December 9, 2009
Prof: Family-friendly game systems corner holiday tech toy market
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Games that attract both young and old are sure to be the hot-ticket tech items for Christmas gifts this year, says a Purdue University professor."Game systems that offer titles that appeal to all ages will definitely be popular buys this season," says Bill Watson, an assistant professor of curriculum and instruction in educational technology and director of the Purdue Center for Serious Games and Learning in Virtual Environments. "Also, games that feature some sort of fitness component or music element continue to be high in demand."
Watson offers the following options for those thinking of buying high-tech gaming systems this year:
* Nintendo Wii: The supply has finally caught up with the demand for this item, and its price has lowered, Watson says. Its focus on natural, intuitive controls and library of games for the casual gamer solidify it as a family-friendly option. Offering hit titles such as "Wii Fit" and "EA Sports Active," it will continue to be the most popular game system of the season, he says.
* Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PS3: These gaming systems also have dropped in price, making them an attractive gift option this Christmas, Watson says. Their ability to function as both media and game centers boosts their appeal. They support robust online gaming options and allow users to download and store photos, music and even movie rentals. The PS3 is a good buy for those wishing to upgrade to high-definition DVDs, as it also is a Blu-ray DVD player, Watson says.
* Nintendo DS: Everyone from young children to adults can enjoy this handheld game device, Watson says. It offers a wide variety of games that can be played on the go. Games range from youth-oriented titles such as "Nintendogs" or "Mario Cart," to those for mature audiences such as "Brain Age" or the "Personal Trainer" and "My Coach" series, which offer instruction in topics such as exercise, yoga, cooking and learning a foreign language.
Games such as "Beatles Rock Band" and "DJ Hero" are popular choices this season, and can be bought for the Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3.
For shoppers finished buying this year's gifts, Watson offers a tip for a hot item to watch next holiday season: Project Natal, by Xbox 360. The product's Web site states that this gaming system will be operated without game controllers, using gestures or spoken commands instead.
"Early reports have been very positive," Watson says. "There is still quite a bit of speculation about what it will actually be like, but Microsoft has promised to revolutionize gaming as we know it."
"It's definitely worth keeping your eye on for Christmas next year."Writer: Natalie Palmer, ncfox@purdue.edu
Source: Bill Watson, 765-494-9735, brwatson@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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