Scared to open the package: adventures in game writer bribery

Pre Dexter-Morgan-with-Photoshop
brass knuckle photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Those who write about games often get their copies of the game directly from the publisher, but many times the package containing said game contains all manner of other things.

We explore some of the odder things sent to the gaming press to promote games, and show some of the coverage that resulted.


You can read the full article here.

How Video Games Reorganize Your Brain

Kotaku found some interesting info on how video games are affecting our brain:
"It is no secret that video games aid players with their hand-eye coordination.
A new study shows that playing video games extensively reorganizes how the brain handles difficult visuomotor tasks.
Gaming pundits have been pulling out the eye-hand coordination card for as long there have been video games. Seeing things is easy. Manipulating things with one's hands is simple. Watching one thing while manipulating something else with one's hands is the tricky bit. Since gamers spend a great deal of time watching a screen while manipulating a controller, their eye-hand coordination improves"
You can read the rest of the article here.

Video Game Industry Statistics (ESRB)

Video Game Industry Statistics (ESRB): "Video Game Industry Statistics from ESRB"

Here's an interesting compilation of video game statistics provided by ESRB.

Enjoy,

Raoul

Super Mario 25th Birthday!

Looks like we have another celebration today!
Happy Birthday Super Mario!
25 years have passed since the most known plumber made his first video game appearance!
Luke Plunkett from Kotaku made the perfect description of this iconic character:

"It seems almost pointless marking the occasion with a round-up, or a few paragraphs outlining his importance to video games - and video gamers - because it's Mario. He isn't important to video games. He is video games."

Dear Mario, if you're throwing a party tonight with Luigi, Donkey Kong and the rest of the gang, just be careful and enjoy those mushrooms moderately. Is Bowser invited after all? :)
You can check the rest of the article here.

Hey PlayStation! Happy 15th Anniversary!

Growing up PlayStation infographic,
originally uploaded by PlayStation.Blog.

Happy birthday PlayStation!
Oh, and thanks for all the good times we've spent together starting with PSOne, PS2 and now PS3. Thanks to you I've experienced types of entertainment which drove me to make the step and join this industry.
Sony challenged the console market and alongside Nintendo it started this revolution.
Microsoft joined the party later on and thanks to that, now we're looking at this mature industry.
Let's continue to enjoy the entertainment provided by these folks and everybody else involved.
I know that all of them contributed with some incredible steps forward or big mistakes in the past, but as a consumer, I believe they did a great job until now. All my Kudos for the Big Three.
Read some more regarding PlayStation's anniversary on the official PlayStation Blog.

Cheers,
Raoul

"The Witness" showed up @ PAX 2010

Jonathan Blow, the designer behind the indie success "Braid" has revealed his latest creation at PAX 2010 (Penny Arcade Expo).

According to Gamasutra, Jonathan launched the playtest session in a stealthy way at SpyParty/Monaco's booth, without any announcements or hype.

Kotaku captured about three minutes of in-game footage which you can check it out here.

For more information you can visit the official website of "The Witness" or you can read the rest of the article on Gamasutra.

Duke Nukem Forever is Officially in Development at Gearbox - EpicBattleAxe

But for real, Gearbox Software, just ahead of the opening of PAX 2010, announced to the world that the game-that-will-not-die is finally on the home stretch after more than a decade in development. Duke Nukem Forever, the sequel to 1996’s Duke Nukem 3D has been “close to release” countless times since it was originally announced in 1997. Since then, DNF has spawned a string of release dates that never panned out, some of the most effortless humor that’s ever existed, and a fierce legal battle between publisher Take-Two and original-developer 3D Realms.

After hitting financial trouble in 2009, 3D Realms closed its doors and entered legal proceedings with Take-Two over the game they should have delivered more than ten years earlier. Though we still don’t know the exact details, we know now that Gearbox got involved shortly thereafter, taking over development of Duke Nukem Forever in late ‘09; presumably after a settlement was reached between 3D Realms and Take-Two.
You can read more here.

Source

Company Of Heroes Developer Killed In Car Accident

Well, here's an unfortunate event... 

"Brian R. Wood, lead designer of Company of Heroes Online and a key player in the development of the series as a whole, was tragically killed on Friday night in an automobile accident north of Seattle.

Wood was behind the wheel of his Subaru Outback, with his wife Erin a passenger, when they were struck head-on by a Chevy Blazer driven by 21 year-old Jordyn B. Weichert. Two passengers in Weichert's car were killed, while it's alleged that the young driver was also under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident.

The Washington State Patrol say Weichert could be charged with vehicular homicide and vehicular assault once she is released from hospital, while another passenger in her car, 22 year-old Samantha R. Bowling, may also be charged with vehicular homicide.

Wood was 33. His wife, six months pregnant, is "hospitalized but in improving condition".

Rest in peace B!

News and photograph entirely acquired from Kotaku.com, All rights reserved.