A survey of drivers from six different countries found that while 15 per cent of people claimed to have engaged in sexual activity while driving, only 5 per cent admit to playing handheld games. We’ve got to get those numbers up. Or not.
Tea-Bagging! Salty language! Racism! There seems to be plenty of reasons why you shouldn’t let your child go online to game until they’re ready to drive.. or vote… or drink. But what about the benefits?
$300,000 worth of federal funding in Kentucky is being spent on an interactive computer program designed to warn parents and children of the dangers of online predators.
AOL has officially launched PlaySavvy.com, a new website aimed at informing curious parents about the games their children play and generating revenue from ads aimed at this lucrative demographic.
The Cumberland Times News of Maryland brings news of a tour two children recently took of the North Branch Correctional Institution, a maximum security prison. They were with their parents, of course.
During this tour they learned that video games help prison guards do their job:
From the front of a computer-filled control room inside Housing Unit 4, prison Warden John A. Rowley said Nintendo was a great tool to train today’s officers. Every aspect of an inmate’s cell life can be controlled by a touchscreen video monitoring system inside the control room, he said. When the doors open and close or whether a cell has water or not is up to the staff on duty.
Let’s think this through. If some people say that video games help train criminals and if warden Rowley says games help train prison guards. Then… it’s a wash?
A view from behind bars – Cumberland Times News. Image courtesy of Morgan-Keller Construction.
Between 2004 and 2007, Nintendo were selling some small, character-adorned pins at both their Redmond HQ and Nintendo World Store. Little metal Nintendo characters, little sharp pin, you stick them on your jacket/bag/hat. Standard stuff. Oh, except for the fact they contain unsafe levels of lead. Before you plan a trip to your doctor’s/lawyer’s office, however, note that they’re only dangerous if you swallow them, not wear them, so unless you’ve been snacking on lapel pins between Smash Bros rounds, you’ll probably live to see the morning. If you are snacking on them, though, and would like pins less likely to cause serious health issues, Nintendo are recalling them and offering free replacements. Details below. Character Lapel Pin Recall [Nintendo, via GameSpot]
Microsoft have just announced they’re giving out free retrofits for all 360 wireless racing wheels sold, following some complaints they’ve received from users experiencing problems. Problems like…overheating. No shit. Seems a few owners have, while using the power supply (ie not in wireless mode), had their wheels overheat and spew smoke. Microsoft are recommending users hold off from using the power supply until they can get a retrofit, and have contacted all relevant product safety bodies in order to get the word out. Overheating. You gotta be kidding me. Press release follows.
