Make that gear in color
Video games are no longer just a form of entertainment for children and young adults alone, and the old stereotypes of a gamer no longer apply. The Entertainment Software Association’s “2008 Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry” shows that 65 percent of American households play computer and video games. The research also reveals other interesting demographic facts about today’s gamers and the games they play, including:
- The average gamer is 35 years old and has been playing for 13 years.
- Forty percent of all players are women and women over 18 years of age are one of the industry’s fastest growing demographics. Today, adult women represent a greater portion of the game-playing population (33 percent) than boys age 17 or younger (18 percent).
- In the US, 26 percent of game players are over the age of 50, an increase from nine percent in 1999. This figure is sure to rise in coming years with nursing homes and senior centers across America now incorporating video games into their activities.
- Thirty-eight percent of homes in the US have a video game console.
- Fifty-six percent of online game players are male and 44 percent are female. Thirty-six percent of heads of households report they play games on wireless devices such as a cell phone or PDA, up from 20 percent in 2002.
- Ninety-four percent of the time parents are present at the time games are purchased or rented. Seventy-five percent of parents believe that the parental controls available in all new video game consoles are useful. In addition, sixty-three percent of parents believe games are a positive part of their children’s lives.
Force feedback wheel for Wii
For a more realistic driving experience on the Wii, get Logitech’s Speed Force Wireless racing wheel — the first force feedback wheel for the popular gaming platform. Licensed by Nintendo, Logitech’s newest force feedback wheel works with Electronic Arts’ Need for Speed Undercover and paves the way for more force feedback racing titles on the Wii console.
If you’re unfamiliar with force feedback game controllers you need to understand that when you’re playing a racing game, standard controllers don’t let you feel all the excitement that makes racing with force feedback technology the closest you can get to the real thing. Force feedback, unlike vibration feedback or rumble technology, creates directionally precise, tactile feedback that accurately simulates forces experienced in the game. Through the use of advanced software and electronics, force feedback moves a steering wheel as if the device were subject to real external forces.
Easy to set up and store, the Logitech Speed Force Wireless features a one-piece design that is convenient to use whether you’re sitting on your couch, armchair or living room floor. The built-in gas and brake controls are located on the wheel itself and the expandable lap rest is easily adjusted — allowing for comfortable game play without the need to use a table or a desk. Plus, familiar Wii controls make navigating game menus a snap.
To help you minimize clutter, the Logitech Speed Force Wireless eliminates the console cable. With Logitech’s 2.4 GHz wireless technology, you can enjoy lag-free racing from up to 30 feet away from the console. To start racing, just connect the USB receiver to the Wii console, plug in the wheel’s power cord, put in Need for Speed: Undercover, adjust the lap rest to a comfortable position and wait for the race to begin. There’s no mounting or assembly involved. And when you’re ready to put it away, the USB receiver can be stowed in a convenient compartment on the bottom of the wheel. The Logitech Speed Force Wireless racing wheel is expected to be available in November for $99.99.
Tee off with Tiger Woods
Electronic Arts has released Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 09. An all-new addition to this year’s game is Performance Coach featuring personalized gameplay via Tiger Woods’ swing coach, Hank Haney. He will assist gamers as they hit the links and try to advance their career to win the FedExCup. Following each round, Haney will deliver customized feedback on a player’s performance. This feedback system allows all gamers, rookies or pros, to compete and enjoy the game at any level. In Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 09, a player’s skill level is dynamic, constantly adjusting throughout the round just as it would during a real afternoon of golf.
Also new to the game is Club Tuner, which gives gamers the opportunity to calibrate their clubs to fit their personal tendencies and preferences. Players can test and customize their driver, fairway woods, irons and wedges. The Club Tuner allows gamers the ability to create a bag of clubs that fit specific course conditions or needs, but strategy will come into play as gamers must weigh the risks of club performance versus ease of use.
The online experience for Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 09 has been significantly improved, from enhancements and all-new features within EA SPORTS GamerNet to an all-new game engine powering simultaneous play within the game. New to GamerNet, which is an interactive gaming hub that hosts user-created gameplay online, are Instant Challenges, seamless integration into gameplay and all-new daily leaderboards. The new online engine in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 09 and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 09 All-Play gives as many as four players the ability to play each hole at the same time, allowing players to swing when they are ready and experience a round of golf even faster and more competitive than ever before.
