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Video gamers are immune to the economic woes, with the latest titles due to reach more and more consumers, particular if they’re in prison but not if they’re at school. Research seen by the Associated Press reveals consumers across the pond spent nearly $18billion on video games last year, representing the highest ever spend on file. Such is the reported finding of NPD group’s March consumer index, which shows that sales of games consoles, software and accessories leapt 57% to $1.1billion. The group’s video game analyst Anita Frazier told the news agency that based solely on the figures “you’d never know the US economy was under distress.” Reassuringly for the industry, the analyst explained that if figures for 2008 indicate anything, it is that consumers are forking out even more to own the latest titles. In the UK, the popularity of some video games, including Mario Kart and Grand Theft Auto IV, haven’t gone unnoticed by Her Majesty’s Prison Service. From next month, inmates of Frankland jail in Durham will be given access to games like GTA IV, in which they can steal a car, pick up a prostitute and commit murders. As part of the PlayStation Project, Sony’s second-generation consoles will be allowed into prisoners’ cells, as a reward for good behaviour and keeping out of trouble. Although victims’ groups condemned the move, two national papers quoted the prison’s governor as saying the potential for tension will fall, as inmates will be occupied in their cells. Inmates are not expected to be given games outright, rather they will have to pay for them from money earned in prison or sent by friends and family. They await access to the type of entertainment that is now banned by Grimsby’s Tollbar Business and Enterprise School, noted for strict rules and zero-tolerance to mobile phones. According to the Times, the school’s headmaster David Hampson, 57, dismissed 74 children after one of them downloaded a computer game and installed it on the central network. The paper reported that by the time the game was detected by the system’s internal monitors, dozens of children had copied it, earning each of them a one-day suspension. May 15, 2008 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
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