Hacking the PSP Blog

Virtools Releases PSP Solution

Representatives from Dassault Systèmes have announced the release of the latest in their Virtools solution packages, this time dedicated to development for Sony's PSP, which promises faster and easier development for the handheld.

Dassault's Virtools framework combines GUIs, graphical and text scripting, debug tools, and APIs such as behavior and render engines, as well as asset integration plug-ins, giving developers better flexibility and performance when working on PlayStation Portable titles.

Originally created as a solely a PC tool and offering fast prototyping as well as commercial product development, Virtools is framed within a drag-and-drop interface. Virtools lets users add complex behaviors and schematics to models and objects completed in standard 3D authoring packages. The preview window shows the transformation of the models in real time, making it easier to simulate, prototype, and experiment with various scenarios.

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Brandon Boyer
December 6, 2006

Check out Virtools in action here...

Source: Gamasutra

FTC Moves to Unmask Word-of-Mouth Marketing

The Federal Trade Commission yesterday said that companies engaging in word-of-mouth marketing, in which people are compensated to promote products to their peers, must disclose those relationships.

In a staff opinion issued yesterday, the consumer protection agency weighed in for the first time on the practice. Though no accurate figures exist on how much money advertisers spend on such marketing, it is quickly becoming a preferred method for reaching consumers who are skeptical of other forms of advertising.

Word-of-mouth marketing can take any form of peer-to-peer communication, such as a post on a Web blog, a MySpace.com page for a movie character, or the comments of a stranger on a bus.

As the practice has taken hold over the past several years, however, some advocacy groups have questioned whether marketers are using such tactics to dupe consumers into believing they are getting unbiased information.

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Annys Shin
December 12, 2006

Source: Washington Post

Japan is seeing pink...Pink PSPs that is

Yup, we know, most of you do not like the Pink PSP. It's too bad that only Japan PSPs are coming in three new colors, the blue PSP (coming on December 21), the silver PSP (out on December 14), and the Pink PSP which debuted last November 22. Well, even if most of you abhor the Pink gaming handheld from Sony, Japan is apparently going ga-ga over it.

According to reports from ITmedia, the Pink PSP is doing quite well, with 70% of female audience belonging to the 20-40 demographic buying one for themselves (wait, does that mean the remaining 30% are guys?!). Well, we don't really know why they are buying it, could be to play LocoRoco or to get that Samantha Thavasa pink pouch. This just goes to show that something as simple as changing colors could expand the PSP's market.

This is welcome news for Sony as there are reports that the Nintendo DS is dominating the Japanese market. With two more PSP colors coming in, we wonder how that would affect Sony's performance.

Source: PSPUpdates

Ladies who got videogame at the 2007 CES

Attention all you male chauvinist gamer pigs, pretty soon videogames won't be a man's world. The lady gamers are moving in and the signs are everywhere. A new magazine, play vanilla, just for lady gamers is coming out next year. The Frag Dolls and the PMS, both all female FPS clans are kicking ass with their skills. And why do you think Sony rolled out the Pink PSP and Nintendo their fashion accessories-friendly colored DS?

But the biggest proof that estrogen and testosterone are destined to collide is "Understanding the Female Gamer" - a panel discussion for targeting female gamers and other non-traditional players at the 2007 International CES in Las Vegas. Moderated by Ismini Boinodiris Roby, the panel is made up of notable gaming experts including Mary Margaret Walker and Sheri Graner Ray.

While their names may sound like they're more at home baking cookies and folding the laundry, they are women on forefront of the movement. Roby is co-founder and Chief Editor of WomenGamers.com. Walker is CEO and co-founder of Mary-Margaret.com, a leader in international recruitment services for the interactive entertainment industry, while Ray is a Game Design Consultant and author of "Gender Inclusive Game Design."

These ladies will be joined by Robert Riedl, Executive Producer, Her Interactive, Inc. and Jason Rubinstein, Senior Director of Global Product Marketing, Mobile Devices Business, Motorola, Inc.

This session will focus on a Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) survey which found that women gamers outnumber men gamers in the 25-34 age group. Yes, guys, if you're in that age group you're in the minority. Better get used to the idea of being pwned by the girls every now and then.

Source: PSPUpdates