<![CDATA[Kotaku: playing doctor]]> http://tags.kotaku.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/kotaku.com.png <![CDATA[Kotaku: playing doctor]]> http://kotaku.com/tag/playingdoctor http://kotaku.com/tag/playingdoctor <![CDATA[Ubisoft Makes Grey's Anatomy Game Official]]> Though most likely perturbed by having their fun ruined by the ESRB last month, Ubisoft has gone ahead and made Grey's Anatomy for the Nintendo Wii, DS, and PC official.

The Grey's Anatomy games sounds like a cross between Trauma Surgeon and a an adventure game, with players taking on the roles of their favorite characters as they live, love, and do whatever it is they do on the show. Ubisoft VP of worldwide licensing Christian Salomon seems to know.

"In Grey’s Anatomy: The Video Game, fans will have a chance to take on the roles of all of their favorite doctors in an all-new original storyline. As each doctor, players will make important personal and professional decisions, explore the direct relationships with each other, and perform the delicate surgeries the series is known for, all through fun and engaging game play."

I'd make a snarky comment here, but my mother has actually really enjoyed Ubisoft's CSI games, and will probably enjoy the hell out of this one to, the nutter.

UBISOFT® SURGICALLY ENHANCES VIDEO GAME PORTFOLIO, ADDING HIT TV SERIES "GREY'S ANATOMY"

LONDON, UK – January 7, 2009 – Today Ubisoft announced that it has signed a licensing agreement with ABC Studios to develop a video game based on the acclaimed television drama series "Grey’s Anatomy." Designed for the Wii™, the Nintendo DS™ and PC Grey’s Anatomy: The Video Game is scheduled for release early 2009.

"Ubisoft is thrilled to be collaborating with ABC Studios to turn this phenomenal television series into an interactive experience," said Christian Salomon, vice president of worldwide licensing at Ubisoft. "In Grey’s Anatomy: The Video Game, fans will have a chance to take on the roles of all of their favorite doctors in an all-new original storyline. As each doctor, players will make important personal and professional decisions, explore the direct relationships with each other, and perform the delicate surgeries the series is known for, all through fun and engaging game play."

About Grey’s Anatomy
The doctors of Seattle Grace Hospital deal with life-or-death consequences on a daily basis – it’s in one another that they find comfort, friendship and, at times, more than friendship. Together they’re discovering that neither medicine nor relationships can be defined in black and white. Real life only comes in shades of grey.

The hit series "Grey’s Anatomy" stars Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd, Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang, Katherine Heigl as Isabel "Izzie" Stevens, Justin Chambers as Alex Karev, T.R. Knight as George O’Malley, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens, Jr. as Richard Webber, Sara Ramirez as Callie Torres, Eric Dane as Mark Sloan, Chyler Leigh as Lexie Grey and Brooke Smith as Erica Hahn.

"Grey’s Anatomy" was created and is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes ("Introducing Dorothy Dandridge"). Betsy Beers ("Casanova"), Mark Gordon ("Saving Private Ryan"), Krista Vernoff ("Law & Order"), Rob Corn ("Chicago Hope"), Mark Wilding ("Jake: 2.0") and Allan Heinberg ("The O.C.") are executive producers. "Grey’s Anatomy" is an ABC Studios production.

]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5125483&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[AMA To Recognize Game Addiction?]]>

Do you spend all of your free time playing or reading about computer and video games? Ask your doctor about...
It's not as far-fetched as it sounds, especially now that the American Medical Association is looking to get video game addiction recognized as a formal diagnostic disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - think of it as a strategy guide for mental disorders. A report entitled Emotional and Behavioral Effects, Including Addictive Potential, of Video Games (click for HTML version) presented by Dr, Mohamed K. Kahn explores the possible dangers of excessive video game play (over 2 hours a day...uh oh) and makes several recommendations as to how the AMA should handle said problems. In addition to suggesting a formal classification, the paper also calls for the improvement of the ESRB ratings system, an official recommendation that children be limited to 1-2 hours of 'screen time' overall, including television and gaming, and that the CDC and other organizations fund research to further explore the detrimental effects of video games in children.

My personal gaming bias aside, I can think of about 20 million other things I would rather have the CDC doing rather than watching children with diodes on their heads play Frogger - not that that wouldn't be immensely entertaining. Saving us from another black plague, for instance.

If gaming addiction were to become a recognized mental disorder, what doors would that open? Gaming addiction as a legal defense? Rehab clinics? Anti-gamer bias for insurance coverage? I should stop speculating before I freak myself out. Michael Fahey

American Doctors Want Videogame 'Addiction' Recognised [Spong.com]

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