The New Media Sphere

Christian games smite gangstas

Link: newsobserver.com | Lifestyles.

Video games, long berated for explicit content and nihilistic themes, are gaining popularity in the Christian marketplace. A whole new genre of Christian-themed video games are converting many who once viewed such entertainment as corrupting. Now? It's a cash cow.

The Godzilla Shrine

I have been in talks with Corrie Zielinski the Online Brand Manager of New Media Strategies / Atari company and now I will be helping them to spread the word on the game by posting Official updates sent to me via email The Godzilla Shrine

The Days of Our Sims

Sims 2 creator Maxis noticed that people really liked telling stories about their Sims’ lives in the original game, so for the sequel they added some tools to make it easy. The result is pretty much fanfiction. But instead of making Kirk and Spock fuck, these are all stories about the adventures of Sims modelled after their family pets, or their friends, or crap like that. But now that there are downloads for making celebrity Sims, I’m sure there will be some who return to the old ways. Kotaku : The Days of Our Sims

Forbes Checks Out the Massively Multiplayer Game Business

Slashdot picked up on an interesting look at the MMG business in Forbes Magazine, in which we learn that Superhero-based MMG City of Heroes has 180,000 subscribers, growing at a rate of 6,000 per week. We look forward to the future Forbes article that takes a look at the smoking crater that used to be the MMG industry before World of Warcraft was released. Seriously, MMG makers, WoW is coming for you, and it ain’t going to be pretty. Ordinary Hero [Forbes via Slashdot] Kotaku : Forbes Checks Out the Massively Multiplayer Game Business

Pets Resemble Their Owners

UK Photo-journalist Robbie Cooper is exhibiting his work at the Proud Gallery in London starting today until the 28th. The exhibit is called Alter Egos, and is simply 30 or so sets of photographs of people side-by-side with the character they play games as. Kotaku : Pets Resemble Their Owners

Electronic Gaming Business: Hollywood Tie-Ins Mean Greater Sales - and Bigger Branding Challenges

We all know games have gone Hollywood. The excitement and Hollywood-style hype surrounding a movie release in most cases simply helps to sell more games. But more and more, Hollywood glitz is becoming a key - and increasingly necessary -- part of the gaming dynamic. A recent survey of video game consumers conducted by New Media Strategies found that 67 percent of gaming consumers are more likely to buy or rent video games if those products have a tie-in with a movie. Electronic Gaming Business: Hollywood Tie-Ins Mean Greater Sales - and Bigger Branding Challenges

Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy: Q&A With Project Lead Brian Eddy

BS: I think this is the question on everybody’s mind: When, if at all, can we expect a Psi-Ops sequel? BonusStage.com - PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance

Microsoft - XBox: Lift and Reach and Hold That Pose, and Advance to the Next Level

The new title, aimed at women, features a computer-generated personal trainer who guides users through a customized set of exercises and diets. Players must reach certain goals to advance to the next level. The program creates a fitness plan for each person based on height, weight and other characteristics. The game's virtual coach, Maya, then guides users through a subset of 600 possible exercises, congratulating and encouraging them when they achieve their goals. The creators of Yourself!Fitness at ResponDesign, a game developer based in Portland, Ore., think their new title is a natural successor to exercise videos and DVD's, which continue to sell more than 30 million units a year, the company's co-founder, Ted Spooner, said. The New York Times > Technology > Lift and Reach and Hold That Pose, and Advance to the Next Level

ADVERGAMING GROWS IN REACH AND POWER

While it's true that product placements have been included in several generations of video games, new advances in graphics and online connectivity, as well as the ongoing desire to reach ever more elusive consumers, are pushing game advertising even further. Interactive gaming has become its own ad-supported mass medium. Interactivity ranges from a gamer being able to compete against the game itself to several players competing against one another to the new world of games that are inspired by the initials MMO -- for massively multiplayer online -- which have the potential to link thousands of players on the same game. ADVERGAMING GROWS IN REACH AND POWER

Game for crossover

Vidgame and entertainment industry vets Tim Langdell and Geoff Brown have formed an agency that will target the increasing convergence of the movie biz and games. Langdell Brown Associates is aiming to work with videogame publishers, studios and talent agencies to provide a connection between the two spaces and help content and talent transition between them.
Variety.com - Game for crossover