Hoecs Games

This year, the National Resources Defense Council took a look at how much power is consumed running America’s gaming consoles. Their findings? That America’s gaming consoles suck up a whole lotta juice.

In total, consoles used up an estimated 16 billion kilowatthours per year. Which equates to around $1 billion worth of power. Which is enough power to run all of San Diego - population 1.3 million - for a year.

We’ve already seen preliminary findings from this study - namely, how much money you can save by turning your consoles off - but seeing the overall stats laid out like this makes for some interesting reading.

Lowering the Cost of Play [NRDC, via Giz]

[Read more →]

Through the magic of brain-scanning, scientists at Stanford University have determined that men are more attracted to video games due to our inherit need to triumph over everything and everyone.

The research, led by Professor Allan Reiss of the Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research at Stamford, shows that gaming sessions stimulate the areas of the male brain linked with rewarding feelings and addiction. The corresponding female parts of the brain are generally out shopping or something when all of this is going on, and are thus less likely to be stimulated. Says Professor Reiss:

“I think it’s fair to say that males tend to be more intrinsically territorial. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out who historically are the conquerors and tyrants of our species – they’re the males. Most of the computer games that are really popular with males are territory and aggression-type games.”

The good Professor explains that while women understand computer games just fine, they lack the same neurological drive to win possessed by me. I am assuming, going by previous research, that this doesn’t count if the woman is bisexual.

I’m just glad it was Professor Allan Reiss that came up with all of this, and not me. When the conquering women show up, I’ll be sure to point them in his direction.

Men enjoy computer games ‘because of basic urge to conquer’ [Telegraph.co.uk]

[Read more →]

No sooner than two 70-year-old FPS enthusiasts pop up than we also find, in the journal Psychology and Aging, a study suggesting that older folks might benefit from playing strategy-intensive video games.

A study of 40 adults in their 60s and 70s found that, after playing Rise of Nations, they “improved their scores on a number of tests of cognitive functions.” The lead researcher also says that, for older adults, “playing video games with (your) grandkids would also be a great idea.” But before Grandma goes out to curbstomp Timmy in Gears of War 2, remember this is the first study to make these kinds of findings and suggest such benefits for older persons.

They note that more research is needed to bolster the findings. It’s unclear if other games would have the same benefits, or if they persist over time.

The news here is not so much that video games are some magical anti-senility exercise — just that they can be mentally and intellectually stimulating, the same as (presumably) reading, doing crossword puzzles, enjoying the arts, arguing with your in-laws, or other pursuits that call upon critical thinking. I’m sure all of those other things would be considered a good way to keep your mind sharp as you get older. Nice to know that, when I hit 65, games will be waiting to help me get to 100 with mine intact.

Video Games May Do the Aging Brain Good [Reuters, which is not pronounced “Rooters.”]

[Read more →]

Researchers at the University of Illinois have found that playing real-time strategy games can help men and women in their 60s and 70s improve their mental skills.

The study, which had a focus group of elderly men and women playing Big Huge Games’ 203 RTS Rise of Nations, found that the participants showed improvements in several mental tests after spending time playing the game. Areas significantly improved included the ability to switch between different tasks, working memory, and general reasoning ability. Short term memory of visual cues and the ability to identify rotated objects were also enhanced, albeit to a lesser extent.

As the child of two parents falling within the study’s age group, I now know exactly what to get my parents for Christmas.

Video game improves seniors’ mental skills [Times of the Internet]

[Read more →]

Researchers at Rice University make heavy use of high-end motion capture systems (glued on ping-pong balls and all) when studying how humans acquire and improve motor skills, but perhaps a WiiMote will do the job.

In studying how stroke victims re-learn physical tasks, the researchers found that the motion sensors in the WiiMote compared favourably with the existing systems. Tests are continuing with data being gathered from high-end kit to help the evaluation.

“It’s the only part of the system we really need,” says Marcia O’Malley, director of Rice’s Mechatronics and Haptic Interfaces Laboratory, “We’re already grabbing motion data from the Wiimote,“so soon we’ll be able to measure a range of motion and then turn it into a mathematical model.”

Wii bit of fun at Rice University has serious intent [Rice Unicersity via Edge]

[Read more →]

According to this Tech On! report, Nintendo are in the process of evaluating their Wii Remote accelerometer technology. Seeing if other companies can supply better gear than their current suppliers can.

One firm - Kionix - definitely can. Currently, the Wii Remote’s accelerometer sensors are provided by two companies: Analog Devices and STMicroelectronics. But Kionix employ different technology, which makes it “easier to enhance sensitivity”.

You enhance sensitivity, you enhance accuracy, and your games get more precise. And, hopefully, more enjoyable. To this end, Nintendo have been evaluating samples from not only Kionix, but other firms as well, although no cold, hard decisions have yet been made.

Know that this is the tech for the standard accelerometer in the Wii Remote, not the Wii Motion Plus.

Competition Heating Up for Wii Acceleration Sensor Contract [Tech On!, via Wii Fanboy]

[Read more →]

Back when we thought the Large Hadron Collider was going to kill us all, instead of just hum for a few days then break down, we learned that an emergency package had been sent to the site. Within, everything that Gordon Freeman needed to save us from the horrors of an alien-spewing vortex. At the time, it was a cute joke, but there was always the lingering understanding that nobody at the LHC would actually get it. The package, or the joke. Turns out they did! Sandro Bonacini, who works there, got the joke, and eventually the package as well. He’s Gordon. Stefano Michelis also got the joke, and for his troubles, is about to get whacked. Oh, those wacky scientists.

the crowbar arrived at CERN, Freeman received it, world saved [Reddit]

[Read more →]

The Natural Resources Defense Council Have…hey, look, wait. This is interesting. Because it’s about your money. Anyway, like I was saying, the Natural Resources Defense Council have released a report detailing how much money it costs the average American to run a gaming console. And, by extension, how much money you could save by taking those consoles and throwing them in the closet/garbage. Were you to decomission a 360, for example, you’d save yourself $11 a year. $11! Binning a PS3 would save you $15, while packing the Wii away - provided you haven’t already done so - will save you…$3 a year. Best keep it around then, in case Gran comes over and wants a swing at that “computer bowling”.

New Report: Video Games are Energy Drains [NRDC]

[Read more →]

You know how it goes. You’re waist-deep in physics exams, calculations and numbers out the wahzoo, and all you really want to do is play Tetris. Whipping out a Game Boy in the lab, that’s poor form, but whipping out a calculator? That’s cool. Cooler when your calculator isn’t a calculator at all, but this cleverly-disguised…yes, Game Boy.

GameBoy Color inside a TI-83 series calculator [Mark Bowers, via Boing-Boing]

[Read more →]

Fresh from the “Study finds violent video games do X to kids” pile, we now find — shock — playing them results in “a greater variation in Heart Rate Variability.” This isn’t straight out one’s pulse quickening. HRV is “the oscillation in the interval between consecutive heartbeats” — more or less, a measure of minute changes in heart rate.

The research concludes that violent video games can have effects on your body’s autonomous systems, without you even being aware of it. In this instance, kids who played violent games had a greater HRV during sleep but still reported they’d slept fine. Makes sense. Games can have effects on your voluntary systems beyond your control, too. Like Dead Space making you shit your pants.

There’s debate on whether HRV means anything, but the researchers indicate they’re going to use this research to study links between violent video games and aggression and, of course, “video game addiction.”

Study Says Violent Games Affect Boys’ Heart Rates [Wired]

[Read more →]