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Hugh Pickens writes "Ken Gaebler discusses a new way of hiring called 'employment simulations,' which are gaining popularity among high-tech firms that are seeking data from prospective employees that you can't get from sit-down interviews. In a typical employment simulation, candidates participate in online 'video games' that leverage simulation software to determine how well candidates perform in actual job situations. 'There are no questions about your former work experience and office habits. There's simply a computer game. If you win, you get the job. If you lose, game over.' As one example, call centers are very amenable to simulations because the work environment (a series of computer programs and databases) is relatively easy to replicate and the tasks that make up job performance are easy to measure (data entry speed and accuracy, customer service, multitasking, etc). Other employment simulation programs have been written for healthcare, insurance, retail sales, financial services, hospitality and travel, manufacturing and automotive, and telecom and utilities. But skeptics say employment simulators and other computer-based hiring models have some drawbacks. 'Like any technology, the effectiveness of employment simulations is limited to the quality of the software and its accessibility to users,' says Gaebler."
New submitter albinobee writes "The Kinect for Xbox 360 isn't only about gaming; it can also be used to help compensate for impaired vision, as a team of Indian engineers is working to prove. A device called viSparsh, still in its nascent stage, is a motion sensing belt that can help alert the blind to obstacles that lie in their path."
Andy Hefner has a detailed blog post covering his quest to program an NES with the assistance of Common Lisp. He developed a new 6502 assembler, a mini-language for composing musical sequences, and a neat demo (rom image).
MojoKid writes "Historically, console add-ons that boosted the performance of the primary unit haven't done well. Any attempt to upgrade a system's core performance risks bifurcating the user base and increases work developers must do to ensure that a game runs smoothly on both original and upgraded systems. The other reason is that a number of games rely on very specific hardware characteristics to ensure proper operation. In a PC, swapping a CPU with 256K of L2 for a chip with 512K of L2 is a non-issue assuming proper platform support. Existing software will automatically take advantage of the additional cache. The Xbox 360, on the other hand, allows programmers to lock specific cache blocks and use them for storing data from particular threads. In that case, expanding the amount of L2 cache risks breaking previous games because it changes the range of available cache addresses. The other side of the upgrade argument is that the Xbox 360 has been upgraded more effectively than any previous console; current high-end versions ship with more than 10x the storage of the original, as well as support for HDMI and integrated WiFi. It would also forestall the decline in comparative image quality between console and PC platforms."
mikejuk writes "SuperPoke Pets is another casualty of Google's aggressive spring cleanup... But unlike other users of Google's trashed software, Superpoke users have decided to fight back with a class action. The aim is to recover the money they spend on virtual gold used as a currency to buy clothes for their virtual pets. The total 'amount in controversy' exceeds $5,000,000 — a sum that is credible given that there were at least 7,000,000 users. So if you are considering adding a virtual currency to your app you might want to think of the future."
redletterdave writes "San Francisco-based game developer Double Fine took to Kickstarter to fund its next game project, and so far, the studio has enjoyed unprecedented success through crowdsourcing. The project, which was announced by the studio's founder Tim Schafer on Wednesday night, has already raised more than $700,000 in less than 24 hours. The funding frenzy has set new Kickstarter records for most funds raised in the first 24 hours, and highest number of backers of all-time, though both of those numbers are still growing. Schafer says he will build a 'classic point-and-click adventure game' in a six-to-eight month time frame, and will document the entire production process for fans to observe and give input on the game's development, which 'will actually affect the direction the game takes.'"
Activisions Toy + Game combo is back for another round this year
Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure was a shock surprise last year, we weren’t expecting much when the toy and game combo was announced but after actually playing it, we were left pleasantly surprised. We aren’t surprised to see a new game in the series so quickly though, it is a Activision game and it was the top selling ’kids franchise’ last year in North America.
The new game is called Skylanders Giants, no Sypro in the title this time around. There will be 16 new Skylander characters both in game and in real life toy form, 8 of which will be giant sized along with 8 regular sized ones. Along with their big size the giant sized Skylanders have big powers as well.
The new Skylander toys will also have lights inbuilt into the toys, these lights will light when near a Portal of Power and the lights will also be reflected in game as well. Don’t worry if you bought all the toys out last year either as all the toys are forward compatible and all their stats will be available in the new game.
The press release also mentions that there will be new modes in Battle Mode, more options for head to head play. The game is coming to the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and handheld devices - most likely the 3DS but could also be the Vita and other mobile devices. The game is being developed by Toys for Bob again, it’s safe to assume the 3DS version will be done by Vicarious Visions.
Maybe a Wii U version will be on the cards this time around? Parents, time to open up the wallets!
No really, we didnt make this up
Jessica Mauboy, Michael Klim, Beyonce, Olivia Newton John and even the Queen have all been promotional figureheads for Nintendo in the past, but this time they’ve gone to the dogs. Literally.
Nintendo Of America is appointing the dog Uggie, famous for his role in The Artist to headline and help during Responsible Pet Owners Month. This of course means that Nintendo is promoting Nintendogs+Cats for this. Nintendo Australia have teamed up with the RSCPA here in Australia to spread the good word about treating animals right as well. The dog-pun filled press release is below.
In a move that’s got tails wagging from Hollywood to Manhattan, Nintendo of America is teaming up with Uggie, the talented Jack Russell terrier known to moviegoers as the canine co-star of The Artist. Starting today, Uggie will sink his teeth into a memorable new role as Nintendo’s first-ever “spokesdog,” spreading the word about the interactive fun of nintendogs™ + cats for the Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system.
To help celebrate February as Responsible Pet Owners Month, Uggie will lend a paw by showing how the game includes valuable tips on how people can maintain happy, healthy relationships with their furry friends in real life. Though he previously announced plans to retire after this year’s awards season, the chance to team up with Nintendo was too doggone good for Uggie to resist.
Uggie is no stranger to the spotlight, having appeared in numerous television commercials and films during the last decade. As Nintendo’s spokesdog, he’ll appear alongside his owner Omar Von Muller to promote nintendogs + cats and the Pearl Pink Nintendo 3DS system, which offers a wide range of wireless features and entertainment experiences that can be enjoyed in 3D without the need for special glasses. In particular, Uggie and his owner will show consumers how nintendogs + cats can not only provide players with an adorable, customizable companion but also teach them skills that can translate to real-world dog or cat ownership. With February as Responsible Pet Owners Month, it’s the perfect time for this partnership.
“Uggie didn’t have to sit up and beg for his role as Nintendo’s spokesdog,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “It’s truly our pleasure to work with a star of Uggie’s magnitude, especially to help animal lovers and portable gaming fans discover the fun of nintendogs + cats.”
With nintendogs + cats, players can use the Nintendo 3DS system’s built-in touch screen, camera and microphone to interact with their dog or cat in amazing ways to form a lasting friendship. Players can feed, train and care for their choice of more than 27 breeds of puppies, and can also care for a variety of lovable kittens. If they take their Nintendo 3DS systems when going out, players can exchange Mii™ characters, puppies, kittens and presents with other nearby players via a wireless connection using the StreetPass™ feature. Nintendo will soon be adding a free playable demo of nintendogs + cats to the Nintendo eShop, so players can download the game and check it out at no cost.
Remember that Nintendo 3DS features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.
For more information about nintendogs + cats, visit http://nintendogspluscats.nintendo.com.
Developer of popular digital download titles says the tide has turned for Nintendo online
Great developers on the Nintendos digital download services are few and far between, one of the good one has been Nicalis with them bringing Cave Story back to life on the Wii, in 3D on the 3DS. Eventually well get that and VVVVVV on the eShop in Australia, hopefully. Putting that aside for now, Nicalis president Tyrone Rodriguez has spoken to Destructoid not only professing his love for Nintendos new baby, the eShop but says that it goes further and that "The eShop, I feel, has really turned things around for Nintendo on the digital side because the storefront is heavily feature-driven."
Feature driven? What does he mean exactly? "Any publisher can still produce whatever it wants, similar to iOS in both regards. However, given the feature-oriented nature, the eShop is quasi-curated without being some lame PR line like, consciously developing a curated portfolio." Basically if youre making something good for the service Nintendo is likely to promote it heavily, rather then just get it lost in a sea of dreck like some of the titles on the App Store.
"Since the eShop is heavily feature-driven, this not only helps promote titles, it forces publishers and developers to make better games, hopefully. You want to get featured? You better have something good to show, curated or not."
Good news on the eShop / Nicalis front, VVVVVV recently passed PEGI classification, that should mean the game wont be too far away from us here in Australia.
Activisions Toy + Game combo is back for another round this year 
No really, we didnt make this up 
Developer of popular digital download titles says the tide has turned for Nintendo online 