via joystiq

OK, we were on board when the whole Brain Training fad hit. We even tolerated it when the inevitable wave of knock offs were rushed to market. But now Nintendo is trying to sell us on the idea of an eye training game and we say enough is enough.

Yes, we know video games have been recently clinically shown to improve eyesight, but do we really need a game that specifically focuses on this largely intrinsic benefit of the medium? According to an IGN preview, Miru Chikara wo Jissen de Kitearu: DS Ganriki Training (roughly: "Strengthen Your Visual Power through Practice: DS Visual Training") will include tests focusing on "fast moving objects, field of vision, and eye-hand coordination." You know what other game tests these things quite well? Every action game ever made.

We suppose if Brain Age is the only game you have for the DS, you might need another, faster-moving game to keep your eyes as limber as your brain. For most gamers, though, buying this game would be like getting a gym membership when you already have a full set of free weights, an elliptical machine, and a full size racquetball court in your house. ...

via joystiq

OK, we were on board when the whole Brain Training fad hit. We even tolerated it when the inevitable wave of knock offs were rushed to market. But now Nintendo is trying to sell us on the idea of an eye training game and we say enough is enough.

Yes, we know video games have been recently clinically shown to improve eyesight, but do we really need a game that specifically focuses on this largely intrinsic benefit of the medium? According to an IGN preview, Miru Chikara wo Jissen de Kitearu: DS Ganriki Training (roughly: "Strengthen Your Visual Power through Practice: DS Visual Training") will include tests focusing on "fast moving objects, field of vision, and eye-hand coordination." You know what other game tests these things quite well? Every action game ever made.

We suppose if Brain Age is the only game you have for the DS, you might need another, faster-moving game to keep your eyes as limber as your brain. For most gamers, though, buying this game would be like getting a gym membership when you already have a full set of free weights, an elliptical machine, and a full size racquetball court in your house. ...

via joystiq

OK, we were on board when the whole Brain Training fad hit. We even tolerated it when the inevitable wave of knock offs were rushed to market. But now Nintendo is trying to sell us on the idea of an eye training game and we say enough is enough.

Yes, we know video games have been recently clinically shown to improve eyesight, but do we really need a game that specifically focuses on this largely intrinsic benefit of the medium? According to an IGN preview, Miru Chikara wo Jissen de Kitearu: DS Ganriki Training (roughly: "Strengthen Your Visual Power through Practice: DS Visual Training") will include tests focusing on "fast moving objects, field of vision, and eye-hand coordination." You know what other game tests these things quite well? Every action game ever made.

We suppose if Brain Age is the only game you have for the DS, you might need another, faster-moving game to keep your eyes as limber as your brain. For most gamers, though, buying this game would be like getting a gym membership when you already have a full set of free weights, an elliptical machine, and a full size racquetball court in your house. ...

via joystiq

Greece is not usually known as a hub of video game information, but an interview with George Katrinakis (Altavista translation of relevant page), CEO of Greek Nintendo distributor Nortec Multimedia, reveals some interesting information about two previously unknown Wii games.

In the four page interview with Greek news site Contra.gr, Katrinakis talks about Wii Music, a game that sounds remarkably similar to the conductor demo shown at last year's E3. In addition to the general Wii-remote-as-conductor's-baton control shown at the demo, Katrinakis reveals that Wii Music players will be able to take control of specific musicians and send saved compositions to other Wii users.

Katrinakis goes on to describe Health Pack, a Wii game that will lead the player in various exercises. Sounds kind of basic, until Katrinakis adds that the game will collect biometric data and send it to local hospitals (contracted by Nintendo) through a Wii channel. According to Katrinakis, this data will be processed by the hospital and sent back as a home check up a few hours later. No word on how the data will be collected or processed, but the idea sounds ambitious if nothing else.

It should be noted that this information comes from a rough translation, and that the information is coming not from Nintendo but from a Greek distributor who might be in a position to know about future releases. Still, if the interview is to be believed, we can expect both these titles by the end of the year. ...

via joystiq

Straight from Sony: The 20GB PS3 will no longer be offered to retailers for sale in North America. The decision was made based on consumer and retail demand favoring "the 60GB model 10 to 1."

Dave Karraker of Sony America states, "At launch, we offered two separate models of PlayStation 3 to meet the diverse needs and interests of our PlayStation fan base. Initial retail demand in North America was upwards of ninety percent in favor of the 60GB SKU, so we manufactured and shipped-in accordingly. Due to the overwhelming demand for the 60GB model from both retailers and consumers, we have ceased offering the 20GB model here in North America. In addition to the larger internal hard drive, the 60GB PlayStation 3 features added storage media slots and built-in Wi-Fi not found in the 20GB system. Based on retailer and consumer feedback, we have decided to focus our current efforts on the more popular 60GB model."

This follows mounting evidence that the 20GB was on its way out the door at Best Buy and even the Sony Style store. And so we say goodbye to the PlayStation 3's 20GB model. Goodnight sweet Prince, we hardly knew ye. ...

via kotaku

...

via engadget



Those looking for something slightly rarer than a Virtual Boy to add to their Nintendo collection may want to head over to eBay before it's too late, where this rare in-store NES kiosk is currently up for auction. While the stylin' TV set in the picture above unfortunately isn't included, the game console itself should be enough to impress any NIntendo fan that pays the lucky winner a visit, with twelve selectable cartridge slots available to load up with your choice of games (none are included). Just don't expect to bring this home on the cheap -- last we checked the bidding was topping $600 with two days left to go. ...

via engadget



Those looking for something slightly rarer than a Virtual Boy to add to their Nintendo collection may want to head over to eBay before it's too late, where this rare in-store NES kiosk is currently up for auction. While the stylin' TV set in the picture above unfortunately isn't included, the game console itself should be enough to impress any NIntendo fan that pays the lucky winner a visit, with twelve selectable cartridge slots available to load up with your choice of games (none are included). Just don't expect to bring this home on the cheap -- last we checked the bidding was topping $600 with two days left to go. ...

via PSP Fanboy


Sony recently dropped the price of PSP down to $170 in an effort to revitalize the ailing PSP market. Did it work? According to Kotaku, the plan has worked quite spectacularly: "In the the first two days following the PSP's price drop there was a 300 percent increase in the number of the portables sold."

Unfortunately, Kotaku hasn't provided a source for their information, and without specific numbers to work with, the authenticity of such a claim becomes a lot shakier. However, we'll play the optimist: with both system and games reaching mass market affordability, PSP is bound to bounce back in the handheld wars.

More surprisingly, it appears as though the UMD is not dead. Apparently, UMD movie sales were actually up 35 percent from 2005 to 2006. "That jump in sales enticed Target to bring the format back to their stores."

These are interesting developments for PSP, especially if true. The handheld wars are certainly getting far more interesting, now that Sony's recommitted to the fight. ...