Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[This Unreal Pokemon Center is unreal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/13/this-unreal-pokemon-center-is-unreal/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/13/this-unreal-pokemon-center-is-unreal/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/13/this-unreal-pokemon-center-is-unreal/#comments This Pokemon Center is unrealEnvironment Artist Evan Liaw recently had some fun with the Unreal engine, and used it to create a Pokecenter from Nintendo's Pokemon series with a realistic twist.

Head over to Liaw's site to see more pictures of the fantastic interpretation of the Pokemon clinic. We can't tell if we're more or less excited for Pokemon X and Y now. It certainly makes us want a different Pokemon game.

JoystiqThis Unreal Pokemon Center is unreal originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Jan 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artcoolenvironmentevan-liawpokecenterPokemonUnrealunreal-engineSun, 13 Jan 2013 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Greenpeace calls out Nintendo, Microsoft in 'Greener Electronics' report]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/10/greenpeace-calls-out-nintendo-microsoft-in-greener-electronics/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/10/greenpeace-calls-out-nintendo-microsoft-in-greener-electronics/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/10/greenpeace-calls-out-nintendo-microsoft-in-greener-electronics/#comments We were really hoping that Nintendo and Microsoft could rally after their near-bottom finishes in former annual iterations of Greenpeace's green business practice rankings -- after all, we bet they're pretty sick of getting beat by Nokia. (Ewwww!) Unfortunately, this latest "Guide to Greener Electronics" report (.pdf link) looks a lot like all the previous ones: Nintendo finished dead last, and Microsoft finished not far behind. Sony, on the other hand, finished a bit closer to the middle of the road.

Nintendo gets bashed for its increased greenhouse emissions and for failing to control its e-waste recycling. Microsoft, which fell from 15th place to 17th since last year, lost points for not following the statutes set by the "Restriction of Hazardous Substances in electronics directive." Sony did relatively well in most categories, but also lost a few points for its e-waste management. You know what this means, right? Greenpeace is obviously just a shadow organization for PS3 fanboys. We knew it all along!

JoystiqGreenpeace calls out Nintendo, Microsoft in 'Greener Electronics' report originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSenvironmentenvironmentally-friendlygreengreenpeacemicrosoftnintendosonyWiiXbox-360Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Famous movie scenes recreated using game development tools]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/famous-movie-scenes-recreated-using-game-development-tools/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/famous-movie-scenes-recreated-using-game-development-tools/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/famous-movie-scenes-recreated-using-game-development-tools/#comments
The Game Artist forums recently held a competition to determine who could best recreate a scene from a movie in a real-time game environment. The winners were a trio of forum users, going by the names of shadows, in3d, and Alina, who appropriately called themselves "The Replicants." They recreated the the classic Blade Runner scene you see above, and we're sure we don't have to tell you why it's the best of the bunch.

Rounding out the rest of the winners were scenes from Hook (Ruffio! Ruffio! Ruf-ee-oh!), X2: X-Men United, I am Legend, and Aliens. You can blast your eyeballs with those entries by clicking here.

[Via Fidgit]

JoystiqFamous movie scenes recreated using game development tools originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 May 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aliensblade-runnerbladerunnerenvironmenthooki-am-legendx2x2-xmen-unitedThu, 07 May 2009 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony to stop using frustrating, wasteful clamshell packaging]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/20/sony-to-stop-using-frustrating-wasteful-clamshell-packaging/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/20/sony-to-stop-using-frustrating-wasteful-clamshell-packaging/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/20/sony-to-stop-using-frustrating-wasteful-clamshell-packaging/#commentsFiled under:


Earlier this year, CNET published a report stating that the retail usage of clamshell packaging (sealed hard plastic shells often used to pack electronics) is nearing extinction due to high production costs and environmental concerns. Amazon was the first to switch over to "Frustration Free Packaging", a service they offer which packs certain items in easy-to-open recyclable cardboard. Shortly thereafter, the New York Times reported that other companies, such as Best Buy, Microsoft and Sony would soon shuck the use of clamshells as well.

At least one-third of that report appears to be true -- Sony recently announced that they'd stop shipping their electronics in the laceration-prone packaging, and are working on finding a "new alternative" which they'd implement soon. To display their dedication, they even made a promotional video for their latest internal business conference. It's posted after the break, and is cheesy enough to instantly kill any lactose-intolerant viewers. You've been warned.

Continue reading Sony to stop using frustrating, wasteful clamshell packaging

JoystiqSony to stop using frustrating, wasteful clamshell packaging originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clamshellenvironmentpackagingretailsonySat, 20 Dec 2008 18:13:00 EST<![CDATA[NRDC: Wii is greenest console of them all]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/nrdc-wii-is-greenest-console-of-them-all/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/nrdc-wii-is-greenest-console-of-them-all/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/nrdc-wii-is-greenest-console-of-them-all/#commentsFiled under:


The NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) recently decided to put all of this generation's consoles through their paces and see which console reigns supreme in the eco-friendly department. As we've heard in the past, the Wii has pretty much dominated all of the competition in each field of study. When looking at power consumption, the Wii only uses 16 watts, compared to the 119 watts of the Xbox 360 and 150 watts of the PS3.

The full NRDC study can be seen here. Warning: it's pretty much all in pdf format.

See also: Nintendo vs. Greenpeace

[Via Examiner]

JoystiqNRDC: Wii is greenest console of them all originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eco-friendlyenvironmentgreennatural-resources-defense-councilnrdcFri, 21 Nov 2008 15:29:00 EST<![CDATA[EPA wants greener consoles starting in 2010]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/epa-wants-greener-consoles-starting-in-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/epa-wants-greener-consoles-starting-in-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/epa-wants-greener-consoles-starting-in-2010/#commentsFiled under:


While they're not as crazy as, say, Greenpeace, the EPA is concerned about the energy uses of home consoles. They plan to introduce new energy requirements for home consoles starting July 1, 2010 as part of its Energy Star program. These new requirements include an auto off function, a sleep mode for television/display, power scaling and a wireless access point function that will use less than 10 watts of power.

Seeing as how the Wii already uses less power than its competitors, it shouldn't be too much of a hassle for Nintendo to include these functions. Why 2010 though? The EPA hopes that's enough lead time for console manufacturers to institute these new features.

[Via 1UP]

JoystiqEPA wants greener consoles starting in 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>energy-starenvironmentenvironmental-protection-agencyepagreengreenpeaceFri, 17 Oct 2008 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Wal-Mart gaming blog holds 'green gaming summit']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/wal-mart-gaming-blog-holds-green-gaming-summit/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/wal-mart-gaming-blog-holds-green-gaming-summit/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/wal-mart-gaming-blog-holds-green-gaming-summit/#commentsFiled under:


We couldn't help but feel a little guilty as we read about a recent "green gaming summit" held by Wal-Mart's gaming blog, Check Out. Perhaps it was the revelation that our consoles, which we constantly leave running in case of emergencies, waste as much energy in a year as six refrigerators. Perhaps it was the knowledge that our towering stack of plastic game cases released more greenhouse emissions during their creation than the average mid-sized car. Perhaps it was the fact that we read the article by light provided by a stack of burning tires and cans of hairspray that we keep in our foyer.

The meeting of minds, which in addition to the retail behemoth's ludological division had representatives from Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, Activision and Electronic Arts in attendance, resulted in the discussion of new industry practices that would focus on environmental sustainability, such as cardboard game cases and reduced-power standby modes for consoles. We suggest reading Check Out's write-up of the summit for a highly interesting (if not slightly inconvenient) read.

JoystiqWal-Mart gaming blog holds 'green gaming summit' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>check-outenvironmentgreen-gaming-summitwal-martSat, 30 Aug 2008 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamer 2.0 looks at gaming and global warming]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/11/gamer-2-0-looks-at-gaming-and-global-warming/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/11/gamer-2-0-looks-at-gaming-and-global-warming/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/11/gamer-2-0-looks-at-gaming-and-global-warming/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We all know that driving, washing dishes and leaving our kerosene-fueled chlorofluorocarbon generators on all night are killing the environment. But what toll is the important stuff -- video games -- taking? Gamer 2.0 has recently uploaded a piece on just that topic, an examination of just how sad your video game habit is making the planet.

We won't give the whole thing away here, but the general idea seems to be that video games aren't great, but not as bad as some things you could be doing. It's a great comfort, and not only because Plutobase Joystiq is only 75 percent complete. We're also hopeful it will keep horrifying Gallagher/Earth from killing us in our sleep.

JoystiqGamer 2.0 looks at gaming and global warming originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>environmentenvironmentalenvironmentalismglobal-warmingPS3WiiXbox-360Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA['Break'-ing news: New Fracture trailer explores plot]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/01/break-ing-news-new-fracture-trailer-explores-plot/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/01/break-ing-news-new-fracture-trailer-explores-plot/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/01/break-ing-news-new-fracture-trailer-explores-plot/#commentsFiled under: ,


We've been intrigued by the terraforming gameplay we've seen from past previews of Fracture, spurring our curiosity about what little details we knew about the plot of the game. The developers at LucasArts, much like the man from which their name was derived, usually imbue their games with fantastic storytelling -- particularly in those rare releases that don't involve lightsabers and Bothans. The above trailer's themes of civil war and environmentalist undertones definitely provide the base for an interesting plotline; we just hope the game's writers can keep up, providing us with an unorthodox FPS protagonist -- one who is capable capable of weaving polysyllabic words into complete sentences.

Joystiq'Break'-ing news: New Fracture trailer explores plot originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 01 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>environmentenvironmentalistfpsfracturelucasartsplotPS3trailerXbox-360Sun, 01 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo responds to Greenpeace (again)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/nintendo-responds-to-greenpeace-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/nintendo-responds-to-greenpeace-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/nintendo-responds-to-greenpeace-again/#commentsFiled under:

Greenpeace has had it in for Nintendo for quite some time now. Despite the Wii being the biggest thing since sliced bread, they've taken up the position of the minority in opposing the system. No, not because of its features or games, but because of Nintendo's supposed lack of caring regarding our environment.

Following the latest blow struck by Greenpeace, Nintendo has responded with, well, basically what they did last time. "Nintendo has not been badly rated by Greenpeace," said a Nintendo spokesperson. "Greenpeace chose to conduct a survey and produce a report, which graded companies upon the voluntary submission of information."

Nintendo went on further to say that they "fully comply with all the necessary EU Directives on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances aimed at environmental protection and consumer health and safety. Furthermore, in order to ensure our products are safe for use by young children we also take into consideration the standards applicable to toys."

[Via CVG]

JoystiqNintendo responds to Greenpeace (again) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 May 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eco-friendlyenvironmentgreenpeacetoxinsThu, 22 May 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Greenpeace disassembles consoles, checks toxin levels]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/greenpeace-disassembles-consoles-checks-toxin-levels/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/greenpeace-disassembles-consoles-checks-toxin-levels/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/greenpeace-disassembles-consoles-checks-toxin-levels/#commentsFiled under: ,


Greenpeace is at it again. In disassembling the three major home consoles on the market, they came to some interesting conclusions regarding each system's toxic ingredients. Now, we'll save you all of the specifics if you're the kind of person who just wants to know the bottom line: the Wii beat out the Xbox 360 and PS3 for having the least amount of toxic chemicals within it. For the rest of you, check out some interesting details that Greenpeace found out, which have been organized by bullet-point for your convenience:
  • The PS3's AV cables contain phthalates up to 21.2 percent by weight, as well as "the highest level of bromine found in all components tested from all three consoles" in the housing of the cooling fan, which comes to 13.8 percent by weight, as well as low levels of bromine in the controller
  • The Xbox 360's power cable contains phthalates up to 27.5 percent by weight, as well as low levels of bromine in the controller
  • The Wii has phthalates 12.5 percent by weight in its internal housing, along with no beryllium

JoystiqGreenpeace disassembles consoles, checks toxin levels originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 May 2008 22:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eco-friendlyenvironmentgreenpeaceTue, 20 May 2008 22:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Greenpeace report: PS3 contains hazardous chemicals]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/greenpeace-report-ps3-contains-hazardous-chemicals/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/greenpeace-report-ps3-contains-hazardous-chemicals/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/greenpeace-report-ps3-contains-hazardous-chemicals/#commentsFiled under:

Environmental activist group Greenpeace released a video today to emphasize the need for greener manufacturing of today's game consoles. The three console manufacturers were found guilty of using various hazardous chemicals and materials, such aspolyvinyl chloride (PVC), phthalates, beryllium and bromine indicative ofbrominated flame retardants (BFRs).

According to Greenpeace, "e-waste" is the fastest growing type of waste in the world, and game consoles contribute a significant portion to this problem. The organization emphasized that both the Xbox 360 and PS3 contain high levels of phthalates, one of which "is known to interfere with sexual development in mammals: including humans and, especially, males." Yikes!

Things can get better, of course. PS3 uses "bromine-free" circuit boards. However, there are many steps for the console manufacturers to take before they can be classified as "green."

JoystiqGreenpeace report: PS3 contains hazardous chemicals originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 May 2008 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>environmentgreengreenpeaceTue, 20 May 2008 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Tetris licensee sets out to save the Earth]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/22/tetris-licensee-sets-out-to-save-the-earth/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/22/tetris-licensee-sets-out-to-save-the-earth/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/22/tetris-licensee-sets-out-to-save-the-earth/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We're thinking it's not a coincidence that VentureBeat's Dean Takahashi chose Earth Day to publish an interview with Henk Rogers about his efforts to save the environment. You may remember Rogers as the visionary who first noticed an unassuming game called Tetris at a trade show and went on a crusade to get the game licensed outside of Russia. If you're not familiar with his story, we must insist you track down a copy of David Sheff's excellent book Game Over and read all about it. Go ahead ... we'll wait.

Done reading? Well, then you might be interested to know that Rogers is now using the money he made selling the Tetris license to do nothing less than getting the world completely off of carbon-based energy. After accomplishing that modest goal, Rogers says he hopes to realize the vision of his company's upcoming Blue Mars MMO by actually terraforming part of the red planet. Say what you will, you have to admit, the guy's ambitious.

JoystiqTetris licensee sets out to save the Earth originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthearth0dayenvironmentenvironmentalhenk-rogersPCrogerstetrisTue, 22 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Retail usage of clamshell packaging may be shucked]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/12/retail-usage-of-clamshell-packaging-may-be-shucked/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/12/retail-usage-of-clamshell-packaging-may-be-shucked/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/12/retail-usage-of-clamshell-packaging-may-be-shucked/#commentsFiled under:


We've all suffered an injury or two at the hands of a hermetically-sealed package containing a shiny new controller or other accessory, but did you know that 6,500 people visited the emergency room with a plastic packaging-related injury in 2004? That's not all -- these "clamshell" packages are often made of environmentally-unsound non-recycled plastics (which are increasingly expensive to produce due to rising petroleum costs), and are the largest contributer to various worldwide terrorist organizations?

Okay, that last part was a lie, but there are plenty of reasons to dislike this hand-lacerating form of consumer packaging -- luckily, a recent CNET article revealed that some experts in the packaging industry think that clamshell usage may be on its way out, for the reasons listed above. Retailers still prefer the shoplifter-deterring containers, but consumer frustration and cheaper alternatives may signal the end of the mollusk-inspired packages in the coming years. Our gnarled, decrepit hands are very relieved.

[Via Kotaku]

JoystiqRetail usage of clamshell packaging may be shucked originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoryclamshellcnetcontainercontrollerenvironmentgreetoysterpackagingretailSat, 12 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Greenpeace: Nintendo is nonresponsive]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/04/greenpeace-nintendo-is-nonresponsive/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/04/greenpeace-nintendo-is-nonresponsive/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/04/greenpeace-nintendo-is-nonresponsive/#commentsFiled under:


In an interview with Gamasutra, Greenpeace's Zeina Al-Hajj discussed the relative greenness of the major consoles and their companies. Nintendo still manages to rate below Sony and Microsoft despite having a console that uses far less electricity and standard (and thus more easily recyclable) parts.

The reason? Nintendo has no stated policy about hardware recycling. Both Sony and Microsoft have made efforts in that area, but Nintendo has said absolutely nothing about the disposal of old consoles. "What is available right now," Al-Hajj said, "is that Nintendo is committed to the environment, so they recycle in their offices. Okay. Good work guys, but that's not the issue. The issue is the responsibility to their product."

Nintendo is the only console manufacturer out of the three not to engage in communication with Greenpeace. Al-Hajj said that they have attempted conversation with the company multiple times, while both Sony and Microsoft are already in talks.

We know that the first impulse for any gamer is to attack and ridicule Greenpeace for saying bad things about Nintendo, but, if nothing else, this interview makes Greenpeace's claims seem more sensible. This is far from tree-hugging or Would it really hurt Nintendo that much to at least talk about recycling, or offer some opinions on reducing energy consumption?

JoystiqGreenpeace: Nintendo is nonresponsive originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>environmentgreenpeaceFri, 04 Apr 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo still dead last in Greenpeace electronics rankings]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/nintendo-still-dead-last-in-greenpeace-electronics-rankings/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/nintendo-still-dead-last-in-greenpeace-electronics-rankings/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/nintendo-still-dead-last-in-greenpeace-electronics-rankings/#commentsFiled under: ,

Since Nintendo's big goose-egg ranking in environmental friendliness from the activists at Greenpeace last November, we've been on pins and needles waiting to see if the Big N could improve its standing. Well, we're happy to announce that Nintendo has indeed done better this time around, improving to a massive 0.3/10 in Greenpeace's latest rankings.

The number -- which is a full four points below closest competitors Philips -- doesn't tell the whole story, though. Greenpeace itself notes that, since their last ranking, Nintendo has introduced a plan to reduce PVCs in its packaging and posted links to EPA and eCycling programs on its web site. Yet these "tiny improvements," as Greenpeace puts it, didn't even rank the company a single point increase in the corresponding Greenpeace rating categories. Is it us, or is there a scoring bug in the game Greenpeace is playing here?

JoystiqNintendo still dead last in Greenpeace electronics rankings originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>environmentenvironmentalgreengreenpeaceplanetwiiWed, 19 Mar 2008 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Greenpeace: Nintendo still not eco-friendly]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/greenpeace-nintendo-still-not-eco-friendly/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/greenpeace-nintendo-still-not-eco-friendly/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/greenpeace-nintendo-still-not-eco-friendly/#commentsFiled under:


Greenpeace is at it again, as their latest report sees Nintendo still scraping the bottom of the barrel and falling in last place as the most ecologically unfriendly company surveyed. But it's not all bad, as Nintendo did improve over their last survey results. They went from a 0 to a 0.3 on Greenpeace's small, yet incredibly scientific, chart there.

Actually, we're kind of sad, to be honest. No, we're not sad about Greenpeace grilling Nintendo or whatever, we're just sad we didn't get another ridiculously bad video to laugh at. Oh well, we're sure Greenpeace won't be leaving Nintendo alone anytime soon, so there's always hope!

JoystiqGreenpeace: Nintendo still not eco-friendly originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ecoenvironmentgreenpeaceWed, 19 Mar 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Greenpeace is out of their mind]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/greenpeace-is-out-of-their-mind/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/greenpeace-is-out-of-their-mind/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/greenpeace-is-out-of-their-mind/#commentsFiled under: ,


Following the initial report from Greenpeace regarding Nintendo's apparent lack of care toward the environment in their business practices, some took the time to actually comb through the report, citing that a lot of the negative marks were due to Greenpeace just handing them out at their discretion. Now, after a few weeks of silence, Greenpeace has come up with some compelling evidence regarding Nintendo's affect on the environment: a parody cartoon.

Greenpeace must have some great writers at the company, because the comedy in this cartoon is the kind of stuff that should be extracted and worn as jewelry. It's pure gold, we tell you! But, as hilarious as it is (for all of the wrong reasons, mind you), it's completely ridiculous. From Mario farting out a small brown mushroom (for serious, he does) to the Kratos saying he's the "friggin' God of War," this whole thing will make you cringe.

Odd how they only focus on consoles and not handhelds, however. We guess the PSP and DS don't cause any kind of pollution or whatever else they claim is bad to the environment when they're being manufactured.

See also: Nintendo (finally) responds to initial report

[Thanks to Shaun for the GT link; via Joystiq]

JoystiqGreenpeace is out of their mind originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>environmentgreengreenpeacekratosmariomaster-chiefmicrosoftps3sonyxbox360Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Greenpeace targets game industry]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/greenpeace-targets-game-industry/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/greenpeace-targets-game-industry/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/greenpeace-targets-game-industry/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


After gaining some traction by calling Nintendo out a couple weeks ago for being a massive environmental offender, eco-terrorist environmentally conscious group Greenpeace is calling for reforms across the game industry. Greenpeace says that console manufacturers are "lagging way behind" mobile phone and PC makers in reducing their "toxic load" in the last year. The group goes on to say that game consoles have many of the same parts as PCs, meaning the manufacturers can do "a lot more."

The console manufacturers have yet to respond to the Greenpeace allegations. The campaign gives a list of toxic materials used in manufacturing and introduces issues such as Chinese and Indian workers in production facilities facing risk of exposure to chemicals. Greenpeace has also created a 90-second video aimed at gamers in which iconic characters compete for greener consoles -- when we find an embeddable version we'll place it after the break for those ethically opposed to giving Greenpeace traffic.

[Thanks Ron for finding the vid]

JoystiqGreenpeace targets game industry originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSenvironmentgreengreenpeacePS2PS3PSPWiiXbox-360Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Is Greenpeace's report bogus?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/is-greenpeaces-report-bogus/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/is-greenpeaces-report-bogus/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/is-greenpeaces-report-bogus/#commentsFiled under:


Ars Technica seems to be crying foul over Greenpeace's latest findings regarding Nintendo's eco-conscious actions. Turns out, "Penalty points can be deducted" if Greenpeace sees fit. Why would they deduct points? They're taken "from overall scores if Greenpeace finds a company lying, practicing double standards or other corporate misconduct."

Ars Technica seems to think that Nintendo's score is based entirely on a mission statement via Nintendo's website and less on an in-depth look at the company's practices. So, it's likely that Nintendo isn't as bad on the environment as they've been made out to be.

JoystiqIs Greenpeace's report bogus? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>environmentgreengreenpeaceWed, 28 Nov 2007 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony called most green games company by Greenpeace]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/sony-called-most-green-games-company-by-greenpeace/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/sony-called-most-green-games-company-by-greenpeace/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/sony-called-most-green-games-company-by-greenpeace/#commentsFiled under:


Do you love the earth? How about the PSP and PS3? Good, because your loves are one and the same. Sony is called the most green games manufacturer by environmental group Greenpeace. Sony scored an impressive 7.3 from the organization, making it the third most green company in the list. Compare that to Microsoft at 2.7 and Nintendo at a shocking 0. Sony fans certainly can be proud of their company's efforts to truly go green.

Read the full report here.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqSony called most green games company by Greenpeace originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>environmentgreenpeacesonyTue, 27 Nov 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony called most green games company by Greenpeace]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/sony-called-most-green-games-company-by-greenpeace/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/sony-called-most-green-games-company-by-greenpeace/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/sony-called-most-green-games-company-by-greenpeace/#commentsFiled under:


Do you love the earth? How about the PSP and PS3? Good, because your loves are one and the same. Sony is called the most green games manufacturer by environmental group Greenpeace. Sony scored an impressive 7.3 from the organization, making it the third most green company in the list. Compare that to Microsoft at 2.7 and Nintendo at a shocking 0. Sony fans certainly can be proud of their company's efforts to truly go green.

Read the full report here.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqSony called most green games company by Greenpeace originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>environmentgreenpeacesonyTue, 27 Nov 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Greenpeace: Nintendo bad for the environment]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/greenpeace-nintendo-bad-for-the-environment/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/greenpeace-nintendo-bad-for-the-environment/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/greenpeace-nintendo-bad-for-the-environment/#commentsFiled under:


Greenpeace took a look at major companies and their output on the environment, recently. And, for all of us who love the Big N, it's sad that Greenpeace ranked them dead last. Yup, turns out Nintendo doesn't have favorable policies toward managing their toxic chemicals and recycling, according to Greenpeace's Guide to Greener Electronics.

Due to the addition of television manufacturers and gaming consoles, some companies are finding themselves on the list for the first time. Such a company is Nintendo, who also found themselves to be the first company to score a zero out of possible ten points. Nintendo's competitors in the gaming space fared a bit better, with Microsoft scoring a 2.7 and Sony scoring an incredible 7.3.

JoystiqGreenpeace: Nintendo bad for the environment originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>environmentgreengreenpeaceTue, 27 Nov 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NY Times compares SimCity Societies, Inconvenient Truth]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/17/ny-times-compares-simcity-societies-inconvenient-truth/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/17/ny-times-compares-simcity-societies-inconvenient-truth/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/17/ny-times-compares-simcity-societies-inconvenient-truth/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We never saw An Inconvenient Truth (it came out a little too close to X-Men: The Last Stand for us to have any interest in it), but apparently, the planet's getting warmer. We've been told this by numerous celebrities and Nobel Peace Prize-brandishing ex-vice presidents, but we were surprised when we heard that Electronic Arts and Tilted Mill Entertainment were jumping on the Save the Icecaps bandwagon with their latest title, SimCity Societies. But can the game's eco-friendly undertones affect the environmental thinking of a generation of gamers?

That's the question posed by eco-journalist Andrew Revkin in a recent article on The New York Times website. If a SimCity Societies player sees the long term effect of fossil fuel usage on his or her virtual metropolis, can they "internalize and act on that kind of information in their real, not simulated, world?" We know that the game affected us. It was a rough transition, but we've stopped powering our servers by burning tires and cans of hairspray. Yeah, you're welcome, Earth.

However, considering the game's lackluster reviews, Crysis-esque system requirements, and unfortunate holiday competition, we wonder if it can still change people's minds if nobody plays it.

JoystiqNY Times compares SimCity Societies, Inconvenient Truth originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Nov 2007 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAElectronic-ArtsEnvironmentPCSimCity SocietiesSimcitySocietiesTilted Mill EntertainmentTiltedMillEntertainmentSat, 17 Nov 2007 12:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Dojo update: The Summit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/dojo-update-the-summit/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/dojo-update-the-summit/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/dojo-update-the-summit/#commentsFiled under: ,


The dojo reveals the stage that s belonging to the Ice Climbers, The Summit. Aside from its look, the stage is also different than you might remember in that it has a bit more action going on within. The large glacier will become detached from the ground, sliding downhill and finally making its way into the sea, as you see above. Once out adrift, the environment becomes a bit more dangerous.

JoystiqDojo update: The Summit originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dojoenvironmentice-climberssmash-bros-brawlWed, 31 Oct 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Katamari creator downplays importance of video games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/katamari-creator-downplays-importance-of-video-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/katamari-creator-downplays-importance-of-video-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/katamari-creator-downplays-importance-of-video-games/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ever the eccentric, Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi went on stage at a video game conference and tried to tell the audience that video games are NOT the most important thing in the world.

We couldn't believe it either.

Standing barefoot in front of London Nottingham's GameCity conference, the obviously brain-damaged Takahashi alleged that "it would be impossible for us to be here... if the world was not peaceful." He tried to convince the crowd that real world suffering and problems were occasionally more pressing than games. "If you're suffering from poverty and disease, could you worry about collecting coins? I don't think so," he argued, unconvincingly.

Takahashi also implied, rather laughably, that things like recycling and being friendly were just as important as beating Halo 3 on Legendary for the third time. "I'm not trying to be the next Al Gore but I'm not sure if we could afford to have video games in ten or twenty year's time," the fearmongering designer said, adding that white is black and up is actually down.

After the confusing opening, Takahashi showed off a demo of Nobi Nobi Boy, thankfully distracting the audience from the problems of the real world once again.

JoystiqKatamari creator downplays importance of video games originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>environmentkatamarikatamaridamacypollutionPS3takahashiXbox-360Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Japanese arcade game driving beetle extinction]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/japanese-arcade-game-driving-beetle-extinction/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/japanese-arcade-game-driving-beetle-extinction/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/japanese-arcade-game-driving-beetle-extinction/#commentsFiled under: ,

"Gotta catch 'em all" has taken on a new meaning with a recent Japanese video game craze helping to drive the real-life extinction to the a subspecies of Turkish beetle. The Times Online reports that the popularity of bug-collecting arcade game Mushiking (King of the Beetles) is leading Japanese fans to import a million of the insects as pets each year, decimating the indigenous population.

"All we want to do is end the trade in our stag beetles," said Nazim Sonmez, chairman of the Amanos Environmental Protection Association. "They are being collected for economic reasons rather than research purposes. The stag beetle is under threat of extinction. It must be stopped."

Bug collecting is a long-standing tradition in Japan that has appeared in games from The Legend of Zelda to Animal Crossing, but Mushiking has raised the activity to a national craze to rival Pokemon. The Sega arcade unit engages players in a rock-paper-scissors style battle of digital insects printed on collectible cards, more than 160 million of which have been printed to date.

JoystiqJapanese arcade game driving beetle extinction originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 22:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beetleenvironmentextinctionmusikingTue, 11 Sep 2007 22:55:00 EST<![CDATA[New details on Ecoris]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/04/new-details-on-ecoris/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/04/new-details-on-ecoris/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/04/new-details-on-ecoris/#commentsFiled under: ,



The more we learn about Ecoris, the eco-centric RTS, the more we're planning to riot if the game doesn't get an English-language release. Get Atlus on the project right now!

The latest updates on Ecoris focus on the beginning of the game, and there are some new details on online play as well. As the story opens, our fruity hero, Durian (sometimes Dorian in non-Japanese articles) begins to notice that not all is well in the forest. Development and pollution are destroying the ecosystem. He's not alone in his observations; the squirrels have noticed the same thing. On their own, the forest creatures are too weak to fight back ... but if they team up, anything is possible.

Some other interesting facts about the game: apparently, there's a level-creation mode (we can only guess this comes in as you start to rebuild the forest), and once created, you can utilize those new stages in online battles. Our translation here may be a little rough, but it also seems as though Durian can either summon some sort of ancestral spirit, or take on its form, and you will need that power to pass certain sections.

Ecoris is sounding more fascinating every day. For those gamers for whom the language barrier isn't a barrier at all, this one is looking like it may just be a must-import title.

JoystiqNew details on Ecoris originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Jul 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ecolisecorisecosystemenvironmentimportinterchannellightweightmultiplayeronlineRTSwifiWed, 04 Jul 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo hearts the environment]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/25/nintendo-hearts-the-environment/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/25/nintendo-hearts-the-environment/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/25/nintendo-hearts-the-environment/#commentsFiled under:

The train of good press for Nintendo just keeps chugging along. The latest piece comes from GoNintendo, who had a reader contact Nintendo about their environmental policies. The full response can be found after the break, but a couple things that stand out are that Nintendo purchases recycled paper towels, report covers, message pads, and writing pads. They also use 80% recycled paper in all their shipping packaging.

So, now that we know what Nintendo does to help save our little planet, we wonder what Microsoft and Sony do? We doubt that either tests their products on animals, but are they using recycled toilet paper (not used, there's a difference) and recycling 70% of the waste from their headquarters? We don't know about Sony, but at least we know that Microsoft recycles their broken Xbox 360s. Oh come on, it had to be said.

Continue reading Nintendo hearts the environment

JoystiqNintendo hearts the environment originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Jun 2007 20:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cultureearthenvironmentfriendlynintendoplanetMon, 25 Jun 2007 20:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Mizuguchi working on Al Gore environmentalism project]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/17/mizuguchi-working-on-al-gore-environmentalism-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/17/mizuguchi-working-on-al-gore-environmentalism-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/17/mizuguchi-working-on-al-gore-environmentalism-project/#commentsFiled under:

inconvenient truth
On stage to discuss the game development process during Grasshopper Manufacture's 'Snake vs Zombie Vol. 2' event Saturday, Lumines producer Tetsuya Mizuguchi was instead questioned about his rumored involvement in an unannounced Al Gore project. Coy about details, Mizuguchi did confirm, "It's not going to be a video game. The concept derives from video games, and its something which the gaming generation will appreciate."

Like last year's film An Inconvenient Truth, the project will focus on environmental issues, including energy conservation. Mizuguchi hinted that the effort will play on our perspective of Earth. "I think that we would need to see our own planet from outer space. We see that there are no borderlines between the countries and simply notice how beautiful it is. And maybe then, we will be more conscious about the environment. It's about gaining a new perspective, like when we moved from 2D to 3D," suggested Mizuguchi.

Continue reading Mizuguchi working on Al Gore environmentalism project

JoystiqMizuguchi working on Al Gore environmentalism project originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Apr 2007 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Al GoreAlGoreenvironmentenvironmentalismenvironmentalistgoreInconvenient TruthInconvenientTruthjapanmizuguchiTue, 17 Apr 2007 19:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Your own private planetarium]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/05/wii-macbook-pro-dome/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/05/wii-macbook-pro-dome/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/05/wii-macbook-pro-dome/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Who knew that having a dome could be so cool? Paul Bourke outfitted one to create an immersive environment that he could steer through with a Wii remote. Using a data projector and specialized software on his MacBook Pro, he was able to display navigable movies on the hollow half-sphere.

Considering its accelerometers and bluetooth functionality, the remote seems perfect as a low-cost interface device for this kind of setup, but Paul found that though the controller is usable, it isn't as accurate as he'd like. We hope that doesn't stop someone from creating a fully-developed astronomy simulation out of this! Check past the post break for video of the experiment in action.

[Via Metafilter]

Continue reading Your own private planetarium

JoystiqYour own private planetarium originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3daccelerometeraccelerometersbluetoothcontrollerdomeenvironmentimmersiveinterfacemacbookmacbookpronintendonintendowiispherewiiThu, 05 Apr 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq readers are environmentally friendly]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/02/joystiq-readers-are-environmentally-friendly/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/02/joystiq-readers-are-environmentally-friendly/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/02/joystiq-readers-are-environmentally-friendly/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Claims that the majority of Joystiq readers are harmful to the planet's health have been disproved, as the results from our do you leave your console on standby? poll proves. Out of the 8,500+ respondents that took part in the poll, 53% make a conscious effort to turn off their consoles once they're finished with another 10% occasionally forgetting to do so. We can only assume that the remaining 36% who leave their consoles on standby all the time are part of the North American SUV drivers for simultaneous use of air conditioning and heating lobby group. The comments thread provided some excellent commentary on the responsibility we have to conserve our energy so we've highlighted some of the most interesting ones after the jump.

Continue reading Joystiq readers are environmentally friendly

JoystiqJoystiq readers are environmentally friendly originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jun 2006 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CO2CommentsEnergyEnvironmentGame ConsolesGameConsolesGameCubeGlobal warmingGlobalWarmingJoystiqN64PlaystationPS2SaturnStandbyStandby modeStandbyModeWasteXboxXbox 360Xbox-360Xbox360Fri, 02 Jun 2006 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq poll: Do you leave your game console on standby?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/22/joystiq-poll-do-you-leave-your-game-console-on-standby/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/22/joystiq-poll-do-you-leave-your-game-console-on-standby/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/22/joystiq-poll-do-you-leave-your-game-console-on-standby/#commentsFiled under: ,

Do you leave your game console on standby?
Yes, all the time. It's more convenient that way.
Sometimes, when I forget to turn it off completely.
No, I make a conscious effort to turn off my console once I'm finished.
  
In June last year, UK Environment Minister Elliot Morley revealed that people that leave their TVs sets and other gadgets on standby mode waste roughly "7TWh of energy" of the National Grid's energy per year. According to the Energy Saving Trust, CO2 emissions from the generation of energy required to keep game consoles on standby amounts to roughly 390,000 tonnes annually. That's a big waste and a large contribution to global warming, especially for something people aren't actually using.

When answering the above poll, take note that while some consoles show a red light when in standby (PlayStation 2), others do not (Xbox 360).

[Image credit]

JoystiqJoystiq poll: Do you leave your game console on standby? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 May 2006 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EnergyEnvironmentGameCubeGlobal warmingGlobalWarmingNintendo 64Nintendo64PlayStationPlayStation 2PlayStation 3Playstation2Playstation3PSOnePSXSega DreamcastSegaDreamcastStandby modeStandbyModeUKwasteXboxXbox 360Xbox360Mon, 22 May 2006 05:00:00 EST