The Spootnic’s blog : The online games events

Mario's voice game

UserAdmin — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:29:00 +0100

Do you remenber the Mario Voice ?

Close your eyes and imagine it ?

You have heard it about a million times in all the mario gaming life ?

I give you another clue.

Try also to remeber another famous voice on Yahoo ?

So now, i am sure that you have found.

Watch the video of Charles Martinet, he is writing his autobiography too. (click on the right corner)

This is hilarious.

He is talking about his inspirations game and character too.

A real passionate guy !

Faster than original PSP

UserAdmin — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:27:00 +0100

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.

New games at Spootnic

UserAdmin — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 11:52:00 +0100

Tired of playing boring games ?

Try this little flash game specifically developped for Spootnic.

Just try it, you will love it !

Shoot the birds

New Research Program involved game platforms

UserAdmin — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:36:00 +0100

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.

Spootnic's games need ads ?

UserAdmin — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 12:44:00 +0100

Do you think that Spootnic should do ads like this one for all the creative games they have on their site ?

What i like on this one is that Sony shows really what is the panel of the PSP 3 area games experience.

Like Spootnic, you can really find the casual games you like.

I wait for your answers !

Play games and watch TV

UserAdmin — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:23:00 +0200

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

Do you play Golf ? Mario and Luigi do

UserAdmin — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 16:29:00 +0200

The famous Mario and Luigi are getting pro on a new sport ? Guess what ?

Golfing !

The game controller used for both the NES and the Famicom featured a brick-like design with a simple four button layout: two round buttons labelled "B" and "A", a "START" button, and a "SELECT" button. Additionally, the controllers utilized the cross-shaped D-pad, designed by Nintendo employee Gunpei Yokoi for Nintendo Game & Watch systems, to replace the bulkier joysticks on earlier gaming consoles’ controllers. Here A and B control the swing.

So what about trying your put here ? If you are not sure that you can succeed, try this mini-golf.

Via : Thinkgeek

Mario and Luigi

UserAdmin — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 16:03:00 +0200

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

Welcome to our new Olympics Games

UserAdmin — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 12:41:00 +0200

Did you remember your first games like Mario and Sonic ?

For the fisrt time, after Alien vs Predator, 2 hits will challenge themselves in Mario and Sonic at the Olympics Games according to the sega press release.

Old Fashion ? Those battle will be available with the Wii remote. Those events are list here :

Fencing - Individual epée

Archery

Shooting - Skeet

Gymnastics - Trampoline

Gymnastics - Vault

Field - High Jump

Field - Pole Vault

Field - Long Jump

Field - Triple Jump

Field - Javelin Throw

Field - Hammer Throw

Rowing - Single Sculls

Table Tennis - Singles

Aquatics - 100m Freestyle

Aquatics - 4x100m Freestyle

Track - 110m and 400m Hurdles

Track - 4x100m Relay

Track -100m and 400m

You will also find Olympic Trivia, quizzes, mini-games and facts and figures from the Olympics history.

New iPod games

UserAdmin — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:50:00 +0200

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).

The Online Games Alliance

UserAdmin — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:07:00 +0200

The China Hi-Tech adventure continue with a new alliance called "The Online Games Alliance Against Piracy" (OGAAP) between Games developpers and the Chinese Government to fight against piracy.

Peter Yip, CEO of CDC Games (remember Yulgang ?) said in a press release :

" Our primary objective is to reduce, and if its possible, eliminate these piracy challenges so our industry can continue its vibrant growth throughout China. This alliance and the recent successful convictions of illegal operators are major steps in achieving our objectives".

The online games pursuit of hapiness is getting faster and some big players are really interesting in wining the game.

Is the world of famous brands getting geek ?

UserAdmin — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:23:00 +0200

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 ?

A new partnership in casual games is born

UserAdmin — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 18:05:00 +0200

Take 2 Interative Software is the latest publisher with its new label 2K play to announce a new partnership with Nickelodeon.

Indeed, casual games sounds more interesting than "hardcore games" in terms of return on investment. The first licensing agreement for the new label, 2K play, is based on Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego Go ! and will be released this fall.

There is no need to remind you that Nickelodeon is one of the world leader kids entertainment with kids games, kids TV show, videos and entertainment television.

That's a reminder for your kids. Personnaly, i am curious to see what will be the result for Dora the Explorer on the Nintendo DS. And you ?

Online or not online, that is my question

UserAdmin — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 15:58:00 +0200

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 ?

Who is afraid to play Pac Man ?

UserAdmin — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:43:00 +0200

The guardian reports that recently scientists build a new lab where Pac Man is the Hero :

In fact, the scientist create a version of Pac Man in which you can receive electric shock to the hand. This experience is made to study the brain reactions to an iniment danger.

The players need to escape virtual monsters in a close environement. Everytime they get caught by a monster they receive a small electric shock.

The study has been done at the Wellcome Trust centre for neuroimaging at University College London. The report told us that the threat did not activate the prefontal cortex region of the brain which is for complex planning tasks.

But as soon as the virtual predator gets closer, the most primitive part of the brain is activated. This is the periaqueductal gray which is responsible for quick-response survival mechanisms. (fight, flight, freeze reaction)

Deam Mobbs, who leads this study, conclude that the closest the threat is the fatest our primitiv mecanism respond. For him, it gives us less freedom.

Chris Frith, co-autor of the article, said that these observations will help them to understand better related anxiety trouble disorder.

Thanks who ? Thanks to Pac Man ! Now we can understand better what is happening to this gamer :

Time to play and flush away !

UserAdmin — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:52:00 +0200

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 ?

The adventure goes Puzzle

UserAdmin — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:35:00 +0200

In our special serial of "Remember", i have just discovered a new insight from the Lite-on company on everything USB. The idea is too create a new way of playing puzzle for children.

Indeed, this puzzle will use the e-paper technology which enabled the design of the puzzle to change as many times you want. You connect to your PC via USB, which gives the electric power to change the design, and its ready to go ! A this time, this is a concept, but already gives us a good view of the possibilities for the kids (create your own puzzle, print it, send it to a friend etc...) Anyway, this a new model of relationship between the child and his game.

Casual gaming drives the "fun market" of the Web 2.0

UserAdmin — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:48:00 +0200

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 !

Apple vs Nintendo

UserAdmin — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 15:02:00 +0200

According to Damon Brown from the New York Post, Apple and Nintendo will be ready to challenge each other on the area of the Mobile Casual Game Market.

Nintendo seems to be interested in building a new portable system inspired by the success of the DS and the Mobile Wii. Two major retail success of the Publisher.

Apple is also concerned in creating a new portable video game. In the same time, also interested in bringing new games to the IPhone. So may be that the IPhone will be this new plattform for Apple.

I think that the year 2008 should be interesting in terms of game development and partnerships, don't you ?

1 game + 1 ad = 1$

UserAdmin — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:46:00 +0200

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.