Recession Bytes

And the bite is hard…

Everyone in the world is out there to make a dollar profit or two and when things start to slow down, we begin to see the demise of organisations that are not-for profit, but have immense impact on our society. Gaming is no exception, and I think in fact gaming can exaggerate the extremes due to the nature of how gaming appeals to our sense of self and success, we want what we want and will do anything to get it, if it appeals to our desires at the time.

The latest victim to the recession that will have immense impact to gaming circles is the gaming watch dog, National Institute on Media. It is closing down its doors due to as Walsh the founder says ” the current challenging economic environment”, or in assuming simple terms, not many dollars!

It is sad to hear… As a game store manager, I do at times feel the weight of responsibility in regards to what we sell and what people do and see in games. I believe that children should be protected from harming influences that could lead them into destructive behavior patterns and that could negatively affect our society as a whole. Adults are another matter entirely, they want and so they get as long as it remains within the confines of the law, although for some they will step over the confines of the law regardless of the consequences and this is where gaming is seriously influential, we can tout the law and get away with a mild slap on the hand held controller or respawn impediment. This is where watch dogs come in, helping us discern, who gets exposed to what.

But if in this economic environment that we live in means that these not-for profit watch dogs can no longer be viable does it point to how we are at risk of losing our ability to make informed decisions? Obviously National Institute on Media is not the only gaming watch dog around, but it is one with plenty of influence, and just makes one wonder is it the first in many that is the proverbial domino affect? Time will tell, and I hope that our sense of whats good and healthy will be able to overcome what is boiled down to the efficiency of the dollar.

GetThatGame Giveaway!

Win a brand new copy of Assassin’s Creed II for 360.

Send an ‘I want in’ message and the answer to the giveaway question to @schribblz on Twitter or GTG schribblz on Facebook or Text 021 1138 123 or even here in the schribblz blog comment box and go in to the draw for Assassin’s Creed 2 for 360.

Entry is open to anyone living in New Zealand and who can answer the question:

How much is GetThatGame’s shipping?

To find the answer check it out at GetThatGame.co.nz

Don’t forget to leave the answer in your message 😀

The winner will be chosen at random: Wednesday 23rd December at 6:00PM

Entries close Wednesday 23rd December at 5:59PM…so get those entries in!

Assassin’s Creed 2 is the follow-up to the title that became the fastest-selling new IP in video game history. The highly anticipated title features a new hero, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a young Italian noble, and a new era, the Renaissance. Assassin’s Creed 2 retains the core gameplay experience that made the first opus a resounding success and features new experiences that will surprise and challenge players. Assassin’s Creed 2 is an epic story of family, vengeance and conspiracy set in the pristine, yet brutal, backdrop of a Renaissance Italy. Ezio befriends Leonardo da Vinci, takes on Florence’s most powerful families and ventures throughout the canals of Venice where he learns to become a master assassin

Features

• BECOME A MASTER ASSASSIN
  Perfect your skills to become a master assassin where you brandish new weapons, learn to disarm enemies then use their weapons against them and assassinate enemies using both hidden blades.
• RENAISSANCE ITALY
  Italy in the 15th century was less a country and more a collection of city-states where families with political and economic strength began to take leadership roles in cities like Florence and Venice. This journey through some of the most beautiful cities in the world takes place in a time in history where culture and art were born alongside some of the most auspicious stories of corruption, greed and murder.
• A NEW-FOUND FREEDOM
  You will be able to perform missions when you want and how you want in this open-ended world that brings back free-running and adds elements such as swimming and even flying to the adventure. The variety in gameplay adds another layer for you to truly play through the game any way you choose.
• EZIO, A NEW ASSASSIN FOR A NEW ERA
  Ezio Auditore da Firenze is a young Italian noble who will learn the ways of the assassins after his family was betrayed and he looks to seek vengeance. He is a lady’s man, a free soul with panache yet has a very human side to his personality. Through him, you become a master assassin.
• DYNAMIC CROWD
  Discover a living, breathing world where every character is an opportunity for the player. Blending in with the crowd is easier, working with in-game characters provide ample rewards but can also lead to surprising consequences.