The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has launched the free Official London 2012 Join In app.

London 2012 launches the Official Join In app

The essential companion to the London 2012 Games, the app will help London 2012 fans and spectators share their Games experience on social media. The Official London 2012 Join In app can be downloaded now from http://www.london2012.com/mobileapps/

Key features of the app include comprehensive event listings for thousands of exciting events across London and the UK; and spectator information and interactive maps, news and photos – all integrated with Facebook, Twitter and FourSquare. The app also features a detailed Olympic Torch Relay route, including a Torch tracker, Torchbearer details and information on evening celebrations – invaluable as the Olympic Flame arrives in the UK.

The companion app, the Official London 2012 Results app, will be released in June, providing all the latest news, schedules and results, allowing users to keep up-to-date with the latest action live across all Olympic sports and Paralympic sports. This app will also be free.

The Official London 2012 Join in app and Official London 2012 Results app are part of a family of digital tools that will be released during the summer, including:

The Weird Art of the Video Game Massacre
The number of video game "massacre" is simultaniously troubling, fascinating and entertaining. Seriously. Just go to YouTube, type in the game's name along with the word "Massacre." This first one comes from a gamer who decided to go all out in pursuit …
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Spartan Torch: More video game fun facts
The original Donkey Kong game (which gave birth to “Jumpman”, later renamed “Mario) was the first video game to feature a story behind the characters and what was going on. The developers of Bioshock had considered using numerous other mechanisms or …
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The worlds best bass pros continued to be successful Friday at the Walmart FLW Tour Major on the Potomac River presented by the National Guard as anglers from all across the United States, Canada, Spain and Japan continued their four-day battle for a top cash award of up to $ 125,000. FLW anglers continued to use a variety of baits and techniques throughout the day with much of the same results as the first day of competition.

Tags: Major, Potomac, River, National, tour, Continues, Games PR, Presented, Guard, Walmart ... ]]> http://www.free-play.org/martin-continues-to-lead-walmart-flw-tour-major-on-potomac-river-presented-by-national-guard/feed/ 0 http://www.free-play.org/latest-video-game-news-71/ http://www.free-play.org/latest-video-game-news-71/#comments Sat, 19 May 2012 05:02:20 +0000 admin http://www.free-play.org/latest-video-game-news-71/ Man turns video game hobby into career
HOUSTON (KTRK) — Having a job isn't always fun and games, unless you're a professional video-gamer. We met a Houston man who couldn't find work, so he made his hobby his full-time job. Mark Stenmark just arrived to work. He punches the clock whenever …
Read more on abc13.com

Video: Curt Schilling's latest video game
My money is still on Solyndra, Enron, "New Coke," the Celtics in Game 4 and the 2011 Red Sox. Glad to see Jonathan Papelbon get the save Friday, about 232 days too late. We now also know Bobby Valentine has a greater vertical leap than Asante Samuel or …
Read more on Boston.com (blog)

Startup Sauna, a Helsinki based seed accelerator, announced today that it will be hosting its biannual Demo Day in San Francisco on Thursday, May 24, 2012. Demo Day will showcase Startup Saunas top 10 most promising startups from its current spring 2012 batch.

What:

Neuroscientists develop video game for stroke recovery
Stroke experts in the UK work with Limbs Alive to develop the first in a collection of action video games that encourage movements to relearn arm and hand control. by Elizabeth Armstrong Moore May 18, 2012 9:29 AM PDT Follow @ejamoore After a stroke, …
Read more on CNET (blog)

WATCH EPISODE 2 NOW! bit.ly The first episode for our feature-length webseries “Video Game High School!” Here’s how the release is going to work: We will be putting all new VGHS episodes on our site, rocketjump.com, one week before we upload them to youtube. So RocketJump will stay one week ahead of our youtube. Episode 2 is now available on RocketJump!
Video Rating: 4 / 5

A couple of years ago, Mike Perez would have never imagined he would be coaching the Austrian Womens National Lacrosse team for a two-year stint, covering the 2012 European Championships June 20-30 in Amsterdam and the July 2013 World Cup in Toronto.

He thought he would be a spectator via television and the Internet, continuing his passion for lacrosse.

Perez, a resident of Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club in Vero Beach, Fla. grew up playing lacrosse in New Jersey. He also won a national championship in lacrosse during his senior year at Johns Hopkins University.

Video: Dwyane Wade fights Erik Spoelstra in timeout
By Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY The 2006 Finals MVP shot 2-for-13 from the field and finished with five points in the Miami Heat's 95-75 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 3. In the third quarter, Wade took out his frustration on Miami Heat coach Erik …
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Why Halo 4 Is the Most Anticipated Game of 2012
Looking at the rest of the year, we can expect some blockbuster video games to hit store shelves. Activision is once again launching a Call of Duty game — Black Ops 2 — and despite my issues with it, Madden NFL from Electronic Arts will undoubtedly …
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Game of Thrones (Video Game) Review
With a show/book series as immensely popular as 'The Song of Fire and Ice' series; it was inevitable that we were going to get a video game. While we did get the RTS Game of Thrones: Genesis a while back; many fans (including myself) looked for a …
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Positively Kids recently released the next clip in the Captain Positive video series on YouTube. Captain Positive and the Positive Patter is the latest video release that will also soon be featured on the upcoming Captain Positive DVD and that is based on a song from the award winning music album Captain Positive: Be Happy.

The Positive Patter video is an important visualization tool for kids. It allows them to close their eyes and imagine positive experiences through rhythmic word association. Endlessly entertaining, this video will entertain children for hours as they watch over and over and memorize every word of the catchy tune sung by their friend Captain Positive.

With music, laughter and the power of positive words, Captain Positive leads a sing-along that will have children everywhere singing and dancing with positive thoughts swirling in their heads. The upbeat tune will lead kids to sing this song over and over. Each time they sing along with Captain Positive, the positive message of the song will be reinforced within their thinking.

A positive attitude and mindset are incredibly valuable, especially at an early age. Training children to think positively will give them an advantage in almost all that they do in life.Positively Kids, through their lovable character Captain positive teaches kids how to view life from a positive perspective and in the process instill in them a high level of self-esteem and self-empowerment.

Positive Patter will be prominently featured on the upcoming DVD, and the video gives parents, care givers and educators a powerful tool in the quest to teach children how to think positively. It also gives children the skills to cope with any of lifes challenges. By empowering children through laughter and kid-centric affirmations, Captain Positive lays the foundation to help them grow up to avoid the depression and negative forces so common in modern culture and society.

ABOUT POSITIVELY KIDS:

Positively Kids was founded in 2010 by mom, Stacey Crumrine. The companys mission is to provide parents, caregivers, and educators with the tools they need to teach kids how to think and live in a positive environment. With the help of contributors including prominent Neuropsychologists, authors, family coaches, parents, educators and more, Positively Kids has created a culture that permeates all of its entertaining and informative programs and materials. Using their character creation “Captain Positive,” the super-hero of positive thinking, Positively Kids produces CD’s, DVDs and games to help prepare kids for the years and challenges ahead and arm them with a positive attitude to carry throughout their lives.

To learn more about Positively Kids visit: http://www.positivelykids.com.

To see the Youtube video, Captain Positive and the Positive Patter visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st1mefSceAY&feature=plcp

How the video games industry is faring
By AP April 12: Market tracker NPD Group says US retail sales of video game hardware, software and accessories fell 25 percent in March from a year earlier to $ 1.1 billion. It marked the fourth month of decline as Sony Corp.
Read more on BusinessWeek

June 8 marks the start of EURO 2012 and soccer fans at Fad

Diablo III: Long-awaited video game sequel launched
Long-awaited video game Diablo III has launched, causing servers to struggle under huge volumes of traffic. Blizzard Entertainment said it would launch more servers to cope with the traffic levels. Around 1500 fans gathered at a shopping centre close …
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Video Game Addictions Growing in America
He'll play for a while, get a snack, and then play some more video games. So it's a big part of his life," Melody said. They say Dalton's grades dropped and he was not getting enough physical activity. They say they didn't see the same son they once …
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This is a fun city sandbox from 2009 where you mow down or shoot zombies and try to save the few remaining survivors of the outbreak. The game was critically panned for the most part and was thus never played by as many people as it deserved. Hopefully this review sparks up some new, much deserved interest in the title. Why listen to me over bigger reviewing organizations like IGN, gamespot, or gametrailers? Well, I don’t just review games from the eyes of technical, professional reviewer. I also review games from the perspective of an actual gamer.

Thefrackingprize.com invites submission to their video contest for film students, filmmakers, journalism student, or anyone interested in competing for the cash prize.

Contestants create a 2-3 minute video outlining both sides of the hydraulic fracturing or fracking debate. Hydrofracking politics pits environmental sensitivity concerns against new technological advances that assist in increased domestic oil production. Thefrackingprize.com wants to highlight both sides of this explosive debate and reward contestants whos skill and passion capture the essence of the issue in an entertaining way.

Entry is fun and easy with the top three videos receiving specific notoriety as well as $ 3,000, $ 2,000, and $ 1,000 respectively. Get in the Fracking game and win! The contest deadline is June 1, 2012.

For more information, see the contest website http://www.thefrackingprize.com

Find More Games Press Releases

Video game jobs: CD Projekt RED is hiring for new games
On May 14, CD Projekt RED announced they're currently looking for creative and talented people who love video games to come work for them in their Warsaw, Poland office. These jobs are limited time only so apply now if you think you have the needed …
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Dan Orner Kicking and Punting will kick off their 2012 National Camp Series (NCS) season in Charlotte, NC, with a kicking evaluation event on May 19, 2012 according to kicking coach Dan Orner.

Orner who was a kicker with the Minnesota Vikings (NFL), was also an NCAA Record Holder with three field goals over 50 yards in one game. He has coached kickers and punters for the past 11 years, instructing at camps such as UNC Chapel Hill, University of Maryland, Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, Towson State, Appalachian State, and Lehigh University.

Dan Orner Kicking & Punting Camps are mainly based in North Carolina – with frequent camps in Charlotte and Raleigh. In addition, Dan also has events in South Carolina – in Greenville and Columbia, Virginia, and New York. Dan has a degree in Exercise and Sports Science with a focus on Biomechanics.

Michael Husted, who created the National Camp Series (NCS) after kicking in the NFL for 9 years, says having a kicking coach like Dan Orner attests to the quality of coaches at NCS events.

NCS Associates are some of the best kicking coaches in the country, says Husted. NCS coaches provide the highest quality instruction to high school kicking specialists around the country.

Husted says he is very happy to have a kicking coaches like Dan Orner as part of the NCS team.

Dan Orner is an excellent kicking coach, says Husted. Orner helped me with the NCS Super Camp in Florida earlier this year. Im looking forward to working with him on all his NCS events in 2012.

Husted says he is excited about the NCS season starting again so soon after a very successful NCS Super Camp in Orlando, Florida in February.

“2012 is shaping up to be the best year yet for the National Camp Series, says Husted. After a strong 2011, and having introduced our Kicking IndeX (KIX) Player Rating System, we are positioned extremely well to leverage analytics to showcase our athletes, and to provide objective high school kicking specialists statistics’ to college and university coaches.

Husted says that by utilizing its Kicking IndeX (KIX) Player Rating System, NCS provides an objective evaluation platform for student-athletes who want to showcase their capabilities to colleges and universities for recruiting purposes.

By sorting through over six years of historical event data, the KIX system determines a kickers rankings by cross-referencing player data to determine how the athletes stack up against others, both presently and historically.

“The NCS levels the playing field for those who don’t want to get caught up in all of the ‘politics’ that occurs in the kicking industry, says Husted. If you can kick, punt or snap, the NCS KIX system will let a young kicking specialists skills speak for themselves. No excuses. No explanations.”

Click here for more information about the Dan Orner Kicking and Punting NCS evaluation event being held in Charlotte, NC, on May 19, 2012.

Click here for more information about the National Camp Series and the dates and location of upcoming NCS events.

Click here for the National Camp Series (NCS) Kicking Coach Directory.

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How Do You Combat Video Game Addiction?
As video games have become more accessible and are no longer played only by adolescent boys in their parents' basements, the phenomenon of video game addiction has become an increasingly relevant concern. Video games now offer a level of realism nearly …
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Sprout Healthy Vending, a national leader in taking the vending industry in healthier directions at schools, offices, and communities, welcomes its newest operators, Peter and Robin Weiss. The Weisses will be placing their machines in and around the surrounding areas of Seattle and Mercer Island, Washington, where they reside with their two children.

Originally looking to start their own business, the Weisses had some specific criteria to meet before officially coming on board with the Sprout team. They had to make sure that the business opportunity matched their active lifestyle and that the business was socially responsible.

I still wanted to be able to actively volunteer in my childrens classrooms. I did not want to miss a baseball game or a gymnastics meet, and I wanted to make certain there was still time for me to hit the gym and maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Sprout allows for that, Robin shares. When my husband and I first heard of Sprout Healthy Vending, we thought that the concept of vending healthy snacks in our own community would really fit with most everyones routine and ideals. We knew that Sprout would be the perfect fit for our family we couldnt be more excited to get this venture started!

The Weisses have always been strong advocates for incorporating healthy habits into their daily lives and they try their best to lead by example for their children. As a family, we ski, boat, hike we lead healthy lives. Our children play football, baseball, soccer, and participate in gymnastics. With all of the outside commercial influences, however, it isnt always easy to make the proper snack choices when we are out and about, Robin states. Our kids constantly ask my husband and I to buy snacks out of the vending machines at their sports games and gymnastics meets but the machines are always filled with snacks that have hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup!

Robin continues, We felt that by starting a healthy vending business it would give us an opportunity to positively impact our community and give our children, as well as our friends children, more opportunities to make healthy choices. It certainly makes it feel like a worthwhile endeavor.

On an island seven miles southeast of Seattle with a population of roughly 22,000 people, the Weisses are ready to bring healthier options to an already healthier part of the country.

While many people in Seattle already lead very active, healthy lifestyles, there are still so many locations here that could benefit from healthier, smarter food choices. Being that our family and the Pacific Northwest population in general are active people, healthy vending has now become very appealing to the masses. I understand that our community would prefer to eat snacks on the go with no trans fats, no preservatives, and less salt and sugars and now we can provide that for them. We have no doubts that they will embrace the Sprout program. Our local school system now has a Wellness Policy monitoring fat content, calories, and sugars, and healthy vending is just an extension of this idea, Peter says.

Co-Founder Chris Wyland states, Growing up in the Pacific Northwest myself, I know how health conscious the general population is there. When I initially spoke with the Weisses I knew that they would have a great opportunity providing this particular part of the country with healthier snacking options. Sprout Healthy Vending will flourish in the Seattle area and I am excited to see their success.

The Sprout concept is really just an extension of the Seattle way. We are a community of active, busy people. We are entrepreneurs, business professionals, technologists, athletes, students and parents. We are always on the go. Rain or shine! explains Robin. We are very excited to offer our town healthier, smarter food choices when they are out and about doing the things that they love to do.

In addition to encouraging healthful lifestyles, the Weisses recognize action needs to be taken in regards to the alarming childhood obesity rates in America. With the incidence of childhood obesity reaching epidemic proportions, it is all of our responsibility to do everything in our power to reverse this trend. Providing healthy options to the community where there traditionally hasnt been any is one way to help fight childhood obesity along with, of course, exercise and education.

About Sprout Healthy Vending

Sprout Healthy Vending provides state-of-the-art vending technology, thousands of healthy and organic products and turnkey customer solutions for regional operators. Currently, Sprout Healthy Vending has over 70 operators in 40 markets in the U.S. with 1,000 individual locations projected by the end of 2012. To learn more about the company, locations and products please visit http://www.sprouthealthyvending.com or call (800) 450-7648.

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Beyonce Video Game Lawsuit Headed To Court
A video game developer's lawsuit against Beyonce has been okayed by a Manhattan judge. Gate Five is seeking up to $ 100 million in damages from the popstar for killing a game based on her music. The lawsuit will head to court this summer.
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Nurses warn about children playing adult video games
She said the age rating system for games was much tougher than for films – and it was important that parents paid attention to it. "Parents need to understand that they have to be checking video games before they buy them for their children.
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With strong numbers in manufacturing, rising costs in Chinas labor markets and recent White House policies in favor of the Made in America blueprint for job creation, the media has brought a lot of attention to a possible manufacturing renaissance on the horizon. But the Department of Labors disappointing jobs numbers in April and disappointing first quarter 2012 financials for hydraulic OEMs like Sauer Danfoss, whose new orders declined by 20 percent compared to first quarter 2011, the resurgence in manufacturing appears further away than many had predicted. And its looking even farther for manufacturers in the Golden State with California ranking last in the CEO Business Climate survey released on May 2nd, 2012.

“California seems to be doing everything possible to drive business from the state, said J.P. Donlon, editor of Chief Executive Magazine. CEOs surveyed attributed California’s poor ranking to high state taxes and overly stringent regulations. Companies that moved some or all of their operations out of state in 2011 increased 26% over the previous year. Given that Southern California is the nation’s largest manufacturing economy, placing last among business climates is a worrisome sign for local manufacturers in Los Angeles and surrounding counties. According to a report from the Institute of Applied Research at California State University San Bernardino, the national Purchasing Managers Index beat analysts expectations in April while the Inland Empire Index declined sharply from 60.8 in March to to 52.9.

One bright spot in local manufacturing news is Riverside headquartered Western Hydrostatics (http://www.weshyd.com) – a hydraulic parts distribution and repair center for Bosch Rexroth and Sauer Danfoss. When compared to prior year sales, the companys sales increases have averaged 17% for the past 22 months. Since the start of the 2012 calendar year, Western Hydrostatics has recorded their 3rd record breaking sales month and is now predicting the companys highest sales and profitability numbers since opening for business in 1986.

One of the key success factors for Western Hydrostatics hydraulic service and hydraulic parts business was transitioning from a local, regional customer base to a global marketplace. Just two years ago, the majority of the companys customers were in California, Arizona and Nevada but forward-thinking leadership under the companys CEO, Starke Scott, triggered investments in not only inventory and personnel but also a manufacturing marketing system developed by Los Angeles-based RK Global (http://www.rkglobal.biz). Within two and a half years of partnering with RK Global, Western Hydrostatics has expanded its customer base to 18 countries spanning every continent with the exception of Antarctica. A real game changer for the company, expanding into emerging foreign markets has created exponential growth opportunities.

Torrance headquartered California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC) recently selected Western Hydrostatics for the Made in California program, which recognizes the contributions of manufacturers in the region and features those companies that have contributed to the growth of the economy, are involved in continuous improvement, strive to create jobs, and grow their businesses. Understanding the global economics of demand and supply in a flat world and recognizing the importance of innovation, Western Hydrostatics is part of a new breed of industrial companies who are hurdling the obstacles facing local businesses and leading a third industrial revolution aimed at bringing manufacturing jobs back to America and Southern California.

1. Starke Scott, Western Hydrostatics, (May 9, 2012)

2. Jack Katzanek, “Manufacturing Index Drops Sharply”, The Press-Enterprise (May 1, 2012)

3. Don Lee, Job Growth Slows again in April, Los Angeles Times (May 4, 2012)

4. Sauer-Danfoss Inc. Sauer-Danfoss Inc. reports First Quarter 2012 reports, marketwatch.com/story/sauer-danfoss-inc-reports-first-quarter-2012-results-2012-05-02 (May 2, 2012)

5. Sacramento Business Journal, California ranks dead last in CEO business climate survey, bizjournals.com (May 2, 2012)

6. The Economist, A third industrial revolution, (Apr 21, 2012)

7. David Conrads, “As Chinese wages rise, US manufacturers head back home” The Christian Science Monitor (May 10, 2012)

About Western Hydrostatics:

In the hydraulics sales & service industry, Western Hydrostatics has emerged as a true solutions provider because they’ve built their company based on what matters most to customers: immediate problem solving, great product selection, fast turnaround, quality products, attractive pricing and the best customer service in the business. Because Western Hydrostatics operates from the customer point of view, they’re uniquely equipped to give you exactly what you need. Read the top 10 reasons why companies choose Western Hydrostatics.

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New 'Game Of Thrones' Video Game Preview Goes 'Behind The Wall'
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The new songs are up at soundcloud.com THIS SONG SAMPLES LANA DEL REYS AMAZING SONG CALLED “VIDEO GAMES” I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO IT!! FREE DOWNLOAD AT WWW.LEFTBOY.COM This video consists of unused footage from my last release “OUTRO” Follow @LEFTBOY and @KAREEMKATEB

Customizo.com, a progressive custom apparel and products ecommerce website, goes mobile with Snapizo. The Snapizo iPhone application allows users to photograph and upload pictures and other images to Customizos online Design Studio for apparel and product customization.

With Snapizo, Customizo.com offers a simple and easy way to customize products through a creative and innovative mobile technology. At the press of a button, Customizos online design capabilities are now easily accessible to users inspired by events in their everyday lives. Izo’s founder and CEO, Ryan Saunders remarks, “Allowing the consumer to create and share t-shirt designs with their iPhone [camera] provides Customizo with yet another competitive advantage in the custom apparel and promotional products arena.”

Snapizo photos may also be used in conjunction with Groupizo, a social networking platform that allows users to edit, share and purchase custom products within a group format. In addition, the Snapizo user has the option to select different photo filters, and accentuate their photos with text and other graphics in Customizos Design Studio. Snapizo images can also be shared via Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr. Download Snapizo today for instant, sharable, and customizable fun.

About Customizo and Izo Brands: Izo is knitting the framework for the future of e-commerce with a multi-faceted set of innovative product customization and design tools, a unique group collaboration interface, and mobile media distribution applications. Izos mission is to be the most customer-centric, creative, and innovative company in the custom apparel and promotional products industries.

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UK Video Game Chart: Sniper Elite V2 enjoys a second week at No.1
It's the calm before the storm with Sniper Elite V2 spending a second week at the top of the All Formats All Prices UK Video Game chart, with an impressive 38 per cent drop in sales week-on-week. FIFA Street is up two places to No.2 with a 10 per cent …
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