GeekSugar

Nicole Kidman Crowned New DS Spokeswoman

GeekSugar — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:45:00 -0700

Who says Oscar winning actresses can't be gamers? Nintendo has picked Nicole Kidman to lead a print and television ad campaign for "More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima: How Old Is Your Brain?" The game launches across Europe on the Nintendo DS on June 29, which just happens to be the iPhone release date in the US. According to Nintendo, Kidman was chosen by Nintendo because of her universal appeal to mainstream audiences of all ages and backgrounds, as well as her reputation for being intelligent, entertaining and genuine. As you can see from the video, Nicole's "brain" seems to be much older than her real age.

Kidman is quoted as saying: "I love the concept that Nintendo is reaching out to new audiences with their self improvement products like Brain Training. Most importantly, I’ve quickly found that training my brain is a great way to keep my mind feeling young." What does Nintendo have to say about the move? read more

Here's more:

Nintendo feel that working with the award winning actress as the personality of this campaign reflects a long-term pioneering philosophy from Nintendo. The aim of this philosophy is to broaden the gaming audience with software that isn’t just fun but also enriches your life, whether training your brain or practicing language skills. The software is relevant and accessible for everyone from the age of 9 to 99.

More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima: How Old Is Your Brain? is the latest in a series of titles from Nintendo DS called Touch! Generations. Touch! Generations is a unique range of software designed to be enjoyed by everybody, even if they’ve never played a game before. These titles, like that played by Nicole Kidman, are disrupting the video games world and changing the perceptions of millions worldwide who previously thought gaming was just for 16-24 year old males.

I would have guessed Nintendo would pick someone like Haden Panettiere or Mandy Moore for this campaign, but it's a fun move nonetheless.

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This Week On Geeksugar - OMG! I Got An iPhone!

GeekSugar — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 13:00:07 -0700

Before I actually got a real iPhone I made a parody video of the Nintendo 64 kid who went nutsy over his new gift circa 1996. Nearly 80 percent of the people online didn't get it and presumed it was some sort of viral marketing campaign from Apple - something they don't even do. One thing is for certain: It will make you LOL. OMG! I Got An iPhone!
Do geeks love more than talking shop about pixels? Eating delicious and forward-thinking candy, of course. Edible Geek: Pixel Block Chocolates
What do you do if you are a company like Sprint and your competitor launches a product that has inspired shirtless camping efforts, tribute videos and lots and lots of talk? Cult Of Mac Speaks: Sprint’s Missing iPhone Rebuttal
Photography guru Andre Gunther has put together a great list of the The Ten Most Common Photographic Mistakes. Topping the list is cluttered images, which attempt to capture too much. Most Common Photography Mistakes
If you have a pet name for your computer like "snuckems" or "magic machine" you may not be alone. According to a recent study conducted by Sega and iShare, more than two out of five Japanese women regularly have conversations with their computers. Do You Talk To Your Computer Or Call It Names?
While she may play neurotic high-powered women on film, actress Parker Posey is decidedly ungeeky. In fact, if the interview she recently did with Switched is any indication, she abhors gadgets all together. Parker Posey: Not A Geek, Still Chic
Who says Oscar winning actresses can't be gamers? Nintendo has picked Nicole Kidman to lead a print and television ad campaign for "More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima: How Old Is Your Brain?" Nicole Kidman Crowned New DS Spokeswoman

Tech Moguls Top 'The Vanity Fair 100' List

GeekSugar — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 09:00:34 -0700

Vanity Fair has put Rupert Murdoch, Steve Jobs and the Google twins at the very top of their 100 List for 2007, proving once again that geek is chic and powerful.

Printed in the October edition of Vanity Fair (you know the one with Nicole Kidman looking like an elegant, but saucy sailor on the cover?) the Top 100 List praises the four for their successes in the past year, notably Murdoch's acquisition of the The Wall Street Journal, Jobs's release of the iPhone and the Google twins' ever growing company. read more
Here's more:

The sinking stock market hasn't slowed down Rupert Murdoch, who showed the world some old-media love, picking up The Wall Street Journal... As breathlessly awaited as Harry Potter, the deliciously beautiful iPhone dropped calls but still drove up Steve Jobs's net worth by $200 million.

While Murdoch's geek status is questionable, we must remember that he does own Myspace, which like it or not has changed the way most kids communicate. Jobs and the twins are also deserving of their spots, with the release of the "best iPods ever" and keeping us going back to Google search after search. My question is, where are all the geeky ladies hiding? The only woman to take the top 10 was Melinda Gates, who shares the spot with her husband, Bill Gates. Oprah Winfrey came in at number 14.

Brain Age 2 Released: Twice The Fun, Twice As Hard?

GeekSugar — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 03:30:56 -0700

Earlier this summer Nicole Kidman had signed on as Nintendo's television ad spokesperson in Europe for More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima: How Old Is Your Brain?, prompting a renewed interest in the series here in the U.S. Of course Brain Age, was already a bona fide hit with Nintendo DS fans around the globe, so everyone has been abuzz about the series' next US feature.

Yesterday, Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day was released for DS, and let me tell you, it does not disappoint. It may make you feel a little dumb, but it does not disappoint. Designed to give your brain a workout, Brain Age 2 featured 15 new activities - from playing simple songs on a piano keyboard to monitoring the photo finish of a footrace.

When you start a new game, you take a series of tests and get a score that tells you how "old" your brain is. That number is your "DS Brain Age," and the idea is that with daily practice your score will lower. Activities include serial subtraction, word scramble, change maker, calendar count, and my personal favorite, Rock, Paper, Scissors, where you speak the symbol that beats the one on the screen. I consider myself to have at least moderate mental accuracy and the game still made me scramble. It's great for anyone who likes Sodoku, puzzles, Pictionary and crossword puzzles - even if you're not a hardcore gamer.

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Upcoming Nintendo DS Game: Dr. Phil In Your Pocket?

GeekSugar — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:00:09 -0700

Those of us who suffered pangs of jealously when we heard young people in Japan are using their Nintendo DS Lite's as personal trainers, drinking guides and therapists/life coaches might finally be able to rest easy.

Nintendo has announced they hope to expand the gaming market to non-gamers while video game publisher Ubisoft has announced their intention to release a series of games they're calling "Games for Everyone." What are these games you wonder? The main game comes from the "Petz" series, where you care for virtual pets. Also on the list is a game called "My Coach," which according to Switched is heavily influenced by the Nicole Kidman-backed Brain Training series. That series will include a game called "My Life Coach," which is described as "your own personal Dr. Phil." Details are still vague but it sounds a lot like the life coach games being released in Japan.

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Nintendo DS Now With Camera and 'Face Training'

GeekSugar — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 11:00:42 -0700

The Nintendo DS has been making a lot of news this past month. First, Japanese game maker Konami, who also happens to be the maker of the ever popular Dance Dance Revolution game, announced a new skin software program that turns your DS into a beauty guide, next Nintendo announced actress Nicole Kidman as the new face of their "More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima: How Old Is Your Brain?" game, and lastly, the love of all things DS was celebrated in the form of a delicious Jello DS Lite Cake. So what's next?

Apparently, the company has moved on from training our brains to training our faces with the release of Otona No DS Kao Training, or Face Training, a set up which includes a camera that plugs into the Game Boy Advance slot on the Nintendo DS and records your face as you play the game. According to Wired, the idea is what the Japanese call "facening," or facial exercises. They hope that by doing certain facial exercises, you can make your skin more elastic and in turn have a prettier face. Sure, there's absolutely no scientific proof, but it sure is entertaining. (The woman in the picture at right seems to be stretching her cheeks in order to make them more flushed.)

Face Training ships on August 2 for 4800 yen or about $38.97 USD.

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Get Your Game On: Summer Game Releases

GeekSugar — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 07:00:55 -0700

In the midst of the usual summer gaming drought, I was able to come across a few games that are worthy of your precious time. If you are anything like me and love to soak up the sun, you probably don't want to spend all of your time indoors and chained to an involved role-playing game, but there are some fun, cool summer games you should consider. Everyone needs a break from all the beaches, pools and BBQs at some point, right?

**New Video Game Releases (Summer 2007)**
Why You'll Love It	Console/Price	Release Date
Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree - Entertainment while training your brain! You start with small, quick practice lessons and work up your confidence to take the big Brain test. The better your score, the heavier your brain. Which, of course is a good thing at the Academy. Fans include Nicole Kidman, who has signed on as the game's official spokesperson in Europe.	Wii, $49.99. Also available for Nintendo DS.	Out now. Purchase it online.
Odin Sphere - This game features an amazing 2D side scroller that is drawn entirely by hand. You know, like old school. Takes a bit to get the hang of, but once you do, it's a really fun button masher that will keep you indoors for far too long.	PS2, $39.99	Out now. Purchase it online
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary - Not many changes in the story from the 2007 version from the original, but you will appreciate the new actions, movements and amazing sound effects of the revamped favorite.	PS2, PC $29.99. Also available for PSP.	Out now. Purchase it online.
Sim City DS - The tiny DS version isn't all that great to look at, but the game itself - the music and the gratification of building a happy, flourishing city - make up for the visuals. But with only one save slot, you can't develop more than one city at a time. This would be a perfect lounging by the pool with a margarita game, if only you could see the screen in the sun! Doh!	DS, $29.99	Out now. Buy it online from online
Dirt - I am a racing game type of gal! Dirt is a great rally racer with a perfect mix of arcade and simulation driving. With amazing graphics, fun tracks and an impressive damage factor, Dirt stacks up to other recently released racers with superior game-play to boot.	Xbox 360, $59.99. Also available for Windows.	Out now. Get it online.
Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80's - Living in my fantasy world of being a rock star, this addition to my Guitar Hero collection is essential. Tracks by Ratt, Twisted Sister, Quiet Riot, Skid Row, and so many more, this game will have me rocking out all night long. No autographs, please.	PS2, $49.99. Older Guitar Hero games available for PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360.	Out July 24th online and in stores.

Want more games? Check out my Video Game Release Roundup for spring.

Why Does the Camera Add 10 Pounds?

GeekSugar — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:00:10 -0800

If you've ever seen my lookbook, you know I don't have my America's Next Top Model poses down. I don't know what it is, but I'm just not one of those women that can jump right into a camera-ready angle in two seconds and it's not like I'm the hunchback of Notre Dame or anything. When considering this I got to thinking, what are the best camera angles and why is it that the camera adds 10 pounds?

According to Slate Magazine's Michelle Tsai the answer is mostly bad lighting. She says:

The flat, even illumination on the red carpet makes it hard for the camera to capture dimension, unlike in a photo shoot with flattering soft lights. Cast from an angle, light creates shadows that sculpt the face and body by hiding unwanted flesh. Softer lights can hide wrinkles and smooth out the skin for women, while harsher lights on male faces exaggerate lines for a chiseled look. Without the aid of shadows, however, light exposes the imperfections of the face and body and makes the resulting image bigger and flatter. That's why everyone avoids white dresses-which cast fewer shadows under even lighting-except the thinnest actresses, like Nicole Kidman.

For tips on flattering camera lighting, just read more

High front light (sunlight)
We are trained early on that high front light is the best type of light, and often it is. The pro of high front light is the fact that the scene will be well lit and that the colors of the scene will be extra bright. The negative aspect of lots of sunlight in a picture is that your subject may squint and very high sunlight (seen at noon) will create deep shadows under eyes and chins, unless you use fill flash.

Front light
Front lighting illuminates the portion of the subject facing the photographer. Your camera's flash is the most common type of front lighting. It's great because it provides the most information to the camera by lighting the entire scene. It's also the easiest type of light to deal with photographically because there are fewer shadows to confuse the camera's light meter. The trouble is textures and details are minimized and scenes appear flat with few shadows.

Check out my guide to lighting: Photo Tips: Check Light Source, Strike Pose

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