms. Roogoo DS is headed to the DS and Roogoo Twisted Towers is coming for the Wii, thanks to SouthPeak. Both versions of the game will feature the same disk twisting gameplay that were found in the Xbox Live Arcade and PC versions of Roogoo, but will add in new gameplay modes, new levels and Wii-DS connectivity.

While both versions of Roogoo are about guiding meteors safely through over 100 levels and 10 different areas, it also seems there is a distinct focus on the multiplayer aspects the Wii and DS versions will provide. The DS version will have single-card and multi-card multiplayer options and new multiplayer attacks. The Wii version is going to have a four player multiplayer mode and also the option to go through the story campaign with a second player assisting you…

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