Kotaku
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research
Sesame Street Says Video Games Are OK
We're not normally in need of celebrity endorsement of our entertainment medium of choice. But when it's Big Bird, Grover and Oscar the Grouch singing gaming's praises, we'll take it. More »
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86
Comment by excel_excel: Ok. Thats it, ages ago I went to see Elmo in Grouchland with my little brother. I LOVED THAT FILM. 12 Responses | Other threads
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feature
Kotaku Bureau of Weights & Measures Studies Fallout, Physics, Also Beer
About a year ago, you may recall, my brother and I attempted to derive the product of Pac-Man's metabolic functions. In that spirit, Kotaku has now created its own Bureau of Weights & Measures. More » -
survey says
Gaming Instead Of Sleeping Makes You Tired
A research study at the University of Arkansas has indicated that excessive gaming interferes with sleep. Thank goodness that mystery has finally been solved. More »
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By Mike FaheyComment by Mancomb Seepgood: BREAKING NEWS: EATING TOO MUCH CAKE MAKES YOU FAT AND BEING STABBED INCREASES RISK OF DEATH, SAY SCIENTISTS! 18 Responses | Other threads
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studies
The Problem with Video Game Studies
Video game studies are inherently flawed, according to a writer for a Canadian quarterly, because in most cases researchers are making subjective appraisals of games they don't even understand. More »
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By Owen GoodComment by Trey: It's high time the general public and scientific community gives video games their due. It's been established that this media... 18 Responses | Other threads
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activision
Activision Introduces Science Papa, No Relation
What company would have the gall to release a series of science experiment mini-games for the Nintendo DS and Wii and call it Science Papa? Oh yeah, that company. More »
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By Mike FaheyComment by Daiden: I love the stereotypical portrayal of household roles: Mama in the kitchen and Papa off working as a scientist. ... 71 Responses | Other threads
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study
Study Finds Games Reinforcing Positive Behavior, Too
Last year some researchers at three universities found, of course, that "violent games normalize our children to violence." The same researchers, this year, say "prosocial" games can normalize kids to good behavior. More »
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By Owen GoodComment by Auouywonz: Crash and Ty are violent and Mario Sunshine isn't? Don't you crush things as Mario? Wait, Mario isn't the slightest violent?... 6 Responses | Other threads
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science!
Some Guy: Games Will Deform Your Children's Fingers
Mike Tomich is a backyard scientist with a mission: to stop little kids from playing video games. Why? Beause he thinks that grabbing those big plastic controllers will deform their little fingers. More »
13,970
Comment by Bialia: I've got 27 years of controller usage, and my hands are beautiful! ;) 26 Responses | Other threads
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art
Now, the Periodic Table of Controllers
So there was the Periodic Table of Game Characters, and that spawned numerous imitators and spinoffs. Now we've graduated to the Periodic Table of Controllers: Console peripherals on top, handheld controls at the bottom. More »
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By Owen GoodComment by MDX: Sony's controller evolution is incredible. 27 Responses | Other threads
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science
Study Says Playing Shooters Improves Vision
How's your "contrast sensitivity"? What's that? Well it helps you see in the dark, and read, and it degrades in old age. But a study found it improves in gamers who play shooters. More »
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By Owen GoodComment by Kenny: False. 3 years ago I had no computer. My vision was perfect 20/20. After 3 years of playing FPS games nonstop,... 21 Responses | Other threads
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art
The Periodic Table of Video Game Characters
Not much explanation necessary here. It's a periodic table, only with video game characters instead of those boring chemical elements. More »
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Comment by Vixtro: They made a game of Rocko's Modern Life or is that just one of the "cop-out's" putting Heffer in there. 10 Responses | Other threads
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violent games
Study: Children Desire Mature-Rated Games
A study published in the U.S. Pediatrics journal this month finds that giving a video game a mature rating makes it "unspeakably desirable" to children. More »
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By Mike FaheyComment by CMcCon342: Gasp! Kids want what they are told they can't have? How much time and energy went into this? 12 Responses | Other threads
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health
PlayStation Gets Its Own Skin Disorder
Just when you think things are beginning to look up for Sony, the PlayStation goes and gets its very own skin disorder: PlayStation palmar hidradenitis. More »
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By Mike FaheyComment by EDGE: My question is WTF is a 12 year old girl doing playing that much to begin with! There really... 19 Responses | Other threads
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everquest
Scientists Analyzing Entire Server Logs from Everquest 2
Nearly 60 terabytes of info gathered from more than 400,000 Everquest 2 players has been made available to scientists studying a variety of topics, from social interactions to machine learning. More »
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By Owen GoodComment by LllusionX:Proud Commander of the Sony Attack Force Helghan!: 60 terabytes!? That's almost...*counts on fingers* that's almost over (insert number here). 19 Responses | Other threads
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research
The European Union Thinks Games Are Great For Kids
Well, this makes a pleasant change from the usual "games will KILL BABIES" argument. The European Union have got together and decided that video games are actually rather good for the kids. More »
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Comment by MOP88: Until the German Governement (hell, the entire country) can get over their guilt of WW2 and not act like giant... 16 Responses | Other threads
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research
Study Says Gaming Can Make You Totally Stressed Out
A Taiwanese study - backed by British researchers - has found that playing too many video games can (can) contribute to a a rise in stress levels and feelings of anxiety in "young people". More »
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Comment by Luke Plunkett: Can't help but agree with it, myself. I remember when I used to play X-Wing - and even now when... 11 Responses | Other threads
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science
People Try Harder When Gaming Against Humans
A recent study on brain patterns shows that people who think they are playing against real people try harder, then when they believe they are playing against computers. More »
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Comment by Obama takes time to read kotaku's comments...: no really!?!? It's the same reason you'll hear me screaming into my mic about how fucking lucky the guy who just... 12 Responses | Other threads
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science
Brain Age Does Not Work Say French Researchers
Just as researchers in Scotland say Brain Age works, researchers in France say it doesn't. According to data from University of Rennes, Brittany, Brain Age failed to show any significant jump in memory. More »
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Comment by Yoshi1001230: I'm not a doctor, but I have to disagree that this doesn't help memory. I have a medical issue that... 19 Responses | Other threads
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science
The Physics Of The Mushroom Kingdom Are Worthy Of Research
Glenn Elert is a physics teacher from Brooklyn. He and his students did a little research recently, and published a serious paper reporting their findings. How serious? Mushroom Kingdom serious. More »
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Comment by AfroThunderNG: That is pretty amazing. It kind of makes me wonder at how deep the design of a Mario game... 15 Responses | Other threads
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science
American Consoles Use Enough Power In A Year To Run San Diego
This year, the National Resources Defense Council took a look at how much power is consumed running America's gaming consoles. Their findings? That America's gaming consoles suck up a whole lotta juice. More »
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Comment by Doctor1337: Makes me wonder how much power is wasted by just leaving on PCs. I turn mine off every night... 10 Responses | Other threads
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Women and Men
Male Gamers Driven By Need To Conquer
Through the magic of brain-scanning, scientists at Stanford University have determined that men are more attracted to video games due to our inherit need to triumph over everything and everyone. More »
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By Mike FaheyComment by Patrick Henry: Bisexual women have the conquering gene too? What if I'm a gay male and love to play video games? HUH?!! 11 Responses | Other threads
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fogeys
Study Suggests Playing Video Games is "a Great Idea" for Seniors
No sooner than two 70-year-old FPS enthusiasts pop up do we also find, in the journal Psychology and Aging, a study suggesting that older folks might benefit from playing strategy-intensive video games. More » -
rise of nations
Strategy Games Strengthen Seniors' Mental Facilities
Researchers at the University of Illinois have found that playing real-time strategy games can help men and women in their 60s and 70s improve their mental skills. More »
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By Mike FaheyComment by BulletzBill: RoN is such a great RTS, so addictive. 5 Responses | Other threads
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wii
Rice Using WiiMote To Research Motor Skills Learning
Researchers at Rice University make heavy use of high-end motion capture systems (glued on ping-pong balls and all) when studying how humans acquire and improve motor skills, but perhaps a WiiMote will work. More »
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Comment by Mr.Awesomerific: I wonder when it will stop being cool to hate the Wii :/ 5 Responses | Other threads
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wii
New Accelerometer Tech For The Wii Remote? Perhaps!
According to this Tech On! report, Nintendo are in the process of evaluating their Wii Remote accelerometer technology. Seeing if other companies can supply better gear than their current suppliers can. More »
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Comment by aeonpulse: erhh... so does that mean we'll all be receiving free updated wii-motes in the mail from nintendo like we did... 13 Responses | Other threads
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half-life
Large Hadron Collider Guys Get Theatrical With Half-Life Street Theatre
Back when we thought the Large Hadron Collider was going to kill us all, instead of just hum for a few days then break down, we learned that an emergency package had been sent to the site. Within, everything that Gordon Freeman needed to save us from the horrors of an alien-spewing vortex. At the time, it was a cute joke, but there was always the lingering understanding that nobody at the LHC would actually get it. The package, or the joke. Turns out they did! Sandro Bonacini, who works there, got the joke, and eventually the package as well. He's Gordon. Stefano Michelis also got the joke, and for his troubles, is about to get whacked. Oh, those wacky scientists. More »
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Comment by Vishus: So very awesome. I really didn't think they would get/appreciate the joke. Hurrah for science! 14 Responses | Other threads
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research
Bin Your PS3, Save Yourself $15
The Natural Resources Defense Council Have...hey, look, wait. This is interesting. Because it's about your money. Anyway, like I was saying, the Natural Resources Defense Council have released a report detailing how much money it costs the average American to run a gaming console. And, by extension, how much money you could save by taking those consoles and throwing them in the closet/garbage. Were you to decomission a 360, for example, you'd save yourself $11 a year. $11! Binning a PS3 would save you $15, while packing the Wii away - provided you haven't already done so - will save you...$3 a year. Best keep it around then, in case Gran comes over and wants a swing at that "computer bowling". More »
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Comment by MOP88: Is it even possible to to turn on the 360?! /RRoD joke. Who would want to leave the PS3 on? There's nothing... 14 Responses | Other threads
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game boy
Game Boy Calculator Earns A Perfect 10 From The Nerd Judges
You know how it goes. You're waist-deep in physics exams, calculations and numbers out the wahzoo, and all you really want to do is play Tetris. Whipping out a Game Boy in the lab, that's poor form, but whipping out a calculator? That's cool. Cooler when your calculator isn't a calculator at all, but this cleverly-disguised...yes, Game Boy. More »
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Comment by BlueBadger: My god...it must be destroyed. It is a tool of immense power, and it cannot be held by any mortal college... 6 Responses | Other threads
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science
Yet Another Violent Video Game Study Releases Findings
Fresh from the "Study finds violent video games do X to kids" pile, we now find — shock — playing them results in "a greater variation in Heart Rate Variability." This isn't straight out one's pulse quickening. HRV is "the oscillation in the interval between consecutive heartbeats" — more or less, a measure of minute changes in heart rate. More »
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By Owen GoodComment by havoks: People who rag on research topics need to learn the fundamental principle of research in general: To acquire, further, and... 6 Responses | Other threads
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hot flashes
Sunday Timewaster: the irRegular Game of Life
The irRegular Game of Life is a weird but fun little game (by irRegular Games) based on mathematician John Horton Conway's 'Game of Life' theory. In this iteration, you are given puzzles to solve and must set the little cells into motion to meet the goals of each level. It's surprisingly hypnotic at times — after getting past the initial introductory levels, you watch the cells shuffle back and forth, creating a variety of patterns and interacting with each other. There's also a sandbox mode and some other features; the regular puzzle mode was plenty fun for me. More »
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Comment by MoeB: I made something similar to this in my 10th grade CS course. I believe I was used Turing to code... 3 Responses | Other threads
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world of warcraft
US Army To Test Artificial Intelligence In MMOs
The US Army are working on fake soldiers. That are, to dumb the science down a pinch, holographic projections imbued with artificial intelligence. These fake troops can then be used for stuff like training exercises. Anyway, to test the AI for these holo-soldiers, the Army wants to set them up in games like World of Warcraft and Eve Online. They figure that if the AI - which can be designed to speak in local slang and make human conversation - can pass for human in the online realm, they'll be on the right track. Hopefully the AI doesn't act too human, and end up quitting the army, moving in with its parents and blowing 19 hours a day grinding away on WoW. More »
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Comment by Asbestos_Underwear: pass for human online? No problem, just insult anybody you meet. Friendly person = white wash corporate policy NPC. Unfriendly... 3 Responses | Other threads
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wii
UK Scientists Testing The Wii's Exercise Potential
Is Playing on the Wii actually any good for you? Kotaku was all over this from the start - check out our groundbreaking study - but apparently the Lancet don't take papers from gaming blogs. Their loss. More »
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Comment by Shteve: Hasn't that been done several times since the Wii launch ? Wasn't the overall conclusion that it won't really make... 4 Responses | Other threads
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video game violence
Study - Violent Video Games Makes Kids More Aggressive
It's been a while since we've had a really good "video games make our children violent" study, and I was beginning to fear we've given up on the idea, but then the story "Violent video games linked to child aggression" showed up on CNN.com this morning and my fears were completely assuaged. The story is about a study conducted by Dr. Craig A. Anderson, Ph.D., of Iowa State University, who studied three groups of children in both the United States and Japan to gage their violence levels three to six months after playing violent video games, versus children who did not play violent video games. The results may not surprise you at all. More »
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By Mike FaheyComment by brokenscope: REPEAT AFTER ME! Control Group, where the fuck is it? Aggression=/=Harmful Define Aggression properly motherfucker. Rigor Mother fuckers can you use it? Learn to... 10 Responses | Other threads
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spore
Science Says ... Spore Flunks
An article in Science magazine discussing why Spore flunks various kinds of science after close scrutiny by a variety of scientists reminds me of history buffs that get hysterical when a movie is historically inaccurate. While a couple of them had a few nice things to say, Spore in general got poor marks in organismic and evolutionary biology, squeaked by with barely sufficient grades in cultural anthropology, physics, and astrobiology, and was reasonably highly rated in sociology and galaxy structuring. But they're not just trying to grouse, really: More »
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Comment by XForce: "When you stick a limb on your creature, wouldn't it be nice to have an optional pop-up window that explains... 7 Responses | Other threads
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premature ejaculation
Gamers On A Hair Trigger, Claim Evil Wrong-headed Scientists
Any girl gamers reading this - move along please, nothing to see here. More » -
geezers at the wheel
Old People: Play Video Games, Maybe Get a Break on Car Insurance
Is President Palmer still doing the Allstate insurance ads? Why didn't he tell us about this? It seems the U.S. auto policy underwriter wants to test whether video games can help make 50-year-olds (and up) into better drivers. More »
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By Owen GoodComment by QualityJeverage: Good, so I'm not the only one who sees him as President Palmer. 5 Responses | Other threads
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nintendo
Brain Age Works, Says Science
Researchers in Scotland have tested the effects of Brain Age on schoolchildren. The results? Good! The organization Learning and Teaching Scotland tested daily usage of Brain Age — known there as Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training — on some 600 students at 32 schools throughout the country, tasking them with 20 minutes of (non-)gameplay prior to standard lessons. More »
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Comment by Kilian: Brain Age works, says science - Dr. Kawashima seems pleased. 2 Responses | Other threads
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study
Women Choose Video Games Over Sleep
While I knew that 99.99% of women would rather play video games than sleep with me, the results of a poll conducted by women's website PoshMama.com for E for All discovered that many of them would rather play games than sleep period. The website polled 120 women, and then dug some interesting statistics out of the 71% of women who tested gaming-positive. For instance, many of the women admitted to playing video games when they should be doing more important things, such as sleeping (more than 33%), on the phone (32%), or while at work (20%). A whopping 53% admitted that gaming had made them late for family and social gatherings. More »
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By Mike FaheyComment by def PD: Not surprised, I would pick gaming or sleeping too. Sex or gaming though.... =P 8 Responses | Other threads
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wiisearch
More Wiisearch: Helping Stroke Patients
It seems like we these "health researchers using Wii in study" stories about once a month but, anyway, Oxford University, last I heard, was a pretty good school. And they're looking at the Wii as a means to help stroke patients relearn simple tasks. More »
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By Owen GoodComment by RWHC: What I'd also really like to see is the Balance Board used in measurement and assessment of balance and coordination.... 1 Responses | Other threads
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the getaway
Finally, The Getaway Is Of Use To Somebody
Man, as a package, The Getaway sucked. But the driving parts, and the attention to detail in recreating London, those bits were pretty great, so it's good to see they're at last being put to good use by somebody. A modified version of the game's driving aspect has been used by British scientists to study how London cabbies are able to find their way around the city's winding streets. Their findings are all a bit scientific for our stimulus-soaked brains, but hey, we're sure the surviving Team SOHO members are thrilled to bits regardless. More »
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Comment by ryivanV2: Hey, the getaway was fucking great. No hud, cool story and some cool sequences, it was like playing a game... 1 Responses | Other threads
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science
Are Games Teaching Kids The Scientific Method?
The 'Games are making kids stupid' meme is as fresh as ever, but new research from the university of Wisconsin suggests that video games might, in fact, be creating a generation of scientific thinkers - and not just through Dr Kawashima's Brain Training. More »
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Comment by excel_excel: Hitting your head on a brick DOES NOT MAKE IT SMASH TO PIECES OR SPROUT A VINE YOU CAN CLIMB... 3 Responses | Other threads
science
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Thu Jul 9
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