Author Archives: Chris Morris

Opinion: Why So Much Mass Media Hysteria Over 3DS Vision Warnings?

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[In this opinion piece, Gamasutra editor-at-large Chris Morris looks at the reports about the ‘dangers’ of the Nintendo 3DS for the young that surfaced over the holidays, and why lack of context and media sensationalism is rife in reporting this particular story.]

I’ve been a member of the so-called mass media for over 20 years. I logged over nine of those with CNN; have worked for Forbes; and spent more than half a dozen years in Atlanta radio, reporting on subjects including the 1996 Olympics and the ramifications of disastrous plane crashes.

I am, in short, a proud member of the Fourth Estate. But sometimes, the idiocy and sensationalism of certain members of my chosen profession drives me up a wall.

Read more at Gamasutra

Hot Products at 2011 CES: Tablets, Apps and Mobile Devices

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CES 2010 had thousands of items on the show floor, but at the end of the day, it was about 3D TV. The show marked the coming out party for the technology—and pretty much everything else was caught in its wake.

This year, though, there’s not likely to be a theme that’s quite so dominant, which will give other products a chance to shine.

Read more at CNBC.com

2011: Microsoft’s Year of Mystery

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After the busy holiday-season dust settled, a though occurred to us: we really don’t have a fleshed-out feel for what Microsoft has in store for us next year. Thing is, most gamers probably don’t care too much right now. And that’s just the way Microsoft wants it.

Core gamers have their hands full with “Halo: Reach” and “Call of Duty: Black Ops”. This frees up the marketing wizards at Microsoft to keep as much focus possible on Kinect, building demand and momentum for the motion-sensing peripheral.

Read more in the January 2011 issue of Official Xbox Magazine

Gamasutra’s Best Of 2010: Top 5 Unexpected Gaming Events

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[In a light-hearted post-Christmas countdown, Gamasutra editor-at-large Chris Morris examines the unexpected moments of 2010 in gaming, from Justice Kagan on Mortal Kombat to Panasonic’s Jungle.]

Talk about a topsy-turvy year. The video game industry has weathered its share of good and bad in 2010, but what made things really interesting were the completely unexpected moments – things we could never have predicted, no matter how many clues we were given.

From THQ’s decision to launch an experimental pricing strategythat could lob $20 off the price of games if it’s successful, to the return of a circus-like E3 environment (topped by Activision’s Lollapalooza-like concert), there were plenty of shocking moments in 2010.

Read more at Gamasutra

Viacom sells Rock Band maker Harmonix

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Harmonix, the company behind the successful “Rock Band” and “Dance Central” franchises, is no longer a part of the Viacom empire.

Viacom, which announced plans to shed itself of the division last month, has sold the division to an investment management firm which will return Harmonix to its independent roots.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog

Here’s what to do with those game gifts you don’t want

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One of the problems with being a gamer during the holidays is you get a lot of duplicates of games you already own – or, worse, a collection of titles you never wanted in the first place. And not everyone is kind enough to include a gift receipt.

There’s money in those unwanted games, though – and there are a variety of ways to cash in on them.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

Last minute tech gifts 2010: GoFlex TV

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Note: As the holidays reach fever pitch, Technotainment will be offering some last minute gadget gift suggestions this week. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our more complete gift guide that ran in the paper right around Thanksgiving for several other ideas for the tech hound on your list. Happy holidays to all.

GoFlex TV – Seagate has updated its FreeAgent Theater+ devices to accommodate its newest portable hard drives – but the guts of this HD video decoder (and streaming media player) remain basically the same.

It’s still a solid device to watch video files stored on your PC or Mac on your living room television. GoFlex TV offers seemless HD output, whether 720p or 1080p, and the system even remembers where you left off watching, eliminating the need to fast forward to that spot.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog

‘Call of Duty’ hits $1 billion

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Activision’s “Call of Duty” franchise continues to set new bars in the entertainment industry. The latest installment in the series — subtitled “Black Ops” — has hit $1 billion in sales in just six weeks. The only other entertainment property to reach that milestone so quickly, according to the publisher, was James Cameron’s “Avatar.”

Like its predecessor, “Black Ops” came out of the gate strong. In its first five days on shelves, the game had sales of $650 million. It hit the $1 billion mark nearly a month quicker than “Modern Warfare 2,” and now stands poised to assume the crown of the top-grossing videogame of all time.

Read more at Daily Variety

Last minute tech gifts 2010: Jambox by Jawbone

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Note: As the holidays reach fever pitch, Technotainment will be offering some last minute gadget gift suggestions this week. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our more complete gift guide that ran in the paper right around Thanksgiving for several other ideas for the tech hound on your list. Happy holidays to all.

Jambox by Jawbone – As mentioned yesterday, speakers for iDevices are a dime a dozen. But Jambox by Jawbone is one that truly stands above the crowd. In terms of boosting the sound (and volume) of your iPod, iPhone or iPad wirelessly, this is one of the best options on the market.

It’s not one of the cheapest, though. At $200, this miniature speaker costs as much as several high end options – but it’s portable, which is something its competitors can’t match. It’s a wonderfully designed device, available in black, red, blue or gray – and it’s tiny size (2.25 inches high, 6 inches wide, 1.5 inches deep) doesn’t hint at the power inside.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment

Game review: TouchMaster: Connect

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There’s nothing particularly original in TouchMaster: Connect. All of the games are offshoots of familiar other titles, such as the “Match 3 or more” gameplay of Bejeweled or the “knock the blocks” style of Breakout or “tic tac toe trivia” of Hollywood Squares. That said, they don’t need to be original. This game brings them all together in one cartridge. If one isn’t suited to your tastes, there are plenty of other options. There is, literally, something for everyone. The game is generous with its rewards and achievements, which encourages you to keep playing. And the new social aspects — especially the leader boards — will be a big hit with the series’ avid fan base. This is the fourth game in the Touchmaster series.

Read more at Common Sense Media