Gaming news roundup

Happy games aim to boost our moods

The cliché that the majority of gamers are surly teens sulking in their bedrooms over an ultraviolent title or two is as tedious as it is outdated. Channel 4 is launching a new campaign this week that is using games to banish this image once and for all, with a series of games aimed at making teenagers happier bunnies – and better gamers to boot. SuperMe is a system of games and videos designed to help teens understand the control they have over their lives and how they can shape their futures and happiness – in short, how to be better at life. It’s all very worthy stuff, but whether you’re 14 or 74, it’s worth having a go at one – or all – of the five games, created by Somethin’ Else working in close collaboration with Preloaded. From multiplayer teaser ‘Proximity’ to the fast-paced ‘Swerveball’ and the super-relaxing ‘FloMo’, there’s something for everyone whether you need a pick-me-up or just five minutes of fun. Check out the titles at www.playsuperme.com.

Can you see in 3D? 12 per cent of us can’t...

So, with 3D gaming homing into view as the industry’s Next Big Thing, one can only imagine the chagrin with which the business’s top bods read a ‘Wired’ story published this week (read it at Wired.co.uk) about the fact that more than one in every 10 Brits suffer from poor binocular vision – which means they can’t see 3D images, films – or games. So if you’re planning to play in 3D on the PlayStation 3 or have your eye on a Nintendo 3DS, make sure you try before you buy.

Bond girl Joss Stone is shaken, not stirred

The Bondmovie-making machine may have ground to a halt thanks to the recession, but, thanks to the release of two Activision games starring 007 later this year, there’s plenty of kiss kiss bang bang coming up for fans. There’s also a new Bondgirl to bring some glamour to ‘JamesBond 007: Bloodstone’ – Brit chick Joss Stone, who is not only a character in the game but sings the title’s theme tune “I’ll Take it All” – with the rather less sexy Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics.