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What gamers can expect from CES

CES logo

The start of CES 2012 is a few days away. This is an exciting time for tech companies and media to come together to discover what will be the big trends for the year. There are going to be ultrabooks, smartphones, tablets, cameras and various accessories covering every free space in the Las Vegas Convention more »

Exclusive: Interview with Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo and Anthem Blue Cross about exergaming

With the fear of child obesity steadily on the rise in California, Anthem Blue Cross and the Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo joined forces to improve the health and physical well-being of children in California.

The idea for the project started when Dr. Harvinder Sareen, director of clinical programs for Anthem Blue Cross, visited the Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo with an idea according to Bill Locker, CEO/President of BGC of Camarillo.

“She asked about the idea and we said we were very interested. We then did some research on exergaming and thought it would be a great program for our kids…

EA might allow Spore to create more than virtual life forms

With today’s technology getting better each year, its no wonder that games like Spore developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts, can wow players and developers alike. In an article posted in the Rocky Mountain News, if EA so chooses, it could license out Spore technology to other interested developers as an “engine…”

Former Xbox VP fears consoles nearing demise

The notion that dedicated consoles will eventually become obsolete is beginning to gain some support. The logic behind this belief is simple: video games are going to be available on umpteen devices and in forms never imagined before in the not-so-distant future. Sandy Duncan, former VP of Xbox Europe also is among those who subscribe to the game console extinction theory.

He told That Video Game Blog that in the next 5-10 years video game consoles will cease to exist…

Videogame companies score Emmy awards – but no trophies – at CES 2008

The 2008 Engineering & Technology Emmys were award this past Monday (January 7, 2008) at CES in Las Vegas, NV.

The big – and second consecutive year – winner was Nintendo with several nods for the Nintendo DS and a wink to the Wii. Linden Labs also won a pair for Second Life.

Other notable winners include the Atari Lynx for the screen development (so nice to see that system finally get some respect), Mattell’s Football handheld game (which helped maintain my sanity during many long bus rides in high school), and a couple big-name games including World of Warcraft, Havok and Quake.

As you may recall last year’s awards had a bit of extra excitement generated by Sony, though this year Sony doesn’t have an award to brag about.

Award presenters included Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, and Peter Price, president and CEO of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Chairman of the Gaming Committee Seth Haberman and Variety’s Chief Marketing Officer Madelyn Hammond. Peter Price, President and CEO of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. told press:

“For the first time in our 59 year history, not all winners will be presented with an Emmy statuette at this year’s ceremony due to litigation with the Hollywood-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. We are in court aggressively fighting for the right to recognize the talents and achievements of these companies and individuals without whom our industry would not be the world leader it is today. Once victorious, we plan to present each winner from tonight’s event with their own Emmy.”

Click through for the complete list of winners for Engineering & Technology for Creation and Implementation of Video Games and Platforms…

New Jersey teacher uses game development technology to educate fifth graders

It’s refreshing to hear that there are gamers in the community using their gaming knowledge towards a positive, educational experience that benefits students.

That is what one teacher in Trenton, New Jersey did when he took his favorite pastime and created an after school program that challenged as well as exercised all the skills an average fifth grade student learned throughout their school year.

“I have been playing video games since I was four years old (so I guess that means 20 years now),” said Giancarlos Alvarado, a Parker Elementary School fifth grade teacher and the founder of the Video Game Design Institute after school program, during an exclusive Gamertell interview. “I have owned most of the major video game systems with the Sega Saturn being my all time favorite!”

Sony suggests PSP to help teach British kids

With technology expanding and luring youth away from school, the British are trying to use technology to lure students back to school. One such way is through the upcoming BETT technology fair at Olympia in London starting January 9, 2008.

The goal of this event is to bring together the global teaching and learning community for four days of innovations and inspirations. Some of those inspirations stem from current gadgets children may already own, which is why Sony is getting involved in this technology fair with a few ideas of its own.

Sony, famous for its video-game consoles, came to the event to offer educators a way to reach children who play games and to help make learning fun using the PSP. The handheld was first made available in Europe on September 1, 2005, allowing children to play their favorite games on the go.

Since the recent upgrades and added capabilities such as being able to download videos, the handheld system could be used for educational purposes. Using the latest models, Stimpfig suggests that teachers could create video lessons their students can download and review wherever and whenever they like by simply downloading them to their PSP and watch it later.

Phillippine president officially takes up residence in Second Life

In a rather interesting gesture, Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has unveiled her likeness in the virtual world, Second Life, during the National Innovation Summit held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati November 26, 2007. She as joined by members of the Department of Science, Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro, IBM Executive Vice President for the Innovation more »

IBM creates online game to train future IT professionals

IBM introduced a new game for university students and young professionals today. The game is called Innov8, a “serious game” available free to those interested in the information technology career field. “The best kept secret in the world of computer and video games is the rise of a movement – now in the thousands –= more »