Author Archives: Chris Morris

5 ways gaming has changed the military

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Games have had a profound influence on everything from how we watch football on television to how we lose weight. As it turns out, they’re also changing the nature of the U.S. military.

While it’s still essential for soldiers to be in peak shape and prepared for traditional ground combat, today’s modern warfare has a strong digital component — and gaming’s influences extend far beyond the battlefield. The Army, for example,spends between $10 million to $20 million a year on licenses, modifications and development of video games.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

Nintendo talks new Brain Age, Mario Tennis, role-playing games

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You didn’t expect Nintendo to let the launch of the PlayStation Vita go unanswered, did you?

The Sony competitor held a pair of online presentations Wednesday to tout new software that’s on the way to its 3DS system (as well as the Wii) and deflect attention away from Sony’s new, bleeding-edge gadget.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

Sony Bets Big on Its New Handheld Gaming System

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While the handheld gaming market has evolved dramatically in recent years, Sony’s betting there’s still money to be made there – and it’s betting a lot.

The PS Vita, the company’s next generation handheld gaming system, went on sale in the U.S. today. And though the electronics giant remains optimistic about the market, analysts are significantly less certain.

Read more at CNBC.com

EA’s Bernard Kim on taking The Simpsons freemium

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EA social and mobile vice president Bernard Kim explains to Gamasutra why America’s most treasured dysfunctional family just might give the company the Smurfs’ Village its portfolio lacks.

When a franchise has aired 500 different episodes on television (and that’s not counting the three years it ran as a series of shorts) and 24 separate video games, figuring out the next move can be tricky.

A big console game is a risk for a licensed property these days. A $2 or $5 iOS game might make an initial splash, but its sustainability is questionable given the constant flood of new titles. But freemium? That’s something The Simpsons hasn’t tried before.

Read more at Gamasutra

PlayStation Vita games already discounted

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Usually, there aren’t a lot of deals to be found on a system’s launch day.

As early adopters and die-hard fans scramble to be the first on their block to have the latest gadget, companies capitalize on that fervor and have no trouble commanding full retail price, usually for several weeks or even months.

But the launch of the PlayStation Vita is a bit different than other devices.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

Rare Skylanders figures fetch over $1,200

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You know a game is a hit when it sells on eBay for higher than its retail price. You know it’s a smash when pieces of that game are commanding premium pricing on the auction site. But when six of those pieces sell for well over $1,000? That’s when you’ve officially got a monster on your hands.

Activision is in that fortunate position as six Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure figures in the U.K. have sold for £797, roughly $1,260. And the winner will have to toss in another $50 or so for shipping.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

Happy birthday, Chuck E. Cheese

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Most mice only live a few months. But Chuck E. Cheese’s turns 35 today.

The kid-friendly restaurant chain was launched this day in 1977, bringing its curious blend of animatronic rodents, arcade games, Skee-ball and pizza to millions. It’s faced more than a few hurdles over the years, but it’s still going strong, with over 500 stores around the world and quarterly revenues of nearly $200 million.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

‘Scramble With Friends’ puts successful spin on ‘Words With Friends’ formula

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A hit game sequel is a powerful thing indeed, but it can be tricky to pull off. Do you just repeat the first game? Come up with something new? Split the difference?

Maybe you should ask Zynga, who have managed to follow up their blockbuster Words With Friends with a Boggle-like game using the same elements. And it’s hitting just the right notes.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

Rick Santorum’s video game secret

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While Mitt Romney might be giving Rick Santorum a bruising fight in the race for the Republican party’s bid for the White House, there’s one platform where Santorum is sure he tops his opponent: gaming.

The former Pennsylvania senator, it seems, has a passion for the iPhone game Temple Run, a title that has players endlessly fleeing a band of screaming, angry simians after defiling their temple.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

As U.S. launch looms, Vita sales plunge in Japan

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Sony’s hoping for a big splash when the PlayStation Vita goes on sale in the U.S. next week, but the news from the company’s homeland is pretty discouraging.

Sales of the handheld gaming system in Japan for the week ending Feb. 12 hit an all-time low, with less than 14,000 Vitas being sold. That’s a drop of more than 3,000 from the previous week.

Read more at Yahoo! Games