TheXboxLife

A look into 12-17 year olds reveals that 99% of boys and 94% of girls play video games.

Every year, the Entertainment Software Association updates its industry facts and figures to underline just how widespread gaming is in the United States. According to this year’s update, 65 percent of American households play games.

That number will likely skyrocket in the coming years if a newly released Pew Internet Project report is anything to go by. Researchers recently surveyed 1,102 teenagers and found that 97 percent of those aged 12-17 played video games in some form, with 99 percent of boys responding affirmatively, compared to 94 percent of girls. There are a lot of frequent players as well, as half of the respondents said they’d played games in the past day.

As one might expect, the tastes of those 97 percent of teens who game are wide-ranging. Racing games had the most widespread popularity of any genre, with 74 percent of teens admitting to playing them. The puzzle genre was close behind with 72 percent, followed by sports (68 percent), action (67 percent), and adventure (66 percent).

Interestingly, Rhythm games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band were played by just 61 percent of respondents, only slightly higher than the strategy genre, which includes hardcore gaming staples like Starcraft and Command and Conquer. However, when asked for three favorite titles, the most commonly responded titles were (in order) Guitar Hero, Halo 3, Madden NFL, Solitaire, and Dance Dance Revolution.

The least popular genres listed were survival horror (32 percent), massively multiplayer online games (21 percent), and virtual worlds like Second Life or Habbo Hotel (10 percent).

Pew also surveyed parents of teens to gauge their attitudes toward gaming, and found that most parents were actually ambivalent on gaming’s impact on their kids. Some 62 percent of respondents said games didn’t affect their kids, with 19 percent believing them to be a positive influence, and 13 percent considering them a negative influence. Just 5 percent of parents said gaming could be either positive or negative, depending on the game in question.

SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — After warming their amps in the basement garage to rocking sold out shows at Stonehenge, fans of Activision, Inc.’s wildly popular Guitar Hero(TM) franchise will now be able to shred like never before with the next iteration of the game that will be available this fall. The new game will be released on the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system and PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Wii(TM) video game system from Nintendo.


Turning it up to 11, Guitar Hero fans will channel their inner rock god using Gibson Guitar’s Les Paul and Kramer models as the industry standard. In addition, players will experience an incredible number of newly added features and explosive content including a new multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a bevy of exclusive unlockable content and authentic rock venues. Expanded online multiplayer game modes will also allow axe-shredders worldwide to compete head-to-head for true legendary rock status.


While continuing to retain all the key features from their prior legendary performances, fresh downloadable content will be offered on multiple platforms, and players can now shred to a killer set list from many of the gnarliest rock songs ever recorded. Delivering more master tracks than ever before, strategic partnerships have been secured with all the major and independent music record labels and publishers to allow unrivaled access to their deep history of music catalogs, along with supplying artists’ original recordings for even greater authenticity.


The initial list of face-melting awesomeness includes: * Paint It Black (by The Rolling Stones) * Cherub Rock (by Smashing Pumpkins) * Sabotage (by Beastie Boys) * The Metal (by Tenacious D) * My Name is Jonas (by Weezer) * Knights of Cydonia (by Muse) * Rock And Roll All Nite (as made famous by Kiss) * School’s Out (as made famous by Alice Cooper) * Slow Ride (as made famous by Fog Hat) * Cult of Personality (by Living Colour) * Barracuda (as made famous by Heart)


For the first time ever, Guitar Hero fans will also be able to thrash and burn with new wireless guitar controllers available for each platform. The exclusive Gibson guitars will include innovative features such as removable faceplates that will allow fans to later personalize their guitars and make it their own, and a new button color design that will be integrated for an even greater authentic feel and rock experience. Gibson Guitar’s Les Paul model will be the battle axe of choice, and an industry standard for all rock gods on the Xbox 360(TM), PLAYSTATION(R)3 system, and Wii(TM). After much anticipation, PlayStation(R)2 system fans will also be receiving a new exclusive shape as well, the classic Kramer guitar, also a Gibson brand, popularized by hard rockers and known for its body design, pickups, electronics, and construction for furious finger fretting.


“The development team at Neversoft has been exceptional, and we’ve been able to incorporate a host of fresh new online and multi-player game play modes, along with exciting content into this version of Guitar Hero that our fans have been asking for. Also, many of the top bands and songs we’ve tried to get in the past are now on board, and we’ve definitely got some giant aces in the hole to say the least,” said Dusty Welch, head of publishing at RedOctane. “In addition, offering a new line of Gibson wireless guitars for each platform is going to truly add to the authentic rock star experience like no other.”


The next iteration of Guitar Hero, published by RedOctane(R) and developed by Neversoft, is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information about Guitar Hero, please visit the dedicated community site http://www.guitarherogame.com/.