Kotaku: Yahoo

Sony & Yahoo Survey Says Games Are Good For Kids Development

Stuart Houghton — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:30:00 MDT

In June, Yahoo's 'lifestyle' site Shine hosted a Sony Online Entertainment survey into the gaming habits of US families.

As well as the heart-warming finding that 87% of parents regularly play videogames with their children, the survey also looked at how parents perceived their child's development being affected by gaming.

Perhaps surprisingly, the survey conducted by a major games console manufacturer found that many parents noticed improvements in their kids that they attributed directly to gaming!

75% of surveyed parents think that their children's hand/eye coordination has been improved by gaming, while 84% say that PC gaming has boosted their kid's typing skills.

Parents See Benefit of Children Playing Video Games [GameSpy]

Yahoo! Japan Polls Interest In Buying Metal Gear Solid 4

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:00:00 MDT

For Metal Solid 4, Sony has system seller expectations! Many current PS3 owners are already planning on purchasing MGS4, but Sony is also hoping that the PS3 exclusive will move consoles. No doubt it will, but how many? Obviously, we won't know that until the post-launch retail data comes rolling in, but this Yahoo! Games Metal Gear Solid 4 poll sheds light onto at least how a sample of 625 Japanese gamers feel about the title. This cannot be taken as a blanket barometer for the entire country, but rather, simply results for those who were polled. The above info reads:

As the sale of Metal Gear Solid 4 coming up, are you interested in the game? (Collaboration with Famitsu White Paper Editorial Dept)

Already own the PS3 and plan on purchasing MGS4: 28 percent 173 votes
Plan on purchasing it with PS3: 13 percent 81 votes
Own a PS3, but don't intend on purchasing: 15 percent 89 votes
Interested, but don't plan on purchasing it with a PS3: 46 percent 282 votes

Let's look at the numbers: The results show that 41 percent of those polled have already decided to purchase the game, but 61 percent of those polled do not have plans to pick up the game. However, that not-buying-but-interested 46 percent of those polled certainly could be considered potential customers — for whatever that's worth. That perfect Famitsu review should also help move some copies of the game. And if you add all those numbers up, you'll see that one hundred percent of those polled either own a PS3 or are interested in MGS4 — for whatever that's worth.

Metal Gear Solid 4 Interest Poll [Yahoo! Games Thanks, muu!]

Valve Asked Microsoft To Build Steam (Microsoft Said "No, Thanks")

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:30:00 MDT

Sure, it had a rocky start to life, but Valve's Steam platform is probably the best thing PC gaming has going for it right now, and has given the company far more clout in the industry than it could muster from its games alone. But how different could things have been if Valve had looked to somebody else to build the system? Somebody like...Microsoft? Or maybe even Yahoo? Valve's Doug Lombardi tells GamesIndustry:

You know, we went around to Yahoo, Microsoft...and anybody who seemed like a likely candidate to build something like Steam.

We basically had our feature list that we wanted. We wanted auto-updating, we wanted better anti-piracy, better anti-cheat, and selling the games over the wire was something we came up with later.

We went around to everybody and asked 'Are you guys doing anything like this?' And everyone was like 'That's a million miles in the future...We can't help you.

Can you imagine a Steam built by Yahoo? And how goddamned brilliant it would be? And intuitive? Boggles the mind.
Microsoft and Yahoo rejected Steam, says Valve [Gamesindustry.biz]

UNICEF Campaigns to Stop Virtual Child Porn

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 06:00:58 MDT

While the Japanese government has been cracking down more and more on child pornography, Unicef feels the government's efforts have come up a little short. What's more, the organization has been campaigning the government to ban child porn imagery in manga, anime and games. (Note that Microsoft and Yahoo totally support Uniceft's campaign.) According to Unicef's definition, imagery like sailor uniforms should not be permitted in adult scenes. Meaning? That Unicef is saying that even adult videos that feature over 18 actresses should not be allowed to use underage imagery like school girl outfits and whatnot. Though, people who look under 18 would not be prohibited from doing what they do. Whatever that is.
Campaign to Make Virtual Child Porn [IT Media via Canned Dogs]

Shiggy Asked You A Question, Dammit!

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 16:40:13 MDT

Shigeru Miyamoto wants to know "How old were you when you first heard the term Nintendo and what does the name mean to you now?" and he has given you a venue to answer, Yahoo! Answers. That's right, answerers, Mr. Miyamoto wants to know when you got hooked on the big N, so head on over there. With 14 days still left to express yourself and over 6000 responses already posted, Shiggy's gonna have a LOT of late night reading to do.

Me? I remember shopping my late uncle in Pennsylvania at a department store, searching for Happy Days View-Master reels (I'm serious!), still playing my Atari 2600 regularly, seeing the R.O.B. and lightgun set on a display table. While totally new to me, I thought "I must have this." Michael McWhertor

UPDATE: Shigeru Miyamoto actually did submit this question to Yahoo! Answers. No. Seriously. Nintendo told me so!

Shiggy's Asks [Yahoo! Answers]

Wii Dick Joke Watch: Yahoo!

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:40:18 MST

Okay, Yahoo! You're suspect! This lame play on words is the straw that broke the camel's back.

From now on, whenever someone out there makes a "funny" Wii dick joke, they get put on the Wii Dick Joke Suspect List. I've had it! I realize even I have been guilty of this offense but it's not funny anymore. Michael McWhertor

Yahoo! Games - World of Wii

Those Japanese PS3 Auctions Hit Reasonable

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:22:17 MST

For those that want them, the consoles are there. And not even at that much of a price, really. The intertubes have been flooded with consoles, and Yahoo! Auctions in Japan has the PLAYSTATION 3 coming out the whazoo. And at near deals at that!

The Associated Press reports that the 60 GB version has selling close to the retail price of 60,000 yen (US $510). And that's with software thrown in.

That is, many resellers might be losing money on their investments. The huge bids placed on Yahoo! turned out to be bogus and were cancelled. My question: Is this launch turning out to a total bust? Brian Ashcraft

PS3 Resells Hit Reasonable [IHT, Thanks Michael!]

In-Game Advertising CEO Gets Axed

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 10:20:57 MST

Last fall, in-game advertising company Double Fusion brought on Yahoo Games General Manager Geoff Graber as the company's new CEO. "With more options becoming available for gamers in the next year, and as the industry continues to mature, we feel that the biggest days for in-game advertising are just on the horizon," Graber told GameSpot last November. With recent deals with Midway and THQ, things look bright for Double Fusion. Things for Graber apparently could be better. An insider just dropped word that the CEO has been "canned." ~~Reasons for Graber's dismissal are not yet clear, but if this is true, things aren't so rosy at Double Fusion.~~

Eds. Update: Another insider sent us the following email about the situation at Double Fusion. It goes:

"Geoff Graber was intelligent. He wasn't engaging. He didn't have a plan. He hated working with us and felt like we (the publishers) owed him something. It was his egotistical, dare I say "Dot Com" attitude that left my company questioning whether we'd like to work with Double Fusion. In very real terms, the haughtiness of Geoff Graber probably cost the hard work of his colleagues an opportunity with my company.

With that said, I wasn't that suprised to see Double Fusion part ways. They have so much going for them, including far superior technology compared to Massive. Why let one person destroy your business, especially when you have so much invested in your success?

It didn't work. They let him go, and I'm sure they'll find a suitable replacement to lead."

Sure hope so! Thanks for the heads up.

Update This Page Please [Harper Collins]

Yahoo Japan Top Searches

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 14:22:12 MST

The country's largest portal site Yahoo Japan just released 2005's top requested searches from their search engine. The results were broken down into several categories. Here are the highlights:

GAMING
1. Hangame
2. Final Fantasy
3. YuGiOh
4. Pokemon
5. Dragon Ball

ANIME & MANGA
1. Gundam
2. Naurto
3. Gokusen
4. Bleach
5. NANA

OVERALL
1. 2channel (Japanese web forum)
2. Google
3. Rakuten (online shopping)
4. goo (portal)
5. Amazon

Full Results Here [Yahoo] via Anime News Network