Hasta La Gadget!

Why wait until June 7th when you can instead get your update on June 6th? That’s the question Nintendo has answered this morning, telling us that the coveted eShop update for the 3DS will come a day earlier than previously anticipated. This will finally give gamers the ability to download some titles straight to their system, but more importantly will give everyone a free copy of Excitebike, the NES classic, naturally re-mastered so that the 2-D side-scrolling racer will have a little bit of depth. Super Mario Land and a few other downloadable titles will come along help launch the show, with Nintendo pledging to add new content every Thursday thereafter.

But wait, there’s more! Pokemon fans will be able to use their AR card to check out those they’ve already caught in 3D, and if you’ve purchased any DSiWare games you’ll be able to download those to your 3DS. Last, but certainly not least, will be a full internet browser that you can spin up without exiting a game, which might make keeping tabs on that Ocarina of Time walkthrough a little easier. It has, after all, been a long time since last we vanquished Ganondorf and his Gerudo chums. Again, all this is set to go live in the evening of June 6th (which could still be June 7th where you are), so now might be a good time to invest in that bigger SD card you’ve had your eye on.

Continue reading Nintendo 3DS eShop to launch on June 6 with internet browser and free Excite Bike

Nintendo 3DS eShop to launch on June 6 with internet browser and free Excite Bike originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 06:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This article was written on February 08, 2007 by CyberNet.

Violence and Video Games are two words that typically go hand-in-hand. Researchers have been studying how video game violence effects young ones, and measures have been put in place to try and keep mature content out of the hands of children and teens. The game ratings system has probably been the biggest measure put in place to help buyers make an informed decision on whether or not the game is appropriate for their children.

Some of the research that has been done suggests that playing violent video games will increase aggressive behavior in children and young adults.  Experiments have done to try and support this which I’ve actually taken part in.  It was a short one-hour deal where I was put in a room and asked to play a variety of “violent” and “aggressive” video games.  After I had experimented with the games, I was given a series of questions surveying my feelings after the game. Hundreds of people did the same thing, and the results were going to be compiled to show how the video games affect mood.

The video game industry has had a lot of blame placed on them over recent years, but now they may have a chance to prove that they are good for something afterall! This new genre of video games is inspired by Nintendo’s Brain Age, and its purpose is to help people feel good about themselves.

A psychology professor in Montreal Canada has designed a game called MindHabits Booster. The professor, Mark Baldwin says that the game was designed to help shape how people think and perceive themselves. According to CNET, “The game tries to address insecurity and stress by having players repeatedly pick a smiling, approving face from a group of frowning faces, training players to look for acceptance and ignore rejection.”

Besides therapeutic benefits, more recently there have also been articles published about the improved health benefits, attitudes, and behaviors of children participating in the game Dance Dance Revolution.

So now instead of a focus on violence and aggression, researchers have turned to find ways in which Video Games are of use to society.  At the University of Rochester, researchers have reported that video games are played to fulfill psychologic needs like opportunity for achievement, freedom, and a sense of connection to others.

You can try out MindHabits Booster here, and while I wouldn’t say that I really got much from the game, it’s about the underlying factors. Clearly video games aren’t going anywhere, and it’s about time that the good in them is pointed out and then used to create games in the future that can be of use to society to help fill those psychologic needs which researchers say are fulfilled by playing games. No need for therapy… play a game!

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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Man, Best Buy really wants you to step foot in its stores. The company just announced a deal with Nintendo whereby 3DS owners will get free WiFi access in more than 1,000 of the company’s stores starting on June 7th — not quite Sam’s Club-style, but it’s a start. And with that connection, dubbed SpotPass, people will have access to special, downloadable content such as gaming extras and movie trailers. So come June, get ready to drive down to your local Best Buy — no pressure to buy anything once you’re inside, of course. Don’t have a 3DS? You can pick one up for a suggested retail price of $249.99. Don’t like purchasing things? Well, you’re no fun at all.

Continue reading Nintendo 3DS to get free WiFi access in Best Buy stores, Best Buy hopes you’ll buy stuff

Nintendo 3DS to get free WiFi access in Best Buy stores, Best Buy hopes you’ll buy stuff originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 18:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The death of Nintendo’s DS Lite getting you down? Good news: it may have long ago been eclipsed by the DSi and 3DS, but the svelte portable system is still being made — by someone, somewhere. And you can get a pretty good price on the thing, if you don’t mind a few flaws — like the above bootleg picked up a 1UP editor who though he was getting the real deal from eBay. As soon as the thing arrived in a corrugated cardboard box with pixelated text, it was clear that he had been KIRFed — hardcore. On top of the aforementioned packaging red flags, the portable has some minor cosmetic flaws, like discoloration, a pockmarked surface, and uneven rubber pads. What’s really amazing about this DS, however, is what its manufacturers got right — it plays DS and GBA games, including, fittingly, pirated titles. The police have reportedly called Wario in for questioning.

Keepin’ it real fake: a Nintendo DS Lite that gets it (mostly) DS right originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 22:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turns out our snooping was spot on — Nintendo has just made official its intention to drop the suggested retail price of the Wii down to $149.99, and will additionally include a copy of Mario Kart and the Wii Wheel peripheral with all purchases of the console. They’ll replace the current bundle of Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort games. The steering wheel, along with the Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk controllers, will match the color of the console you buy, whether it be black or white, and will also be available to buy separately for a scant $9.99. See Nintendo’s full press release after the break.

Continue reading Nintendo drops Wii price to $150 from May 15th, throws in a free Wii Wheel and copy of Mario Kart

Nintendo drops Wii price to $150 from May 15th, throws in a free Wii Wheel and copy of Mario Kart originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 May 2011 03:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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