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By The Gamer, February 28, 2010 11:48 pm

First, I’m biased. I own a PS3. I don’t own a 360. It will likely stay that way. I’m a story-driven, RPG player who couldn’t care less about Madden. Games on the PS3 draw me more than games made for the 360. There, now that that’s out of the way…

I’ve been reading this all over Twitter tonight while keeping up on the calendar bug that hit most of the older PS3s (affectionately called the PS3 Fat). Seems as though the PS3 has one problem and the Xbox fanboys are all over it. How many Xboxes RROD’d? How often is Xbox Live down (something you have to pay for, I might add)? PS3s have an almost zero failure rate. Xbox 360s? Failure, in one form or another, comes in at over 50%.

Anyway, Kotaku and Joystiq are kind of on top of it, though their post titles are a bit inflamatory: PS3s Suffering from Global Network Lockdown and PSN is down, some titles experiencing game-crashing errors. This is very unlikely that it has anything to do with the PSN. This is happening to PS3s that haven’t been connected to the PSN or don’t even have an internet connection.

It. Is. A. Bug. A nasty one, at that. Let’s hope it’s easily resolved with a firmware update.

Still, the public’s reaction is enlightening. It’s an interesting look into the dynamics of group-think and the spread of misinformation. Here’s an example of what I mean in the post’s title:

skatter Well, guess my PS3 is just a bluray player right now. #psn #fail #pissedoff #considering360

Really? Really? Then you’ve got this:

@ingramm Yay! #PSN is back up!!

@ingramm Hehe. Just playing #PSN

(Funny.) And this:

@mucho_comida This #psn #hacker attack -errrr, outage is just the beginning of the most widespread infiltration the world has ever seen. #conspiracy #

(Just silly.) And then you’ve got pure nerd rage:

@psnjj9394 GOD DAMN YOU #PSN YOU SUCK FOR HAVING YOUR SERVERS DOWN

@topekomsi #PSN fuggin sucks

@cagmanthing: #PSN sucks! #PSN sucks! #PSN sucks! #PSN sucks! #PSN sucks! #PSN sucks! #PSN sucks! #PSN sucks! #PSN sucks! #PSN sucks! #PSN sucks!

With the occasional bright ray of thoughtfulness:

@JadeMason If my guess is right, the #PS3 / #PSN issue will resolve itself in 24-hours, just like the Zune date error did.

And finally, hours after it started…

@SonyPlayStation PSN status update: We’re narrowing down the issue and continue to work to restore service to all. Updates as soon as we have them.

I was a very early PS3 buyer and I’ve yet to have an issue with it. The one thing I could complain about is the lack of codec support, but TVersity made that problem go away. This honestly makes me think of the Democrats versus the Republicans. I’ll explain.

The Democrats are the PS3s. The Republicans, obviously, the 360s. The 360s (Republicans) break down all the time (cheat/lie/etc., take your pick) and the PS3 crowd (Democrats) never really take them to task over it. When the PS3 (Democrats) goes down (do something questionable) the 360 crowd (Republicans) are screaming bloody murder. It lost its entertainment value long ago.

This will turn out to be just another front on the battle between Sony and Microsoft fanboys, while the rest of us just want to play our games and be left alone. Protip: your console choice says nothing about you except what types of games you may like, generally.

At least the God of War 3 and Darksiders demos I downloaded last night are working just fine.

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By The Gamer, February 8, 2010 1:18 pm

Got my greedy little hands on a copy of the Heavy Rain demo a couple days ago and I must say, I’m impressed (the demo is available for everyone to download on February 11). Even my wife who is decidedly uninterested in video games that aren’t Bejeweled-style puzzle games or something with the word Katamari in the title was enthralled with the experience. I take that to be a very good sign. And, judging by the amount of conversation happening on the GameFAQs.com Heavy Rain board, it’s already pretty popular with over 14,000 posts and the game is still two weeks away.

As with most of the posts regarding individual games, here there be BIG spoilers as far as the demo is concerned. Screenshots, clips and more after the jump. Continue reading 'Heavy Rain: The Demo'»

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By The Gamer, January 20, 2010 1:24 pm

When Quantic Dream’s Heavy Rain comes out in February I’m (hopefully) going to be doing a lot with it: journey analysis, journal, academic papers, oh my! There will be spoilers, and lots of them. I will be speaking frankly and (hopefully) intriguingly about the game, the experience I have playing it, and I will be discussing the more questionable content in terms of violence, adult themes, and whatever else I may come across.

I’m really, really looking forward to this. Keep watching.

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By The Gamer, January 3, 2010 7:41 pm

A new article in the journal Psychophysiology presents findings regarding cognitive control–the authors define this as “the ability to maintain goal-directed information processing in the face of distraction or competing response alternatives” (Bailey, West & Anderson, p. 34)–and video game usage. Here is the abstract for the article, “A Negative Association Between Video Game Experiences and Proactive Cognitive Control”:

Some evidence demonstrates that video game experience has a beneficial effect on visuospatial cognition. In contrast, other evidence indicates that video game experience may be negatively related to cognitive control. In this study we examined the specificity of the influence of video game experience on cognitive control. Participants with high and low video game experience performed the Stroop task while event-related brain potentials were recorded. The behavioral data revealed no difference between high and low gamers for the Stroop interference effect and a reduction in the conflict adaptation effect in high gamers. The amplitude of the medial frontal negativity and a frontal slow wave was attenuated in high gamers, and therewas no effect of gaming status on the conflict slow potential. These data lead to the suggestion that video game experience has a negative influence on proactive, but not reactive, cognitive control.

The authors base this on previous findings that “high levels of video game consumption may be associated with a reduction in the efficiency of those processes supporting cognitive control that arise from interactions between anterior cingulate and lateral frontal cortex (Botvinick, Braver, Barch, Carter, & Cohen, 2001)” (p. 34). The theoretical framework upon which these findings rest is called the Dual Mechanisms of Cognitive Control Theory, which states one’s cognitive control is limited to being either proactive or reactive, depending on environmental factors.

So what does that mean? The study seems to suggest that those who play video games a lot (the authors chose the unfortunate moniker “high gamers” for these people) are less proactive in their cognitive control. This seems to be the trade-off when considering there is a large amount of literature–much of which Bailey, West & Anderson address–that supports the improvement of, as they say in the abstract, “visuospatial cognition”, reaction time and, in some cases, general intelligence. It will be interesting to see where this research goes.

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By The Gamer, December 2, 2009 3:07 pm

Everything you need to make the gamer in your life happy this holiday season. There’s a big television, games, gadgets, movies, TV shows, books, toys, curios, more books, CDs, novelties, clothes, even a couple alarm clocks.

The items listed are only here because I like them and think others will, too. Whether or not this is a good list made by someone with good taste is up to you, really. I think it’s pretty good. So, girls, here are some ideas for your geek boyfriends; girl gamers, slyly post this list to your boyfriend’s Facebook or Twitter feed and (with no subtlety whatsoever, trust me) hint at it. Parents, choose items age-appropriately. Gamers, you just might find something on which to use those giftcards you’re going to get from your grandparents, aunts and uncles. Everybody else, I’m sure you’ll find something for someone.

Everything links to Amazon so you can read the reviews yourself. This is just a jumping-off point. There may be some slightly better deals if you really want to go digging into the interwebs, but, I dunno, I trust Amazon and their Prime program is amazing (scroll down for more about that; the wife and I use it and have for over a year). Also, there’s a definite geek bias, here. This list is not for your gamer if your gamer plays a lot of Madden or has never seen a die with more than six sides. Sorry.

So, without further ado:

1. Samsung 46″ 1080p 120Hz LCD television
   That shiny new PS3 isn’t much more than a really ugly paper weight without some sort of display. Yes, it’s a lot of money. If you’re not looking for something this… extravagant, use it as a springboard for something more along the lines of your budget. (It’s waaaaay outside mine, too.) The 50,000:1 contrast ratio is pretty impressive, along with the 4 HDMI inputs. It’s a nice gaming television. Consider it an investment or wait until Sony starts producing their 3d televisions.
    
2. Demon’s Souls
   These days you really want to get a bang for your buck. Demon’s Souls is pretty much the best option in that regard. It’s fiendishly difficult and should keep that special gamer in your life occupied for quite some time. Just be prepared to replace some of the breakables in your living room. (Scroll down, I’ve included extra controllers.)
    
    
    
3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
   I just wrote something about this game and the virtues of its single player campaign. Your gamer, however, is probably like the six million people who are playing the online multiplayer. If your gamer doesn’t already have this, now is a good time to fix that.
    
    
    
    
4. Katamari Forever
   You may feel like the games your gamer play are either out of your league or just not your kind of thing. However, everybody loves Katamari (except those with vertigo). It’s wacky, it’s colorful, it’s fun, it’s easy and it’s extremely Japanese, though no panty-dispensing vending machines, as far as I can tell. Your gamer will enjoy this because you will enjoy playing it, too.
    
    
    
5. God of War 3 Preorder
   Pre-order this for your gamer and have hugs and kisses rained down upon you.  That is, as long as your gamer is okay with a receipt as a present. Patience, after all, is a virtue.
    
    
    
    
    
6. God of War: Collection
   If patience is a virtue your gamer lacks, get both God of War and God of War 2 on one disc to satisfy that hunger until the big day comes.
    
    
    
    
    
    
7. Dead Space: Extraction
   I rant and rave about Dead Space all the time. It’s really a great game on a number of different fronts. If your gamer has a Wii and not a PS3, then Dead Space: Extraction will have to do. It looks fun, though I haven’t played it. I’m honestly just suggesting it based on the videos I’ve seen and my intense love for its predecesor. Warning: if your gamer is young, you may want to skip this one. And the one above it. And the one above that. Actually, skip all these games except for Katamari Forever and the Final Fantasy games below.)
    
    
8. Dragon Age: Origins
   If your gamer is an RPG fan, expect a squeal of delight at the opening of this package. If your gamer is a tad older, expect squeals of nostalgia and at least one dreamy sigh of, “Ah, reminds me of Baulder’s Gate.” If your gamer is a true geek, expect the occasional mumbling of something about taking a plus-one mace…
    
    
    
9. Heavy Rain Preorder
   If your gamer is 18 or older (or a minor and you allow mature themes and nudity on the gaming console–possibly not something you’ve had to deal with, admittedly), this is a must. Yes, it’s another pre-order, but unless your gamer is a Madden gamer, this will prove to be a show-stopper. All other gifted games (with the exception of the next one) will pale in comparison.
    
    
    
10. Final Fantasy XIII Preorder
    Xbox or PS3, either way your gamer will be deliriously happy. Assuming, again, that your gamer is not of the sports-stats variety. Final Fantasy is one of the most well-known and beloved gaming franchises in the history of gaming (so-called because it was the then-failing Square’s last-ditch effort to save the company; seems to have worked pretty well). If you do decide to get this game for your gamer, when it finally arrives, expect to feel like there’s one less person in the house for quite some time.
     
     
11. Final Fantasy VII – PS1 game, for PC or for your PS3
    If your gamer has a PS2 that still works and doesn’t own this game, it’s a must. (You’ll also need a PS memory card; PS2 memory cards will not work and neither will the ACC-PSX memory card.) If your gamer is a PC gamer, you can get it for the PC. If your gamer has a PS3, it’s available on the Playstation Network for something like ten dollars. It’s worth it. It’s the Lawrence of Arabia of video games.
     
     
12. Final Fantasy Classics Collection
    Again, if your gamer has an old PSX, a PS2 or a backward compatible PS3, this is a great collection. Six games (Final Fantasys 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and Chrono Trigger) that paved the way for much of the games you see today. Well, RPGs, anyway.
     
     
13. iPod Touch 3G 32gig/64gig
    Gamers tend to not only be geeks but very connected. I just got an iPod Touch 3G 32gig and I feel like I’m at one with the universe. Don’t buy the 8gig; it’s just a 2G model that they’re rehashing. The 32gig and 64gig models have the voice command recognition and some spec upgrades from older models. Screen protectors are a must. The earbuds that Apple ships with the iPod Touch are absolute crap, but the little remote found on the right-ear cord make up for it. The mic is there, too.
     
     
     
14. DualShock 3 controller
    If your gamer has a PS3 and still uses the SIXAXIS controller, that’s a damn shame. The DualShock 3 provides the same motion sensing as the SIXAXIS while also producing the force-feedback rumble everybody loves (and missed). Plus it adds some heft to the controller; the original SIXAXIS just feels like it’s empty, ready to float away. Then again, when your gamer is throwing the controller at the screen after dying for the 90th time while playing Demon’s Souls, you may wish you hadn’t bought the hefty version, after all. You can get it in Black, Silver, Blue or Red or in the Japanese White (pictured) or Silver. The Japanese versions work with the American PS3s, don’t worry.
     
     
15. Homedics Shiatsu Massage Cushion with Heat
    Gaming is hard work. Give your gamer some much needed relief with a motorized Shiatsu back massager so you don’t have to do it. Now you just need to tackle that slouching…
     
     
     
     
     
     
16. Cyborg Robotic Gaming Keyboard
    I know I focus on console gaming a bit too much, so here’s some stuff for the PC gamer. This keyboard is insane. Your gamer’s gamer friends will be envious, I promise.
     
     
     
     
     
17. CyberPower High-Speed 7 Port USB Hub
    I’m not even a console gamer and I have one of these. Why? Keyboard, mouse, two external harddrives, the iPod Touch, a scanner, my dSLR camera, my phone charger/sync cable and the PS2 controller with the USB adapter. All of them together equal the 7 ports on the hub, plus one. If your gamer is anything like me a nice powered USB hub would be a blessing.
     
     
     
18. Logitech G35 Surround Sound Headset
    7.1 surround-sound headphones. No, that’s not a joke. Okay, yeah, I’m suggesting these for gaming but… can you imagine Dark Side of the Moon with these puppies? If your gamer isn’t using them, you just may want to snag ‘em.
     
     
     
     
19. Sennheiser RS 130 Wireless Headphones
    Wireless headphones changed my home life (almost as much as getting married did). Sennheiser makes really great headphones. Not infrared; works through walls. Handy if you want to walk around the house with them on and not have to worry about draining your iPod or phone’s battery. I like to use them when I’m doing chores around the house. I can put on Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me podcast and my laundry gathering and folding doesn’t interrupt my weekly dose of liberal snark.
     
     
20. Monty Python’s Holy Trinity [Holy Grail, Life of Brian and Meaning of Life]
    If your gamer doesn’t like Monty Python, you may want to think about changing models; yours is obviously defective. On the other hand, if your gamer is in good working order and does like Monty Python, this collection would take a revered and honored place in the media cabinet.  At least, that is, until the Blurays come out.
     
     
     
21. Blade Runner (Bluray)
    Most gamers in generation X or Y can relate to the stark, commodified, postmodern wasteland of Blade Runner. Get the Bluray and make a disaffected pomo gamer’s holiday season a slightly lighter shade of gray.
     
     
     
     
     
22. Sunshine (Bluray)
    If your gamer is a geek this is a must-buy. Then again, if your gamer isn’t a geek, why have you gotten this far on the list? It’s a great sci-fi film that has some actually, potentially, theoretically and shockingly true science in it, even though it’s about hurling a bomb into the center of the sun to re-charge it. Oh, did I mention it’s directed by Danny Boyle, the guy who did Trainspotting? And written by Alex Garland, the guy who wrote 28 Days Later and The Beach? You’re welcome.
     
     
23. Dexter (Seasons 1-3) (Bluray)
    Dexter and the following two television series are smart shows for smart people. I’m assuming that your gamer is smart. I know what happens when you assume, but from what I’ve seen about gamers both in life and in the research literature, it’s a safe bet. Not for the kiddies.
     
     
     
     
24. Fringe (Season 1) (Bluray)
    Constantly makes you ask the following question: “Okay, so why do I think that wouldn’t work?” Your gamer will love it. If your gamer doesn’t love Walter and want him to be the crazy uncle of the family, there’s something wrong. Does Massive Dynamic remind you a bit of Google, too?
     
     
     
     
25. Lie To Me (Season 1) (Bluray)
    Again, a smart show for smart people. Your gamer just might be interested in learning more about the science in the show. If so, you may want to purchase some of the work of Paul Ekman, in particular ….
     
     
     
     
26. The Book of General Ignorance
    If your gamer is also a trivia buff (or just simply smug) this is the perfect on-the-toilet reading material. Topics include: the largest thing a whale can swallow (a grapefruit; sorry Biblical literalists… unless Jonah was the size of a citrus fruit, he didn’t get swallowed), how long a chicken can live without a head (two years), the most dangerous animal in the world (the female mosquito) and why moths fly around flames and lights (it’s disorienting, not attractive). If that doesn’t sell you, it’s related to Stephen Fry’s Quite Interesting project.
     
     
27. The Complete Manual of Things That Might Kill  You
    Under no circumstances should you actually give this to an actual hypochondriac. Seriously. If your gamer is entertained by the thought of telling someone they may have yellow fever judging by a flushed face, this is a perfect gift. Here’s a good example. Gamer: “Got a runny nose, huh?” Unfortunate friend: “Yeah, got a bit of a cold, I’m afraid.” Gamer: “Or you have Hodgkin’s disease. That’s cancer, you know.”  Again, be careful to whom you gift this book.
     
     
     
28. How to Traumatize Your Children
    Hey, gamers have kids, too. Or, perhaps you and your gamer are thinking about making little baby gamers sometime soon and you want to make sure your children are sufficiently disturbed. Good news. Here’s an excerpt from page 35: “…never respond to your child in a predictable way. If your child gets a C+, for example, try to pitch a fit one semester, grounding him for two weeks, and the next semester let him know that you understand that he tried his best. This will nurture your child’s fear of the unknown, and gradually he will start hiding things from you and declining to seek your counsel, both of which will point him in ever more problematic life directions.” Indispensable for creating a decisively screwed up next generation. Do your part.
     
     
29. Absinthe Accessories Starter Kit
    Your gamer has probably seen From Hell (the original graphic novel isn’t a bad gift idea, either) and, if your gamer is of legal drinking age in your state or country, maybe an invitation to chase the green fairy would be a nice gift idea. The kit comes with a Pontarlier glass and the classic absinthe spoon. You may also want to get some sugar cubes, while you’re at it, to finish the mise en scène. Of course, if you live in the United States, it can be pretty tough to find the actual absinthe, a 136 proof anise-flavored liquor with essense of wormwood. Then again, the resourceful will surely find a way.
     
     
30. Rubik’s Cube
    Retro gamer geeks will really appreciate this gift. There’s not a whole lot more to say about it. If anything, it’s a nice conversation piece. Maybe use it as a stocking stuffer.
     
     
     
     
     
31. Rubik’s Professor Cube
    Or, maybe your gamer must, and I mean must, complete every challenge offered and that wimpy little 3×3x3 Rubik’s cube is relative child’s play. How about a 5×5x5 Rubik’s cube? Know how many states a 5×5x5 Rubik’s cube can be in? Lots. That’s how many.
     
     
     
     
32. Hellraiser Puzzle Box
    Or maybe your gamer isn’t into the Rubik’s cube and prefers something a bit more… sinister. Can’t go wrong with the Lament Configuration. Sooth your gamer’s inner Pinhead. Of course, if your gamer is a true Clive Barker fan, there’s always Undying, Jericho and the Hellraiser box set.
     
     
     
33. Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms
    Your gamer may feel like an outsider. Your gamer may keep that AD&D dungeonmaster book hidden away, a dark little secret. This book will fix all that. Help your gamer come to terms with that inner self. You’ll be thanked for it.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
34. Zaireeka
    For the gamer, this is more than just an album; it’s a test. Your gamer will spend all day trying to work out how to get 4 cds to play at the exact same time. Yes, it’s 4 cds that, when played together, create something wonderous. It’s a tremendous bump in geek cred, I promise you.
     
     
     
     
35. Gashlycrumb Tinies Poster
    Obscurity and randomness are often things gamers are drawn to. Doesn’t get much more random and obscure than Edward Gorey’s Gashlycrumb Tinies. This is the poster, but it’s originally a book. (Here’s a look at the contents in full, if you want to take a gander.)
     
     
     
     
     
     
36. Subscription to Wired magazine
    This is the single greatest magazine being published right now. It’s aimed at the techno-culture, the geeks, the gamers, the innovators, the futurists, and it succeeds in what it sets out to do. This is a one-year non-renewing subscription. Auto-renewable subscriptions are available. Check out Wired.com for a look at what you can find inside. Just having a copy of Wired magazine sitting around the house speaks volumes, I assure you.
     
     
     
     
     
37. Devil Duckies
    Even gamers occasionally take a bath. Who wants a normal, ol’ yellow duckie when you can have a Ninja duckie? Or a Pirate duckie? Or even a glow-in-the-dark Zombie duckie? Perfect stocking stuffers.
     
     
     
     
38. Swords
    Yes, swords. Display only, of course. They’re dulled. What, you thought you could get three actual, real, sharp, weapon-ready swords for $30? Only on the black market, my friend. Your gamer, however, will proudly display these and constantly talk about the best boyfriend/girlfriend/parents/whatever in the world.
     
     
39. 8-bit Dynamic Life Shirt
    Okay, sure, it’s a little geeky, but… what on this list isn’t? You’ll likely recognize the hearts from Zelda. When you and your gamer are both wearing the shirts and you get close to one another the hearts all fill up. Likewise, when you move away, they deplete to about half. (You can also get a remote that will act like another shirt that you can place wherever you like… in case you just want to get one shirt for your gamer and not wear one yourself. If so, I completely understand.) Here’s the full-size picture.
     
     
     
40. I Love my Gamer Womens tee
    Girls, get this for yourself and show the world you’re proud to be with a gamer. Guys, get it for your girls and force her to make people believe she’s happy being with a gamer. Either way, everybody wins! …right? (Lesbian gaming couples could buy two; guys and gay male gaming couples, sorry, this is a women’s fitted tee only but, hey, if you like the fit, who am I to question?).
     
     
41. Complete Oxford English Dictionary
    Yes, the complete Oxford English Dictionary, printed in one book. No, it’s not a miracle or black magic. It’s micrographically printed text and a magnifying glass. Yes, it’s almost impossible to use and no it serves no real purpose, as www.oed.com has the entire dictionary online, but… how freakin’ cool is this? Honestly. If your gamer is also a geek (especially if your gamer is an English major geek) this is like the Holy Grail.
     
     
     
     
42. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
    Girls, if you love the intricate and subtle pastoral world of Jane Austin’s work but your boyfriend gamer only loves the desolate and terrible world of George A. Romero, congratulations, we have reached a place of agreement. Guys gamers, get this for your girls and offer an olive branch. “Zombies?” You may be asking, “Really? How could that even possibly make sense?” Well, I ask you this: did you ever figure out why those troops were stationed at Hertfordshire? Ah, hah…
     
     
     
43. Introduction to Video Game Design and Development (with CD)
    So your gamer plays all the time but expresses no other real aspirations. Sound familiar at all? If so, there’s always a chance your gamer could start a career based on gaming. This is a good book to kick-start that journey. Who knows, it could be your gamer’s first step to greatness.
     
     
     
     
     
44. The Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design
    Maybe your gamer is more interested in the storyline and character building of the video games than the actual coding and construction of the game engine. Not to fear. This is a great primer for just that. It’s no replacement for a college degree in game design, of course, but you gotta start somewhere.
     
     
     
     
     
45. My Alphabet by Trevor Brown
    Gamer geeks need coffee table books, too, you know. Show everybody that your gamer has both impeccable taste in the bizarre and a finger on the pulse of contemporary pop art. Trevor Brown’s work is well known to a select group. It’s quite possible that your gamer’s jaw will drop when this book is unwrapped. Also, don’t show this to the more conservative of your friends or family; it’s not for kids, despite its title.
     
     
     
46. The Tree Show by Mark Ryden
    Another coffee table book idea for the gamer geek in your life. Mark Ryden is a lot like Trevor Brown (or maybe it’s the other way around…) and the manga-inspired artwork is something to behold. Less disturbing than a Witkin book but more obsure than a collection of Ansel Adams photos. Here’s a little glimpse into the mind of Mark Ryden, the Artist Statement contained in his 2001 book Anima Mundi: “A few years ago while working very late one night, the distinct smell walnuts in the air broke my concentration. It was very quiet. A strange breeze gently blew through my studio. I suddenly became aware of something on my shoulder. Surprisingly, I was not startled to find a wee Abraham Lincoln sitting right there on my shoulder. We looked at each other for just a moment. Then he very softly whispered in my ear ‘paint meat.’”
     
     
47. Clocky Alarm Clock with Wheels
    Does your gamer stay up late, erm, gaming and have a hard time awaking up in the morning? Does the snooze button have a worn-spot in the middle? Yeah, me too. Clocky actually runs away from you. It’s brilliant. The alarm goes off and, vroom, there it goes. You have to chase it down to turn it off. So, not only is it very effective, it’s the perfect little novelty gadget for the gamer geek in your life. It comes in a number of colors, by the way.
     
     
48. BioBrite Sunrise Clock with White Noise
    Or, maybe your gamer isn’t so receptive to being forced to chase an alarm clock around the room with one eye open. This clock is wonderful, especially for those who live in places where it’s still dark when you need to get up. The light gradually gets brighter and brighter, effectively tricking your gamer’s body into thinking the sun is coming up. Biologically, our circadian rhythm responds best to this. Tell your gamer it’s the ultimate bodyhack and Cranky McSleepyhead will be banished.
     
     
49. Leatherman 830039 New Wave Multitool with Leather Case
    A gamer should never be unprepared. The Leatherman is the gold standard of multitools, something a gamer geek (especially a gamer geek who is forced to randomly fix computers of family and friends) should never be without. It’s a little expensive, but in this case you really do get what you pay for. Short list of tools: two pliers, wire cutters, two knives, scissors, diamond-coated file, screwdrivers, wire strippers, drivers, lanyard, and it’s only four inches long (hey, that’s not nice… you shouldn’t laugh at that).
     
     
50. NatureBright SunTouch Plus Light and Ion Therapy Light
    Gamers aren’t known for their prediliction for outdoor activities. Yes, it’s totally superfluous and probably only really handy if your gamer has psoriasis, but… it’s neat, right?
     
     
     
     

Well, that’s the list. I have no doubt that at least something here will prove to be a good buy for the gamer in your life. Perhaps you’re just looking for something nice to get yourself. Or, maybe you’re trying to create a gamer. You could do worse.

As for the Amazon Prime, it really is a great idea. I love it. Amazon has just about everything (evidenced by this list) and Prime gives you free (yes, free) two-day shipping, or the option to do one-day shipping for four bucks. There’s no limit to the number of things you can order or the number of times. I know this sounds like a sales pitch, but I’m really just touting the benefits of using a service that I was hesitant to use at first, but have found myself really enjoying over the past year. If you sign up you’ll get one month free (I think it’s one month) and the chance to cancel it. But, hey, one month is more than long enough to order all your holiday gifts and not pay shipping. Nice, right?

Let me know what you thought about the list. Responses are always welcome!

Happy holidays, everybody!

Comments (1)

By The Gamer, November 24, 2009 3:37 pm

Much like dragons, here, there be spoilers. This is not a review of the game. I want to review it, but this isn’t one. It isn’t a review because, for a little while, I want to basically gush about the game. I picked it up over the weekend and have already finished the single-player campaign. I haven’t touched the multiplayer. I don’t plan on it. Here’s why (after the jump). And remember, you don’t have to agree with me.

Continue reading 'Multiplayer, Schmultiplayer'»

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By The Gamer, September 28, 2009 12:08 pm

I’ll preface this by saying that I do have an addictive personality, so this is something I take very seriously. In the past I’ve struggled with alcohol, mostly, but have gotten that completely under control thanks to the support I receive from my family. However, I’m not going to preach. Having said that, for those who played (or still play) MUDs, get ready for some nostalgia.

When I was younger (we’re talking 11, 12 years old) I played a lot of MUDs and continued to do so well into college. To be fair, I played a lot of two MUDs: Apocalypse IV (which graduated to Apocalypse V and is now known as Apocalypse Forever and located at telnet://apocmud.org:4000) and Enertopia. Apocalypse you may have heard of; Enertopia, probably not.  In fact, I just logged on Apocalypse for the first time in quite a while and, to my surprise, there are 6 people online! Granted, this is considerably less than in its heyday when 100 unique people would be logged on at any given time. I would spend hours upon hours in front of the computer leveling my characters, trying to pop equipment, bartering and what-have-you.

I had no internet connection aside from the multiple free accounts provided by my local library, which only provided accounts that timed out after two hours, resetting after 24 hours. Not just two hours per day; two hours every 24 hours. It was brutal. Eventually I found another provider that offered unlimited time (thanks, friend’s brother’s friend I didn’t know). I would spent eight hours a day playing one or more MUDs, mostly using the zMud client (couldn’t stand TinTin++) and playing multiple characters simultaneously.

I still have the character files with all my triggers and aliases and variables, not to mention a (very outdated, surely) equipment database. Ah, the good ol’ days.

But, like all things, that too passed. That, and I honestly wasn’t very good.

Text-based MUDs gave way to the MMORPG (massively-multiplayer online role-playing game; a mouthful, I know), but the chance for addiction never ebbed. In fact, it seems to have grown considerably and branched out beyond adolescents and college kids.  The October 2009 issue of the American Journal of Family Therapy contains an article by Dr. Kimberly Young, the director of the Center for Internet Addiction Recovery, called Understanding Online Gaming Addiction and Treatment for Adolescents. There’s not a whole lot to say about it, really. It’s a good resource for what to watch for if you’re concerned someone may be addicted to gaming (it’s really no different than the tell-tale signs of alcoholism: preoccupation, losing interest in other things, lying about/hiding usage, becoming defensive or angry when confronted, and withdraw, both social and psychological). Abstract:

Massive Muti-user Online Role-Playing Games or MMORPGs as they are often called are one of the fastest growing forms of Internet addiction, especially among children and teenagers. Like an addiction to alcohol or drugs, gamers show several classic signs of addiction (Grusser, Thalemann, and Griffiths, 2007). They become preoccupied with gaming, lie about their gaming use, lose interest in other activities just to game, withdrawal from family and friends to game, and use gaming as a means of psychological escape (Leung, 2004). This paper explores the emergence of online gaming addiction and its impact on individuals and families. This paper reviews the nature of online games and what makes them addictive among some players. As computers are relied upon with greater frequency, detecting and diagnosing online gaming addiction may be difficult for clinicians, especially as symptoms of a possible problem may be masked by legitimate use of the Internet. This paper reviews the warning signs of online gaming addiction, adolescent issues involved in gaming addiction, especially as the industry targets youth, and parenting and therapy considerations for this emergent client population.

When you think if MMORPG, what do you think of? Yep, you got it. World of Warcraft. South Park did a great episode on WoW in which the boys become addicted to the game. It’s worth watching if you haven’t seen it. Their addiction is a noble one, however: they dedicate all day, every day to beefing up their characters in order to kill a superpowered character who gets his kicks by pkilling lower-level players. In the end, they decide it’s a better idea to just go outside and play.

Some people never come to that conclusion.

In fact, there’s an entire chapter devoted to “information overload” in Born Digital: Understanding the First Generation of Digital Natives by John Palfrey and Urs Gasser. On page 187 they write the following:

Some recent headlines from around the world:

• “A South Korean games addict died after playing nonstop for 86 hours.”
• “An overweight 26-year-old man from north-eastern China has died after a ceaseless gaming session over the Lunar New Year holiday.”
• “A 30-year-old man has died in the south China province of Guangzhou after apparently playing an online game continuously for three days.”

A 2007 poll found that 8.5 percent of youth gamers in the United States could be classified as pathologically addicted to playing video games. In an online British study that same year, 12 percent of gamers demonstrated addictive behavior. In summer 2006, the first inpatient clinic for computer game addicts in Europe opened its doors; Korea, meanwhile, already has more than forty game-addiction counseling agencies registering thousands of cases per year.

While the generalized title is “internet addiction” it’s clear the focus is on MMORPGs, as, regardless of how addicting Stumbling may be, there’s only so many times you can run across Charlie the Unicorn.

Addiction really is nothing to be scoffed at. Thinking something is innoculous or “just a game” is a dangerous thing, too. People can become addicted to nearly anything and adolescents are particularly prone to this sort of behavior as it can provide them without an outlet they, perhaps, can’t find anywhere else. In WoW, for instance, the unpopular teenager is a well-known and respected guild leader.

Still, I’m not entirely sure you need to pay $14,000 to kick the habit.

Citations:

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By The Gamer, September 18, 2009 11:33 am

The September 7, 2009 issue of Advertising Age has an interesting article on the new paradigm of video game user experience marketing. The article focuses on EA and the new Tiger Woods game, PGA Tour 10. Gone are the days of the month-and-a-half frenzy before a game comes out, followed by a cooling-down period afterwards. Today, the strategy is to feed you Tiger Woods (for example) every day of every week of every month, all year. Can’t play on your PS3? Play on your PSP! Can’t play on your Wii? Play on your DS! There’s likely even an iPhone game (if there’s not, there should be).

Ubiquity is the word, I think.

And here’s the feedback loop I mention so often: we expect things instantly, so game companies (though they are not alone in this) give it to us; we enjoy; we expect things instantly-er; we get it; we enjoy; we expect things instantly-er-er; we get it…

It’s a vicious cycle, but it works.

One thing that I got to thinking about when I saw the “user experience” title was the recent “Augmented Reality” concept. The one I saw was called Layar (I know, this is soooo three months ago), but it really struck me as having a great deal of potential. It reminded me of Patricia Rowan’s visual overlay in the Rifters trilogy. Now if only we can get a Bluetooth contact lens (which, according to the author of Maelstrom, has been around for over a year). I want! I want! I want!

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By The Gamer, September 17, 2009 1:47 pm

Violent games do not create violent children. There. I said it.

A good researcher reports findings that support his or her position, as well as those that fly in its face. The October 2009 issue of Issues in Mental Health Nursing contains an article titled “Young Children’s Video/Computer Game Use: Relations with School Performance and Behavior” by Erin Hastings at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL, and Tamra Karas, Adam Winsler, Erin Way, Amy Madigan and Shannon Tyler, all from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. As always, the abstract:

This study examined the amount and content of children’s video game playing in relation with behavioral and academic outcomes. Relationships among playing context, child gender, and parental monitoring were explored. Data were obtained through parent report of child’s game play, behavior, and school performance. Results revealed that time spent playing games was related positively to aggression and negatively to school competence. Violent content was correlated positively and educational content negatively with attention problems. Educational games were related to good academic achievement. Results suggest violent games, and a large amount of game play, are related to troublesome behavioral and academic outcomes, but educational games may be related to positive outcomes. Neither gender nor parental monitoring emerged as significant moderators of these effects.

There is a fairly sizable collection of research that supports the claim that violent video games (or television, for that matter) are related to higher levels of aggression, both in children and adults. However, speaking frankly, this is akin to saying that owning many books is directly, causally related to a high frequency of reading. There is very little support for a direct causal link between violent gaming and violent behavior. Reciprocation is more likely; a feedback loop. Violent is as violent does.

It’s important to remember–and I say this with all sincerity–that the most important aspect of a child’s development is the parents. No amount of video game or television curtailing by watchdog groups is ever, ever going to replace the effects of just one good parent. If a parent truly believes that violent video games will turn his or her child into a raving, homicidal maniac, then guess what: be an adult and say No to that child. Parental responsibility is nothing to be shrugged at. Television producers and game designers are not out to make upstanding paragons of civility out of your children; they’re out to make money by producing consumer-based materials that people buy. Two things sell, unequivocally: sex and violence. That math isn’t hard to do.

An interesting aspect of research like this is the number of variables involved. In just the article there are:

• Gender
• Age
• GPA
• School  competence
• Time playing games
• Violence level of games
• Parental monitoring of content
• Parental monitoring of time
• Social context
• Previous behavior of child
• Media type

Any researcher worth his or her salt, given that list of factors, would never try to make a causal link out of all that. This is not to say the authors did; I’m just pointing it out. The authors list a number of limitations on their study, as per usual in academic articles (all citations found on page 646 and are not found immediately following one another):

First is the fact that only parents reported on their child’s video/computer game playing habits.

In addition, parents may misreport the amount of monitoring that they actually do.

Finally, to obtain child grades, parents were permitted to either (a) submit a grade report from school, or (b) report their child’s grades. It is conceivable that the self-report option may have introduced some error, presumably due to parents inflating grades to enhance their child’s academic standing.

Also, our sample was limited to generally high-achieving children from relatively well-educated, mostly middle- to upper-class families,

Another limitation is the correlational and exploratory nature of the study. Although links among game playing and children’s aggression and academic achievement were found, the direction of the causality is unclear. It is likely that, as previously mentioned, the relationship between aggression and violent media is reinforcing.

When splitting the sample to analyze by gender, [the limitation of a small sample size] became clearer, as correlations that were significant overall with the enter sample only approached significance when the sample size was halved to look at boys and girls separately.

It is not my intent to rip apart this article and I apologize if it comes across that way. However, I feel it’s important to point out that when articles like this are published (that show a correlation between one thing and another) it’s all too easy for people to that correlation to causation and assume a causal link. We’ve all seen the Tipper Gores and Zackery Morazzinis and even the Hillary Clintons hell-bent on preventing violent video games from falling into the hands of impressionable, moldable youth.

It reminds me of an old George Carlin bit: “It’s a great country, but it’s a strange culture. This is a country where gun store owners are given a list of stolen credit cards, but not a list of criminals and maniacs! Where tobacco kills millions of people every year, so they ban artificial sweeteners! Because a rat died! And now they’re thinking about banning toy guns . . . AND THEY’RE GOING TO KEEP THE FUCKING REAL ONES!”

Coming up next: addiction.

Citation:

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By The Gamer, September 10, 2009 2:04 pm

In last week’s Economist an article titled “Games Lessons” appeared in the Education, psychology and technology section.

I have a question, though. Why would saying “the future of schooling may lie with video games” “sound like a cop-out”? To “cop-out” of something means to “avoid taking responsibility for an action or to avoid fulfilling a duty”… so how is using an extremely effective medium in an educational setting to improve students’ learning and performance… a cop-out?

It seems that the author (not sure who wrote the piece) disapproves of “transferring much of the pedagogic effort form the teachers themselves (who will now act in an advisory role)” to the games the students are playing.

Obviously this author has never been a teacher.

The main focus of the article is on the Quest to Learn school in New York.  One of the theoretical foundations of the Quest to Learn school rests firmly on the work of James Paul Gee (click here to see a couple videos I posted a while back of an interview with him), though James is not directly involved with the school itself.

One of the neatest things about the Q2L school (at least, if you ask me) is the reworking of the traditional class periods. English? Science? History? Math? Adios. (No word on whether Spanish is being replaced.)  Here’s the PDF of Q2L’s Overview of Curriculum. Really interesting stuff. “The Way Things Work, Being, Space and Place, and Wellness being just a few examples of course blocks.

You may be asking, “Yeah, sure, sounds like fun. But what can you possibly do with an education like that?” Seems that the Q2L folk have heard that before. Here’s a list of Future Careers the school suggests for graduates:

Urban planner · Organizational Management · Economist · Engineer · Scientist (all) · Computer Scientist · Financial Analyst · International Relations · Entrepreneur · Business and Finance · Design (all) · Political strategist · Judge · Sustainability and Environmental Scientist · Human Factors Researcher · Anthropologist · Writer · Investigative Reporter · Learning Scientist · Inventor · Information architect · Playwright · Actuary · Biotechnologist

Doesn’t sound half bad to me.

Anyway, the Economist article does make a good point in that the level of success will

take a few years to find out. The school plans to admit pupils at the age of 12 and keep them until they are 18, so the first batch will not leave until 2016. If it fails, traditionalists will no doubt scoff at the idea that teaching through playing games was ever seriously entertained.

Let’s just hope it does. I mean, what kid wouldn’t love a school whose supply list for the new school year includes a pack of blank CDs, a pack of blank DVDs, a flash drive (at least 2 gigs) and a pair of USB headphones.

To keep tabs on exactly what’s going on at the Q2L school, check out the Q2L Parents blog. Tell ‘em who sent ya.