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The Married Gamer

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Games Author - the gaming world's commentator

Warning about 3DS screens for eyes

January 2nd 2011 03:39

Nintendo has issued a stern (and alarming) warning about the 3D effect found in its upcoming 3DS system.

Nintendo specifically requests that children aged six or younger only use the 2D mode when playing the handheld. Apparently, use of 3D could damage the development of healthy eyes of children that young.

On top of this, Nintendo requests that gamers cease playing the games in 3D after half an hour warning of possible side effects such as blurring and nausea.

Nintendo has been sued in the past -- who could forget the Wii remote debacle with the epidemic of broken television sets around the world. This may just be to cover the company's behind in case things to go awry in the future once the system is released.

All the same, it's concerning that Nintendo is having to alienate such a chunk of their core demographic. Time will tell if these warnings are legitimate issues, or simply a precautionary measure.

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PlayStation phone?

November 1st 2010 21:28

Image thanks to Engadget.

The rumour mill has been running hot for the last three years plus when it comes to "insider" info regarding the supposedly always in development PlayStation phone. However, we finally have a picture of something that doesn't look like it was photoshopped by a design student.

It makes sense too. A phone couldn't exactly fit comfortably in your pocket everyday if it had analogue sticks, even if they were the mini analogue sticks ala the PSP Go, or even the (soon to be world phenomenon) Nintendo 3DS.

Some say Sony's problem with the mediocre PSP sales have everything to do with the constant in squabbling of the various departments within the company. The power struggles between the different areas within Sony have meant that no one ever has the power to fully realise each of their project's potential.

Sometimes, Sony puts its faith into technologies that will never take off if forced onto the consumer. UMD movies, although quick out of the gate, never saw the sales of DVDs or Blurays. Blurays themselves are only now successful because of behind the scenes secret deal Sony made with Warner Bros. If WB's had chosen Toshiba's HD DVD, Bluray would have been dead in the water years ago.

Mini Disc never took off, even with the very expensive and in your face advertising used in the late '90s. And Sony, due to its faith in the Mini Disc format, completely missed the boat with MP3 players -- which as we all know, Apple skyrocketed its business with.

So now a possible new venture. A phone, which really should have been released three or four years ago (again to counteract the moves Apple were making with the iPhone). Even with the breadth of titles the PSP has, the PlayStation Phone may not be seen as a viable alternative to the mainstream phones out there now.

If the screen is as large as it is, and the graphics are to be as detailed as the PSP's, then you're looking a very short battery life span -- unless Sony has a trick up its sleeve. The PlayStation 3 is a beautiful piece of technology, but with all its bells and whistles, the Xbox 360 has still consistently outsold it.

Sony needs a win. The days of the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 are over and competitors these days are much more savvy than they used to be. Nintendo ensures that it makes money on its consoles and handhelds from the very first day they go on sale. Sony spent years losing money on each PlayStation (and far too long on the PlayStation 3).

If this PlayStation phone is in fact in the works and is inline to be released sometime next year, it really needs to bring something new to the table -- not just a merging of the PSP and a phone. Otherwise Sony will be investing into another failure, or mediocre performer.

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Posted By: Yves Makhoul - Category: No Category

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Battle for your motion begins

September 8th 2010 20:54

Here we finally are. The last quarter of the year. The crucial time for Sony and Microsoft to prove the viabilities of their own motion controlled hardware. If you were to believe the PR, you’d think they’re confident in selling millions of the non-compulsory attachable devices to customers who’ve been waiting with bated breath for a new world of gaming.

You couldn’t be blamed, however, for thinking the motion control phase has actually passed. Nintendo’s Wii has seen a dramatic decrease in sales recently, and in the last financial quarter, Nintendo attributed this very fact to the reason their profits decreased.

Does this mean Sony and Microsoft are late to the party? No one can be certain. After all, the Wii has far inferior graphical output technology when compared to the PS3 and Xbox 360. Sony’s Move tech is far superior to Nintendo’s Wii-mote tech and Microsoft’s Kinect doesn’t even have a physical controller.

Maybe, just maybe, both new contenders will be as successful as they predict to be and a new wave of multi-million selling software will be upon us. Or maybe, they'll both just flop.

Time will tell. Sit tight, here we go.

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iPhone gaining momentum

August 13th 2010 12:58

id Software cofounder and video game legend John Carmack demonstrated the company's id tech 5 gaming engine running a Rage tech demo demonstration on iPhone 4 at an impressive 60 frames per second.

The visuals were met with a resounding applause as can be seen on the link provided:

Really Long Link

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2 Zelda's announced by Nintendo

June 15th 2010 22:48

The first is the new Nintendo Wii version, Skyward Sword.
It uses the cell shading of the Gamecube version, while keeping Link adult at not beady eyed.

And the second is the Nintendo 3DS remake of Ocarina of Time. Yes, the world's favourite game of all time remade in 3D.

Much to look forward to for Zelda fans!

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New Zelda to be announced within hours..

June 15th 2010 14:00

Strap on your shield, here we go

Nintendo's E3 keynote conference kicks off in a few short hours. We'll soon finally be able to see what the team has been working on with the new Zelda

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Wii HD

April 21st 2010 21:00

It's time for the Wii HD

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Nintendo. Changing the industry.. for the better?

February 21st 2010 09:07

The sales results for the Nintendo Wii speak for themselves. It’s popular. Very popular. However, popularity doesn’t necessarily translate to success for all parties involved. This includes the abundant number of willing third parties who have expanded the library of games for the system

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UK PS3 sales eclipse 3 million

January 26th 2010 02:27

The new slim PS3 may have helped in the sales department

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has announced that sales of the PlayStation 3 have eclipsed three million units in the United Kingdom. Sony is reportedly delighted at the news

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New Wii Zelda: Fundamentally Changed

November 28th 2009 14:11

Teaser Image

Legend of Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma in a recent IGN interview has stated that the new Zelda will be fundamentally different to previous iterations

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January 2011

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November 2010

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September 2010