The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) today hailed yet another federal district court ruling issuing a permanent injunction against a Michigan bill which sought to ban video game sales to minors, ruling that the bill is unconstitutional and cannot be implemented. The opinion was issued by The Hon.George Caram Steeh, US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan.

"Judge Steeh's ruling represents a sweeping rejection of the state's claims regarding the harmful effects of violent video games and we will move immediately for reimbursement of the substantial legal fees incurred in this court fight which the state could have, and should have, never triggered," said Douglas Lowenstein, President of the ESA, the trade group representing U.S. computer and video game publishers. "It is noteworthy that Judge Steeh specifically chastised the state for not doing what we urged them to do from the start, which is to find less restrictive ways to help ensure that parents make sound choices about the games their kids play. With this wasteful litigation behind us, we hope the state will now do just that and we remain ready to work cooperatively with them."

In his decision, the judge firmly dismissed the state's claim that the interactive nature of video games makes them less entitled to First Amendment protection. "The interactive, or functional aspect, in video games can be said to enhance the expressive elements even more than other media by drawing the player closer to the characters and becoming more involved in the plot of the game than by simply watching a movie or television show," Judge Steeh wrote. "It would be impossible to separate the functional aspects of a video game from the expressive, inasmuch as they are so closely intertwined and dependent on each other in creating the virtual experience."

Regarding the “science" presented by the state purporting to show a link between violent games and violent behavior and thoughts, the court said, "Dr. [Craig] Anderson's studies have not provided any evidence that the relationship between violent video games and aggressive behavior exists." It added that the evidence introduced alleging that new brain mapping studies show a link between violent games and aggressive thought is equally unpersuasive. "The research not only fails to provide concrete evidence that there is a connection between violent media and aggressive behavior, it also fails to distinguish between video games and other forms of media," the Judge wrote.

Addressing the state's claims that video games are more harmful than TV because the player controls the action, the court said there is no evidence to support such a claim, adding that "it could just as easily be said that the interactive element in video games acts as an outlet for minors to vent their violent or aggressive behavior, thereby diminishing the chance they would actually perform such acts in reality....Not only does the Act not materially advance the state's stated interest, but it appears to discriminate against a disfavored 'newcomer' in the world of entertainment media. Thus, 'singling out' the video game industry does not advance the state's alleged goal," the Judge concluded. ...

The guys over at PSPzones have released a new edition of their mag for PSP, get it here --> http://www.pspzones.com/forum/index.php?download=260 ...

Source PSPFanboy

Everytime you turn around it seems that some new device is claiming the portable throne and declaring itself a PSP killer.

Apparently, Microsoft's recently unveiled Ultra-Mobile Personal Computer is the next in a long list of contenders. An article over at Ultranauts.com makes the bold (but entirely unoriginal) claim that the UMPC will be the latest device to put a nail in Sony's old PSP.

I don't think the fanboy's will agree, but some interesting comparisons are made between the two devices in terms of media, internet and gaming capabilities:

"As an all-in-one, the PSP really does do a fine job. But, as is the whole point of this article, the PSP will get trumped by the UMPC, a vastly superior all-in-one “lifestlye” device. Now, if Sony had chosen to focus on games in the same way Nintendo has with its new portables, there would be no contest: the PSP would be a superior gaming machine."

Ouch. That sorta feels like all of the schoolyard bullies are ganging up on you at once. Frankly, we're not too scared. Bring it on. ...

2K Sports, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), announced today that Major League Baseball® 2K6 shipped today-- Opening Day of the Major League Baseball® season-- to North American retailers for the Xbox® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. Combining striking visuals with unique gameplay features, including Swing Stick™, Inside Edge™ technology, and the World Baseball Classic™, Major League Baseball 2K6 raises the standard of baseball video games.

“With the first pitch of the MLB season comes our finest baseball title to date,” stated Greg Thomas, president of Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio. “Major League Baseball 2K6 combines several unique features that bring a new level of excitement to our national pastime and will establish new standards of quality for all baseball video games.”

Major League Baseball 2K6 includes several original and exclusive features, including astounding A.I. powered by Inside Edge™ technology, innovative Swing Stick™ controls, hundreds of new animations based on Pure Motion Physics™, and the all-new Payoff Pitching™ system. Jon Miller and Hall of Fame legend Joe Morgan bring their distinctive style and wit to the world-class commentary, adding wonderful atmosphere to every game. The World Baseball Classic™ debuts exclusively on Major League Baseball 2K6, adding an exciting international flavor of baseball. Unparalleled online play and online leagues bring gamers all over North America together to experience the national pastime.

Major League Baseball 2K6 is rated “E” for Everyone and is the only officially licensed Major League Baseball video game that will be available on every major gaming console, including the Xbox 360™ and Xbox® video game and entertainment systems from Microsoft, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the Nintendo GameCube™, and the PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) system. The PlayStation 2 and Xbox titles are now available for a suggested retail price of $39.99.

For more information, visit http://www.2ksports.com/games/mlb2k6/ ...

DickyDick has once again updated his realtime streaming/scaling/demuxing Windows server...

Heres whats new:

0.25

- finally smooth audio (thanks to framerate settings)

0.25a
- removed tcp setsockoptions

Download Here --> http://www.geocities.com/dickydick1969 ...

Source

Police are urging children to leave expensive gadgets at home after a violent robbery landed a 12-year-old boy in hospital.

The boy was robbed of his PlayStation Portable (PSP) games console on Friday at about 4pm, as he was leaving school in Hendon.

The games machine was one of this year's best-selling Christmas presents, but the £200 device is proving attractive to muggers.

Police revealed earlier this year that two-thirds of all street robberies involve the theft of expensive electronic equipment, and officers now fear that the PSP will follow the iPod as the target of choice.

The attack happened in Downage, when a group of teenagers approached the boy near his school gates.

He was thrown to the ground, injuring his hand, while his PSP and mobile phone were stolen. The boy was taken to Barnet Hospital, suffering concussion, cuts and bruising, and remained there over the weekend.

There have been two violent thefts involving PSP machines since they came onto the market at Christmas.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Murray Duffin, of Barnet police, said: "Sadly, small portable items of technology are just too much of a temptation to some of the criminal fraternity and things like PSPs and iPods that are not used in school should maybe be left safely at home or kept well out of sight when in the street.

"The amount of violence used in this attack was unnecessary and gratuitous and we would hope that anyone with any information about this incident will contact us quickly."

Sad *******s ...

Evilo posted this great news of a new release for the PS2:

The Angryfez Army and their minions have pointed the ultimate battle at earth! Only Happyfez can save the day! Are you ready ?

While playing with the SDL library, I got this tiny but very addictive game working Don't expect too much, it's a "one hour" quick port, and controls are not perfects (it should be reworked), but you can already enjoy it with this first version !

Download and Give Feedback Via Comments ...

zzo38computer has released a new version of his DS firmware replacement.

Whats New

- Settings in options.h to ignore auto-start flag in NDS card (in case it causes problems or you don't like that function, and this is also what was causing the screen to go black)
- On-screen keyboard functions have been changed a bit: Cursor is displayed after text, color of input text is now highlighted, and Esc key works (same as B button to cancel)
- L and R buttons can be used on main menu to toggle back-light

You can now call ARM7 functions in PROGRAMMING MODE

Known Bugs:
- A few commercial DS games won't boot (Lunar Dragon Song, Animal Crossing). caitsith2 seems to have found the problem.
- Firmware settings (name, birthday, etc) might be wiped? I wasn't too clear on what caitsith2 meant in this post.

Download via his site here --> http://zzo38computer.cjb.net/nitro/fwnitro/ ...

zzo38computer has released a new version of his DS firmware replacement.

Whats New

- Settings in options.h to ignore auto-start flag in NDS card (in case it causes problems or you don't like that function, and this is also what was causing the screen to go black)
- On-screen keyboard functions have been changed a bit: Cursor is displayed after text, color of input text is now highlighted, and Esc key works (same as B button to cancel)
- L and R buttons can be used on main menu to toggle back-light

You can now call ARM7 functions in PROGRAMMING MODE

Known Bugs:
- A few commercial DS games won't boot (Lunar Dragon Song, Animal Crossing). caitsith2 seems to have found the problem.
- Firmware settings (name, birthday, etc) might be wiped? I wasn't too clear on what caitsith2 meant in this post.

Download via his site here --> http://zzo38computer.cjb.net/nitro/fwnitro/ ...