As gaming systems become increasingly integrated with the physicality of the gamer, developers are seizing upon the intricacies of our actual environments for new ways of having fun on-screen. Aspyr’s Treasure World for Nintendo’s DS and DSi handhelds is one such attempt to bridge the gap between the real and the pixelated, launching players on a virtual treasure hunt that requires exploring one’s surroundings for actual wireless networks. Real-life WiFi spots are converted into in-game “treasure,” which can be traded in for items. The game can even be played with the handheld closed—at which point one is literally just wandering [...]

According to the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA), video game sales in the UK has hit an all time record high of 82.8 million in sales.  Consumers spent over £4 billion in total on video game related items and many are pointing to the incredible success of blockbuster titles like Grand Theft Auto 4 and World of Warcraft.  Another reason for growth is the expansion of the marketplace to casual gamers and the ability for each console appeal to different types of gamers.  The Nintendo Wii, DS, Microsoft Xbox 360 and even the Sony Playstation 3 all reported [...]

Parents might need to rethink telling their children to spend less time on their handheld video game consoles: Nintendo has just announced their new partnership with book publisher HarperCollins to develop a package that transforms the DS into a portable e-reader and offers a collection of 100 classic books.  Available titles with the Dec. 26 UK release include works by Shakespeare, Jane Austen and Mark Twain – not necessarily the lightest reading to connect with the youth audience.
We’re inspired by anything that encourages people to read, but we’ll be curious to see if the DS can translate this extra level [...]