Experiment involved more than 14 million app players
Discounts tied to buying large quantities of virtual goods have little impact on profitability and do not increase the number of customers making purchases, according to economists at the University of Chicago. (more…)
UD researcher explores player reactions to characters’ exaggerated physiques
College students playing Japanese fighting video games often object to the unrealistic depictions of the characters, drawn with exaggerated and highly sexualized physiques, but they say the mechanics of the game itself are more important to them. (more…)
Professor, author Robertson discusses innovation evolution at Lego
When you hear Lego, if all you think about are shiny, plastic bricks and toys, think again. From a toy concept brought to life by a carpenter to tales of failed innovation truths that mirrored a Greek tragedy, the Lego story is about innovation and evolution, David Robertson told attendees at last week’s Chaplin Tyler Executive Leadership series lecture.
Robertson, professor of practice at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, presented “Rebuilding Lego” to 80 students, faculty, staff and community members on the University of Delaware’s Newark campus. (more…)
A onetime top 10-ranked “Halo” player, Alex Hebert-Ruiz is now at Microsoft, where she advocates for Xbox LIVE Arcade games when she’s not playing “Halo 4.”
REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 26, 2012 — Alex Hebert-Ruiz remembers the day she got her start as a gamer.
It was the Christmas she got a Barbie house and her brother got a Nintendo. She was 6, and she was hooked – on her brother’s gift.
“Don’t get me wrong, I loved my Barbie house,” she says, “but beating him at Duck Hunt was one of the great challenges of my young life.” (more…)
*MU researcher encourages capitalization on interest in screen-based technology, cautions against overuse*
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) tend to be fascinated by screen-based technology. A new study by a University of Missouri researcher found that adolescents with autism spend the majority of their free time using non-social media, including television and video-games.
“Even though parents and clinicians have often observed that children with ASD tend to be preoccupied with screen-based media, ours is the first large-scale study to explore this issue,” said Micah Mazurek, assistant professor in the School of Health Professions and the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. “We found that 64 percent of adolescents with ASD spent most of their free time watching TV and playing video and computer games. These rates were much higher than among those with other types of disabilities. On the other hand, adolescents with ASD were less likely to spend time using email and social media.” (more…)
*comScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni to Present Update on Q1 2011 E-Commerce Trends in Upcoming Webinar*
RESTON, VA, May 10, 2011 – comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released its Q1 2011 U.S. retail e-commerce sales estimates, which showed that online retail spending reached $38.0 billion for the quarter, up 12 percent versus year ago. This growth rate represented the sixth consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and second consecutive quarter of double-digit growth rates. (more…)
*Peter Molyneux, creator of the popular “Fable” games series and head of Microsoft Game Studios in Europe, recalls the highs and lows of a 22-year career in video games – a career that was just honored by two lifetime achievement awards.*
GUILDFORD, U.K. — April 15, 2011 – Peter Molyneux, one of the video game industry’s most celebrated designers and the creative force behind hits such as “Fable,” “Populous” and “Dungeon Keeper,” credits much of his 22-year career to a happy accident involving baked beans.
It happened shortly after he graduated from university. Molyneux already had tried his hand at game design and business without much success, and was searching for a way to make ends meet. When the father of his then-girlfriend suggested he start a company that exported baked beans to the Middle East, he went for it. (more…)
SEATTLE, Nov 23, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Amazon.com today launched Amazon.it (www.amazon.it), an Italian-
language website offering customers a vast selection of books, DVDs, video games, music and consumer electronics at everyday low prices. Launching with more categories than any other Amazon web site has launched with, the selection also includes computers, software, small home appliances, watches and toys. Amazon.it’s convenient services include Amazon Prime, the membership program with unlimited free guaranteed 2-3-day delivery at an annual fee of 9.99 Euros. (more…)
