Tag: Health
News UK Newspaper Comes Under Fire For Hinting That Video Games Are "The Next Global Pandemic"
"It’s disappointing to see pieces like this extensively misrepresenting games"
The health effects of video games have been discussed and debated since the dawn of the interactive entertainment industry way back in the '70s, and while there have been a great many studies that highlight the positive impact games have on people, the ones which focus...
News Long Beach Residents Could Win A Nintendo Switch When They Get Their Covid-19 Vaccine
"We are going to continue to provide incentives... to get residents vaccinated"
The world is going through a phase of vaccination at present as it attempts to keep the Covid-19 pandemic in check, and in Long Beach, California, residents are being offered incentives to get themselves protected. As part of the city's incentive program to encourage...
Random Arkansas Dental Practice Offers Nintendo Switch To Encourage Brushing And Flossing
Floss, but not in Fortnite
Dentists have tried numerous methods over the years to ensure patients practice good dental hygiene. For kids, that can emerge as positive reinforcement by giving them stickers. For adults, it's avoiding the absolute agony that comes with a root canal. A Nintendo Switch giveaway, though? That's definitely a new one...
News Games Like Animal Crossing Are Good For Your Mental Health, Claims Oxford University Study
"This lets us explain and understand games as a leisure activity"
A new study conducted by Oxford University claims that video games are good for your mental wellbeing. The groundbreaking study, which was undertaken in collaboration with academics at the university working with true gameplay data for the very first time, focused on people playing...
News We Speak To The Man Behind The Initiative That's Giving Free Games To UK Health Workers
"The whole thing grew arms and legs in the most amazing way"
The current coronavirus pandemic is causing untold stress and suffering for millions, but in the UK, something is being done to make life a little easier for the brave and committed health staff who are on the frontline of the crisis. NHS workers in the UK are being gifted access to over...
News Employee At Pokémon Dev Game Freak Tests Positive For Coronavirus
A statement has been issued
Pokémon developer Game Freak has announced that an employee working in its Setagaya, Tokyo office has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). The studio has issued a statement on the matter on its official website, noting that thanks to social distancing measures and as a result of staff working from home for the...
Random Japanese Orchestra Performs 20-Second Mario Theme To Promote Good Hand Washing
Stay safe with Mario
If you're looking for an inspirational piece of music to wash your hands to, this'll certainly do the trick. The New Japan BGM Philharmonic Orchestra, known for being the first professional Japanese video game music orchestra, has uploaded a performance of the classic Super Mario theme tune to promote good hand hygiene. As you...
News Capcom Employee Contracts Coronavirus, Says It Will Prioritise Preventing Further Infection
Located at the company's headquarters
In a press release issued today, Capcom President and CEO Haruhiro Tsujimoto has confirmed that an employee at the company has contracted coronavirus (COVID-19). The release notes that one employee working at Capcom's headquarters in Chuo-ku, Osaka has tested positive for the virus. Capcom promises to work with...
News World Health Organisation Recommends Playing 'Active' Video Games To Stay Healthy At Home
For 30 mins per day
In ongoing efforts to provide support and advice to everyone dealing with the impacts of the coronavirus, The World Health Organisation (WHO) has listed 'active' video games as one way to stay healthy. WHO has taken to social media to share a list of physical activities that can be performed at home, helping you to remain active...
Random Real Football Teams Are Using FIFA To Play Matches Postponed By Coronavirus
And Football Manager, too
While the threat of the new coronavirus continues to impact major events across the globe, video games remain just as safe and fun as ever, and real sports team are using this to their advantage in rather wonderful ways. With all major English football leagues enforcing a temporary ceasefire until 3rd April, teams up and...
News Coronavirus Isolation Is Causing A Spike In Online Gaming Traffic In Italy
Bored kids flock to games like Fortnite
We're all more than aware of the havoc being caused by the coronavirus outbreak - E3 is the latest major gaming event to be cancelled as a result - but the spread is naturally causing unique situations depending on your location. Italy is one of a number of countries which has decided to close its schools in...
News 2020 BAFTA Games Awards To Be Streamed Online Due To Coronavirus
No red carpet event
This year's BAFTA Games Awards is the latest event to feel the effect of the ongoing concerns surrounding the new coronavirus outbreak. Rather than hosting its traditional red carpet event, BAFTA has decided to change up the format and livestream the winners online. A statement regarding the change has been shared today,...
News Amazon Japan Is Doing Its Part To Defeat Coronavirus By Offering Free Pokémon Anime
Binge while you self-isolate
Like other countries worldwide, Japan is entering a period of lockdown at the moment to combat the spread of the coronavirus – and Amazon Japan is doing its part to help this effort. Lots of Japanese residents are currently undergoing a period of self-isolation to prevent the virus from spreading, and that means...
News Nintendo Joins Microsoft And Bungie With 'Work From Home' Policy In Face Of Coronavirus
"We are continuing to closely monitor COVID-19 developments"
Nintendo and joined the likes of Microsoft and Bungie by bringing in a 'work from home' policy for its staff in the face of the growing threat of the global coronavirus outbreak. Echoing statements released by Microsoft and Destiny studio Bungie, Nintendo told Kotaku: Nintendo of...
News 2020 Pokémon Europe International Championships Are The Latest Coronavirus Victim
Safety is "top priority"
We've already seen several gaming events cancelled, postponed, or otherwise affected by the coronavirus outbreak, and today sees a familiar fate for the 2020 Pokémon Europe International Championships. In a statement issued today
"Attributing violence to video gaming is not scientifically sound"
The debate about whether or not violent video games contribute to violent behaviour is one that has raged for decades, but The American Psychological Association has recently reaffirmed its stance that there is no causal link between violent video games and the behaviour of those who...
News E3 2020 Concerns Grow As Los Angeles Declares State Of Emergency Over Coronavirus
ESA issues a revised statement
This year's upcoming E3 conference is under threat as its host city, Los Angeles, has today declared a state of emergency over the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Governor Gavin Newsom made the call after a California man sadly lost his life to the virus while onboard a cruise ship. The action has caused E3 event...
News Plague Inc Banned In China As Coronavirus Outbreak Spreads, Switch Version Unaffected
Switch version will still be supported
Strategy simulation game Plague Inc. has been suddenly pulled from the app store in China. The ban has been enforced by the Chinese government following a recent surge in popularity for the title. While the expanded version of the game available on Nintendo Switch and other platforms worldwide naturally...
News E3 2020 "Moving Ahead Full Speed" Despite Coronavirus Concerns
"We will continue to be vigilant"
After seeing a number of publishers pull out of PAX East last week due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, as well as the postponement of GDC, thoughts naturally fall to another major gaming event coming up in the near future: E3. The 2020 show is set to take place this summer from 9th - 11th June,...
News Production Of The Animal Crossing Switch Bundle Has Been Affected By The Coronavirus
Update: New Japanese pre-order date confirmed
Update (Tue 18th Feb, 2020 11:00 GMT): Following on from the news that the coronavirus outbreak had impacted the production and pre-order dates for the Animal Crossing-themed Switch console in Japan, Nintendo has now confirmed a new reservation date for those looking to get their hands on one...
News New Report Claims Coronavirus Will Cause Switch Shortages In The US And Europe
Despite Nintendo's reassurances
Europe and the US could see Nintendo Switch stock shortages as soon as April due to the coronavirus outbreak, a new report claims. According to Bloomberg, which cites "people with knowledge of [Nintendo's] supply chain" as its source, the company is "likely" to struggle to keep up with Switch stock demands in western...
News Switch Production Has Been Impacted By The Coronavirus Outbreak, Admits Nintendo
Outbreak has claimed 170 lives so far
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has revealed that production of the Switch in China has been impacted by the recent coronavirus outbreak. The admission came during a news briefing following the publication of Nintendo's financial results, according to Reuters. The co
News Pokémon GO Players Share Stories Of Improved Health And Social Lives
The benefits are plain to see
Pokémon GO was undoubtedly one of the biggest games of the last decade, giving Pokémon fans a whole new way to enjoy their favourite hobby and even sparking a worldwide surge in popularity for both the brand and gaming as a whole. When it first launched in 2016, the game had its fair share of negative press - there...
News New Study Says External Issues Are More Likely To Blame For Gaming Addiction, Not Gaming Itself
Finds no evidence of gaming as a disorder
A new research study conducted by Oxford University has found insufficient evidence to suggest that gaming should be classified as a clinical disorder. It notes that gamers who are heavily affected by the problem are likely to be suffering from wider, unrelated issues. The study comes as a direct response...
Feature "Nintendo Killed My Son!" - Pulling Apart A Tragic Headline More Than Two Decades On
How a single story rocked the games industry
Video games have often been blamed for many of society's ills, and only this week has the news broken that a Canadian family intends to take Epic Games to court over the addictive nature of Fortnite, which, they claim, has "ruined" the lives of their children. The case cites the classification of 'video...
News UK Doctors Can Now Refer Young Patients To Be Treated For Video Game Addiction
Specialist services for those aged 13 - 25
England's National Health Service (or NHS) is set to open the country's first specialist clinic designed to treat young patients suffering from video game addiction. Doctors can refer patients starting from today. The services will aim to help children and young adults aged from 13 to 25 who are considered...
Video Work Up A Sweat With This NES Indoor Cycling Game
Welcome to the RacerMate Challenge II
Indoor cycling has really taken off in recent years, with innovations made with modern smart turbo trainers such as the Wahoo Kickr combined with software such as Zwift, which offers cyclists who wish to get in some virtual miles in their pain caves a gamified experience as they can user power-ups to gain an...
Poll As "Gaming Disorder" Becomes A Thing, Is It Time To Assess How Much You Play?
Doctor WHO?
You can expect to hear a lot about the addictive nature of video games over the next few days, because the World Health Organisation has just published the latest draft of its updated International Classification of Diseases manual, and a, "gaming disorder," is listed as a genuine medical condition. It's been a long time...
News Devolver Digital Is Releasing A New SNES Game, And It's For A Worthy Cause
Buy a game, prevent mental illness
Devolver Digital and Megacat Studios are teaming up to create a brand-new SNES game which aims to raise awareness of mental health issues within the game development industry. Fork Parker’s Crunch Out was announced at the Game Developer Conference today, and is available to preorder...
Weirdness Switch's HD Rumble Helps Australian Man Discover Tumour In His Hand
"If it hadn’t been for the Switch I wouldn’t have gone to the doctors"
The Switch's HD Rumble is pretty impressive - but as Australian programmer Chris discovered, it has added benefits. Posting on Reddit, Chris explained that as a huge Nintendo fan, he bought a Switch early on. During one of his many heated Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sessions,...
"Common sense and objective research prove video games are not addictive"
The Entertainment Software Association trade group has criticised the World Health Organisation's decision to classify gaming addiction as a mental health disorder. The ESA says the report - which will be included in the WHO's 11th International Classification of...
News Gaming Addiction Is Officially A Disorder, According To The World Health Organisation
Should you stop waggling that joystick so much?
Do you find it hard to resist picking up the controller, even when it's at the cost of other important things in your life? You could be suffering from a mental disorder according to the World Health Organisation, which has just published its 11th International Classification of Diseases - the...
Random Game Boy Advance SP Screen Found Inside Electrocardiogram Machine
Quality of Life?
It's not out of the ordinary to find common, off-the-shelf parts in a wide range of consumer electronics, but a recent discovery by Twitter user Jan Henrik has us well and truly puzzled. Upon cracking open a Medical Imaging Electronics (MiE for short) ECG Trigger Unit, Henrik discovered that the machine's 240x160 pixel display...
News New Report Claims Pokémon GO Could "Measurably Affect US Life Expectancy"
Game has encouraged an additional 144 billion steps in the US alone
One of the key elements of Pokémon GO is walking - not only do you have to trek around to catch monsters and pillage PokéStops, but you also have to rack up steps to hatch eggs - and it has already been pointed out that the app encourages people to partake in additional physical...
Random Turns Out Mario Kart Might Make You A Better Driver In Real Life
Just don't thow any bananas skins, please!
Gamers rejoice - a recent study has revealed that playing action videogames can improve your real life driving skills. New York University Shanghai participants were trained by playing Mario Kart, using a steering-wheel controller to drive a go-kart on a track. The data showed that by playing Mario Kart the...
News Short Bursts Of Tetris Can Help To Control Certain Cravings, Claims Science
Games are good for you
A three minute block-busting blast on Tetris can curb the desire for food, alcohol and cigarettes, a team of researchers is claiming. A team of psychologists from Plymouth University and Queensland University of Technology conducted an experiment to monitor the impact of playing Tetris on a group of 31 participants aged...
News Don't Worry Colour-Blind Gamers, Splatoon Has Got Your Back
Ink-lusive to a fault
Being colour-blind is no laughing matter, especially if you're a keen gamer. Those of us fortunate enough not to suffer from the problem take it for granted just how many games rely on accurate colour perception; such titles are tricky to play if you can't tell one colour from another, and as a result, many colour-blind players...
News Animal Crossing Helped This Artist Get Through Her Chemotherapy Treatment
"The mundanity of it is really comforting"
Chicago artist Krystal DiFronzo was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma - a cancer of the blood - last August. Like all cancer suffers, she had to deal with a lot of worry and heartbreak, but found an unlikely aid in the Nintendo 3DS title Animal Crossing: New Leaf. DiFronzo has created a series - called...
News Actor Is Suing Nintendo After Suffering Heart Problems In A Sweltering Donkey Kong Suit
Legal teams are going bananas
When actor Parker Mills stepped into a Donkey Kong costume to promote the launch of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D at the Los Angeles Zoo last year, he most likely assumed the job would be a piece of cake — after all, what's better than being the mighty Kong for a day, right? However, Mills ended up earning more than...
News New Study Finds No Connection Between Video Game Violence And Its Real-World Equivalent
Report suggests violent games actually curb real-world crime
Whenever violence raises its ugly head there is the understandable desire to find a scapegoat, and over the entire course of human history this has often been the entertainment media. In the '50s it was music, in the '70s it was horror movies and from the '80s onwards, the blame has been...
News British Tabloid The Sun Brands Gaming "As Addictive As Heroin"
"The next level of mental health risk"
UK mainstream newspaper The Sun has launched an investigation which claims that video games are as addictive as the drug heroin. The report has been published in today's edition of the tabloid, and can be read online here behind a pay wall. The feature puts forward brain scans as evidence that violent titles...
Parent Trap Wii Fit U Accepts Our Varied Bodies
Family Gamer's Andy Robertson has another look at Nintendo's fitness title
Video games reflect wider society’s desire for the perfect body. Having children only presses this issue home and means I’m pickier about the shape of our video-game protagonists. However, I have been happily surprised then to see how Wii Fit U handles this. Rather than...
Video Family Gamer TV Is Putting Wii Fit U Through Its Paces This Christmas
Fight the flab
With Christmas approaching and the excess that goes with celebrating the season appropriately, our thoughts will soon be turning to reclaiming our former vigour. Don’t worry though — Wii Fit U is at hand, and what’s more you can try it for free for a month (up to January 31st). If you like it you can then get the full game by...
News UK Study Finds No Link Between Video Games And Behavioural Problems In Children
11,000 youngsters accessed in scientific research
A study by The University of Glasgow of around 11,000 children has found that no connection exists between playing video games at an early age and problems with behaviour later on in life. Researchers asked mothers to note the amount of time their children played games and to report on any issues...
News You'll Be Able To Use Wii Fit U For One Month Free Of Charge
Trial download available from November
Nintendo has announced that it will be giving Wii U owners the chance to fight the flab for free with a entirely gratis one-month trial of the forthcoming Wii Fit U. From November 1st, North American and European Wii U owners will be able to download the game from the Wii U eShop and take part in 77 different...
News New Study Suggests That Violent Games Are "Therapeutic" For Troubled Kids
Play as much Mortal Kombat as you like, young one
Video games have long been blamed for many of the ills of modern society, and violent titles such as Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto and Mortal Kombat are regularly used as scapegoats to explain tragic incidents, slipping moral standards or general delinquent activities. However, new research at...
News Nintendo "Didn't Know What To Do" With The Wii Vitality Sensor
Neuro-technology professor gives his take on the vapourware heart monitor
The Wii Vitality Sensor was announced in 2009 but has never seen the light of day — and Professor Roger Quy thinks he knows why. Speaking at the recent NeuroGaming Conference in San Francisco, Quy passed his own opinions on why the strange peripheral never made its way to...
News The Creator Of Retro City Rampage Suffered To Bring The Game To Market
Brian Provinciano is keen to work with Nintendo again, though
Vblank's Brian Provinciano has been speaking about the development of Retro City Rampage, and has revealed that getting the game finished came with a terrible price for him personally — it impacted his health. Talking to Wii's World, Provinciano explained the events surrounding the...
News Research Discovers That Old Timers Are Far Happier If They Game
Video games are good for you after all
It's not just surgeons who benefit from a spot of video gaming - old people do, too. A newly published academic study has concluded that older people are happier and gained a higher level of well-being through frequently playing computer games — even if only for short spells at a time. Researchers at the...
News Masahiro Sakurai's Arm Injury Impacts His Work On Smash Bros.
"Now I realize how important it is to have your health"
Kirby and Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai has revealed in the latest issue of Famitsu magazine that he's picked up a painful injury which is hindering his work — although it's worth pointing out that he stopped short of saying his situation will result in any kind of delay for the latest...