Does the competition or the violence in videogames cause aggression? That was the question the authors of a study in the latest issue of the journal Psychology of Violence looked at. It was the first study to ask that question, the authors wrote, and their answer was: "It appears that competition, not violence, may be the video game characteristic that has the greatest influence on aggressive … [Read more...] about New take on videogame-fueled aggression
gaming
Expanding social discovery, Tagged-style
Usually when you hear "social discovery," someone's talking about an alternative to search engines – finding what you want with the help of your friends. It's a feature of Facebook for example. But the social network site Tagged.com, which is all about social discovery, defines it in a different, very interesting way. Instead of being about existing friends (social networks) discovering new … [Read more...] about Expanding social discovery, Tagged-style
Supreme Court: Videogames, as other arts, are protected speech
The decision most probably settles the question of whether state laws can ban sales of violent videogames without violating the First Amendment. In a 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court has struck down a California law that "tried to make the sale or rental of mature-rated video games to underage consumers an illegal offense punishable by fine," Time reported. It was a landmark decision because, in a … [Read more...] about Supreme Court: Videogames, as other arts, are protected speech
New family gaming experience: Ohanarama
Anybody who grew up with or knows somebody who grew up with Disney's Lilo & Stitch film and cartoons knows "ohana" means "family" in Hawaiian, but also something more. The creators of Ohanarama are going for that spirit of multi-generational togetherness with their just-launched gaming service, which is now an app on Facebook and a site. Right now, the free, growing service offers single- and … [Read more...] about New family gaming experience: Ohanarama
E3 shows game consoles no longer king
The No. 1 takeaway I'm seeing from the US's No. 1 videogame convention – the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) that just ended in Los Angeles – is that consoles' grip on the videogame market is slipping. It's what anyone who plays electronic games or has kids who do probably senses: "After dominating the market for decades and making their way into 1 out of every 2 U.S. homes, consoles are … [Read more...] about E3 shows game consoles no longer king