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 Monday, December 01 2008 @ 01:55 PM CST

Compulsive gaming 'not addiction'

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General News

Head of Europe's only addiction clinic for excessive gamers says that 90 percent of those treated have a social problem and not a psychological one.

Compulsively playing World of Warcraft may be a cause more shame than an obsession with pornography, but it's a social problem rather than a psychological one, according to the founder and head of Europe's only centre for treating gaming-related problems.

Keith Bakker, talking to the BBC, said, "These kids come in showing some kind of symptoms that are similar to other addictions and chemical dependencies... But the more we work with [them] the less I believe we can call this addiction. What many of these kids need is their parents and their school teachers--this is a social problem."

The Smith & Jones centre in Amsterdam opened in 2006 and has been treating compulsive gamers ever since. The centre's website likens gaming addiction to gambling addiction, saying that "true compulsive gamers will never regain control of their behaviour" without treatment, and in some cases withdrawal from gaming triggers the same symptoms as drug and alcohol withdrawal.

Having now been treating people for over two years, Bakker has come to the realisation that the problem is more one to do with upbringing and environment. "Eighty per cent of the young people we see have been bullied at school and feel isolated. Many of the symptoms they have can be solved by going back to good old fashioned communication," he told the BBC.

"If I continue to call gaming an addiction it takes away the element of choice these people have," he concluded. "It's a complete shift in my thinking and also a shift in the thinking of my clinic and the way it treats these people."

 

Fight Erupts At Game Center In China, 5 Dead

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Video Games

Fight Erupts At Game Center In China, 5 Dead

Posted by Joseph Baxter - Monday, November 24, 2008 12:57 PM

Tragedy has occurred late on Sunday in southwest China, as a huge fight broke out among patrons of a local gaming center, resulting in the death of 5 people. The incident was said to involve people around the age of 20 years old.

The incident began with an argument between the young patrons and the manager of the Milky Way Express gaming center* in the Nanping district of Chongqing late on Sunday. The argument escalated, and the fight broke out among the group (over a yet unknown cause,) which has resulted in the deaths of 5, yet-to-be identified young patrons.

Most of the details still remain clouded and it is uncertain if we may ever get the full scoop. Regardless of the cause, we can only do a few things: Hope the best for the families, and that Jack Thompson or other crusaders will not use this as an opportunity to exploit these deaths as an example of "the violent transformation of our youth brought about by video games." 

*Above is a stock photo of an Internet Cafe.

Source

 

'Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II' Gameplay Video

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Video Games

THQ and Relic release a new gameplay video demonstrating the carnage in their latest RTS offering, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II. Space marines, chainsaws, and Orks all in one game?

Keep on keepin' on with yo bad selves Relic.  The game drops for the PC early next year.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II Gameplay Video

 

Upcoming "Robotech" film gets writers

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Movies-Anime-TV

It seems that Warner has tapped the talents of Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (Spiderman 2, Smallville) to pen the script for the upcoming feature film adaptation of Robotech.

Once a mainstay of the 80's era of the transforming cartoon robots, Robotech also holds a distinction of being a cult favorite in terms of its harder-edged anime status. The show was dubbed in English for US audiences and aired on TV, as they made just enough episodes to reach syndication.

The film was up until recently, in a developmental stage with a set release for 2010. Whether that has changed, is uncertain at this point. While a script by the legendary Lawrence Kasdan (The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Return of the Jedi) was on the table, Warner decided to move the project along with the duo of Gough and Millar, who had the "geek cred."

Among others, it is believed that the duo's old Spiderman pal, Tobey Maguire will be producing the film.

This is definitely a series that could lend itself well to a film adaptation. However, what will we get? Star Wars or Michael Bay's Transformers "in the stars"?

Source

 

'Thor' Animated Series In The Works

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Movies-Anime-TV

'Thor' Animated Series In The Works

Posted by Joseph Baxter - Friday, November 14, 2008 12:49 PM

It seems that Marvel's Thor will be getting his own animated series. The Norse God's new series will hit in 2010, the same year that the Kenneth Branagh-directed feature film version will hit theaters. However, he will not be alone in holding the series/movie distinction.

Eric Rollman, Marvel president of animation has said that this series is in keeping with the plan to follow each live-action Marvel film with an animated series. The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes is already in production, set for 2011 to support The First Avenger: Captain America and the franchise-bearing follow-up film, The Avengers.

So people, all I can say is PREPARE YOURSELVES. In 2010, the hype begins. By 2011, you will be drowning in Marvel/Avengers-related material. The marketing machine of Marvel is set to blitz mass media in a way that I suspect will be unprecedented. Video game sections and toy shelves will certainly not be safe either.

You know what, though? If the films are good...then I'll take it.

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"Age of Conan" gets free update

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Video Games

'Age of Conan' Gets Massive Free Update

Posted by Ty Colfax - Friday, November 14, 2008 1:12 PM

Funcom has gone that extra mile once again and made a huge update to the Age of Conan universe of their blockbuster MMO. The update is taken up mostly by a new outdoor region called Ymir's Pass, that comes with its own new quests, characters, and monsters.

The update also has a new dungeon called the Amphitheatre which supposedly houses one of the best monster battles ever created for the game. And according to Funcom's Conan game director, Craig Morrison, there is lots of new content coming down the tubes soon enough. "At this stage adding more content and keeping people entertained is very important to us," said Morrison.

Yes! That's what we're looking for in our developer's; someone who cares about more than just the dollars their games make. The update is free for subscribers and will download automatically the next time the game is loaded.

Source

 

Pic of the new enterprise released

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Movies-Anime-TV

Entertainment Weekly has released an exclusive new pic of the new starship Enterprise from the upcoming Star Trek reboot. Says director/producer J.J. Abrams:

If you're going to do Star Trek, there are many things you cannot change. The Enterprise is a visual touchstone for so many people. So if you're going to do the Enterprise, it better look like the Enterprise, because otherwise, what are you doing?

Always interested in hard-hitting analysis here at G4, I've made this comparison photo that will allow us to fully appreciate (or poo-poo) what has been done. Personally, I think the change looks tremendous in its ability to update towards current aesthetic sensibilities, while maintaining the integrity of the original's basic design. It's futuristic, yet at the same time, still "rough."

Source

 

Ridley Scott to direct film version of Monopoly.

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Movies-Anime-TVhas been announced that Ridley Scott will be assuming the director's chair for an upcoming film version of the famous board game Monopoly. Scott apparently plans to give the film a futuristic-type feel similar to his 1982 masterpiece Blade Runner.

If this sounds surreal, it is also worth noting that Universal has already lined up a number of similar projects for a long-term development deal. Ouija Board, Battleship, and Trivial Pursuit are all set to be developed similarly into feature films. (This in NOT a joke.)

So Hollywood, in the spirit of the new trend, here are my suggestions for new projects:

Hungry Hungry Hippos - In Africa, scientists lose control of genetically altered Hippopotamuses as they run rampant with an insatiable hunger, destroying everything. Inexplicably, they end up in a huge showdown in New York where effects display tons of buildings and cars getting destroyed. Then there's one "good" Hippo that comes out who's "Earth's last hope," and a generic, young, good-looking hero must make a choice amid gratuitous CGI carnage. Michael Bay to direct.

Operation - A struggling Med School student is inexplicably kidnapped and taken by Malaysian Pirates where he is forced into a deadly underground tournament circuit where the goal of the game is to remove a randomly inserted foreign object from kidnapped American tourists. While the winner becomes Emperor of Asia, the loser gets violated with a pole wrapped in barb-wire.

Connect Four - In the year 2579, Colonel Rogers Picard-Buck must lead his fighter squadron in a hopeless attack on the seemingly invincible factories of evil aliens from the planet "Sneaky, Sis." However, a new weapon has been developed to break their defenses in the form of an innovative new explosive technology that fits perfectly into the cells of their lairs. The catch? In order for them to activate, FOUR of them must be dropped in a row, vertically, horizontally, or diagonally!

Source

 

Topps announces WizKids shutdown

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Miniature GamesThe Topps Company announced today that WizKids will immediately cease operations and discontinue its product lines. Scott Silverstein, CEO of Topps, said “This was an extremely difficult decision. While the company will still actively pursue gaming initiatives, we feel it is necessary to align our efforts more closely with Topps current sports and entertainment offerings which are being developed within our New York office."

Upon notifying our partners, Topps will immediately pursue strategic alternatives so that viable brands and properties, including HeroClix, can continue without noticeable disruption. To that end, WizKids will continue supporting Buy it By the Brick redemptions for Arkham Asylum, and the December Organized Play events for HeroClix.

For consumer announcements, please refer to http://www.wizkidsgames.com over the coming days for further information."

The original announcement appears at http://www.wizkidsgames.com/wk_article.asp?cid=41914
 

Aberrant announces Warlands

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Role Playing GamesWe are pleased to announce Aberrant, a new company formed by the creative partners and driving forces behind Aberrant Games. Aberrant promises to deliver new, wildly original universes and games starting with our debut release of WARLANDS in February 2009 - a full throttle miniatures combat game of vehicular mayhem on a post-apocalyptic earth!

The WARLANDS Battle Box, available in February 2009, will be expanded with additional releases throughout the year. WARLANDS enables players to build forces of raiders and survivors, customizing vehicles to suit their insane needs as they battle across the irradiated badlands of a decimated USA.

As part of the new company, Aberrant has taken over the REZOLUTION product line as well as the Aberrant Games website. We are fully committed to growing and supporting REZOLUTION and the thriving community of gamers who have been playing and enjoying the dystopian cyberpunk world since 2005. The coming year will see new releases for APAC and Dravani, as well as the long- awaited character figure of the bio-morphic alien war machine, Charlie!

A number of other lines are also in development including an original role-playing game (2010), a stand-alone storytelling miniatures game (Fall 2009), and a number of releases for Aberrant’s unique twist on a fantasy universe.

More details and release schedules will be revealed throughout 2009, and we look forward to meeting players and stores at shows and events throughout the year starting at GTS.

For more information, please visit our website at http://www.Aberrantgames.com.
 

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