Library Voice

My wife pointed me to this interesting article this morning:

A new study from Northwestern University finds that college students’ choice of social networking sites is related to race, ethnicity and parents’ education. The review included social network sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Xanga.

According to the authors, the findings challenge the democratic nature of online interaction and contradict conventional opinion suggesting that all college students communicate via Facebook, the popular social networking site (SNS) launched in 2004 by a Harvard undergraduate.

“That race, ethnicity and the education level of one’s parents can predict which social network sites a student selects suggests there’s less intermingling of users from varying backgrounds on these sites than previously believed.”

More information can be found here.

The complete article citation is:
Hargittai, E. (2007). Whose space? Differences among users and non-users of social network sites. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13(1), article 14. http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol13/issue1/hargittai.html

Newsweek has an interview with Brian Allgeier, the creative director of Ratchet & Clank Future:  Tools of Destruction.  Allgeier gives five traits that make for really good video games.  According to Allgeier, good games:

1. Begin with a bang
2. Have a compelling main character
3. Have a good pace of the progression
4. Contain a Strategic Meta Game
5. Fulfill a fantasy.

This is a a great read that illustrates what makes video games so engaging for players. 

I’ve been reading a lot lately about portable gaming, and I’ve become really interested in getting a PlayStation Portable (PSP).  While the PSP has not sold as well as the Nintendo DS, the PSP has more games that I’m interested in playing.  I’m really interested in Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops, Syphon Filter:Dark Mirror and Logan’s Shadow, and Medal of Honor Heroes.  Each of these games has an in-depth singleplayer experience while also having a robust online multiplayer experience.  With two kids, the pick up and play (and put down easily) gameplay of a portable system does seem very appealing. In looking at the PSP, like a good librarian, I did a little bit of research.  Here is what I’ve found useful.

Next Generation has an article called The PSP Comeback?, which details the future of the PSP.  According to the article, the future is bright.

IGN has an article about the Future of the PlayStation Portable, where game developers comment on what they have done on the platform and what they will be doing in the future.  

IGN has lists of the Best PSP Games of 2006 and the Best PSP Games of 2005. 

For you librarian guitar heroes out there:

Tonight’s episode of South Park is sure to be a rockin’ good time. “Stan and Kyle are hooked on Guitar Hero. But Stan’s superior skills on the video game damage his friendship with Kyle.”