I came across a short article by Christopher Dawson over at ZDNet posing the question “Do game consoles have a place in primary education?” His rationale is as follows:

However, the new game, Cosmic Family, is a slick game filled with puzzles and animation. While the puzzles are engaging, the Wii itself, with it’s motion-sensitive Wiimotes, takes a remarkable amount of coordination and sensitivity to operate.

As I watch the kindergarten teacher work to develop just this sort of skill, I have to wonder if there might not be a place for systems like the Wii (with a limited selection of appropriate software, of course) in early elementary education, just as there is for desktop or laptop computers.

It seems to me that the Wii could be a great tool for developmental work, as well as occupational or physical therapy for particular students with identified needs in these areas. The parent in me feels a knee-jerk sense of horror at the thought of Nintendos in classrooms or gymnasiums. However, the technologist in me sees some new tools that just might take us beyond technology for the sake of technology.

I understand how a parent can feel that sense of “horror” at the thought of video games in school. But then again, it really depends on your perspective. If you see video games as a tool to enhance your children’s educational experience, it would probably be a sense of elation and not horror that you would feel.

I think the bottom line here is control and discipline. Just like any other school subject, the idea of using video games for educational purposes should be monitored and guided strictly. I think that it is a perfectly good idea to expose young children to technology - learning and fun together, don’t you think so?

Who said that video games were for kids only? You only have to look at the statistics and you will see that a lot of gamers are in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Yet did you know that now, even senior citizens are getting into gaming?

Indeed, the older generation has discovered this activity that so many of the younger generation hold dear. In fact, even doctors are looking into the possibility of the existence of the health benefits of video games on senior citizens. An article on Newsday features this topic. It seems that casual games and Wii games are the most popular with the senior citizens. They have discovered a way to pass time and exercise both the body and the mind as well.

I have no doubt about the benefits that these games provide to senior citizens. After all, I am a firm believer in the benefits of video games to other age groups – why exclude the older generation? More so, I am observing first hand this kind of experience. My parents are retired – have been so for many years – and they just stay at home most of the time. My dad goes out and does odd jobs here and there but for the most part, when they are at home, their favorite pastime is to play casual games on the computer. I know how this activity makes them feel more relaxed and less bored.

Maybe the next step is to get them a Wii so they can have actual physical exercise?

I knew this day would come! I have always thought that one day, hotels would feature video games as part of their offerings. It is but logical – video games are not only for children but adults as well. Actually, there are already many hotels which offer video game consoles in some of their rooms, especially those catering to families.

This concept being employed by the Westin chain of hotels is somehow new though – adding Wii consoles to their hotel fitness centers. Here is more information on it:

Looking for a fun way to work out on the road?

Hotel companies across the nation are putting more money into their fitness centers as surveys show travelers are putting a high priority on them.

The folks at Westin recently added a twist to their fitness offerings: a video game. Nintendo’s Wii system, to be specific.

Last week, the hotel brand by Starwood Hotels & Resorts installed the gaming system in its fitness centers at hotels in Bellevue, Wash., and Times Square in New York as part of a pilot program.

This month, the system will be added to Westin properties at the Galleria in Houston, Kansas City, Mo., Hilton Head Island, S.C.,

St. Louis, San Francisco, Toronto, Hollywood, Calif., and Savannah, Ga.
Other locations will be added later, pending guest feedback, a spokeswoman said.

The Wii systems will be integrated into the WestinWORKOUT program and will be preloaded with several popular games.
(Opt for boxing rather than bowling if you really want to raise your heart rate.)

The systems will also incorporate the Wii Fit program, which leads users through various exercises, including yoga and strength training, and is scheduled for release May 19.

Maybe I’ll stay at a Westin hotel the next time I hit the road…

Wii enthusiasts, here is something for you. The hit series Super Smash Bros Brawl is coming to the Wii! It is one of the world’s most popular franchises due to the simple fact that characters from the whole Nintendo world are incorporated into the game. Imagine playing Sonic and Pikachu against each other. Or maybe Zelda and Mario.

Yahoo gives us all the reasons anyone would want this game for himself:

1. Actually, there are over 40 reasons you want it
Link. Zelda. Snake. Mario. Samus. Sonic. Pikachu. Bowser. Kirby. Peach. Wario. Smash Bros. Brawl features a huge list of characters from classic Nintendo games — and for the first time, favorites from non-Nintendo hits like Sonic the Hedgehog and Metal Gear join the party. Each comes with special attacks, props, sound effects and signature moves. Snake has even brought along his all-important cardboard box: no Special Forces agent leaves home without it.

2. Smash yourself
Smash Bros. games usually opt for multiplayer madness over single-player content. Not so with Brawl, which includes a solo Adventure Mode called “Subspace Emissary.” Written by a designer culled from the Final Fantasy games, it’s the perfect way to hone your skills before humiliating your friends, and if you get too lonely, you can even team up with a friend to take on the evil Subspace Army cooperatively.

3. Play with the world
That’s not to say that Brawl doesn’t have plenty of multiplayer content. In fact, it has more than any other Super Smash Bros. game to date. Not only can you enjoy four-player matches on one console you can also use the Wii’s wireless networking to take on players from your Wii friends list or the world at large. You can even capture replay footage of your victories and mail it to your rivals in the ultimate of trash-talking hijinks.

Oh, there’s more – just visit Yahoo’s feature on this and read to your heart’s content. After that, order your own copy.

Tags: New Games, Nintendo, Wii

Are you ready for the second half of this list? Here goes…

Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal
This one’s for the Wii. We all love Looney Tunes – who does not? Yet the game released for the Wii just ruined everything. Check out what 1UP has to say about this game:

It’s painful watching Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal strive for mediocrity. With such a creatively flexible license (evident in Duck Amuck for the DS, releasing the same day), it’s even more disappointing to see it abused so haphazardly in an uninspired, glitchy, sometimes broken action-platformer. Calling Arsenal a hack-n-slash would be overcomplicating matters — it’s really just hack, at best. It’s too simplistic and childish for any passing intellectual enjoyment (even the classic Looney Tunes humor is put to poor use), and far too difficult in practice for anyone young enough to enjoy it to actually play it.

It’s sad.

Deal or No Deal
The game for the DS does not do the real game show any justice at all. I know how exciting watching the TV show can be. I couldn’t wait to play the video game. I wish I had saved that money for something else. The guys at Gamespot hit the nail right on the head:

By all accounts, making a game based on NBC’s hit game show Deal or No Deal should be the most idiot-proof concept in the world…It might not make for an especially interesting video game (it certainly didn’t in the PC version released earlier this year), but if the template is followed correctly, it should be, if nothing else, functional. However, Deal or No Deal for the DS somehow manages to screw it up, turning in a completely broken translation of the game.

The Wii has been outselling the other gaming consoles for the past year, right? This revolutionary gaming console has converted a lot of video gamers with its unique way of playing and fun games – much to the dismay of some hardcore console gamers. Well here’s more news for all of us – a Ghostbusters game is coming out for the Wii.

I see this working both ways – Wii fans would he holding their breaths till the game actually comes out and they can get to play it. On the other hand, fans of other consoles (who are Ghostbuster fans as well – I am sure there are quite a lot) would rather have the game come out for their preferred console.

In any case, there is nothing to be done about it right now. Ghostbusters is coming out and it is coming out for the Wii. What can Wii lovers expect?

For one, the setting is quite authentic – way back in 1991. This would be enough to negate any fears that the Ghostbusters in the game would be aging and unable to perform like they did way back then. Those who remember the Stay Puft marshmallow man and the creepy librarian from the first movie will also be thrilled to know that they will be featured in the game.

Then again, for a game which has a lot of potential, the Wii might be limiting it to a certain extent. Rumor has it that the game is mostly focused on multiplayer game play wherein players have to beat each other in terms of busting the most number of furniture, ghost catching races, and the like. I am sure PS3 and Xbox360 fans would prefer something else.

The thing about being too engaged in newly purchased game consoles such as the Playstation and Xbox consoles is that time flies when you are having fun. A game console aimed for all ages, people are too glued to their television playing their favorite games such as NBA Live, Tekken or even Gran Turismo that they end up lacking sleep from playing until the wee hours of the morning.

Such produces a hypnotic type of a trance for gamers that simply want to complete a level or stage in storylines that these games have to offer. The game developers are not to be blamed since it is really their job to make the game as addicting as possible.

Self-discipline among the people who endorse and play this game should be done internally. It is their duty to ensure that they know when to stop even if they don’t want to. Besides, they can pull-it out anytime they wish to, when they have nothing else to do in real life.

[tags]playstation, xbox, games, sleep disorder[/tags]

Tags: games, PlayStation, sleep-disorder, Xbox

It has been a common tradition that game consoles would come to a point of having to engage in price drops since immediate demands of purchase for them would not be selling as forecasted. Part of this can be attributed to their outrageous prices such as that of the Playstation 3 and the Wii series. The cost for owning one is simply too much and waiting for some time for prices to be lowered has been an expected trend as can be seen from previous game console installments such as the PS2 and the Xbox offers.

People are simply waiting in line before the price drops hit the markets. The initial purchasers will always be there, largely composed of game addicts who go for distinction and allow their excitement to get the better of them. While these people may afford to burn the extra cash, price discounts are offered after some time since not resorting to such may leave them with a heap of game consoles that will just gather dust and eat up their inventory space.

[tags]timezone, ps2, ps3, xbox, wii[/tags]

Tags: PS2, PS3, timezone, Wii, Xbox

Most hardcore gamers today who are obviously after the best game play methodology would usually be left with either choosing a gun or a sword in his own role playing expedition in the usually created game worlds today. Such has been seen from the games that have been clamored to by millions such as Gunbound and Runescape. Both have their own style of game play, either medieval times or old western style shoot-around.

Depending on the theme of the developed game or the actual purpose of usual storylines that would guide the new player towards his journey, people are sure to be befuddled with what type of character they would want to create and develop. For medieval worlds, warriors and magicians would usually be the primary categories of choice. But if there is one thing that a hardcore gamer should be aware of, he must ultimately decide on one character creation first before moving on to choosing other character types with special skills. Patience in this type of game play is a rarity but can be an asset if used well.

[tags]gunbound, runescape, rpg, online games[/tags]

Tags: gunbound, online-games, RPG, runescape

Among the notable games that are coming out would be the off-shoot of popular sports and athletics such as the NBA, NFL and the NHL. These sporting events usually lead the headlines of the newspaper sports headlines and people are given the opportunity to be able to experience them through developed games in the various game consoles of the Playstation and Xbox series.

Each game comes with the usual updated player rosters, teams, statistics and signature moves that players are known for. Games like NBA Live and Madden Football also have the feature of a dynasty or story mode which allows controllers to be able to dictate and follow the development and evolution of their created or existing players throughout their career. Teams are also another good thing to build on since building dynasties is synonymous to planning and strategic management in a different approach and aspect from such developed games today.

[tags]playstation, ps2, ps3, xbox, nba live, nfl[/tags]

Tags: nba-live, nfl, PlayStation, PS2, PS3, Xbox