Parents and scientists too often think over various habitual hot potatoes like “Do video games cause violence?” and “How to protect children from negative sides of the internet, TV and peer pressure?”

According to AP, Japanese schoolchildren are getting addicted to internet-linking mobiles. The government is worried about how elementary and junior high school students are getting sucked into cyberspace crimes (pedophiles, trickster, etc.). Besides, they spend much time playing video games and chatting all day long.

Out of sight, I can’t but make some examples concerning the internet and video games as well. Have a look around! Do you remember yourself ten years ago as advanced web-users? You weren’t “third-generation” users.

One of the leading analysts of telecommunication market, Jakob Nielsen is of the opinion that folks weren’t accustomed to the internet area in the past.

Recent researches of Jakob Nielsen show that we are (web users) getting more and more selfish, anxious and angry! Also every internet surfer is impatient being on the web. I’m not surprised due to my own experience and knowledge.

According to Jakob Nielsen, instead of dawdling on websites many users want simply to reach a site quickly, complete a task and leave. I’ll say! As for me, I hate waiting for too long, can’t stand dragging my feet.

I’m not going to chewing the fat about it. Following just confirmed facts and results, I came to conclusion that web-users, who correctly use search requests and engines, are less subjected to stress and irritation.

Further to my pros and cons of using stunning breakthroughs of science, I’d like to take notice of video games. Popularity is self-evident. Nobody can ban online distribution and playing.

I’ve already said that video games have positive influence. Thus, they can’t be a reason of violence and cruelty.

In confirmation of these words Harvard researches disproved a considerable impact of video games on children. If you ask somebody whether video games cause violence or have nothing in common with cruelty, remember these researches.

Perhaps the most startling finding (at least for people the likes of Jack Thompson) is that boys that don’t play any video games at all are now considered to be socially inept. A danger sign for boys is “not playing video games at all, because it looks like for this generation, video games are a measure of social competence,” says Kutner and Olsen.

The most important point, however, is that video games activate reward regions of brain in men more than women. Allan Reiss, MD, and his colleagues from Stanford University Medical Center have proved that the part of the brain that generates rewarding feelings is more activated in men than women during video-game play. That’s why men more likely to become “hooked” on video games.

To sum up, I’d like to express a hope that addicted gamers will be able to think for themselves. Unfortunately, therere many inveterate gamers who can’t imagine their lives without such a consuming activity. They just can’t do anything with it. Find aurea mediocriatas, or the golden mean!

Having said that, I remembered some valuable posts on video games at amuseline.com
• The Secret of Video Games Ups and Downs
• What Makes Video Games Serious Business?
• Video Games Have a Positive Influence.

Technorati Tags: video games cause violence, serious business, ups and downs, internet, videos, web TV, media research, television

Online video game industry has a stunning influence on gamers and digital media in whole. It’s proved by the figures and collected data over the previous year. U.S. video games sales totaled $18 billion over 2007, including computer and video game software - $9.5 billion. It’s estimated that video games’ sales will grow $15 billion by 2010. All the same the North America video game market was valued at $12.6 billion in 2005 and is forecast to expand to $17.2 billion by 2010, according to research firm DFC Intelligence.

The best selling systems & consoles (in decreasing order) over 2007:

* DS (8.5 million units)
* Wii (6.3 million)
* Xbox 360 (4.6 million)
* PS2 (4 million)
* PSP (3.8 million)
* PS3 (2.6 milliom)

The top-selling games:

* Halo 3 (Wii)
* Call of Duty 4 (Xbox 360)
* Guitar Hero 3 (PS2)
* Super Mario Galaxy (PS2)
* Pokemon (DS)
* Madden 08 (PS2)
* Guitar Hero II (PS2)
* Assassin’s Creed (Xbox 360)
* Mario Party 8 (Wii)

“In a year of records, Mario was the second-best selling video games property for the year and remains the historically best-selling property in the video games industry,” said NPD analyst, Anita Frazier.

Thus, these figures set a new record according to final data compiled by the global market information company (NPD Group) and announced by the Entertainment Software Association. Research was funded by the ESA, and written by Robert Crandall of the Brookings Institution and J. Gregory Sidak of the Georgetown University Law Center.

“The video game industry set the pace over all others in 2007, with record-breaking sales, off-the-charts consumer demand, and innovation reaching from galactic exploration to guitar simulation,” says Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of the ESA, the U.S. association representing computer and video game software publishers. “On average, an
astonishing nine games were sold every second of every day of the year.”

Despite the fact that a lot of games are available for free on the web, gamers still keep on making a contribution to the video gaming industry purchasing the games. I see a vivid tendency that consumers and makers meet the wishes of each other with pleasure.

It would be interesting to know that video games take on online entertainment activities in comparison with digital media (music and movie industries). Taking into consideration the results of researches over the three past years, we can call gaming consumers’ preferences as a leader of online consuming activities that gathers a great number of people both young and old, men and women.

Public agents show a discrepant attitude to video game industry, being a hot potato in politics for some time. Some politicians want to restrict the sale of violent video games. On the other side, the video game industry intends to give an incentive to game-friendly politicians and candidates. Bear in mind, games were largely a children’s pastime in the 1980s, those children have grown up, and now they’re voting and still enjoying video games. Thus, the video games are getting even more involved in politics.

Images via

Technorati Tags: video games, online activities, streaming video, web tv, mtv networks, digital media, in-game advertising, youtube, myspace, online entertainment, invideo ad, video game industry, game consoles, systems, wii, ps2, psp, ps3, halo 3, cod 4, pokemon, mario

Everything becomes pointless if you can’t find just a little interest in your deeds. However, some useful information and benefits you can draw being an addicted gamer. You are not a drug abuser or alcoholic. Bear in mind, gamers smoke some times less than those who don’t play video games at all. You know why? Games make players feel highest possible satisfaction and pleasure.

Getting hooked on video games folks surely believe in virtual worlds and live in them. Gamers never loose control over themselves in such places, because they are a part of the whole. With hardly any trouble gamers can answer the question “What’s Your Most Anticipated Game of 2008?” It doesn’t matter whether they are well-informed or not. This game can be everything you like.

Being an integral part of one or another side we are coming to a conclusion that games’ designers and creators do their best to make astounding thingumajigs. Games’ product engineers’ information is based on sales, preferences and supply-and-demand.

And what about educational and developmental elements of life games have a good influence on us?

• Latest research revealed that Playing Video Games Reduces Sex Differences In Spatial Skills. It’s great! According to research, action video games can be used to improve spatial skills that are essential for everyday activities such as reading a map, driving a car, assembling a barbeque or learning advanced math.

• What else? Computer games (including Xbox, PS3) could become part of the school curriculum after researchers found they had significant educational value. In what way video games ’stimulate learning’? Children and teenagers build social communities and learn to act like grown-ups. Sim City and RollerCoaster Tycoon are appropriate helpers.

• This year, February 18-22, will take place the Game Developers Conference, the world’s largest professionals-only game industry event. Presented every year in San Francisco, it is the essential forum for learning, inspiration, and networking for the creators of computer, console, handheld, mobile, and online games. The conference will touch upon the issue of video games and their impact on people.

In session description they ask “Can video games positively impact players through their inherent abilities to teach, model, simulate and inspire? Will they eventually equal and perhaps surpass books, art and cinema as a true art form that reaches us not only through entertainment, but through their ability to inspire their audiences to think, learn, reflect and consider the many elements that make us human?”

Now you see what’s really relevant to give consideration and what could be missed. Video games are still waiting for you to show an example of a great performing. You’ll miss nothing if you just try it! Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Technorati Tags: video games, impact, influence, positive, media research, xbox, computers, ps3, virtual worlds, digital media, teach, learn, show

I’m sure it’s not a secret any more that video games business has become a real niche on the web as well as online video sharing and web TV industries. What is the basis of my findings? Interactive industry (or the video game industry) is the economic sector involved with the development, marketing and sale of video and computer games. A great many game industry professionals like game programmers, designers, testers and producers get involved in this sphere of life.

Talking about this industry we can’t but mention its sphere of influence. Just imagine for awhile why people depend of games and getting become addicted to video games. Have you ever thought about it? This explains the fact that in a short space of time video game business firmly got to the market. And consequences are:

• More than 60 % of pc users are really addicted to video games

• Video games surpass watching short-length video clips and visiting social sites

• MTV considers games to be critical and a hot entertainment place to attain consumers

• Free Online Video Games

• Movies’ plots are based on video games, and vice versa

• Scientists suggest that kids are exposured to online gaming to a greater extent and find teenagers and young generation several times more likely to become pathological gamblers

• DigiPen Video Games College for Designers is offering a four-year degree in making video games. They offer several degree programs: Bachelor of Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation, Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, Master of Science in Computer Science, Associate of Applied Arts in 3D Computer Animation, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Production Animation

• Walt Dishey Co. is planning to focus on games it develops itself

According to Bob Iger, Disney has visions of bigger dollars in video game business, “We intend to use (a multi-platform approach) to do exactly what we did in the music business to our video games business, but on a much larger scale,” calling it “another promising creative engine for Disney.” Iger said the company’s intention was to focus on games it develops itself. It has increased spending on game development from USD 100 million in 2006 to a projected USD 175 million in 2008.

To sum up, no matter what people suggest and think about video games, online video and web television niches are conjugated with interactive business industry, ’cause our hobbies and interests are something common all of us do habitually from time immemorial.

Technorati Tags: video games, disney, online video, web TV, business industry, television, media, mtv

Not long ago folks got a nice chance to play video games, watch various videos via web TV and through Blu-Ray player (PS3). And now just another good opportunity for gamers: Nintendo Wii users can watch videos online on Moovee.tv by means of Internet browser on the Nintendo Wii game console.

I suppose founders of moovee.tv took a decisive step to attain a lot of potential viewership and gamers in an early stage. Join the service, invite friends to graze moovee.tv, watch channels, share clips, create custom channels and become a mooer!

Besides, they demand from users to be 18 years or older to watch channels like YouTube and Dailymotion, and make use of the site in corpore. Try to ensure themselves against any risks?! Sure thing, who wants to be accused of offensive content.

They say: “moowee.tv brings Internet videos to the living room TV in the form of channels and search. This video content can be accessed from the TV through the Internet browser on the Nintendo Wii game console. The moowee.tv user interface is optimized for TV viewing with the Wii remote control buttons mapped to the application.”

Technorati Tags: moovee, web tv, internet television, Wii, game consoles, PS3, Blu-ray, videos, streaming videos, video games