Sony Computer Entertainment Japan has revealed it has sold over one million units of the PlayStation Portable Slim & Lite.

The Slim & Lite was released in the region on September 20, with a special edition Final Fantasy branded unit going on sale a full week before the official launch.

The redesigned handheld reached the one million mark two weeks quicker that its predecessor. The system now boosts over 500 software titles available in Japan.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today launched Health Games Research, a new national program to support research to enhance the quality and effectiveness of interactive games that are used to improve health. The $8.25 million grant builds on RWJF ongoing work to understand the potential for games to improve health and health care, and to forge connections between the games and health fields. Health Games Research will be located at the University of California, Santa Barbara and directed by Debra Lieberman, Ph.D., communication researcher in the university Institute for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Research.

Research has shown that games can help increase players physical activity levels, reinforce anti-smoking attitudes or improve young cancer patients adherence to their treatment plans. They also provide simulation environments that health care professionals use to hone their skills, and help policy-makers and public health leaders plan for natural disasters and infectious disease outbreaks. Growth in this field has underscored the need for more research to understand how games and game technologies can be designed to benefit people health and health care.

Health Games Research focuses on interactive games that are delivered or supported by digital technology. Game platforms and formats of interest to the program range from traditional video games on game consoles, handheld game players, arcade machines, computers, Web sites and multiplayer online worlds, to new kinds of games delivered, for example, by mobile networked computing, exertion interfaces (dance pads, cameras pointed at players, motion-detecting remote controllers), robots, interactive television, virtual environments, electronic toys, context-sensitive programs (using sensors, physiological and health monitors, global positioning systems), or other emerging technologies that are becoming more affordable and accessible.

TV is available for the owner of Nitendo's DS hand-held gaming dual-screens !

The device will be release on November 20 in Japan. The dual-antenna will cost about $60.

The peripheral is build on the the Japan's 1seg broadcasting network. That is the reason why we could not afford it at this time in Europe and North America.

The images will appear in the top screen. The bottom will be used to configure and control the new device options and play brain games for example.

The cartridge space will support the dual-antenna.

Remember the Gamegear ?

Via : Shacknews

For $ 7.61, you can have your two best video games characters : Mario and Luigi

What for ?

To clean up the smell of your room when you spend too much time in front of your console without opening the windows.

Would you buy it ?

Via : Technabob

Apple is acting very fast. The first casual games are here. The games on offer are Tetris, Ms. PAC-MAN, and Sudoku. They are all new from the titles that come with new iPod nanos and classics. (iQuiz, Vortex, Klondike).

There is no offer for these games on the iPhone or the iPod touch fro now.

I think that Apple is not really creative on this one. They release new games but no one of them is really exclusive and have a multiplayer device. (iPod Touch ?) They are a kind of expensive because you need to buy them on Itunes i you have already purchased them for an older iPod ($4.99).

According to the telegraph in U.K, Aston Martin is the coolest brand. When you look at this new model, its easy to understand.

But what is strange after that is too see how geek brand are getting so popular in their list :

1. Aston Martin 2. iPod 3. YouTube 4. Bang and Olufsen 5. Google 6. Playstation 7. Apple 8. Agent Provocateur 9. Nintendo 10. Virgin Atlantic 11. Ferrari 12. Ducati 13. eBay 14. Rolex 15. Tate Modern 16. Prada 17. Lamborghini 18. Green & Blacks 19. iTunes 20. Amazon

Do you think that today in UK everybody is getting more and more influenced by the Hi-Tech universe of these brands ?

According to a study from EEDAR, the online gaming is an added value for a game. Some games can reach sell up to +531% with online components than the ones without online components.

The success of the outsell online components are clearly something to take into consideration. It gives us also insight of the benefit for the gamer :

• play with other
• organize tournaments
• have a special dedicated friendlist
• chat
• gather information
• recruiting

Do you agree with that ? Do you think that an online ability for a game is important for you ?

According to Yahoo news, Sony found a new way to target the gamers : follow them everywhere !

In fact, Sony has build a special stand during the Games Convention in Leipzig : restrooms for gamers.

Do you think that Sony try to reach a new public for its PSP (bad sales results) ?

Like for example the people who dont give a s..t for console games ?

According to a recent study from Park Associates called "Casual Gaming Market Update" : "34% of US internet users play games online on a weekly basis, compared to 29% who visit online video sites and 19% interested in social networking "

"Despite the growing popularity of YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook, gaming remains the king of online entertainment, driven largely by casual gaming activities," commented James Kuai, analyst at Park Associates.

"Gaming also has business advantages. Unlike sites for social networking and video streaming, which rely solely on advertising revenue, casual gaming has more mature and heterogeneous revenue models, including web-based and in-game advertising, try-before-you-buy, subscriptions, and micro-transactions," detailed Kuai. Year-on-year growth rates show that gaming has seen a 79% rise in frequent online players, compared to 46% using social networking sites. But the biggest growth rate is for users of video sharing sites such as YouTube, which leapt by 123%, according to Park Associates. "The casual gaming industry cannot rest on its laurels," said Kuai. "In order to counter the growing competition from other online activities, the industry needs to continue to grow its fan base and find ways to better monetize its existing audience."

I totally agree with Mister Kuai. But I was wondering if the casual gaming industry is ready for that change ?

In comparaison with universe and clouds like Facebook, what about the chance of the actual casual gaming to challenge these ?

For example, the "ajax" abilities of these social network sites are not present in most the actual casual gaming portal. So if you have a clue to see forward and imagine what is the exact solution, tell me !

According to the Yankee Group, the ad market should overome 700 millions dollars in 2010. Nowadays, the advertiser's expanses are about 183 millions dollars. Others forecast are around a billion in 2011. What is not so big in comparaison with the global 45 billion of the video game market.

Some of the media house specialized in video game like Massive Inc. (sold to Microsoft for 200 million dollars), IGA Worlwide and Adscape, have promised an added dollars by sold video games.

We will see if this business model will work...and if the expected benefits will be used in the game quality production or to low their retail prices.