What can I say? Is this Sony’s attempt to merge HDTV and the AIBO and hope that it catches on like Nintendogs? We’ll see, but the interactive nature is interesting. The real question is whether or not they have incorporated the AI from the AIBO in the software. If it could develop and learn, this concept could have some merit. Nothing like giving your kids a chance to have a pet that can’t make a mess to see if they will get bored or not.
But no matter how cute or intelligently programmed such a virtual pet is, it can’t curl up on your lap on a cold winter’s night. Though I love my LCD TV, it’s not the same. And though pets aren’t inexpensive, the cost of a PS3, HD display, an EYE camera, and this software can go pretty far to adopting and taking care of a little critter from your local animal shelter.
Still, if you aren’t sure that your kids are quite ready for the responsibility of a pet and you already have the hardware, this might be an opportunity to test the waters. (My daughter really thinks that the reason cats have tails if for her to be able to grab them. I hope that she doesn’t have to learn that lesson the hard way.) Also, if you’re child has pet alergies, (my son appears to be allergic to dog and cat dander), This could give everybody a little pet fix without the Benadryl.
Yet again, this could just be a “gateway pet.” You be the judge!
For those of you with a PlayStation 3, I have a wonderful recommendation. The PlayStation Network has a downloadable game entitled flOw and it is really quite pleasant. (For more information and to view some in-game footage, visit Sony’s site.) For those of you with a PSP, I have a similar recommendation. flOw for the PSP was released last week and it is every bit as beautiful as its PS3 cousin. However, there are some differences worth noting. Let’s begin with the PS3 version…
My son and I played flOw on the PS3 about a month ago and he really seemed to enjoy it. We can both play simultaneously so I can help him in some of the more overwhelming situations without him having to surrender his controller. The game takes advantage of the PS3’s six-axis controller to move your onscreen character. All you need to do is tilt the controller to determine the direction that you want to move. If you want to dart in a given direction, just press any button on the controller. That’s all there is to it!
The simplicity of the interface is really what made this accessible to my son. Combine that with the stunning visuals which he seems to think look like “skeleton-fish-bug-things” (a big plus for him on all accounts) and it’s hard not to have fun. But what is flOw?
It’s hard to describe but as an avid gamer I have found it a rather relaxing experience. There are occasional conflicts, but essentially you are an organism that is seemingly swimming around eating other organisms. As you eat more, you grow. Your shape evolves as you play through the game. After you go through all the levels, you return to the beginning and have the opportunity to grow a different organism through the same trials. Though similar, the experience offers enough variety in the gameplay that it is no chore to experience this growth process repeatedly. The visuals, the sound, and the simplicity of the interface makes it a very pleasant experience and one that I can highly recommend for a younger (or older) audience.
As for the recently released PSP version, there are two major differences that I have noted so far. First, since the PSP does not incorporate six-axis control, the player moves his/her creature around using the analog nub. This is fairly intuitive for the average PSP owner, but it does not convey the subtle nuances afforded to those who play the game on the PS3. Most moves on the PSP are more abrupt and less flowing. (Yes, I chose that word intentionally.) The second issue that I observed on the PSP version was that when you proceed from level to level, there seems to be a slight pause or stutter in between levels. This too detracts from the flowing experience.
All in all, each version of the game is under $10 and well worth it. I look forward to more games that seem so simple, yet convey such a deep sensory experience. I recall that someone on the PlayStation forums commented shortly after the original PS3 version of the game was released that it was the most cost effective therapy session money could buy.
For those interested in viewing the original Flash version of the game, you can check it out here.
If you see the above graphic someplace, chances are that the individual who placed it there isn’t trying to bring back roman numerals. This is just one of the ways that Rockstar Games is promoting Grand Theft Auto 4. As of today, they announced the official release date for this anticipated title. It is due to hit the streets April 29th, 2008. If you’re interested, you can read their actual press release.
Before we go into a little history, let’s establish that the Grand Theft Auto series has been steeped in controversy since the original was released in 1997. In fact, I would venture to say that GTA is considered by many to be the most notorious gaming franchise on the planet. Many parent organizations point to this series when they want to criticize videogames. We expect that another wave of uproar will coincide with the imminent release of GTA4 - the first incarnation of the series on this generation of consoles (PS3 and Xbox 360).
We are not here to tell you what is good or bad. We’re here to help you make informed decisions for yourselves. The fact is that we have played these games over the years and we consider the Grand Theft Auto games to be some of the most impressive titles in the industry…for adults. These are very much mature games and are rated accordingly by the ESRB. These games are NOT intended for children. You should think carefully about the subject matter of these titles if you are considering bringing them into your household. They are violent. They include strong language. They involve drugs. They are filled with sexual subject matter. Yet the content is no stronger than most R-rated movies. Having said that, my children won’t be watching such movies or playing these games for many years.
We mentioned some of our top game suggestions for this year in our last VodCast. We promised that we would follow-up with a longer list for each system to cover a wider range of games. This is the collection of those lists. Not all of these games are brand new, but almost all were released within the year. Please note the ESRB ratings for these games when you’re deciding what would be best for your family and feel free to comment below or chime in on the forums if you have questions about these titles. We’ll gladly get into more detail. (Chris can testify that I would easily talk anyone’s ear off about practically any of them. You should see how much editing he has to do on our videos. Once I get going…um…there I go again.)
Before I get sidetracked again, we present our lists. They are in ESRB rating order (lowest to highest) per system and alphabetical within the rating group. Enjoy!
Nintendo of America set a new record last week according to this article at gameindustry.biz. During the Thanksgiving week (including Black Friday) over 653,000 Nintendo DS systems were sold and 350,000 Wiis flew off the shelves as well. This is over one million game systems by one company in a single week! In this related article on their site, gameindustry.biz noted that more than 310,000 Xbox 360s and roughly 150,000 PlayStation 3s were sold during this same time period.
What makes this information valuable to us as parents is that getting a new game system for the family this holiday season is now difficult and it’s only going to get worse. This is usually the case during a launch year, but the 360 launched two years ago, the DS lite came out in June of 2006, and the Wii and PS3 came out for last year’s holiday season. The release of the Xbox 360 Elite and the new price slashes on the PS3 have kept interest high on these systems. However, Nintendo has really regained their dominant position in the gaming world with the DS and the Wii.
Since the introduction of the original GameBoy, Nintendo has always had the most successful handheld platform on the planet. The introduction of the GameBoy Color and GameBoy Advance continued that trend. But the DS has tapped into a market similar to the Wii where people are interested in alternative ways of interfacing with the technology. Further proof of their success with this approach is confirmed by the fact that retailers have found it difficult to keep the Wii in stock ever since its launch.
I’m personally delighted to see such interest in these systems, but I can only hope that parents are approaching these purchases reflectively and plan to use these as gifts for the family that can inspire opportunities to bond and relate on yet another level.
Keep an eye here for our upcoming vodcast and our follow-up articles offering our gaming recommendations for this year!
