Monthly Archives: September 2009
Females make up almost half of console gamers
A new survey by NPD has found that almost half (44%) of current generation console gamers are female.
"Um, what's NPD?"
Although the number of adult female gamers is growing, the largest proportion is still in the 2 - 12-year-old range.
New Zune HD to have gaming functionality
Microsoft has confirmed that the new Zune HD will feature a touch screen, HD video out, internet browser, and a new focus on gaming.
Look over here - I play games too!
Following Apple’s recent announcement of a new focus on games for the iPod Touch, this comes as no surprise.
As a side note, my iPod Nano is getting only 1 hour of battery life now, so the anticipated switch to a Zune is coming soon.
Apple to market iPod Touch as a “game machine”
The iPod with an identity crisis, the iPod Touch, was recently bestowed with a more focused goal by Apple CEO Steve Jobs.
Jobs told the New York Post that Apple will follow the lead of its customers (who have made the Touch a popular handheld gaming device despite the original focus on music), and will market it primarily as a “game machine”.
Targeting the DS and PSP
“Originally, we weren’t exactly sure how to market the Touch. Was it an iPhone without the phone? Was it a pocket computer? What happened was, what customers told us was, they started to see it as a game machine.”
I think it is safe to say that video games are firmly established as a part of our culture and will become more ubiquitous each and every year. Regardless of where you are, you can get likely get access to a video game (you could probably be playing a game in less than 20 seconds from now if you wished).
Although the potential for misuse (read: overuse) is present for any video game system, due to the nature of handheld gaming (short & simple games), the potential for excessive habits appears to be far less than for PCs and consoles.
Facebook and Twitter increasingly banned at work
ScanSoft, an Internet security provider states that there has been a 20% increase in the number of companies choosing to block social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter at work.
The addition of social networking sites to “black lists” follows commonly banned content at work such as pornography, gambling sites, and file sharing applications.
Hit minimize! Hit minimize!
Not everyone agrees with such decisions though…
“James Norrie, the associate dean and professor at Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management, harshly criticized the trend.
Instead, companies should be teaching their employees to use social media so they can promote the company’s brand online, he suggested.
Taking the privilege away will only encourage skilled workers to seek out more dynamic employers, he said.”
Well, sure. In an ideal world all empolyees would use use Facebook to efficiently schedule meetings, brainstorm with collegues who are away from the office, and promote the company online.
In reality though, I think we all know that the temptation to hatch eggs, create bumper stickers, and take compatibility tests is just strong to resist.
