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Chinese game addicts seek help in progressive Internet addiction centers
As the Chinese race ahead to catch up with the West, they do so with the intent of creating better lives for themselves. The past several years have been characterized by rapid progression, but all those perks of modernization come with a price, which some of China's citizens are beginning to pay. As incomes rise, so does the prevalence of the various maladies of modernization we've come to know well -- not limited to obesity, substance abuse, and addiction. While an addiction to a substance has a physiological aspect to it and is rarely disputed as a true addiction, non-material addictions to work, sex, and even shopping are on the rise in China. Such issues have been difficult to officially label as actual mental illnesses in the country. Others, like Internet addiction, have only recently been classified as such in China.
PS3 is the strongest console around (and we're not talking about tech)
So what happens when G4 gets two guys to break sh*t? Well, you get an interesting experiment to see which console is the most durable. The PS3, 360 and Wii are all put to the test in an incredible test of physical endurance. Which one comes out on top? Thankfully, the PS3. Considering the machine costs at least $400, we're glad to see it able to take such abuse. In last place? Well, just watch the video.Check out the video, after the cut.[Thanks, Zack!]
LOL Abuse in patch 3.0.2
The new achievement system that will be introduced with the 3.0.2 patch is going to make this game a bit more interesting. People will begin to do things just so they can have the achievement. In my opinion, this is great. It extends the game play and gives everyone something more to 'achieve.'What is not great in the eyes of some is the potential and actual abuse from the system that will result.Take for instance what happened when I created simple macro that did /lol, and spammed it for 60 seconds. I got a nice number of 258 "Total times LOL'd" written down in my achievements page, right there for everyone to see. This just opens up the door for abuse of the worst kind – lol abuse.What do I mean by lol abuse?
The Best Of Big Download: May 23-31, 2008
Who says PC gaming is dying? We don't. The new Big Download blog site continues to gain readers and post up exclusive news and content on all aspects of PC gaming. This week we have a ton of Mass Effect PC features as well as other content for you to check out. Here are the highlights from the past week:Exclusive Features In-Depth: Mass Effect: We go in detail on the new PC port of BioWare's acclaimed science fiction RPG Big Iron: Mass Effect's effective mass: We find out if your PC rig can run the game with all the bells and whistles. Big Versus: Mass Effect: How do the PC and Xbox 360 versions of the game compare to each other? We find out. PvP vs PvE: EA Mythic on Warhammer Online: Our series of PvP interviews for MMO games continues with EA Mythic's Jeff Hickman on their plans for the feature in Warhammer Online. Running With Scissors Vince Desi on the Postal movie: We chat with the Postal development head on the newly release movie version of their dark satire action game series. Big Versus: Penny Arcade Adventures - Episode One: We compare the PC and Xbox 360 versions of the new downloadable adventure-RPG from Hothead Games Casually Speaking: Are causal games really gateway games?: Our weekly casual games column looks at the debate on how playing casual games could lead some players to try more hardcore titles Freeware Friday: Abuse: The weekly column on free games takes a look at a golden oldie; the side-scrolling sci-fi shooter Abuse MODvelous Monday: This week's look at game mods looks at the Classic Doom 3 total conversion for Doom 3
The Daily Grind: Which MMO should go away?
People love to hate things. Whether we're talking about sports, religion, politics, lifestyles, or goulash recipes, there are always at least two sides in opposition to each other, and frequently many more. Those on one side will sing the virtues of their choice, and decry the faults of the other side, sometimes with virulent verbiage. Nowhere is this activity more evident than in the forum of your favorite MMO.Gamers will yell at each other over the slightest perceived insult, and heap abuse on any who dare to assert the primacy of anything that isn't in line with what they love. And that's the sort of energy we want to invite! So, Precious Readers, which MMO do you hate the most, and why?
Nintendo support recommends Wiimote abuse to puzzled caller
Controller abuse has always been a mainstay of the video gaming existence -- no need to blame your thumbs when there's this hunk of plastic to chuck at the floor -- but who knew Nintendo was working such violence into its own official support curriculum? Wired's Russ Neumeier gave Nintendo support a ring when one of his Wiimotes stopped sensing motion and none of the usual fixes seemed to work. After explaining his situation, the Nintendo rep asked Russ smack the controller into his hand, button side down, two or three times. After being assured that she wasn't kidding, Russ did as he was told and was awarded with a fully functional Wiimote. We could see why Nintendo wouldn't go shouting about this "fix" on its official support literature, but it has us wondering if "blow into the cartridge, whack side of NES, insert cartridge, repeat" was the Nintendo-approved method all along.
Man attacks DS with ballpoint pen, horror ensues
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo_wii/Man_attacks_DS_with_ballpoint_pen_horror_ensues'; Many of the modded DS consoles we've posted about in the past have really knocked our socks off. But they don't all turn out so peachy. Sporting a truly appalling sketch of Suigintou from the popular manga Rozen Maiden, this poor, defenseless handheld is at the other end of the spectrum. And by that, we mean almost dropping off the other end. Seriously, we're not even sure if this level of DS abuse is legal in some parts of the world.In case you were wondering, it's the work of one "Gto46492004," and is currently up for auction over at Yahoo Japan (where, bafflingly, somebody has placed a high bid of ¥17,500, the equivalent of $160). Clearly, console modding comes to the guy about as easily as counting backwards comes to Tara Reid. Somebody really needs to share this information with him, before any more DSes are harmed.[Via Canned Dogs]
Scott Adams gets kicked repeatedly in the groin
Scott Adams of Dilbert fame held an in-world book signing event for Second Life residents on October 30, to promote his new non-Dilbert book Stick To Drawing Comics, Monkey Brain! From all accounts of those who attended, it was a huge success, though I hadn't realized exactly what went on there until this video popped up.In a move I'm sure helped ingratiate himself to the audience, Adams let a line of residents approach his avatar to dole out various types of injury -- from the looks of it, foot-mashing, face-slapping, and the overwhelming favorite, groin-kicking, at which Adams's avatar falls down, curling into fetal position amusingly. About halfway through the video, Adams gets the beatdown by Dilbert himself; how meta can you get? Also, while you're watching, keep an eye out for our own Aimee Weber, watching on in the background, butterfly wings a-flutter! Wow, who knew that the secret to success was letting oneself be abused by one's fans? I'll have to rethink my entire strategy!(Via youtube.com; thanks, SquidooMegan!)
Neglecting kids isn't videogame addiction-- it's bad parenting
The AP is reporting on the story of a couple in Nevada who claim they were so addicted to "the Internet and video games" that they neglected the health and well-being of their two children, a 22-month old girl and an 11-month old boy. I won't go into the details, although you can read them in the article, but it's a horrific story. WoW isn't mentioned-- "the fantasy role-playing Dungeons & Dragons series" is, but does that mean DDO or does the reporter just, as usual, have no idea what they're talking about?At any rate, (also as usual) the report eventually turns to videogame addiction and what a "serious issue" it is. Exactly zero mention is made of the hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of parents who play WoW and other online games right alongside their children, happily and healthily. A few of my guildies are parents and often play with their kids, and our own Robin Torres writes Azeroth Interrupted, a column about doing exactly that and how to handle issues like playing with your kids. You'll also note that almost no attention is paid to the other problems with this couple-- they gained $50,000 in inheritance, and spend it on computer equipment and a plasma screen rather than anything for their two children. This isn't "abuse rooted in videogame addiction"-- it's abuse rooted in bad parenting.Kayholder over on WoW Ladies says she gets attacked for playing the game with young children at home-- people automatically say that having children around to take care of should automatically exempt you from playing a game like World of Warcraft.That's just plain wrong. Any game can be played responsibly by anyone of age, World of Warcraft included. Kay even says that she doesn't raid because she doesn't think she has the time (which is fine as well), but one of my guildies who just had yet another kid is actually our main healer. Good parenting and videogames aren't mutually exclusive-- in fact, in some situations, they're better together.
Mobiles blamed for cyberbullying, dubbed 'offensive weapons'
As if the UK didn't have enough gadget-related mischievousness going on, here's another liter of fuel for the perpetual fire. NASUWT -- that's the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers for those out of the loop -- is suggesting that mobile phones be classified as "potentially offensive weapons" and banned from school premises, all because a select few students found it necessary to use their handset to engage in "cyberbullying." Apparently, some students have used the camera function in their phones to snap pictures of their instructor, only to then post said images on "rating websites that can damage teachers' self esteem and careers." Sheesh, first iPods, now mobiles -- what are kids to do? Study?[Image courtesy of Textually]
Naomi Campbell hits the mop and bucket
Never before have we so rejoiced in our justice system than on this day of just desserts for the notorious abuser of cellphones -- and, incidentally, maids -- Naomi Campbell. Naomi showed up for her community service job at a sanitation garage today in NYC, where for five days she'll be mopping and sweeping while no doubt considering the grave crimes she has committed against hapless gadgetry. We only hope such punishment, along with the couple days of anger management classes, will be enough to reform this hardened criminal.
Mario is the downfall of our society
That plumber may have ushered in the revival and rebirth of the modern video game industry, but everything isn't all sugarfairies and butterscotch. A retrospective study on this phenom reveals some startling truths about our favorite crimson-adorned pipe-jockey: a history of drug addiction, racism, and dealings with the seediest portions of the underworld. Destructoid has put together an eye-opening list of the egregious offenses this plumber has leveled against you, the gaming populace, and it's your responsibility to educate yourselves forthright.
Griefing and self-governance in online games
The Guardian has produced an excellent column that addresses the problem of "griefers", people that abuse, team-kill and cheat other players of online games, particularly MMOs. Griefing has always been a problem where real players compete against their peers, although with massively multiplayer online games the problem has become much more serious. Earning a battleship in Eve Online or crafting a special item in World of Warcraft can take weeks if not months of game time. On top of that, the recent trend for people to sell items on auction sites like eBay has meant that rare online items have a monetary value.The article cites several high profile situations where griefers have bent moral codes with the Guiding Hand Social Club's ruination of Ubiqua Seraph in Eve Online and the funeral crash in WoW being the two main examples. Solutions that companies have come up with to limit these types of situations from happening are also looked at with the Xbox Live points system and strong community measures (like guilds and friend lists) being top on the list of letting players self-govern the problem. Effective community governance is essential if companies want to keep players inside the game and so that the owners don't have to resort to more drastic measures, like Blizzard does with its periodic account banning binges.Update: fixed a couple of minor grammatical errors.
