Game Gov

Despite Slow Video Game Sales A Few Titles Are Still A Hit

Now that the holiday season is over, video game sales have slowed down tremendously during the beginning of 2011. A few games are still being sold at high number, but it is unclear when gamers will finally get their fill. “Call of Duty: Black Ops,” is still being sold in high amounts despite the fact that most gamers have been buying it in droves since its November release. With new accessories and expansion packs coming out on a regular basis, you can expect that the latest title in the “Call of Duty” franchise will continue to sell until the next one is released.

Surprisingly, just about every dance themed video game has been quite popular, even before the long awaited, “Just Dance 2″ was released. The Nintendo Wii has had quite a few titles that encourage gamers to get up and get fit, but it seems that game players would rather get up and simulate the latest dance moves than anything else. Sales for “Just Dance 2″ are probably as high as they are because this title appeals to audiences across all demographics. In other words, it’s just not teenage girls that have fallen in love with dance themed video games.

In an industry where virtually every successful game spawns a generation of ‘knock offs,’ game develops know that consumers just aren’t as likely to purchase a title unless they are sure that it is good. This makes it harder for smaller companies to break into the industry, but there is still room for the next hot title.

Will The Wii And The Kinect Really Help Gamers Get Fit?

Parents, doctors and nutritionists have been complaining about how difficult it is to get kids to go outdoors and increase their activity levels, and for awhile it seemed like the Nintendo Wii and the Xbox Kinect would help them to achieve at least one of their goals. Gaming consoles that turn gamers into virtual controllers appeal to a number of parties, but can these technologies really encourage people to become more active? Recent studies have shown that gamers are responding to the Wii and the Kinect positively. The only downside to relying on games to get more healthy is the fact that gamers quickly lose interest.

Both Nintendo and Microsoft have released a number of titles that they hope will encourage gamers to really get into their games, but all video games have an expiration date. Since the average video game costs around $50, most consumers only purchase around one or two a month. In order for gamers to really see results, they would need to play continuously for approximately 60 minutes a day, five days a week. The simple fact is, gamers aren’t able to dedicate enough time in order to see real results. Some exercise experts are recommending that the games released should have more solid story lines in order to entice gamers to spend more time actually playing. Another negative aspect of gaming is that it can sometimes cause people to lead to the kitchen more often as they wait their turn or become bored most often than not.

Study Shows Gaming Is Good For The Whole Family

There has been a lot of speculation as to how gaming affects families. Many experts have produced studies that show video games have a negative impact on young children and growing teens. Still others have depicted the gaming industry as a hazard for both your health as well as your mental state. More recent study groups consisting of working adults have shown gaming to be nothing more than outlet, which is contrary to the belief that playing violent video games will make players more prone to participating in criminal activities.

A recent study by Memorex doesn’t confirm any of the aforementioned theories, but it does prove that gaming is one of the most popular family activities. It seems that parents are throwing out old fashioned boardgames and opting to play cooperative and competitive games on the Xbox, PS3 and Nintendo Wii. Gaming is usually thought to be a solitary activity, but thanks to a rash of popular multi-player games and live action game controllers, families can now play together and bond on a whole new level.

One reason that more families are gaming together is the fact that many video games do not require a particular skill set. The Nintendo Wii in particular has made it easy for grandparents, who may have never touched a game controller in their lives, to learn how to play their grandchildrens’ favorite games. With few commands to execute and a ‘what you see is what you get’ interface, new game console peripherals are helping families to come together.

Spike TV Hosts 8th Annual Video Game Awards

For an industry that appeals to so many consumers, it is surprising that video games don’t get much fanfare when it comes to awards and honors. This year, Spike TV will give kudos to all those involved in the development of new, cutting edge video games and improvements to the gaming industry. Fans will be able to turn to the popular TV station and find out who has won this year as well as preview video game trailers and learn about the men and women who help to create their favorite games. The awards ceremony will be aired in approximately 175 nations, and hopes that the event will help them to get gaming fans that are loyal to G4TV to see what they have to offer. Although Spike TV has been on the air for more years than G4TV, they have been losing ratings due to the competing station’s ability to appeal to younger viewers. Spike TV is a bit more straight forward, while G4TV seems to rely on slapstick humor and overtly sexual overtones, even when it comes to presenting news on video games, new technology and developments within the Internet.

You might not recognize many of the gaming industry stars slated to appear, but you will instantly identify the brands and games that they represent. At the very least, Spike TV will get a much needed ratings boost during the airing of the 8th Annual Video Games Awards, but only time will tell if they will be able to retain any of the viewers that watch the show.

Visit A Casino Without Leaving Your Home

The lights, sounds and adrenaline pumping excitement that visiting a casino brings just got a whole lot more convenient. Whether or not you already go to casinos on a regular basis, you can find many of the same games that you enjoy on the online betting website, Sky Vegas. This site is part of a network of other betting game webpages, including Sky Bet, Sky Bingo and Sky Poker. While the point of this online casino is not to become a millionaire, there are plenty of players that have won and continue to win large jackpots.

Visiting a casino online means that you don’t have to take off your pajamas to enjoy the fun of placing a wager. From their penny arcade to their online table games, Sky Vegas gives it’s members a well rounded selection of games found in casinos all over the world. Even if you find that you have to go out and run a few errands, their mobile games will give you all the entertainment you need to stave off boredom. Everyday, the names of the newest winner are prominently displayed near the top of the homepage, making the winning players the momentary favored few.

You can still enjoy Sky Vegas if you want to make new and lasting friendships. Every game comes with a built-in chat element, making interactions just as important as the game itself. Talk with a new friend in-between hands of poker, or introduce yourself to a new group of players every time you enter a room. Sky Vegas has a very detailed profile system that allows members to upload personal photos and give fellow players the opportunity to learn more about them. You do not have to invest a lot of money to have the ability to enjoy the games and community perks of the online casino.