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.

Rumored update for xbox360

Perhaps the most interesting additions are "Calibration options for motion sensor devices"

http://kotaku.com/5008939/rumored-xbox-360-spring-update-touts-motion-sensor-features-game-installs

-E-

Brand Tags Game

http://www.brandtags.net/

 

This is more like a brand identity feedback turned into a game.  I think corporations would find this especially interesting to see what people think of them in a mass/anonymous way.  By default you are prompted with a random corporate logo and asked to input a word or phrase about it.  You can then view what others have also added, which is where the fun really is.  Another way you can play is to try guessing what company a tag cloud might be describing.

This just came to my attention via Lifehacker.

The first (that I know of) Passive Multiplayer Online Game. You play by browsing the web. It’s implemented as a Firefox extension and a website. You install the extension to get the toolbar and you earn points by browsing the web. You can do missions ("guided online tours"), go through portals ("blind links that may be helpful or a distraction"), and spend your points to buy presents or traps which you leave on sites for other PMOG players. You level up and earn achievements ("badges"). Description and good explanation video on the link:

Blow Your Friends Up as You Surf with PMOG

Sponsored Rock Band Tracks

I just found out that one of our ideas is actually happening. McDonalds is sponsoring cheaper Rock Band downloads.

"What do you get when MTV, Harmonix and McDonalds decide some Rock Band-themed advertising is in order? You get cheap Rock Band tracks, that's what. Starting May 6 (tomorrow) and running until June 2, eight Rock Band tracks will be offered - two per week - for the bargain price of 80 MS points each. This week, it'll be "Crushcrushcrush" by Paramore, along with Boston's "Rock 'n Roll Band", with later weeks including Grateful Dead's "Sugar Magnolia", Faith No More's "We Care A Lot" and Lynyrd Skynrd's "Gimme Three Steps". No word yet on whether this includes PS3 owners as well, hopefully we'll hear more about that tomorrow."

Official Link