LOS ANGELES – About half of the Americans who play video games say they are choosing to watch less television and go to fewer movies so they can spend more time enjoying games, according to research by the Entertainment Software Association.
Specifically, of the 180 million people who play video games, 52 percent said they are watching less television as a result, 47 percent are going to cinemas less often, and 41 percent watch fewer movies at home, according to the video-game industry's main trade association. The ESA released the study Thursday at the E3 video-game conference here.
The shift in media consumption shows the growing power of the $10 billion video-game industry, which rivals Hollywood in revenue. Analysts have said the industry threatens advertising-based businesses, because desirable audiences like young males aren't paying attention to traditional media like television anymore.
The ESA also said about 61 percent of video-game players are male, 36 percent are under 18 years old and 26 percent are between 18 and 35. A quarter of them are over 46.
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Dual display on display: Nintendo showed off an array of upcoming titles for its innovative dual-screened, stylus-based handheld game system – code-named the Nintendo DS – Wednesday at E3.
Some games were nearly ready for production while some were only technical demos. Many made interesting use of the system's vertically stacked, dual-LCD screens, but all focused on the unique game play made possible with the system's lower screen, a stylus-based touch panel.
Metroid Prime: Hunters was the most polished game in the presentation. A first-person shooter with multiplayer death-match and single-player modes, Hunters' main character is controlled with a combination of the DS' touch pad and traditional directional pad. Players move around with the directional buttons and look around by dragging the stylus.
The Nintendo DS is expected to launch this year in Japan and the United States, with a first-quarter European launch to follow in 2005. Nintendo hasn't set a price yet, but industry people expect it to go for between $150 and $200.
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Sony gets personal: Sony showed off its new handheld game player, the PlayStation Personal, at the conference Wednesday. E3 attendees had to wait in a long line to get access to several demo units.
Sony didn't have any playable games on the show floor, in contrast to Nintendo, but it did perform a host of demonstrations to show off the PSP's graphics and media capabilities. Some of the units on display were running movie trailers. And Sony showcased the system's proprietary UMD discs, which look like miniature CDs but store games and movies.
The PSP is currently scheduled to launch this year in Japan and in March 2005 in the United States. Pricing has not yet been announced, but industry buzz suggests a low of $250 and a high of $300.
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Sims seeks street cred: Electronic Arts' Maxis studio will release an edgier, urban version of The Sims this November, the company announced Wednesday at E3.
Called The Urbz: Sims in the City, the game is EA's latest update to its Sims franchise. Yet The Urbz, which will be available for PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube and Game Boy Advance, isn't initially planned for the PC.
In The Urbz, players control avatars known as Sims in an urban neighborhood. Rather than trying to keep players' Sims happy, as in The Sims, Urbz players work to boost the reputations of their Sims in the city. To do that, Sims must find jobs – and must suck up to the hippest urban Sim of all, Darius, to find out what's available.
EA has incorporated Sony's EyeToy into The Urbz, allowing players to shoot their own pictures and blend them into the game. As their Sims' reputation grows, the player's picture begins to appear around "town," on billboards and other public signs. The more times it appears, the bigger the Sims' reputation.
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Sims 2, too: EA is also about ready to release The Sims 2, the sequel to one of the best-selling games ever. After delaying the game's release, EA now says Sims 2 will hit shelves for PCs on Sept. 17.
In Sims 2, everything is bigger and better than in the first version. Avatars look better, the landscape is cleaner and there's much more to do. At the same time, players won't have to spend all their time taking care of their Sims. In Sims 2, the Sims do a much better job of taking care of themselves. Instead, players concentrate on helping their Sims live out their hopes, dreams and aspirations.
Screenshots and demos of the game have highlighted some racy scenes, including lesbian lovers, skimpy outfits and Sims clearly anticipating (presumably off-screen) hanky-panky.
What's more, Sims with kids now pass on their DNA to their offspring. A red-haired Sim is liable to have a red-haired kid. The game lets players view the family tree of any Sim – useful in finding out if anyone's been fooling around.
