Second Life Bans Traditional Banking

Linden Labs recently announced a ban on all in-game banking institutions that "offer interest or any direct return on an investment" without the same government regulation that applies to banks in the real world.

SOURCE: Wired

This drastic step comes in reaction to the dissolution of the unregulated Ginko Financial, an in-game bank whose failure saw investors (read: players who had deposited money) lose the equivalent of $750,000.

The decision was widely seen as a necessary step by Linden Labs to avoid governmental intervention.Had the company not banned these unregulated banks, most presumed it was a matter of time before the state government of California (under whose laws Linden Labs operate) stepped in and forced regulations into every financial aspect of the title.

Linden Labs plans to remove all virtual ATMs and other such interest-granting banking institutions from the Second Life world by Jan. 22, 2008, and have politely asked "that between now and then, those who operate these 'banks' settle up on any promises they have made to other Residents."

A Career Where You Never Grow Old & You Never Grow Up

On Being a Visually Impaired Gamer

SOURCE: GameSpot
Note: The writer did such a great job of writing the article that I didn't feel it was right to change anything. These are only the highlights of the posting.

I'm often met with baffled statements such as "But how do you even read the computer screen?" and "How can you possibly play games if you're blind?" Well let me tell you folks, it isn't easy.

Playing video games, on the other hand, is an increasingly difficult venture. It seems odd that, with all of today's technology, video games are becoming less and less accessible.

I use a special "high contrast" color scheme which changes the background color of every web page and most applications to black and, by contrast, turns the text color to white. This simple inversion of the colors improves the clarity of what I am looking at by about 400%, since the darker background color is much easier on my eyes.

Grandia 3 opted for a much more "modern" look, with smaller text windows and brighter backgrounds. If it weren't for the game's voice acting, I would have had trouble ever completing the game because I wouldn't have been able to understand the story…

It seems the RPG trend nowadays is to move away from the classic turn-based formula and in to an action-RPG style.

… despite the increasing number of games released each year, there are fewer and fewer titles which someone like myself can successfully play.

There is also the matter of other accessibility features which are simple to implement but sometimes ignored; I once read the plight of a deaf gamer on a message board asking for a copy of Grandia 3's script because the game lacks a simple subtitle feature for its voice acted parts!

I recognize that innovation is important, especially in the video game industry, but that doesn't mean we need to ignore some of the simpler things in life. I find myself playing fewer games, and getting less excited about games, because I fear that every new title I purchase (or even rent) may simply be too difficult to play these days. I know which genres in general to avoid, but isn't there some way that the industry can take a look at the needs of all its users and try to find some way – even something simple like changing text colors or including subtitles – to make games playable for as many people as possible?

Perhaps one day the technology will be in place to correct all visual impairments, but until that day I can only hope that people sit up and take notice of others' plights and do their own part to help.

SOURCE: GameSpot

Video Games Aide in Physical Therapy

Final Fantasy Energy Drink - Are You Game?

Last year, Suntory came out with a limited edition set of Final Fantasy XII energy drinks as well as collectible bottles of Final Fantasy anniversary “potions.” When they first when on the shelves, it said that the sold out like mad, leaving convenience stores and supermarkets with empty racks in a week. They soon hit Ebay with prices set at $25 and above to be purchased by thirsty RPG geeks world wide.

Now, Suntory is back in collaboration with Square Enix with three new lines of tenth anniversary Final Fantasy VII potions and figures, and with a *bit* higher price tag than last time. The cans will be going for a mere $1.60, but the very cool potion bottle (limited to 77,777 pieces) will be traded for $32, which is nearly enough to get the game itself. In addition, there’s an entirely different set of eight cans combined with figures for $9 each which are limited to a million sets. Those are some hefty price tags for a “potion” that contains caffeine, B-Vitamins, and royal jelly, but that’ll never stop a thirsty gamer with plans to game all night long.

The Name of the Game Is Work

Source: Business Week

Corporations are increasingly using online games to recruit and train new employees, and just to better keep people in touch.

Companies around the world, including McKinsey & Co., Royal Philips Electronics (PHG), and Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development (JNJ) are bringing games with 3D computer graphics into the workplace to appeal to the generation raised on Nintendo (NTDOF.PK), World of Warcraft, and Second Life. They are using games to recruit new talent, improve communication between managers and their far-flung staff, and train employees and new hires at all levels.

My Virtual Career

Since 2000, McKinsey's German headquarters has run a computer game called CEO of the Future, based loosely on the popular NBC reality show The Apprentice. The goal is to cast a wider net for new talent. In 2007, nearly 5,000 managers and students from all over the world between the ages of 22 and 32 tried their hand at challenges such as starting a European insurance company in Korea or developing an R&D strategy for a new pain reliever made of a genetically modified fruit.

Next year, McKinsey has decided to make the game downloadable from a Web site so you can play offline and then upload the results. This way, those who don't have regular Internet access won't be penalized. In next year's version of the game, competitors will tackle renewable energy businesses, says Marco Ferber, a Stuttgart-based engagement manager at McKinsey. McKinsey has hired several past winners of CEO of the Future. In 2007, the winners (there was a tie) also received about $20,000 each.


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Do Video Game Opponents Just Suck?

Just in case you haven’t heard, anti video game protesters say, “video games will rot your brain!” Is that what they said about automobiles, Jazz and Rock n roll? Video games are just anther brain rotter to add to the list, regardless of the benefits it offers.

The force behind the rot is due to the discovery of a sex scene in some games which is only accessible if you hack the game… which of course is much more important than say the total count of how many zombies a player shoots up. Zombies have feelings and are people too…dead but they’re still people nevertheless.

The ‘give it a rest’ opponent believe video games can help prepare kids for the world they will end up working and living in. Video game fan Robert Florio who just happens to be paralyzed from the neck down is currently earning his bachelors degree in Videogame Art and Design with ambitions in creating My goal is to videogames for people with physical limitations.


Walter Reed Army Medical Center uses video games as a means of therapy for recovering soldiers. Chuck Ziegenfuss, a major in the Army and wounded in Iraq in 2005 said playing video games "gives them back a sense that they're normal," he said.

Today’s games force players to learn complex rule systems, follow shifting game environments in real time and prioritize between multiple objectives. Rules, decisions, thinking fast on your feet and being a team player are precisely the sorts of skills that employees need in the workplace.

What about the claims that violent video games lead to violent behavior? According to a variety of surveys today’s kids are less violent not more. Video Game Voters Network provides detailed information on the controversy of violence ad video games. Much of their information is provided and based on University studies, professional researcher documentation and healthcare reports. All of which prove that each and every one of us is responsible for our own actions.


Groups like Mothers Against Videogame Addiction and Violence say they are educating parents of “the world's fastest growing addiction and the most reckless endangerment of children today.”

Last time I checked (and I surf the web on a daily basis) I found that the fastest growing addiction for kids have always included:

• Fast Food / obesity
• Tobacco
• Drugs
• Alcohol
• Body image related addictions

I can not recall one article or news source listing video games as an "addition" let alone the “world's fastest growing addiction.”

MAVAV Articles include:
EverQuest: A Threat to Society?
Truth - EverQuest: Explore a realm of Adventure, Fantasy and Magic.

Oh yea….. Hordes of teenagers are threatening the existence of dragons world wide due to EverQuest. Stop the innocent killing of dragons!

Video Game Networks or Online Training Camps?

FOR EVIL! {baahaahaahaa}
Jeti Force: “you can stay up as late as you like and eat all the chocolate ice cream you want.”

E3: Evil Entertainment Expo
Truth - E3: The Electronic Entertainment Expo(E3) is the world's largest annual video game and entertainment industry conference where developers and journalists gather to witness the very latest games and technologies. This is where the iPhone was premiered...

Okay… that was a bad example maybe E3 is a little bit evil but so are a lot of industries… we don’t Mothers Against Videogames protesting cell phone use in their cars while driving. Lets see their driving records! I bet they’re not so spotless.

I have to wonder how many of those who attack these video games have spent much time trying to play them? Do they realize how hard they can be? Maybe they do realize how hard the games are and they just really suck at it…

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