Gamers Go Crazy for Gears of War, But is it Too Much?

The highly-anticipated Xbox 360 game Gears of War 2 will hit retail stores tomorrow, and many, like Best Buy and Future Shop, plan to open their doors at midnight tonight to accommodate anxious gamers. The majority of people in line will likely be males in their teens, 20s and even 30s. And a large percentage of them probably plan to stay up all night to delve right into the intricacies of the game, and play with others around the world.

Of course Gears of War 2 is only one of the two big stories surrounding the gaming industry these days; the other is the unfortunate news of the missing (and possible death of) Barrie, ON teen Brandon Crisp, who ran away from home on Thanksgiving after his parents took away his Xbox. Apparently Crisp was addicted to the game Call of Duty 4, playing for hours and hours on end, often until 4 a.m.

Naturally, the news has given anti-gaming activists plenty of ammunition to fuel their campaigns against violent and addictive video games that have the potential to overtake one's life. But is it the gaming industry's fault that kids, and even adults, can get addicted to the content, leading to social, health, and even fatal consequences?

I've covered the issue of video games and the perceived negative impact on children several times in this blog. Back in June 2007, I discussed the AMA's push to make video game addiction a psychiatric disorder. Is this a legitimate claim, or are we just looking to lay blame? If it can indeed be considered an addiction, what causes it? Every psychiatric disorder, after all, is caused by something.

It's hard to imagine that a harmful addiction to a video game occurs simply because the game is just so darned good. If a game is good, if you find it hard to put down, that's a good thing. But like anything else, it's also important to know when to put that game down and move on to something else. Sure, sometimes you might end up playing until the wee hours of the morning. Just like I will often pick up a good book with the intention of reading just a couple chapters, and next thing I know, I'm reaching the final pages. Or just like you might go to grab one potato chip from the bag and end up licking your fingers from the last few crumbs at the bottom of the bag a half hour later. The issue isn't the game, just like it isn't the book or the potato chip maker. It's you, and how you react to the situation at hand. We're all responsible for our own actions.

On the flip side, however, unlike paperback books, video games contain a lot of extra stimulants to get one going: visual cues, fantastic audio, and even interaction with others through headsets or on-screen text. Let's face it. Any gamer knows that it can be tough to put the controller down when you know you're one level away from completion; or your favourite ally has just logged on. But again, is this the video game maker's fault, or the player's?

Bottom line: everyone has hobbies. Everyone has interests. But it's important to recognize when something is negatively impacting your life, and the people around you. This principles holds true across anything, not just video games. We should be able to enjoy games and the amazing virtual stories they tell, without losing touch with true reality.

With that said, good luck to all the gamers that are planning to stand in line all night for a first copy of Gears of War 2!

Three Weeks With Wii Fit

I'm now on my third week with Wii Fit, and I have to admit: although I haven't actually lost any weight, I'm having loads of fun!

The lack of fitness-related achievement is mainly my fault: I have only been engaging with the game, on average, once every four days. Certainly that isn't fitting for any workout regime. Despite how fun the game is, you still need to motivate yourself to "play" it just as you would have to push yourself to go to the local gym, use that treadmill that's collecting dust in the basement, or go for a run or bike ride through the neighbourhood. Just because it's sitting in the middle of your living room doesn't make it any easier to find the time to use it!

What makes things even tougher is that it's much easier to gravitate toward the fun, game-like activities instead of the yoga and strength training moves that are the core of the fitness aspect of the game. I'll hula hoop until the cows come home, I've become an expert tightrope walker and ski jumper, and I can step-dance like nobody's business. But I still can't do a push-up to save my life. There are some yoga and strength training moves that I haven't so much as given a second glance to since the first time I played. Tsk, tsk. If you're playing, make sure not to get caught up in the neat stuff, and get down to business every once in a while if you want to reach set BMI goals.

In terms of the fun games, though, my 30-minute and one-hour sessions have unlocked some neat, new activities and moves. In one game, you're outfitted in a penguin suit and slide back and forth on an inceberg while trying to catch flying fish. In a new yoga pose, you squat like a chair and hold the post for 40 seconds, which is great for toning the legs and abs. The most fun, however, is snowboarding: take the Balance Board, and sit it sideways in front of your TV. Then, simulate snowboarding down a huge hill and through coloured posts by moving your body back and forth. I can't wait to see what remaining games and left to unlock, although I fear that, once I've opened up every available game, I'll miss not having anything new to look forward to.

My verdict so far? With some discipline and selection of the right activities, Wii Fit can help you get in shape. As with anything, there are other factors that come into play in order to achieve your goals: eating right and sleeping enough, for instance (my last Wii Fit tip told me I should always get at least 7.5 hours of sleep per night). If you do your workouts alone, don't worry: the virtual talking balance board that greets you upon start up sure does lay the guilt on thick: Too busy to work out yesterday Christine, eh? it asked me last night. Wait a second: did we get a special Canadian version of the game?

My immediate goals: 1) ramp up play time. 2) spend less time skiing and hula'ing and more time yoga posing and strength training. Hopefully I'll be able to report some favourable numbers next time. Stay tuned.

Wii Week One

Wii Week Two

Hands-on With MarioKart For Wii

I'm not a big gamer (as I've said many times in this blog), but I do enjoy the occasional video game now and then. I recently got a Nintendo Wii, so I was excited when given the opportunity to try out the highly-anticipated gaming title Mario Kart before it hits store shelves on April 27th.

A private event in Toronto this Saturday gave media attendees the chance to try out the game with the help of Nintendo staff. Mario Kart is a slightly different experience than "regular" Wii games that utilize the one-handed Wii controller. The Wii controller itself pops into the middle of a small steering wheel that comes with the game (or can be purchased separately). Then, physically rotate the wheel left and right to move your character in his kart; just as you would if you were really driving a car. The "2" button serves as your gas pedal, the "1" your brakes, and up/down is used to shoot items at your rivals on the track. These "items" are obtained through boxes with question marks on the front that float in front of you as you drive along the track. My favourite item to shoot is a banana peel, which makes the competition skid into oblivion! Other neat features include thunder clouds that make your character turn into a miniature version of himself; or mushrooms that make you grow to gargantuan proportions. I (and my friend) found it tough not to be tempted to move both arms left or right along with the wheel, but with some practice, it'll probably become easier to hold the wheel steady. If preferred, gamers can also steer using the Wii remote and nunchuk, or the traditional keypad remote.

Several characters are available to choose from, including Mario and Luigi, as well as nostalgic ones like Donkey Kong. Kids will really love the ability to use their own Mii caricatures in the game as well. There are also several kart choices, including motorcycles. If you move the wheel backwards, Nintendo told us, a character on a motorcycle will actually pop a wheelie. I haven't tried that move yet, but I certainly will!

Mario Kart can be played solo, or against up to 3 others in the room (the screen will split into a quadrant so that each person can track his own race). There's also an opportunity to play online, and even send text messages back and forth to your opponents with some innocent "trash talking", joked a Nintendo spokesperson.

Interestingly, this was the first press event that I have ever attended where kids were present. In addition to inviting members of the press, Nintendo also invited a select group of "bigs" and "littles" from Big Brothers, Big Sisters; and journalists were allowed to bring along a guest, including a niece, nephew, or child. Needless to say, excitement levels were high.

Although I didn't spend loads of time with Mario Kart this weekend, it was obvious from the time I did spend that fun and energy are the names of the game. Families will also be happy to know that Mario Kart is suitable for players of all ages; a big selling point these days, especially with the ongoing controversy surrounding "violent" and "disturbing" game titles that young ones often engage in.

Mario Kart for the Wii will be available in North America on April 27 for about $49.95, and will come with the game and a wheel (the Wii remote is not included). Additional wheels will also be available for purchase for about $9-12, although some might find that they don't even need it.

As cool as Mario Kart is, I'm even more excited about the launch of Wii Fit in May, the fitness and exercise-friendly game. A price has finally been confirmed for the highly-anticipated title, which will come with a multipurpose balance board for intense activity: Wii Fit will sell for about $89.95, making it one of the most (if not the most) expensive games I've seen yet for the console.

Casual Gamer

From the desk of Lee Distad's Professional Opinion:

Hello, my name is Lee Distad, and I am a casual gamer. There are a lot of people like me, but up until recently we weren’t really considered part of the gaming mainstream.

My generation was the first to grow up with videogames. I still vividly remember the excitement and wonder when my neighborhood corner store got a Space Invaders machine. Growing up with Atari, Intellivison, Colecovision, and later, Nintendo and Sega Genesis, I could be safely described as an avid gamer during my childhood and adolescence.

But things change, and my life is different now. I’m a father, a busy professional, and a competitive athlete. My wife and I have always enjoyed playing video games together, but with all the other demands on our time, the opportunities to sit in front of the TV and unwind with a controller in our hands are few and far between. Because of the time factor, it’s hard for us to justify spending five or six hundred dollars for a gaming console that we know will only see occasional use.

Not only have we changed, but the games, by and large, have changed. Many are more complex, requiring dozens or hundreds of hours of playtime to unlock their secrets. Action and combat games often require memorizing complex keystroke sequences. Bearing in mind that the games of my youth required little more than a joystick and a ‘fire’ button, I feel disinclined to devote myself to mastering the complexity of games that today’s youth are into playing. I don’t want to learn an entire new set of skills; I just want to unwind for a few hours at the end of a long day.

Apparently I’m not alone, and Nintendo recognized the “casual” gamer as being an untapped market compared to the “hardcore” gamer, and they have done fantastically well with their Wii console. In much the same way that the Wii ambushed XBOX360 and Playstation3 last Christmas, it was reported yesterday that Nintendo has snuck up past Canon and is now the 2nd largest stock on the Nikkei, behind only Toyota.

Reuters: Nintendo is Japan's 2nd most valuable active stock
TOKYO (Reuters) - Nintendo Co Ltd roared past Canon Inc to become Japan's second most valuable tradable company behind Toyota Motor Corp this week as investors bet demand for its Wii and DS machines will remain strong into the critical year-end shopping season.
Although the market value of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (MUFG) is potentially bigger than that of Nintendo, trading in its shares is suspended this week ahead of a 1,000-for-one share split.
Nintendo's Wii has so far outsold Sony's PlayStation 3 by a large margin since their launches late last year as Nintendo's strategy to expand the gaming population by offering easy-to-play but innovative games has proved a big success.

Nintendo has locked up the casual gamer market by offering the Wii at a price point that is appealing to people like me; those who are willing to consider paying $279 for a device that will see occasional use. Additionally, their initial mix of game titles has been heavily slanted towards being fun and easy. So far, people that I know who have bought and been hooked on playing their Wii, covers a diverse group that ranges from friends of my parents who are past retirement age, to left-leaning Women’s Studies grad students. None of these demographics are among those that Microsoft or Sony took seriously as they strove against each other in the Console Arms Race.

The big boys are starting to rouse from their slumber, and learn from their mistakes. It was just reported that Microsoft is finally starting to take casual gamers seriously.

Reuters: Next for Microsoft: winning casual gamers
Microsoft knows it must attract casual customers as well if the Xbox 360 is going to be a living-room fixture.
"That's the biggest challenge Microsoft has. They were never able to do that with the original Xbox and they will be hard-pressed to do it with the 360," said Todd Mitchell, an analyst with Nollenberger Capital Partners.
Microsoft has praised Nintendo for "expanding the market," but so far its attempts to attract a broader audience have met with mixed results.
In really big companies, there are often only two speeds in their gearbox: Glacier, and Panic. Nintendo’s success may have finally forced Microsoft and Sony to shift into overdrive and treat gaming as mainstream, family entertainment, instead of a niche market aimed at hardcore young gamers who have both money and time on their hands.

For the record, my family is intent on getting a Wii by the time Christmas rolls around.

http://businessopinions.blogspot.com/ (For more of Lee Distad's Professional Opinions)

Wal-Mart Canada Sets Precedent By Offering Halo 3 at U.S. Price

In a move that can be considered both strategic and smart, Wal-Mart Canada has decided to offer the highly-anticipated Xbox 360 video game Halo 3 at the same price that it will be offered in the U.S.: $59.83. This will be about $10 cheaper than other Canadian retailers will be charging: both Future Shop and EB Games are currently advertising the game for $69.99 (the limited edition for $79.99).

This move makes sense for any retailer given the current strength of the Canadian dollar (it's virtually on par with the U.S.!), but especially for Wal-Mart, which prides itself on always offering the lowest prices.

Wal-Mart says it will offer Halo 3, which is officially released tomorrow (Sept. 26), at that price for an "extended period".

"We've been negotiating with suppliers for more than one year, based on the belief that a high dollar and favourable business conditions should translate into lower prices for our customers," said Jim Thompson, Senior Vice President of Merchandise at Wal-Mart Canada.

Don't think that other retailers have just been standing by, though. Future Shop will be opening 103 of its 127 stores at midnight tonight in celebration of the game's launch so customers can "get it first", as the company's slogan goes.

Hmm...that's a tough one when it comes to hard-core gamers. Do they want to "get it first" or get it cheapest? My presumption is that the tried and true gamers will be hauling their butts to Future Shop tonight to grab the game before anyone else; while the budget-conscious parents and students (17 and older, of course, since the game is rated M for Mature), will stroll over to Wal-Mart at a later date for the cost savings.

Going forward, only time and sales will tell. But if our dollar keeps up, it will be interesting to see how pricing of CE/IT product changes, or fails to change, in Canada.