Nintendo DSi

Interesting article about Nintendo's DSi.

"DSi... has full WiFi Web browsing, a downloadable app store, and even two built-in cameras and expandable storage via an SD slot. In some respects this is a smart phone with no phone but a lot of smarts."

"The major overhaul of the DS handheld enlarges both of the original LCD screens, which is good for games but even better for Web browsing. The real surprise in the DSi is the usability of the Opera browser."

"And then there is the DSi Shop. At first blush this digital downloads shop seems like just another way to distribute games directly to consumers, which it is. But there is potential here for it to be more. Given the connectivity already present in the DSi, why wouldn't Nintendo approach Yahoo to design an IM client or Twitter and Facebook to offer mobile versions of their social networking tools?"

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=103848

Shocker: gamers aren't all anti-social nerds

Together with IGN Entertainment, Ipsos MediaCT published the study entitled "Are You Game?".

A couple highlights:
# 55 percent of gamers polled were married, 48 percent have kids, and new gamers – those who have started playing videogames in the past two years—are 32 years old on average
# More than 75 percent of videogamers play games with other people either online or in person
# More than 47 percent of people living in gaming households saying that videogames were a fun way to interact with other family members

Story from Ars Technica

Wii ads win award

The "Wii Would Like To Play" ad campaign for the Nintendo Wii just won the top prize at the 40th Annual Effie Awards. They were commended for breaking the mold and appealing to everyone, not just the gamer demographric. Below is a sample of the campaign via Youtube.

More good news for IGA

In addition to the PS3 in-game advertising deal, it seems IGA Worldwide has also secured exclusive rights for in-game advertising for all EA's PS3 titles.

Sony makes in-game advertising deal for PS3

Again via Kotaku,

Sony Computer Entertainment America and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe have announced an in-game advertising deal for the Playstation 3 with IGA Worldwide.

Massive claims in-game advertising good

Via Kotaku,

Interpret did a study on some of Massive's clients looking at in-game advertising, and decided "the gaming audience has a consistently positive opinion of the ads and how the ads affect their game experience". Check out the article for details. Also make sure to skim the comments, for some more opinions on the article.

Basically, in-game advertising is effective and appreciated when it's appropriate and adds realism. Like in Sports games (which was basically all that was studied).

Competitive Eating for the Wii

Competitive eating is now available on the Wii. The game, Major League Eating: The Game, is sponsored by...yep, you guessed it...Major League Eating, the sports franchise that oversees all professional competitive eating events and competitive eating television specials.

It's a WiiWare game that you can get it through the Wii Shop Channel.

The game will make "extensive" use of the Wii Remote to "simulate a variety of eating techniques including the cram, toss, and 'typewriter.' Burp-offs and Hot Potato challenges during the contests keep the competition intense and eaters on their toes."

It will play "like a fighting game," requiring players to "master a smorgasbord of offensive and defensive weapons including bites, burps, belches, mustard gas and jalapeño flames while cramming and chewing food at a world-class pace."

From Serious Eats

And check out the photos of competitive eaters playing the game - pretty entertaining.