Game over for the National Institute on Family and the Media
The National Institute on Family and the Media is shutting down, as the economy forces the media watchdog group to Minneapolis-based to close its doors. The National Institute on Family and the Media, founded by psychologist David Walsh and funded mostly by Fairview Health Services, is best known for its annual MediaWise Video Game Report Card, which often criticized game makers for creating and marketing mature themed games to children.
“Thank you for 14 years of amazing accomplishments and success, said a personal message on the organization’s web site today. “Though our doors will close on December 31, 2009, our important work and programs will continue through you.”
A blog post by David Walsh further explains why the organazation is shutting down - and most of it points to the current state of the economy.
“Two years ago, the National Institute on Media and the Family’s board of directors started strategic discussions about the organization’s evolving mission and goals. The current challenging economic environment accelerated those discussions. As a result, the Institute’s board of directors made the decision to close the Institute, effective December 31, 2009 and to begin transitioning the programs to other organizations who share our mission and values.”
The National Institute on Family and the Media says that it will transition many of its programs and initiatives to other national organizations, and founder David Walsh promises to continue speaking out on the things he feels are important like the affects of violent media on children.
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Health Games Research gets $1.85 million grant for 9 projects
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has given a $1.85 million grant to the Health Games Research to research game-based health intervention solutions. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is an organization dedicated to improvinge the health and health care by helping Americans lead healthier lives and getting the care they need. Health Games Research is a national program that funds research to advance the effectiveness of digital games and game technologies intended to improve health. It does this by doing research, creating technology and teaming with developers from around the country. It is headquartered at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
The grant will help fund research on 9 different projects, with each receiving $100,000 - $300,000 USD; enough for a one to two year study per project. The 9 research projects were chosen from 185 different proposals. Among them are projects to help Parkinson’s patients reduce the risk of falling using Konami’s Dance Dance Revolution game, a mobile phone game with breath interference to help smokers quit or reduce their tobacco use, facial recognition games for use with helping autism patients identify emotions, and a game project to reduce obesity rates in high school students using EA Sports Active game on Wii. All of these projects will focus on what the program describes as “diverse population groups.”
Personally, I applaud these kinds of efforts. On a related note, check out Steve Steinberg’s most recent Health Meter column, where he puts a spotlight on AbleGamers.
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Survey finds video games top holiday wish lists
A recent poll conducted by KRC Research, commissioned by the Entertainment Software Association, found that 42 percent of those surveyed will give or hope to receive a computer, console of related software for the holidays. The poll also found that 52 percent of participants believe that with the shaky economy, video games are a good option for family entertainment this holiday season (check out our “Non-Gaming Parents Should Follow When Buying Videogames for Their Kids feature” for some great holiday gift giving advice).
These numbers represent a 9 percent increase over 2007 and the research backed up the fact that both men and women enjoy computer and video games almost equally. Forty-seven percent identified women as recipients of such gifts, a 31 percent increase from 2007. Fifty-Four percent of those who play computer and video games also plan to play with a friend or family member during the holiday season - according to those surveyed.
“Computer and video games are topping holiday lists because they provide a superior entertainment value for the whole family,” said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of the ESA, the trade association representing U.S. computer and video game publishers. “With 68 percent of American households playing computer and video games, U.S. consumers value the creative and innovative products the entertainment software industry produces and are seeking them out for themselves and to give as gifts.”
The national telephone poll, conducted for the ESA by KRC Research, surveyed 1,001 U.S. adults, between November 4 and 8, 2009.
What’s on the top of my wish list? Peace on earth, goodwill towards men, and an orange Crispy Gamer ball cap. That’s a gift worth having.
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Good Old Games Halloween specials
Good Old Games is celebrating Halloween with a sale featuring 3 creepy classics at rock bottom prices this weekend. The games include ObsCure ($9.99), Personal Nightmare ($5.99) and Waxworks ($5.99). But if you aren’t into all the spooky stuff, then you might want to check out Divine Divinity from Larian Studios for the low, low price of just $5.99.
You can check out all these deals - DRM free and ready for play on Windows XP and Vista - by visiting www.gog.com/en.
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Sessler’s Soapbox: Mad Zombie Love
Zombies. The scourge of the living. Unholy, foul, mindless beasts, former shadows of humanity that shambles mindlessly in search of brains. On this week’s Sessler’s Soapbox over at G4TV.com, Adam Sessler talks about his mad love for the Zombies, how they’ve made the transition from film to video games, and what all of it means to you. Check it out directly at G4TV.com or check out the video below:
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AFTRA and SAG agree on game industry gigs
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) today announced they have reached tentative agreements with video game companies on new contracts. The agreements—which become effective upon ratification and remain in full force until March 30, 2011— “achieves parity between the AFTRA and Screen Actors Guild contracts and includes expiration dates of March 30, 2011.
In addition, the contracts deliver a 3 percent wage increase upon ratification for SAG, thereby bringing SAG’s wages into parity with AFTRA’s, and another 2.5 percent increase on April 1, 2010, for both unions. Both pacts contain increases in benefit contributions and a liquidated damages provision to incentivize employers to give notice of strenuous voice work.
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To today’s parents video games are the new Rock ‘n Roll
That’s how Stamford, CT., psychologist Eric Schleifer described them in a discussion with 50 parents about video games recently. This forum, called “Using Video Games to Your Advantage: A Parent’s Guide,” was co-sponsored by Wilton Parent Connection, the Wilton PTA Council, the Wilton Youth Council, and the Wilton Library.
The forum proved what kids already know and what kids our generation and every other generation before it endured: parents don’t always understand the culture kids are immersed in and its importance. In this generation parents don’t understand their kids’ fascination with games and, because of the media’s portrayal of them as being violent and catalyst for laziness and unhealthy behavior, often feel like video games are dangerous or at the very least, an unnecessary distraction. Schleifer compared gaming to rock music and comic books, both thought to be somehow evil or a waste of time by our parents and the parents of our parents.
The games we're pulling together in this feature won't appear on any of those best-of lists and get confused looks when you mention them in conversation. Just because time has forgotten these titles, though, doesn't mean you should forget them, too.
The National Institute on Family and the Media is shutting down, as the economy forces the media watchdog group to Minneapolis-based to close its doors. The National Institute on Family and the Media, founded by psychologist David Walsh and funded mostly by Fairview Health Services, is best known for its annual MediaWise Video Game Report Card, which often criticized game makers for creating and marketing mature themed games to children.
The 
A recent poll conducted by KRC Research, commissioned by the 
