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Kotaku
  • 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 »
    07/03/09
    11,635
    86

    By Luke Plunkett

    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

  • 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 »
    Feature
    06/24/09
    80,521
    153

    By Owen Good
  • 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 »
    06/11/09
    22,851
    144

    By Mike Fahey

    Comment 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

  • 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 »
    06/07/09
    21,993
    114

    By Owen Good

    Comment 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

  • 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 »
    05/14/09
    13,411
    179

    By Mike Fahey

    Comment 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

  • 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 »
    04/05/09
    5,054
    59

    By Owen Good

    Comment 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

  • 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 »
    03/30/09
    13,970
    170

    By Luke Plunkett

    Comment by Bialia: I've got 27 years of controller usage, and my hands are beautiful! ;) 26 Responses | Other threads

  • 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 »
    03/29/09
    40,950
    142

    By Owen Good

    Comment by MDX: Sony's controller evolution is incredible. 27 Responses | Other threads

  • 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 »
    03/29/09
    59,531
    127

    By Owen Good

    Comment 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

  • 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 »
    03/11/09
    43,518
    121

    By Luke Plunkett

    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

  • 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 »
    03/02/09
    8,212
    110

    By Mike Fahey

    Comment 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

  • 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 »
    02/24/09
    22,677
    118

    By Mike Fahey

    Comment 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

  • 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 »
    02/21/09
    11,977
    65

    By Owen Good

    Comment 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

  • 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 »
    02/12/09
    3,926
    60

    By Luke Plunkett

    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

  • 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 »
    02/11/09
    7,339
    128

    By Luke Plunkett

    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

  • 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 »
    02/06/09
    8,294
    79

    By Brian Crecente

    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

  • 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 »
    01/26/09
    6,710
    80

    By Brian Ashcraft

    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

  • 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 »
    01/16/09
    28,202
    129

    By Luke Plunkett

    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

  • 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 »
    12/31/08
    6,391
    110

    By Luke Plunkett

    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

  • 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 »
    12/26/08
    6,179
    95

    By Mike Fahey

    Comment 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

  • 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 »
    12/20/08
    8,341
    105

    By Owen Good

    Comment by Toasticus: That is one handsome dude. 26 Responses | Other threads

  • 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 »
    12/11/08
    3,024
    40

    By Mike Fahey

    Comment by BulletzBill: RoN is such a great RTS, so addictive. 5 Responses | Other threads

  • 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 »
    12/09/08
    999
    22

    By Stuart Houghton

    Comment by Mr.Awesomerific: I wonder when it will stop being cool to hate the Wii :/ 5 Responses | Other threads

  • 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 »
    12/04/08
    5,305
    68

    By Luke Plunkett

    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

  • 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 »
    11/21/08
    29,271
    95

    By Luke Plunkett

    Comment by Vishus: So very awesome. I really didn't think they would get/appreciate the joke. Hurrah for science! 14 Responses | Other threads

  • 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 »
    11/20/08
    8,464
    105

    By Luke Plunkett

    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

  • 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 »
    11/19/08
    10,266
    51

    By Luke Plunkett

    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

  • 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 »
    11/16/08
    3,754
    78

    By Owen Good

    Comment 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

  • 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 »
    11/09/08
    7,626
    23

    By Maggie Greene

    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

  • 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 »
    11/06/08
    4,787
    47

    By Luke Plunkett

    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

  • 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 »
    11/05/08
    1,212
    14

    By Stuart Houghton

    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

  • 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 »
    11/03/08
    10,815
    169

    By Mike Fahey

    Comment 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

  • 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 »
    10/25/08
    9,119
    104

    By Maggie Greene

    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

  • 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 »
    10/08/08
    21,617
    122

    By Stuart Houghton

    Comment by Miksho: Alternate post title: BOOM, Headshot. 10 Responses | Other threads

  • 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 »
    10/04/08
    3,793
    36

    By Owen Good

    Comment by QualityJeverage: Good, so I'm not the only one who sees him as President Palmer. 5 Responses | Other threads

  • 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 »
    09/25/08
    2,582
    26

    By Michael McWhertor

    Comment by Kilian: Brain Age works, says science - Dr. Kawashima seems pleased. 2 Responses | Other threads

  • 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 »
    09/23/08
    38,022
    156

    By Mike Fahey

    Comment by def PD: Not surprised, I would pick gaming or sleeping too. Sex or gaming though.... =P 8 Responses | Other threads

  • 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 »
    09/21/08
    1,312
    14

    By Owen Good

    Comment 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

  • 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 »
    09/15/08
    2,805
    28

    By Luke Plunkett

    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

  • 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 »
    09/09/08
    4,560
    41

    By Stuart Houghton

    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

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