So another day another hugely expensive and pointless report telling us things we already knew.
The basis of this morning's report by Interpret LLC, a supposed leading new media research firm, is that people in the UK (as well as the US and Japan) are still preferring to buy normal DVDs rather than Blu-Ray hi-def discs.
And how long did it take for this concensus to be determined?
Given the massive difference in price between the two (you can pick up five standard DVDs for £30 while a single Blu-Ray disc costs around £30 to £40), it's pretty obvious this would be the case.
I have a Blu-Ray player and and a DVD player and I still buy normal DVDs. The price is reason enough.
Okay, Blu-Ray picture and sound quality is far superior but I'm not sure I want to pay so much more for it.
Besides, to gain the optimum Blu-Ray experience you need to spend thousands of pounds on a an HD TV, a cinema surround sound system, and a Blu Ray player itself.
The research surmises that 'increased title availability may be the key to increasing Blu-ray buy rates' but fails to mention the obvious factor.
Meanwhile, further proof of life imitating video games has come with scientists adopting the Nintendo Wii remote controller to operate military robots.
The 'Wiimote' control system detects the controllers’ movement in three dimensions using wireless technology.
It is used to detect players’ motion on games from golf and tennis to shoot-em-ups and fighting simulators.
Now two scientists in the US have adopted the technology for real-life warfare, a leading science magazine reported last week.
The US Department of Energy centre has adopted a mine-clearing robot to be directed by the Wii controller.
The Packbot, used by the US military, disposes of bombs and can even carry a machine gun.
The scientists found traditional controllers took up too much of the operator’s attention.
But they found using the Wiimote was more instinctive, allowing them to concentrate on the data the robot gathered.
The scientists also plan to use the Apple iPhone for military use. They say it could replace the laptops carried by soldiers to receive data from the robots.
A new strategy has also announced that video games will be forced to carry cinema-style age classifications to improve children’s safety in the digital age.
A psychologist has called for an overhaul of games classification.
At present, only games showing sex or gross violence require an age rating from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) and less than 2 per cent carry an 18 certificate.
A new legally-binding system would ensure that every game is rated in the same way as films, with U (Universal), PG (Parental Guidance), 12, 15 and 18.
Here are the best games of the week:
Title: Condemned 2: Bloodshot
Platform: PS3
Genre: Survival Horror
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
A spine-tingling sequel to the Xbox 360 smash-hit, Condemned 2 is another trip down a dark, supernatural storyline in the shoes of Ethan Thomas, the hero of the first title.
It won’t take you long to find out that this game is all about creepy scenarios, frenetic melee combat and a story with more paranormal bits and pieces to it than an episode of Most Haunted.
Combine the spooky ambience with improved forensic investigatory areas and you have a fine survival horror title on your hands, best played in the dark with the sound turned right up!
Title: Dark Sector
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Shooter
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Third-person shooters have to be pretty special to stand out from the crowd these days, and Dark Sector has a couple of tricks up its sleeve to make it well worth spending some time with.
The super-sharp steel Glaive (or boomerang) makes a refreshing change from guns galore as you battle your way through the usual host of marauding monsters before facing various big, bad bosses.
The control and cover system works extremely well, and this weapon is a dream to play with.
Couple that with some of the best graphics you’re likely to see on Xbox 360 and you have more than enough to make this worth seeking out.
Title: M&Ms Kart Racing
Platform: Wii
Genre: Racing
RRP: £29.99
Hit count: 1/5
Let’s get one thing straight from the off, no matter how bad this game is, it won’t stop the chocolates tasting as good as good as they always have. And there is the start and end of the good news.
This is a shocking kart-racer, stuck a decade behind its time, offering gamers absolutely nothing that they haven’t seen before, though no doubt more flawed than any comparison titles.
Confusing racetracks, but still ridiculously easy to win, and with a single-tuned sound track that will send you mad. Please just stick to eating M&Ms, rather than racing with them.
Title: Dora Saves The Mermaids
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Action
RRP: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
With both eyes firmly on the pre-school market, Dora is on a mermaid-saving mission, stopping an evil octopus from dumping rubbish in the ocean.
How can the under-5s achieve this? By completing a series of pretty simple mini-games, including obstacle courses and treasure-hunting, of course.
All of which is pretty simple, harmless fun, but is still unlikely to hold the attention of its target audience for too long.
The DS is capable of so much more, and this feels a little light for the price.
Title: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring Of Fates
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
RRP: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
Cracking characters, a wonderful world to explore and the kind of RPG adventure we’ve come to expect from the Final Fantasy stable, Ring of Fates is a welcome addition to Nintendo’s DS.
Although many of the battles are relatively straightforward in terms of hacking and slashing, there’s so much more on offer in the vast world you have to explore, backed up by some truly amazing handheld visuals and DS audio to die for.
Fans of Final Fantasy will already have this game earmarked, but everyone else should seriously consider a trip into this hugely enjoyable fantasy universe.
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