Ubisoft continues to expand despite economic downturn
iPhone / iPod Touch, Mobile, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Windows PC, Xbox 360
While the videogame industry has fared much better than most during this worst-economic-crisis-since-the-depression, to say that it's "recession proof" is a myth. However, one game publisher, Ubisoft, has taken on the role of full-on myth-buster by not receding at all. Expanding, in fact.
Gays (aren't) in games
Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Windows PC, Xbox 360
Like most entertainment mediums, there was a time when homosexuality in mainstream videogames was taboo. Today, there are gays in games, but only as comically flamboyant stereotypes. However, perhaps surprisingly, Chad Sapieha finds that RockStar's typically controversial Grand Theft Auto does more to promote acceptance than most.
LEGO Batman corrupts children?
Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Wii, Windows PC, Xbox 360
Boston-based watchdog group Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood recently suggested LEGO Batman: The Videogame is bad for kids. While there might be some truth to that, Chad Sapieha suggests everyone at the organization give their collective head a shake.
Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir
Nintendo DS
Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir will likely remind you of games you played as a kid. It's 'Where's Waldo' for the 21st Century.
Teenage Turtles turn 25, knock off Smash Bros.
Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Windows PC, Xbox 360
There was a time when Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were a pop culture darling. Now, they aren't even teenagers anymore. Ubisoft hopes you haven't noticed.
Surprise, most gamers aren't geeks
Macintosh, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Software, TV Plug-n-Play, Wii, Windows PC, Xbox 360
For some, it's hard to take the videogame industry seriously when all it conjures is images of boys playing virtual soldier shooting aliens on the spare TV in the basement. Thing is, that image hasn't been accurate for a decade or two. And now, a new Ipsos study shows it to be completely false. Go figure.
Spore spawns a million
Macintosh, Nintendo DS, Windows PC
Sure, a few of the exceedingly vocal have complained about tyrannical digital rights management (DRM) accompanying EA's new Spore game, but a million of the tyrannically tolerant haven't said boo.
Spore Creatures
Nintendo DS
Focusing on and sensibly enhancing a single stage of Spore on PC, Spore Creatures for Nintendo DS is easily the better Spore game.
Nintendo dominates August software sales chart
Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox 360
Before Microsoft dropped the price on Xbox 360 resulting in a sales surge, there was August, and August was all about Wii.