Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Microsoft Xbox 360 Dissected. Web-Site Disassembles Xbox 360

11:54 pm | Anton Shilov

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 game console has all the chances to become more successful compared to the original Xbox gaming machine. Unlike the predecessor, the Xbox 360 is not made from off-the-shelf hardware, but it still has architecture similar to the personal computer (even though it is not an x86-based product) and runs operating system based on a Windows core.

AnandTech web-site has managed to obtain the product and decided to offer its readers nothing less than a dissection of the part. The editorial crew of the web-site has disassembled and pictured the Xbox 360 and all of its components, including the central processing unit and graphics processing unit. The article contains no information about each part, but it is still interesting to find out what is inside the highly anticipated game console.

The software giant will officially launch the Xbox 360 game machine in North America on November 22^nd. The release will followed by a December 2 launch in Europe and a December 10 launch in Japan.

Microsoft Xbox 360 console is based around microprocessor developed by IBM, high-definition visual processing unit designed by ATI Technologies, I/O controller engineered by SiS and some other key components. The gaming machine will provide a broad set of multimedia capabilities in addition to games. Depending on the bundle, Microsoft Xbox 360 will cost $299 or $399.

• AnandTech: Inside Microsoft’s Xbox 360.

Extensive Gaming is Like Drug Addition, Scientists Say. Too Much Computer Gaming Cause Addiction Problems

5:51 pm | Anton Shilov

A number of scientists in Germany claim that excessive computer gaming has the hallmarks of dependence and even show the results of recent experiments on “drug memory” to prove their standpoint. The researchers argue it should that excessive gaming should be classified as addiction, enabling “addicts” to start seeking help.

Computer games can train and teach, however, in case a person plays too much, he or she becomes dependant of games and frequently withdraw from other activities, such as learning, working or socializing. Experiments show that when being shown screenshots from their favourite games, the so-called hardcore gamers began to desperately feel the desire to play, believing that they would feel better afterwards.

In another test, the researchers monitored the response of a large muscle in the eye, to see how much the volunteers could be startled while looking at a game-related image. Scientists theorise that the most pleasing stimuli prompts the smallest of startle reflexes. They found that excessive game players could not be easily startled, unlike those, who control the amount of gaming.

Sabine Grüsser of the Charité University Medicine Berlin, in Germany says that addictions stem from relying too heavily on one coping strategy, which eventually becomes the only activity that can activate the dopamine system and bring a person relief. “It’s the same mechanism in all addicts,” she says.

• NewScientist: Gaming Fanatics Show Hallmarks of Drug Addiction.
  
  

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