generations
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Flickr Find: MacBook Generations
Oh man. I'm tempted to just sit back and let you marvel at the beauty, history, innovation, and intelligence that is on display in the picture above, taken and posted by Robert Donovan on Flickr (and be sure to check out the alternate view, too -- I actually like the alt view better, given that it shows all of the ports over time). But just in case you're wondering: Unibody 13" 2.53Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro 15" 400Mhz G4 Titanium PowerBook 15" 1.25Ghz G4 Aluminum PowerBook 15" 2.5Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro Amazing stuff -- think of the engineering, manufacturing work, and design arguments that went into those little bands of metal, and all of the good work and art that has since been created with them. Beautiful.
UC Irvine studies differences between Chinese and US players
Our good friends at the OC (don't call it that) Register have an article up about how the University of California at Irvine has received a grant to study the differences between US and Chinese players of World of Warcraft. And the differences are fairly interesting: apparently US players use many more UI mods and addons than Chinese players do. Additionally, more Chinese players play the "more challenging version of the game" (seems like they mean PvP servers to us, though that may change with yesterday's big news), and Chinese players, say the researcher, tend to talk more about color schemes and architecture than American players. Finally, the demographics are fairly different -- here in the states, women make up 20 percent of the playing audience, and in China that number is almost halved. And while people here may play with parents or even grandparents, in China, the older generation isn't interested in the game at all.These observations seem more to be based on anecdotal evidence of Chinese players in cafes more than anything else, but the study is just getting started, so maybe with some more research they can come up with some more solid numbers (or even more reasons) showing why this is the case. But it's interesting that inspecting how people play this game in two different countries can reveal something about the cultural differences between each.
Europe gets Picross DS
We didn't think the awesome Picross DS would ever find its way out of Japan. But Nintendo surprised us, as they tend to do now and then, by announcing that the puzzler will get a European release on May 11th. They're branding this as part of the Touch Generations series, and mention that it will include 300 puzzles, and features like a "Daily Picross" mode, puzzle creation (with Wi-Fi sharing),and unlockable minigames. For the Americans out there who feel left out-- don't worry! Even if Nintendo doesn't release Picross DS, this European version will have English text, so it's still good news for you, if you don't mind importing!
Touch Generations reach out and touch greatness
The amount of greatness Nintendo's Touch Generations line of games has touched in the US can only be conveyed through numbers. Around 3.5 million numbers, to be exact. Yes, you read that correctly, Nintendo's Touch Generations brand, which is shared by numerous titles such as Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!, Magnetica and True Swing Golf, has sold close to 3.5 million copies in the US. Clearly, Nintendo's philosophy of making games "meant for anyone to pick up and play, regardless of their prior gaming experience" is working out for them.[Via Joystiq]
Touch Generations slogan ideas
We don't normally post about advertisements, instead leaving that up to the ad critics, but this Touch Generations ad just brought some hilarious commentary to our mind. We envision a nice evening out, maybe the couple's 23rd anniversary, and after a few glasses of wine, the husband is feeling a bit frisky once the couple arrive home. "Not right now," she says, shouting "brew" into her DS Lite during an intense round of Brain Age. "I have to get my brain's age down," she quickly follows with. The husband, upset, rolls over and firmly fixes a frown upon his face, falling asleep. In the spirit of cruelty, we decided we'd come up with our own ad slogans for the Touch Generations brand. Here goes: Touch Generations: Now having a headache doesn't have to be your only excuse. Touch Generations: Because you're too old for most stuff anyway. Touch Generations: "Paddles" are too complicated nowadays. Touch Generations: You'll be damned if you're paying for another dog from the pound. 6 is quite enough! Touch Generations: Because reading is for dummies. Touch Generations: Because you should at least be able to kick your kid's ass in one game. What kind of brilliant marketing ideas are swimming around in your noggin?
Nintendo takes classic games to Wi-Fi
European Nintendo lovers (Nintendites?) get some pretty sweet perks. First they get their hands on a model DS Lite we Americans don't get, now this?! Dubbed 42 All-Time Classics, this Wi-Fi-enabled title seeks to bring all the classic card, board, and parlour games to the DS with added touchscreen controls. Featuring games such as chess, draughts, darts, poker, backgammon, bridge, billiards and bowling, the game will also be releasing soon after in the US under the title Clubhouse Games. We'll also be getting the Wi-Fi functionality. So basically we're getting the same package, it's just that we're petty and can't let well enough alone sometimes.42 All-Time Classics is set to release in Europe on September the 29th for around £20 and Clubhouse Games is set to release in the United States on October the 9th.[Via Joystiq]
