In the News Archives

May 2006

Bush vs. Pikachu – It’s a Draw

Who do you think the video gaming generation would find more recognizable: a video game character or the leader of the free world?

The answer, according to Michigan State University graduate student Kym Buchanan, might surprise you.

In 2005, he conducted a survey of high school students, showing them images of prominent leaders such as Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Mahatma Gandhi, along with images of video game characters such as Pikachu, Mario, and Pac Man.

The results? One hundred percent of the students correctly identified images of . . . get this . . . George W. Bush, Albert Einstein, Mario, and Donkey Kong.

Read the draft report of this study.

Popular Online Game Features Doing Good Deeds

Do video games have to be full of blood and guts to be successful? Not so, according to a growing number of Chinese students.

The Shanghai Daily reports that more and more of them are playing “Learn from Comrade Lei Feng,” an online game featuring Lei Feng, a popular cultural hero.

The only way to advance in the game is by doing good deeds, such as mending socks and volunteering at building sites. Winners of the game get to virtually meet Chairman Mao, who originally singled out the real Lei Feng for his work in helping the needy.

“I’m a Gamer and I Vote”

The Entertainment Software Association has started a grass-roots political network for gamers, called Video Game Voter Network.

They hope the network will become an arena for American adults who play computer and video games to take action on issues such as legislation to ban certain games because of their violent or adult content.

Read more about this effort at the VGVN site.

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