Crispy Gamer News

A new research report released this week reveals that 14 to 25 year olds watch less television, instead spending more time on online activities, watching DVDs and video games. The study, “The State of the Media Democracy,” was conducted by Deloitte and polled multiple age groups including 14- to 25-year-olds (Millennials), Generation X (ages 26-42), Baby Boomers (43-61) and Matures (62-75).

Millennials watched just 10.5 hours of TV a week, compared to 15.1 hours for those indentified in the Generation-X group. Baby Boomers watched 19.2 hours, while the old folks in the Matures group watched 21.5 hours a week. So what are Millennials doing with their time? Shunning cable TV to partake in other activities. Among those activities - playing video games, listening to music and surfing the Internet.

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Konami has decided to take control of the popular Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game, according to a statement issued by the company today. Besides being a popular and lucrative trading card franchise in North America and Asia, the Yu-Gi-Oh! brand is also a popular series of cartoon shows and video games.

Konami holds the exclusive rights to the card and video games in North America and various countries in South and Central America and Europe, but before today had a hands-off approach to the trading card part of the license. Kazumi Kitaue, Chairman and CEO of Konami Digital Entertainment, said that taking control of the card game will allow the company to have more synergy between the collectible trading card game and the video games.

Ubisoft has shipped CSI: NY – The Game for the PC this week. The game based on the hit TV crime drama carries an ESRB rating of “T” for Teen and retails for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $29.99. CSI: NY – The Game is an adventure game that allows you to play as characters from the show using a brand-new graphic novel art style, interactive mini-games and interrogations, and original cases crafted by writers from the “CSI: NY” television series.

The game also features the voices and likenesses of Golden Globe winner Gary Sinise, Melina Kanakaredes and the rest of the show’s primary cast. In concurrence with the video game’s release, the show will air its milestone 100th episode on Wednesday, November 19th. “CSI: NY” averages 11.8 million total viewers each week on CBS. Ubisoft’s CSI video game franchise has sold more than 3.5 million units worldwide since the first CSI title was released in 2003.

Crispy’s favorite son, Scott Jones, sits down with Get Your Game On host Nicole Lapin to talk about video games that give you the power to be a military commander, the leader of a nation or even a malevolent benefactor. Games covered include Tom Clancy’s EndWar, Sid Meier’s Civilization, Revolution, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 and Fable II. Scott even puts on a tie for the occasion. If Rockwell were not pushing up daisies right now he’d be mighty pleased with Scott’s fabulous attire.

You can check out the latest Get Your Game On in the Crispy Gamer Community Section.

Avatar: The Last Airbender - Into the Inferno has shipped to retail outlets in North America. Based on the popular animated Nickelodeon television series, Avatar: The Last Airbender (which recently enjoyed its final episode), takes players into the Fire Nation on a journey to face the Fire Lord and end a 100 year war.

Playing as one of their favorite characters from the show, players will perform martial arts moves, as well as bend all four elements - Earth, Fire, Water and Air - to help them in their journey. Cinematic air battles will take place as players soar through the sky on gliders in new flying levels. The Nintendo DS version of the game will also introduce a brand new and unique “bobble head” style of animation previously seen in Nickelodeon’s special Avatar series of animated shorts.

Look for it in stores beginning today.

THQ has shipped Tak and the Guardians of Gross has shipped to retail outlets throughout North America. Based on Nickelodeon’s television series Tak and the Power of Juju, Tak and the Guardians of Gross is now available for the PlayStation 2 and Wii. The game is also scheduled to be available in Europe and Australia later this month.

Following the core elements of the television show, Tak and the Guardians of Gross sends Tak on an adventure through familiar locales from the show in a platform focused action adventure. Jeera will also make her video game debut as a playable character in special areas of the game.

PBS announced that it is bringing some of its programming to Microsoft’s Xbox 360. The public TV network that gives you a stupid tote bag for a high dollar pledge will offer full-length shows available for download on Xbox Live. The first batch of PBS programming on Xbox Live rolls out today and includes such shows as Wired Science, Scientific American Frontiers, Nova and three Ken Burns documentaries (I do love Ken Burns).

Log on to Xbox Live to check it all out. Unlike Public TV, you’ll have to pay for this content.